Why should you know about William T Sherman?

Answer 1

Every now and then, a General invents new military techniques that solves major problems. Sherman was such a General. Other generals can learn from what he did or they can be defeated. In fighting the Confederate General Joe Johnson north of Atlanta, General Sherman realized that he could not defeat General Johnson but he could go around his army. As a result, he did. The Germans used the same technique to defeat France in World War 2. When the English were defeated in battle, they knew what the Germans would do and retreated north to Dunkirk, where they would be safe. They knew the Germans would act like Sherman and Grant.

Sherman created total warfare on a limited scale. President Lincoln, Generals Grant, and Sherman, realized the South could and would hold out until the women of the South wanted the war to end. Sherman had his army destroy a path sixty miles wide through Georgia. His army stole anything worth stealing. They butchered any animals worth eating. They took the horses and mules. Then they burned the houses, barns, and crops. That convinced the women all over the South, they were not safe from the war. They discouraged any remaining men not to fight. Many women stopped supporting the war effort.

What Sherman did was cruel. It was cruel on a small scale compared to the size of the South. It actually cost extremely few lives compared to the cost of the war in lives. It was far more effective than winning battles. You judge if it is worth learning about.