Dec. 11, 1872 deposition, Mixed Commission, XIV, 91, quoted in Marion B. Lucas, William T. Sherman - Index / Quick Reference, William T. Sherman - Autobiography, Memoirs, and Correspondence, https://CivilWarWiki.net/w/index.php?title=William_T._Sherman_-_Strategies&oldid=2744. . This page was last modified on 18 March 2009, at 20:55. The author's main theme is the development by Sherman of his "hard war" strategy and the destruction of the enemy's capacity to make war by destroying his economic base and his support among the population. Liddell Hart also stated that study of Sherman's campaigns had contributed significantly to his own "theory of strategy and tactics in mechanized warfare", which had in turn influenced Heinz Guderian's doctrine of Blitzkrieg and Rommel's use of tanks during the Second World War. The influential 20th-century British military historian and theorist B. H. Liddell Hart ranked Sherman as one of the most important strategists in the annals of war, along with Scipio Africanus, Belisarius, Napoleon Bonaparte, T. E. Lawrence, and Erwin Rommel. Sherman's greatest contribution to the war, the strategy of total warfare—endorsed by General Grant and President Lincoln—has been the subject of much controversy. As Sheridan left Virginia's Shenandoah Valley ablaze, Union general William T. Sherman implemented hard-war policies in the Deep South with his "March to the Sea." Accusations that civilians were targeted and war crimes were committed on the march have made Sherman a controversial figure to this day, particularly in the South. Hirshson, p. 393, quoting B.H. (C) Sherman moved deep into … "[7] Historian James M. McPherson has concluded that: In this connection, it is noteworthy that Sherman and his subordinates (particularly John A. Logan) took steps to protect Raleigh, North Carolina, from acts of revenge after the assassination of President Lincoln.[9]. The essence of the Union’s hard war strategy is demonstrated in General William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea, a path of destruction across the State of Georgia principally from Atlanta to Savannah. Sherman himself downplayed his role in conducting total war, often saying that he was simply carrying out orders as best he could in order to fulfill his part of Grant's master plan for ending the war. Sherman's concept of total war was a continuation of the tradition of the "nation at arms" established by the French Revolution. . Sherman’s army burned much of Columbia, the capital of South Carolina. 200–202. President Lincoln and Generals Sherman and Grant embraced a “hard war-soft peace” philosophy by the end of the war, with General Sherman being its principal proponent; given that General Sherman was a war criminal, it makes sense that he supported such brutal policy. ESSAY GUIDELINES -: Write a 1000-1500-word essay addressing each of the following points. Mark Grimsley described Sherman’s Savannah campaign in The Hard Hand of War. [6] One of the most serious accusations against Sherman was that he allowed his troops to burn the city of Columbia. . Grimsley cited a letter from Sherman to Grant… [11] Former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara refers equivocally to the statement that "war is cruelty and you cannot refine it" in both the book Wilson's Ghost[12] and in his interview for the film The Fog of War. Liddell Hart credited Sherman with mastery of maneuver warfare (also known as the "indirect approach"), as demonstrated by his series of turning movements against Johnston during the Atlanta Campaign. On the other hand, when comparing Sherman's scorched earth campaigns to the actions of the British Army during the Second Boer War (1899–1902)—another war in which civilians were targeted because of their central role in sustaining an armed resistance—South African historian Hermann Giliomee declares that it "looks as if Sherman struck a better balance than the British commanders between severity and restraint in taking actions proportional to legitimate needs". Replacing Grant as the overall commander in the West in March 1864, Sherman vigorously implemented the Union’s then-prevailing “hard war” military strategy, in the process making his name infamous to generations of Southerners. Confederate soldiers were answering the pleas from their womenfolk and deserting in droves to head back to the homestead...and then the War came to an end just a couple of months later. The practice of bending rails around trees, leaving behind what came to be known as Sherman's neckties, made repairs difficult. What was General Sherman's "hard war," what was his "bold strategy" after taking Atlanta, and how did he justify his unconventional plan to Grant and Lincoln? Like Grant, Sherman was convinced that the Confederacy's strategic, economic, and psychological ability to wage further war needed to be definitively crushed if the fighting were to end. This means two pages of content, which requires clear and focused writing. Union General William T. Sherman led 60,000 soldiers on an approximately 300 mile march from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia. The American Civil War lasted four years, from 1861 to 1865. William Tecumseh Sherman (February 8, 1820 – February 14, 1891) was an American soldier, businessman, educator, and author. The expedition demonstrated to Sherman and other Federal commanders how to conduct “hard war” successfully. (4%) Format includes title page, body of paper, & reference page, with pages numbered, _____ 5. “Sherman’s strategy is the art of war employed by the unsuccessful,” Signal declared. To Sherman war is hell and he demonstrated that he had every intention of wreaking havoc upon the southern states. Separate each section in your paper with a clear heading that allows your professor to know which bullet you are addressing in that section of your paper. Sherman's March to the Sea refers to a long stretch of devastating Union army movements that took place during the United States Civil War.In the fall of 1864, the Union General William Tecumseh ("Cump") Sherman took 60,000 men … Many Southerners reviled his “scorched earth” tactics, while others saw them as necessary to the end of the war. After the fall of Atlanta in 1864, Sherman ordered the city's evacuation. In his campaign through Georgia he implemented his total war strategy, which included speedily advancing through Georgia to the Atlantic at any cost, something he called hard war. We offer the services below for free on all orders; E-mail us: support@masterlynursingpapers.com. General Sherman's record as a tactician was mixed, and his military legacy rests primarily on his command of logistics and on his brilliance as a strategist. The letter came towards the tail end of Sherman’s campaign in Georgia and his capture of Savannah, a “Christmas gift” for President Lincoln. For instance, Alabama-born Major Henry Hitchcock, who served in Sherman's staff, declared that "it is a terrible thing to consume and destroy the sustenance of thousands of people", but if the scorched earth strategy served "to paralyze their husbands and fathers who are fighting ... it is mercy in the end."[5]. Sherman's advance through Georgia and South Carolina was characterized by widespread destruction of civilian supplies and infrastructure. Be sure to completely answer all the questions for each bullet point. (4%) Format includes title page, body of paper, & reference page, with pages numbered, No need to gamble yet we've got you covered. What was General Sherman’s “hard war,” what was his “bold strategy” after taking Atlanta, and how did he justify his unconventional plan to Grant and Lincoln? William T. Sherman, a major-general for the United States Army during the Civil War, wrote the letter to General Henry Halleck, who was in Washington D.C. at the time. See, for instance, Grimsley, pp. This masterly campaign comprised a series of cat-and-mouse moves by the rival commanders. Atlanta was devastated. But the hard-war strategy left a legacy of bitterness that lasted for generations. “Sherman’s strategy is the art of war employed by the unsuccessful,” Signal declared. [13] The admiration of scholars such as Victor Davis Hanson, Basil Liddell Hart, Lloyd Lewis, and John F. Marszalek for General Sherman owes much to what they see as an approach to the exigencies of modern armed conflict that was both effective and principled. Atlanta was devastated. Although looting was officially forbidden, historians disagree on how well this regulation was enforced. Grimsley cited a letter from Sherman to Grant… The letter came towards the tail end of Sherman’s campaign in Georgia and his capture of Savannah, a “Christmas gift” for President Lincoln. The essence of the Union’s hard war strategy is demonstrated in General William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea, a path of destruction across the State of Georgia principally from Atlanta to Savannah. Liddell Hart, foreword to the Indiana University Press's edition of Sherman's. “Sherman’s strategy is the art of war employed by the unsuccessful,” Signal declared. In summary, Sherman deployed relentless tactics on this march, focusing completely on the needs of the Union Army and hindering resources that could be used for the Confederate war effort. Sherman's hard war must have worked. He engages notable Civil War historians . There should be two main sections, one for each bullet below. This page has been accessed 17,354 times. Avoid excessive use of quotations. He became acquainted with the people and geography of the South when the U.S. Army stationed him in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina between 1840 and 1846. He eliminated Atlanta's war making potential and brought sheer destruction to Georgia, then offered generous surrender terms. A body containing several paragraphs, each of which will: (10%) Resources used as rationale for approaches and as sources of content, _____ 5. (A) Sherman's hard war strategy was to conduct the Norths campaign as a war of conquest and employ a scorched earth tactic to break the rebellion. 190–204; McPherson, pp. The influential 20th century British military historian and theorist Basil Liddell Hart ranked Sherman as one of the most important strategists in the annals of war, along with Scipio Africanus, Belisarius, Napoleon Bonaparte, T. E. Lawrence, and Erwin Rommel. Sherman's strategy of total war brought the war home to many in the Deep South. (20%) write paper in a scholarly manner Its importance rested more in its impact on Sherman’s evolving policy toward Southern civilians and the Union strategy to win the war than on immediate military ramifications in Mississippi. Sherman’s March to the Sea Major General William Tecumseh Sherman was a contradiction embodied. His older brother Charles became a federal judge. When the city council appealed to him to rescind that order, on the grounds that it would cause great hardship to women, children, the elderly, and others who bore no responsibility for the conduct of the war, Sherman sent a response in which he sought to articulate his conviction that a lasting peace would be possible only if the Union were restored, and that he was therefore prepared to do all he could do to quash the rebellion: Literary critic Edmund Wilson found in Sherman's Memoirs a fascinating and disturbing account of an "appetite for warfare" that "grows as it feeds on the South". Sherman’s Tactics: Strategy and Total War Destruction of a Railroad by the Union Army in Georgia (1864). (A) Sherman's hard war strategy was to conduct the Norths campaign as a war of conquest and employ a scorched earth tactic to break the rebellion. Sherman's advance through Georgia and South Carolina was characterized by widespread destruction of civilian supplies and infrastructure. Make sure to cite using the APA writing style for the essay. (C) Sherman moved deep into enemy territory without supply lines, but he stood with confidence. See, for instance, Grimsley, pp. After serving during the Mexican War of 1846–1848, he resigned his commission in 1853. Atlanta was devastated. Called total war, it … -- Civil War History "With Sherman's Mississippi Campaign , Foster has contributed significantly to the literature on the Civil War's western theater. Submit an electronic copy in the assignment drop box by the due date. The results were his March to the sea which ultimately broke the confederates. Nine successive defensive positions were taken up by Johnston. Sherman himself stated that "[i]f I had made up my mind to burn Columbia I would have burnt it with no more feeling than I would a common prairie dog village; but I did not do it . explains how the essay will be organised (order of points). “I wonder if the vengeance of heaven will not pursue such fiends!” Le Conte wrote of Sherman’s army. He engages notable Civil War historians . 712–714, 727–729. . arguing that the Meridian campaign holds a greater significance in the development of Sherman's 'hard war' strategy than has been previously admitted. It futher discusses the change in strategy these men employed and point out a battle or campaign in which each man used their new strategy and how or if these strategies were successful. The author's main theme is the development by Sherman of his "hard war" strategy and the destruction of the enemy's capacity to make war by destroying his economic base and his support among the population. Mark Grimsley described Sherman’s Savannah campaign in The Hard Hand of War. On November 14, 1864, after the surrender of Atlanta, Georgia, Sherman promised Grant that he could "make Georgia howl." Therefore, he believed that the North had to conduct its campaign as a war of conquest and employ scorched earth tactics to break the backbone of the rebellion, which he called "hard war". Sherman’s army burned much of Columbia, the capital of South Carolina. And his brother Hoyt was a successfu… Liddell Hart credited Sherman with mastery of maneuver warfare (also known as the "indirect … (20%) Write the Paper in a scholarly manner Engraving depicting brutality of Union troops along the path to Savannah. However, the Civil War was dragging on and General William Tecumseh Sherman was determined to finally end the fighting. arguing that the Meridian campaign holds a greater significance in the development of Sherman’s ‘hard war’ strategy than has been previously admitted. His vision of hard war brought the Confederacy to its knees, … Step-by-step answer William T. Sherman, a major-general for the United States Army during the Civil War, wrote the letter to General Henry Halleck, who was in Washington D.C. at the time. present a topic sentence or central idea supporting your thesis statement/line of argument/central contention; contain developing sentences which extend on or amplify the topic sentence; give evidence/examples/references that support/relate to your topic sentence; and, restates your thesis statement/line of argument/central contention; and. General Sherman's record as a tactician was mixed, and his military legacy rests primarily on his command of logistics and on his brilliance as a strategist. His siblings all enjoyed professional success. Let's use Sherman's March to the Sea as a template to understand the reasoning. General Sherman’s Unorthodox Tactics that Ended the Civil War Scorched farms, slaughtered livestock, uprooted railway lines and cities set on fire was not typical battle strategy previously seen on American soil. American Civil War - American Civil War - Sherman’s Georgia campaigns and total war: Meanwhile, Sherman was pushing off toward Atlanta from Dalton, Georgia, on May 7, 1864, with 110,123 men against Johnston’s 55,000. Therefore, he believed that the North had to conduct its campaign as a war of conquest and employ scorched earthtactics to break the backbone of the rebellion, which he called "hard war". Sherman’s tactics along with those used by Union cavalry commander Philip Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley are seen as the first use of modern total warfare. Sherman’s Total War tactic was his way of ending a war faster than normal. His vision of hard war brought the Confederacy to its knees, but forestalled thousands of battlefield and civilian deaths. Sherman’s March represented an evolution of the broader Union policies of “hard war.” DAVID EVANS, historian and author of "Sherman's Horsemen" At the time, Sherman's decision to abandon his line of communications and cast off for the Georgia coast … [1] Another WWII-era student of Liddell Hart's writings about Sherman was George S. Patton, who "'spent a long vacation studying Sherman's campaigns on the ground in Georgia and the Carolinas, with the aid of [LH's] book,'" and later "'carried out his [bold] plans, in super-Sherman style.'"[2]. Sherman’s army burned much of Columbia, the capital of South Carolina. The author's main theme is the development by Sherman of his "hard war" strategy and the destruction of the enemy's capacity to make war by destroying his economic base and his support among the population. The March to the Sea: Sherman’s Total War Strategy to Save the Union Depending on geography, William T Sherman has gone down in the annuals of history as either one of the most hated or most respected generals of the Civil War. He eliminated Atlanta's war making potential and brought sheer destruction to Georgia, then offered generous surrender terms. Support your ideas with at least three (3) sources using citations in your essay. summarises the points and evidence you provided to support your thesis. Like Grant, Sherman was convinced that the Confederacy's strategic, economic, and psychological ability to wage further war needed to be definitively crushed if the fighting were to end. These tactics definitely bended the common rules of war, but Sherman was willing to do this because he believed that it would bring his country back together. Though exact figures are not available, the loss of civilian life appears to have been very small. Review the rubric criteria for this assignment. Length: 1000-1500 words; answers must thoroughly address the prompts in a clear, concise manner. The results were his March to the sea which ultimately broke the confederates. The cover page and reference page in correct APA do not count towards the minimum word amount. What was General Sherman’s “hard war,” what was his “bold strategy” after taking Atlanta, and how did he justify his unconventional plan to Grant and Lincoln? For generations comprised a series of cat-and-mouse moves by the due date the fighting amount. 'S edition of Sherman 's March to the Sea as a template to understand reasoning... 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