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Miss Markie (I like the name) I was thinking of him too but it seems his main "dirty" deed was at Ft Pillow. Otherwise he was a genius of a general. Take away Ft Pillow and he is golden. Frm the southern point of view...Sherman was a devil all throughout GA. I think NBF was just very good at what he did; an asset for the CSA, liability for the Union.
__________________ 'If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed,
if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.'
Mark Twain
NBF to me represents all that there is in describing the fighting ability and elan of Southern man and I understand his high stature in Lost Cause lore. Justified or not, the luster has been taken off the star as a result of Fort Pillow and his post war affiliations, connections and reputation. His status as a hero must then be at best very subjective from a historical perspective. My guy is Hancock, the man was truly a "superb" fighting man and leader from Williamsburg, through Antietam, Gettysburg and the Brock Road defense in the Wilderness. As a sad microcosm of the fought out state of his II Corps by Petersburg, I find no fault in the circumstances of his departure from that theatre of operations.
Regards,
Spartan
NBF to me represents all that there is in describing the fighting ability and elan of Southern man and I understand his high stature in Lost Cause lore. Justified or not, the luster has been taken off the star as a result of Fort Pillow and his post war affiliations, connections and reputation. His status as a hero must then be at best very subjective from a historical perspective.
It's interesting to note that the "hero of the North", was asked to have Forrest investigated regarding the Ft. Pillow incident, which he did and recommended no retaliation. He writes in his memoirs:
"No doubt Forrest's men acted like a set of barbarians, shooting down the helpless negro garrison after the fort was in their possession; but I am told that Forrest personally disclaims any active participation in the assault, and that he stopped the firing as soon as he could. I also take it for granted that Forrest did not lead the assault in person, and consequently that he was to the rear, out of sight if not of hearing at the time, and I was told by hundreds of our men, who were at various times prisoners in Forrest's possession, that be was usually very kind to them."
Regards,
Rose
__________________ "Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names".--J.F.K.
The War Between the States established... This principle that the Federal Government is, through its courts, this final judge of its own powers.
-- Woodrow Wilson
That was classic Sherman, Rose. He was loathe to toss around blame lightly -- and he was fair.
It wasn't long after that -- or maybe even in the same letter -- that he said that the USCT would would find its own retribution. And, he normally stayed away from anything involving politics, which is what the hearing was.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
More aptly fits in the "what if" file but can't you just imagine the nasty brawls that would have insued between Sherman's westerners and Forrest's AOT in the west.?? Perhaps wouldn't go so far to say that the eastern battles would have been relegated to a secondary theater of operations, but I've got to think they would have shared equal billing - especially with so much to be gained or lost strategically in the region.
Respectfully,
Spartan
Sherman was a great general; especially to his troops. He totally confounded Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Braxton Bragg, Joe Johnston and John B. Hood. Some will blame Sherman for moving through Georgia. Rarely was it ever questioned why Hood went to Tennessee and did not defend Georgia from Sherman's move to Savannah. It was a move totally unexpected by the Confederate leadership.
Sherman's major mistake, which did not prove fatal, was assaulting Kennesaw Mountain. Other than that assault, he sidestepped the Confederates, destroying their great supply depot in Atlanta and destroying their ability to get supplies to the Army of Northern Virginia, from Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.
Sherman cut off Alabama from South Carolina and Confederate points north. Sherman did not generally waste his troops in Georgia and South Carolina.
Sherman did not attack Macon, a major supply depot. He cut their rail lines to Robert E. Lee. Sherman did not attack Augusta, with its huge powder factory. He cut their rail lines north to Virginia, making Augusta an island, unable to assist the ANV any longer.
Sherman outflanked both Savannah and Charleston, forcing by manuever, the Confederates to withdraw without battle. Then he suddenly attacked Columbia, SC, an attack that was both unexpected and unprepared for by the Confederates.
Sherman was a hero to his troops, as many a Union soldier wasn't left in a shallow grave, due to needless assaults.
Sherman was faulted for doing many evil deeds. Many arise from the fact General Sherman vastly outclassed his Confederate opponents.
Sherman was a great general; especially to his troops. He totally confounded Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Braxton Bragg, Joe Johnston and John B. Hood. Some will blame Sherman for moving through Georgia. Rarely was it ever questioned why Hood went to Tennessee and did not defend Georgia from Sherman's move to Savannah. It was a move totally unexpected by the Confederate leadership.
Sherman's major mistake, which did not prove fatal, was assaulting Kennesaw Mountain. Other than that assault, he sidestepped the Confederates, destroying their great supply depot in Atlanta and destroying their ability to get supplies to the Army of Northern Virginia, from Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.
Sherman cut off Alabama from South Carolina and Confederate points north. Sherman did not generally waste his troops in Georgia and South Carolina.
Sherman did not attack Macon, a major supply depot. He cut their rail lines to Robert E. Lee. Sherman did not attack Augusta, with its huge powder factory. He cut their rail lines north to Virginia, making Augusta an island, unable to assist the ANV any longer.
Sherman outflanked both Savannah and Charleston, forcing by manuever, the Confederates to withdraw without battle. Then he suddenly attacked Columbia, SC, an attack that was both unexpected and unprepared for by the Confederates.
Sherman was a hero to his troops, as many a Union soldier wasn't left in a shallow grave, due to needless assaults.
Sherman was faulted for doing many evil deeds. Many arise from the fact General Sherman vastly outclassed his Confederate opponents.
Hmmmmm........
In the Atlanta Campaign Sherman had 80-100,000 men (varied at different times). Johnston and Hood had 50-60,000.
In the Savannah Campaign Sherman had 60,000 to the Confederates 15-20,000......Carolinas Campaign- 60-80,000 to the Confederates 30,000.
If the numbers had been reversed...
...would Sherman have "vastly outclassed" his Confederate opponents?
...looks like the Confederates gave a good account of themselves despite being outnumbered almost 2 to 1.
Oh yes, Johnston's and Hood's boys gave a good account of themselves, as your list shows. But you will note that in the progression you listed and the battles "won" by the AoT, Sherman still took Alabama, Georgia, and South and North Carolina out of active participation in Davis' war -- and he did it with a remarkably small number of casualties.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
I have heard a couple people now refer to the Civil War as "Davis' war." Why is that? Considering while I agree he was stubborn, he didn't want to secede in the first place...right?
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