The Sherman-Hood Correspondence

elektratig · #1 12-17-2006, 08:19 PM

I recently stumbled across and read the correspondence between Generals Sherman and Hood about the evacuation of civilians from Atlanta in 1864. I'm probably the only one here who hadn't read it, but if by any chance you have not, it's highly recommended. It's the source of several of Sherman's famous quotes about the horror of war, and Hood comes across as a literate, intelligent and impassioned advocate (however misguided!) that belies the image of him as sort of dopey conveyed by his hang-dog pictures and his later debacles at Franklin and Nashville.

You can find it at the site below and elsewhere by googling sherman hood correspondence.

http://www.civilwarhome.com/atlantaevacuation.htm

william42 · #2 12-17-2006, 08:58 PM

ET, thank you. I was not aware of any such correspondence between the two generals before your post. 'Preciate it.

Terry

larry_cockerham · #3 12-17-2006, 10:20 PM

This very interesting insight into the minds of these two characters helps explain why the war lasted four long years. We're a stubborn people. Thanks for the post!

samgrant · #4 12-17-2006, 10:25 PM

That's a keeper, alright!

whitworth · #5 12-19-2006, 07:30 PM

Many residents of Atlanta had already left the city, prior to the surrender.

Sherman, getting supplied just after the capture of Atlanta in early September, did not want the responsibility to feed civilians and his forces, over the one rail line running from Chattanooga.
There was some consideration that a Union division would get quartered in Atlanta behind its solid defenses. Such a plan would not need civilians to remain behind.

Confederates and the Union destroyed items that would have value to the opposing armies.
I've seen no indication why Sherman had no reason to destroy anything of military value in Atlanta. It was because his army were not leaving any defense forces behind. And he lacked bulldozers to destroy the long prepared Atlanta defenses. Since he couldn't destroy much in the way of defensive positions, he had to leave a city that had no military purpose to defend.

larry_cockerham · #6 12-20-2006, 01:28 AM

And of course after the battle at Jonesboro, Hood was off for Alabama and his ill-fated journey to Tennessee. Atlanta ceased to be of importance as you suggest.

ole · #7 12-20-2006, 02:03 AM

When I first read that correspondence, I was taken quite aback by the literacy of both. Well, Hood anyway. It was an enlightening exchange between beligerants. You don't get too many of those.
Ole

larry_cockerham · #8 12-20-2006, 10:05 AM

Ole, I had similar thoughts with regards to Hood. (Pot bellies, gray hair and now similar thoughts. Ugh.) Although, I'd probably get hung for expressing such sentiments locally, I've had suspicions for some time that Hood was still quite rational through the remainder of the Tennessee campaign. His orders to Forrest in particular suggest that he was thinking ahead and planning for contingencies, such as the availability of pontoons for the Bainbridge crossing and for his order for Forrest to evacuate Murfreesboro for Shelbyville and Pulaski.

EricJacobson · #9 12-20-2006, 10:24 AM

Larry,

One thing I have learned about Hood is that he is not the Anti-Christ in Civil War circles that I thought he might be, especially in Tennessee. Those who are hardest on Hood are those who have only a passing interest in the war and don't really know any facts. I can't tell you how many tourists I speak to who couldn't tell you what year Gettysburg was fought in, but know how "stupid" or "terrible" or "doped up" Hood was. Those who have spent at least some time studying the war are far more reasonable.

As to the correspondence, the Sherman and Hood letters would be a wonderful addition to some Civil War classes in school. It would give students a very good idea that there was much more to the war than they might imagine. If anything, it shows the terrible side effects of war and also well displays just how much the two sides disliked one another. You can almost feel Sherman's anger when he finally cuts Hood short, basically telling him off and to quit lecturing.

ole · #10 12-20-2006, 12:24 PM

Quote:

You can almost feel Sherman's anger when he finally cuts Hood short, basically telling him off and to quit lecturing.

Oh yes. From the first exchange you can share Sherman's resentment. Here was this opposing general, who he had just beaten up, down and sideways, lecturing him on morality. Hood's letters even honked me off. Sherman showed remarkable restraint, given his testy nature. A highly amusing sidebar to the grim realities. Thanks to ET for bringing up the exchange.
Ole