Foreshadowing Georgia

[Dave Wilma]

In Grant's Memoirs he reports

On the 26th of May [1863] I sent Blair's division up the Yazoo to drive out a force of the enemy supposed to be between the Big Black and the Yazoo. The country was rich and full of supplies of both food and forage. Blair was instructed to take all of it. The cattle were to be driven in for the use of our army, and the food and forage to be consumed by our troops or destroyed by fire; all bridges were to be destroyed, and the roads rendered as nearly impassable as possible. Blair went forty-five miles and was gone almost a week. His work was effectually done.​

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Sherman gets credit/takes heat for "total war" etc. but it's obvious that the precedent had been set earlier. To be sure, armies had routinely cleaned out the countryside and worse, but by the spring of 1863 it was common practice.

 

[Barrycdog]

Interesting

 

[Tin cup]

Grant started it, Sherman perfected it!
At first, Sherman was against the foraging by his troops, I think Grant convinced him it was a way to win the war.

Kevin Dally

 

[TinCan]

Wow I didn't know Grant was practicing total war at Vicksburg but I don't know what else you could call it. Stealing cattle, destroying anything you couldn't cart off or eat on the spot, destroying bridges, tearing up roads sounds as if Sherman did indeed take a page from Grant's playbook.

 

[RobertP]

Grant said a number of things in his memoirs. Not all of them are true.

 

[Stephen Terry]

This is corroborated in the Official Records.

NEAR Vicksburg, MISS., May 29, 1863.
Major General F. P. BLAIR, Jr.,
Commanding Advance Expedition:
Yours of the 28th, inclosing report of Colonel Johnson, is just received. It is so important that we should save all our troops to act together, that I would direct that you take no risks whatever, either of a defeat or of being cut off. If you are satisfied of the presence of a large, force at Canton and north of there, return immediately, leaving Mower's brigade at Haynes' Bluff. If you deem Haynes' Bluff in danger of an early attack, you may also leave McArthur, with the brigade of his DIVISION. Returning, destroy all the forage and stock you can, and obstruct all roads behind you by burning bridges, felling timber, and in all possible ways. I requested Admiral Porter yesterday to send a gunboat or two up the river to cruise until you return. You may rest at Haynes' Bluff with your entire command until you receive further orders from me. Such information may be received from the enemy and sufficient re-enforcements arrive here as to make it advisable to send out an army large enough to clean out Joe Johnston and his party.
U. S. GRANT

O.R., I, xxiv, part 3, p 361-2

Also, on the march from Grand Gulf to Jackson, Grant's army was forced to live off the land, and he divided it into parallel columns in order to facilitate easier foraging.