"You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty and you cannot refine it... You might as well appeal against the thunder storm as against these terrible hardships of war... We don't want your negroes, or your houses, or your lands, or anything you have, but we do want and will have first obedience to the laws of the United States... if it involves the destruction of your improvements, we cannot help it... But, my dear sirs, when peace does come, you may call on me for anything. Then will I share with you the last cracker, and watch with you to shield your homes and families against danger from every quarter." W.T. Sherman