Sherman, William Tecumseh

[thea_447]

The slave population m 1860 was near four millions, and the money value thereof not far from twenty-five hundred million dollars. Now, ignoring the moral side of the question, a cause that endangered so vast a moneyed interest was an adequate cause of anxiety and preparation, and the Northern leaders surely ought to have foreseen the danger and prepared for it. --General Sherman, MEMOIRS OF GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN
CHAPTER XXV. CONCLUSION--MILITARY LESSONS OF THE WAR

 

[thea_447]

General Bragg, who certainly was a man of intelligence, and who, in early life, ridiculed a thousand times, in my hearing, the threats of the people of South Carolina to secede from the Federal Union, said to me in New Orleans, in February, 1861, that he was convinced that the feeling between the slave and free States had become so embittered that it was better to part in peace; better to part anyhow; and, as a separation was inevitable, that the South should begin at once, because the possibility of a successful effort was yearly lessened by the rapid and increasing inequality between the two sections, from the fact that all the European immigrants were coming to the Northern States and Territories, and none to the Southern.

 

[unionblue]

"The Attila of the American continent."

Jefferson Davis, Confederate president.

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[unionblue]

"The government of the United States may now safely proceed on the proper rule that all in the South are enemies of all in the North."

William T. Sherman, letter to Salmon P. Chase, secretary of the treasury, August 1862.

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[unionblue]

"I cannot feel kindly toward Gen. Sherman. He was a monster and I want the whole world to know it."

Elizabeth Avery Meriwether, more than 50 years after Appomattox.

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[unionblue]

"Oh, it is all folly, madness, a crime against civilization."

William T. Sherman, Union General, on receiving word of the secession of South Carolina, December 24, 1860.

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[unionblue]

"I see every chance of a long, confused and disorganizing civil war, and I feel no desire to take a hand therein."

William T. Sherman, letter to his wife, January 1861.

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[unionblue]

"If the people raise a howl against my barbarity and cruelty, I will answer that war is war, and not popularity seeking."

William T. Sherman, recalling his words on entering Atlanta, September 2, 1864, in his Memoirs, 1875.

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[unionblue]

"Three years ago by a little reflection and patience they could have had a hundred years of peace and prosperity...Last year they could have saved their slaves, but now it is too late...Next year their lands will be taken...and in another year they may beg in vain for their lives."

William T. Sherman, of Southerners, January 1864.

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[unionblue]

Lincoln liked General Sherman and called his conquest of Savannah in December 1864 "my Christmas present."

When senators pressed Lincoln as to the general's course through Georgia in the following spring, he recounted Sherman's encounter with a Georgian plantation owner.

A gray-haired gentleman sat on the veranda of hiss pillared mansion as Sherman rode up to get water. The owner heard Sherman referred to as a general.

"So you're a general?" he said as he offered Sherman a jug of water.
Sherman nodded.
"How many men do you have?" queried the planter.
"About a million," was Sherman's dry reply.
"Where are you headed for?" was the next question.
"I'm not sure I should answer that," said the Union Army general.
"Oh I wouldn't tell anybody," the Southerner insisted.
"But this is knowledge not to be released publicly," stated Sherman.
"Oh I wouldn't tell anybody where you're going."
"You promise?" demanded General Sherman.
"Yes, I swear on the honor of a gentleman," said the Georgian, crossing his heart.
"All right," said Sherman, "lean over and I'll whisper it in your ear."
The man bent over and then he heard Sherman's scream.

"I'm going where I goddam please!"

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[johan_steele]

Thoughts are ephemeral. Deeds substantial. To unite both requires genius. Referring to Emory Upton

 

[johan_steele]

"It is enough to make the whole world start to see the awful amount of death and destruction that now stalks abroad".---General W.T. Sherman, 1864

Originally posted by Thea

 

[johan_steele]

Upon learning of Genl McPherson's death at the Battle of Atlanta, "Tell General Logan to FIGHT EM! FIGHT EM LIKE HELL!"

 

[samgrant]

If we can march a well appointed army right through his territory, it is a demonstration to the World, foreign and domestic, that we have a power which Davis cannot resist. This may not be war, but rather statesmanship ..."

- to Gen. Grant from Gen. W. T. Sherman Nov. 6, 1864

 

[Jules362]

Sherman on General Lee

Sherman's response when an argument was made that Lee was a greater general than Grant:

"His Virginia was to him the world...[He] stood at the front porch battling with the flames whilst the kitchen and whole house were burning, sure in the end to consume the whole."

(From Grant and Sherman: The Friendship That Won The Civil War, by Charles Bracelen Flood

 

[diddyriddick]

Not bad for a crazy man.

 

[unionblue]

From the book, Sherman: A Soldier's Passion For Order, by John F. Marszalek:

"Why, then," the women aksed, "did you burn our town, or allow your army to do so?"

Sherman answered. "Your brothers, sons, husbands and fathers set fire to every city, town and village in the land when they fired on Fort Sumter. That fire kindled then and there by them has been burning ever since, and reached your houses last night."

General William T. Sherman in conversation with a committe of women the day after the fire in Columbia, South Carolina, February 19, 1865.

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[unionblue]

"Had I intended to burn Columbia, I would have done it just as I would have done any act of war, and there would have been no concealment about it."

William T. Sherman, 1881.

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[Vareb]

Grant stood by me when I was crazy, and I stood by him when he was drunk, and now we stand by each other.

William Tecumseh Sherman

 

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During the Atlanta campaign, during July 17, 1864, while Sherman sent his forces forward to Peach Tree Creek, rumors had spread to the Union army that Confederate General Joe Johnston was in danger of being relieved.

A Union picket tried to find out.

"Hello, Johnny, who's your commander now?" he asked.

A Confederate called back, "Sherman."

"How's that?" the Federal asked.

"Well, when you move, we move." replied the Confederate.

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