Posted on 04/11/2010 11:18:54 AM PDT by trumandogz
Didn't hurt that Sherman's troops were wrapping southern rail lines around trees.
Are you defending Sherman's actions as being crucial to the war effort? If you read Sherman's own words, that was not his primary intent. He knew the south was defeated and sought to punish them so as to remove any desire to wage war in the future.
Lee's army never launched another full scale offensive front after Gettysburg. You do n ot win a war by being on the defense.
Compare to WWII, Germany, with their backs to the wall launched a full scale offensive attack in the Battle of the Bulge. When that attack failed, the war in Europe was essentially over, but Germany did not surrender until May, five months later.
It ain't over 'til it's over. Suppose that Hitler had had nuclear arms in development and was stalling for time? In all of your examples, you have the advantage of hindsight.
Not at all.
I have the advantage of having read up on both Lee and Grant (getting back to the original subject). Lee knew Gettysburg was his last chance at a sound defeat of the Union troops he faced. Hence, Pickett's Charge, high risk maneuver done out of desperation.
Lee was too good of a fighter to not give up until the South was thrashed.
JEB Stuart didn’t do Lee any favors at Gettysburg, either.
Agreed on that.
Until THIS moron, anyway :)
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