The article, as all such articles do, implies that Sherman and other Army officials were providing “reparations” to compensate ex-slaves for their oppression.
In actual fact, all the army provided was “possessory titles,” not absolute titles for permanent ownership.
IOW, they were intended as a temporary measure to settle the blacks in situations where they could support themselves rather than being parasites on the army. It was never intended to be a permanent measure, unless of course Congress so decided. The Army had no authority to make permanent disposition of title to land, espcially after the war ended.
Sherman was making the best of the rough situation.
During WWII, Eisenhower & Co. didn't want to liberate Paris at the time for the same reason, a drain on resources.