[central_va]

War crimes. If any commander said and did this in Afghanistan or Iraq they’d be on an all expanses paid permanent vacation in Leavenworth, Kansas.

[Vaquero]

In the past, the winner wrote the history and doled out punishment to the enemy, not themselves

[Bull Snipe]

The initial fires in the afternoon and evening of the 16th were set by Joe Wheelers retreating cavalry. They were trying to destroy the cotton so it would not fall into Union hands. They slit bales opens and lighted them. The burning cotton lint was blown over the area and started other fires.

[Leaning Right]

> War crimes. <

History is written by the winners, of course. But let’s say Sherman did order the burning of Confederate civilian buildings. Is that very much different from the Allied generals who ordered the fire-bombing of Axis cities?

I have no easy answer for that.

[Midwesterner53]

In those days and up to WW 2, winning the war was the only concern.