It wasn't 1740.
Perhaps you'd prefer what Hood did at Franklin. That attack included what has been called the most deadly hour in the whole war. Hood wrecked his army to no purpose.
Sherman obtained his objectives after capturing Atlanta without facing any important opposition at all.
It was Sun Tzu who said that the acme of skill was not to fight and win 100 battles; the acme of skill is to obtain your objectives without fighting.
You just don't like the result.
I'll take Sherman over Hood any day; in fact, I'll take Sherman over any rebel general. Hood -was- especially clueless - he sent his men forward after having been present the third day at Gettysburg.
Walt
Rather than face a military force, Sherman (Spit!) finally chose to attack cilvilian targets, old men, women and children. What a coward.