[kittymyrib]

Sherman would be tried for war crimes in today's world. The majority of plantations were already in ruins, with only the women and children and ex-slaves subsisting on the land. (Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation having freed only the slaves in the Confederate States, while Mrs. Grant kept her household slaves until well after the war.) "Gone with the Wind" was not fictional in depicting the circumstances in the South. And by the way, Southerners have not forgotten and will never forget. The scars from the cruelty of the dishonorable US government are embedded in the soul of the South.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Sherman played rough, but that brought the end of the bloodshed quicker. Sherman also did a favor for all time in showing the the rich man's rebellion to protect slavery wasn't worth the hardship incurred in continuing the fight. "Lost Cause" diehards need to see that the South as a whole gave up the fight when Sherman put them to the test. If the cause wasn't that important to the people who quit on it, why falsely glorify it today? When Sherman showed the price that must be paid for "independence", the rebellious faction in the South decided that the "noble cause" wasn't worth the price. And thus, Sherman freed the ordinary people of the South from a future tyranny of the slaveowning minority. So both as a Southerner and as an American, I feel gratitude toward Sherman and his army.

[Non-Sequitur]

The majority of plantations were already in ruins, with only the women and children and ex-slaves subsisting on the land.

What caused the ruin to the plantations if the Northern armies had not passed through the areas?

...while Mrs. Grant kept her household slaves until well after the war.

How could that be possible when Missouri amended her Constitution to emancipate all slaves in January 1865?

"Gone with the Wind" was not fictional in depicting the circumstances in the South.

So there was a Tara? And Scarlet O'Hara was a real person?

[HostileTerritory]

And by the way, Southerners have not forgotten and will never forget.

Bitch and moan. Funny how you expect African-Americans to get over slavery, which lasted a hell of a lot longer than the suppression of the southern rebellion.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

And by the way, Southerners have not forgotten and will never forget.

Here's the reaction to Sherman's army moving through the hamlet of Red Clay on the Tennessee/Georgia border as recorded by Union soldier Charles Partridge of the 96th Illinois infantry:

"The Union citizens were quite demonstrative, some of them even bringing out flags, which had doubtless been hidden for at least three years. Women swung their bonnets and men hurrahed for the Yankees and the Union. manifesting great delight..."

There was a significant element who saw Sherman and his troops as liberators restoring the rightful government that they never wished to leave.

[injin]

"Southerners have not forgotten and will never forget."

so true , thank you for saying it.

[injin]

here's a song for ya :

the Knot of Blue & Grey

You ask me why upon my breast
Unchanged from day to day.
Linked side by side in this broad band
I wear the Blue and Gray.

I had two brothers long ago,
Two brothers blithe and gay.
One wore the suit of Northern blue
And one of Southern gray.

One heard the roll call of the South
And linked his faith with Lee.
The other bore the stars and stripes
With Sherman to the sea.

Each fought for what he thought was
right And fell with sword in hand.
One sleeps amid Virginia's hills,
And one in Georgia's sands.

But the same sun shines on both their graves,
O'er valley and o'er hill,
And in the darkest of the hours
My brothers they lie still.

That is why upon my breast
unchanged from day to day,
Linked side by side in this broad band
I wear the Blue and Gray.

http://www.bartonpara.com/civilwar/jw/knot.htm