This Day In History | Civil War December 22, 1864 Sherman presents Lincoln with a Christmas gift

http://www.historychannel.com/tdih/tdih.jsp?category=civil ^

[indcons]

No Union general is hated as much as Sherman in the South; the South hasn't forgotten Sherman's March to the Sea or his promise to make "them howl."

[indcons]

MilHist ping

[mainepatsfan]

Which is interesting considering Grant's army killed many more Confederate soldiers.

[Littlejon]

Actually, Sherman didn't so much "capture" Savannah as Savannah gave up. The city's mayor, not wanting to see it end up like Atlanta, sent word to Sherman that they would give up, provided her didn't raze it. Sherman agreed and the city basically turned itself over to the good General. One reason so many historic buildings still remain in Savannah. City officials left the city for SC the night before Sherman's men went in. Nothing was destroyed in Savannah and Sherman's men marched north through SC soon after.

[mainepatsfan]

They didn't want to go through another Vicksburg or Petersburg because the outcome was not in doubt.

[indcons]

True but Gen. Grant did not march through the heart of the Confedracy and commit atrocities on them. Victors always write the hisory books and the glossing of Sherman's atrocities on civilians is just another example.

Sherman is usually glorified by most people north of Mason-Dixon who do not know his notorious treatment of Southern civilians, Black and White. I have lived in the hearts of both the former Union and the former Confedracy. Funnily enough, I initially learned about Sherman's atrocities from a hardcore Union supporter in the Northeast.

BTW, Gen. W.T. Sherman was one of the founders of what we call LSU today!! Under Sherman, LSU was known as the Louisiana State Seminary and Military Academy.

[johnny7]

“I'll make Georgia howl!” -William Tecumseh Sherman

Sherman even managed to kill-off another Reb AFTER his death... Joe Johnston.

[indcons]

"...the city basically turned itself over to the good General."

I gather that this was true in case of some towns in North Carolina too. BTW, see comment #7 on this thread; do you think my characterization is accurate?

[Wallace T.]

Grant is less hated by Southerners because he was first and foremost a combat general who inflicted death and destruction mainly Confederate military. Sherman and Sheridan extensively destroyed private property, including farms, railroads, and industries. Their actions may have ended the war, but it led to a sectional animosity and bitterness that persisted for many decades thereafter.

In World War II, American and British soldiers did not hate, but in fact admired, General Erwin Rommel, while holding the Nazi leadership in contempt. During the occupation of Germany, we treated veterans of the Wehrmacht and the Luftwaffe far more leniently than the veterans of the Waffen SS.

[crz]

And it won the war. Did Patton do the same in WW2? You bet he did! Yet we dont hear nothing about Pattons army leveling whole German towns do we.

BTW. I wholely support BOTH. Take the war to the civilians and make it as nasty as you can.

[indcons]

The SS perfected Sherman's Total Warfare concepts in WW1 and WW2.

[mainepatsfan]

"War is cruelty. There is no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over"

- William T. Sherman

[mainepatsfan]

WW1?!

[john drake]

Funny thing about Sherman; he helped in founding Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, after the war. When I went to visit a family member enrolled in graduate studies there back in the 80's, I was shocked while touring the campus and seeing his statue. So, they may hate him, but at least he tried to "rebuild" the South through creation of higher education institutions.

[indcons]

And it won the war. Did Patton do the same in WW2? You bet he did! Yet we dont hear nothing about Pattons army leveling whole German towns do we. BTW. I wholely support BOTH. Take the war to the civilians and make it as nasty as you can.

Taking the war to civilians makes more sense in the short-term. It is also a surefire method of ending a war when one side has overwhelming resources. However, doing so will ensure that the loser's thirst for revenge never ends for centuries. Some prominent examples of this historical lesson include the Chinese relationship with the Mongols, the (South Asian) Indian relationship with muslims, and of course, the hatred of Sherman in the former CSA.

I have pinged this thread to members of the Military History (MilHist) ping list. They may be able to provide more knowledgeable information than I am capable of.

[indcons]

Sorry....should have read "The Kaiser's Army practiced Total Warfare in WW1 and the SS perfected it in WW2."

[indcons]

You're right about LSU. See post #7 though...Sherman started LSU in Alexandria before the ACW. It shifted to Baton Rouge after the war.

[mainepatsfan]

Damn fool wouldn't put on his hat!

[Thermalseeker]

One reason so many historic buildings still remain in Savannah.

Madison, Georgia, was also spared. Many of the antibellum plantation houses are still standing. I used to service fire alarms in several mills in the vacinity of Madison and I always looked forward to service calls out that way about Christmas time. Beautiful place, if you ever get the chance to visit.