The American way of war.
Destroy THINGS rather than men. Destroy the supporting infrastucture for the Confederacy and the Confederate army dried up in provisions, material, transportation, etc.
Grant, tied to the Confederate army and never let go. No 'regrouping', no re-training, no retreat and reorganizing. Sheridan used the cavalry the same way we use our tanks today, swift powerful shock power. It was war of the future.
Lee was brilliant as a tactician. He proved his value and worth as an engineer in the Mexican War, where the world thought we would be defeated. Each man made a choice when the WBTS started, state or country. Those that chose state, would lose. The South had no heavy industry, foundries, shipping, communications and transport to support a moving army. That they did so well for so long with so little is a testiment to tenacity and spirit.
fyi, "suffering troops under his command to commit war crimes" is what we hanged GEN Yamashita after WW2 for allowing.
BOTH sherman & sheridan deserved the same fate.
free dixie,sw