Sherman lived in a different time, with different standards.
It would be great if we could go back in time, but we can’t.
Sherman did not have to deal with treasonous media, TV on the battlefield or a barbarous, irrational enemy. Many of the actions of his troops would be considered war crimes today.
We need better generals, but another Sherman is not the answer. I hope Petraeus is up to the job. His predecessors certainly weren’t.
There are other things that can be done to defeat this enemy, legally, morally, and effectively. I don’t know why they are not being done.
Sherman was nearly removed from the war because of early media accounts while still in Kentucky, which questioned his very sanity. Granted he did not have to deal with TV, and the Confedeeracy did generally recognize the conventions of war; however, keep in mind that Sherman was also the architect of the Indian wars, which were a bit less..."civilized," (one might even say "barbarous and irrational").
"Many of the actions of his troops would be considered war crimes today."
Therein is part of the problem...Sherman and Grant certainly enjoyed the support of Lincoln who, once he found succesful generals refused to micromanage them, although Stanton had it out for Sherman and tried to ruin his career. When it comes to the various conventions, and the laws of land warfare, you have to go a long way to commit "war crimes" against non-uniformed combatants as we're facing today...and for whom summary execution is prescribed as entirely appropriate. We need poitical leadership who will let the military do it's job, and generals who will ask forgiveness after the fact instead of timidly seek permission first.
Certainly some things have changed since Sherman's day. Likewise, somethings have never changed....and never will.
Actually, he and President Lincoln did have a lot of treason to deal with, especially Copperheads.
But they had more tools at their disposal then, like suspending habeas corpus.