“Lincoln gave no such orders. That is a Lost Cause myth.”
Actually, you don’t know what the hell you are talking about.
Do you honestly believe that Lincoln did not know what was going on? Or ever tried to stop it? Lincoln termed it “pursuing a hard war.” Do you actually think that shelling peaceful towns that are cut off by hundreds of miles from any army is warranted?
And it wasn’t just Grant and Sherman.
Not to mention the many years of Reconstruction when Federal troops subjugated the South.
Cite your source information that shows that Lincoln gave any direct order to ravage the south. Reconstruction has nothing to do with what you stated. Reconstruction was after Lincoln and stood in direct opposition to his wishes for bringing the South back into the union.
Unfortunately, for some out there today, the mythology of the lost cause lives today and they won’t seem to let go of history they cannot change.
I’ve studied history and the CW for years, probably more than you have, so cite your references please.