Oh, but Sherman was reviled, and is, to this day.
As the Italian villagers would lynch the downed American aircrews.
Why, they wrecked havoc on their structures, killed their families.
So it is the business of war to break things and kill people until the enemy surrenders.
Lee saw four years of war ahead at the beginning.
In the end, when all has been said about concentration of this and center of gravity of that, it is about will.
What began with the exchanges between gentlemen was ended with the treaty signed by gentlemen.
Betwixt it was--what else--hell.
From Robert Anderson's 18 April 1861 dispatch after boarding the steamship Baltic:
"Having defended Fort Sumter for thirty-four hours, until the quarters were entirely burned, the main gates destroyed by fire, the gorge walls seriously injured, the magazine surrounded by flames, and its door closed from the effects of heat, four barrels and three cartridges of powder only being available, and no provisions remaining but pork, I accepted terms of evacuation offered by General Beauregard, being the same offered by him on the 11th instant, prior to the commencement of hostilities, and marched out of the fort Sunday afternoon, the 14th instant, with colors flying and drums beating, bringing away company and private property, and saluting my flag with fifty guns."
INTERIOR VIEW OF FORT SUMTER
March 1865
