Sherman a Hero or a Terorist general?

So, can we NOW admit that he was in fact a terrorist general?

Not really. I will stick by what I believe. I don't think he was a villan. Just a little misguided. We have had alot of evidence that alot of the stuff that happened was beyond his control. And, when you have thousands of bummers all over the place, no one would be able to round them all up. Believe what you want. I stick to what I believe to be right.

Did I not type out an entire transcript on the burning of a city right under Sherman's nose? Is there not documented proof that he saw his men pillaging a church, and only said "They had it coming"? And this is no villain?

Like I said, he was a misguided. Interpet the word 'misguided' as you will.

lol. Hard-headed yankees, you gotta love 'em. IBG, what would you do if you saw some guys burning down a church? Ok, now judge Sherman's actions as opposed to your own. I would hope you would be ashamed of yourself if you didn't do anything to stop men you saw desecrating a house of God. Now why wouldn't the same go for Sherman?

Iron Brigade General wrote:

Like I said, he was a misguided. Interpet the word 'misguided' as you will.

Misguided he was indeed IBG, but being misguided does not change what you are or have become. But the circumstances and actions show that whether or not he was a villain before the war, that after what he had become, intentional or not, was in fact, a tyrant, terrorist general, misguided unionist, whatever you want to call it. What shows shows, no matter what Sherman believed he was in his heart, what was in his heart makes him what he was. And the heart is revealed through what you do, and the lifestyle you lead. Sorry IBG, but Stuart is in the clear on this one.

One year cannot condemn a man to a lifetime of spite and hatred. And, really Sheridan did pretty much the same thing. Why does everyone tear down Sherman when Sheridan did the same thing?

Ofcourse it cant, only certain actions can do that. Please dont think that I have any malice for Sherman, this is just what he appears to be to me. And I'm afraid I cant answer that question, for I dont know who Sheridan is.

IBG, about the Sheridan/Sherman comparison, Sheridan was only a cavalry commander who though may have committed war crimes comparable to Sherman's, was in such a position of rank as to not draw all responsibility for his actions. Most of his 'scandals' occurred while on raids that were ordered and authorized by the army commander, and being in the cavalry corps practically gave him an free pass, since that branch of the army's job was, raiding and looting.

Besides IBG, this thread is for Sherman, if it were for Sheridan we'd try rip him apart too.

Whatever. So, anyways, does anyone know Sherman's policy towards the indians? I know Sheridan's was kill them all, but, I can't find anything on Sherman's opinion. All I can find really on him that really stood out after the CW was his rise to Luitenant General and his unwillingness to be president.

Umm, If I read correctly Sherman wasnt to fond of indians either. He had quite a few campaings against them, in which he promptly sluaghtered a bunch of buffalo to defeat a group of plains indians . Basically he conducted the same strategy in his march on the sea.


But, here is something Sherman wrote in a persanol letter, nothing incented meant, just something to ponder.

I confess, without shame, that I am sick and tired of fighting—its glory is all moonshine; even success the most brilliant is over dead and mangled bodies, with the anguish and lamentations of distant families, appealing to me for sons, husbands, and fathers ... it is only those who have never heard a shot, never heard the shriek and groans of the wounded and lacerated ... that cry aloud for more blood, more vengeance, more desolation.[51]