In a message dated 08/30/2003 3:08:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time, agayley@dgs.dgsys.com writes: > > Yes, that's true. What is also true is that hundreds > on both sides would have been guilty of war crimes > Hi List, I believe James was referring to SANCTIONED acts of barbarianism committed by the North. Nothing the South did can compare with the cruel and inhumane treatment to mankind by man than that which was perpetrated by the "animal" (no offense to the animal world intended), that Sherman was. Both the North and the South had renegades and guerrilla activity. Selena Part of the account of destruction of Sherman's March: In Early December of 1864, Major General William Tecumseh Sherman and his 65,000-man army reached the Atlantic Ocean concluding their successful and much-heralded “March to the Sea” through Georgia. As the Union general waited for the inevitable surrender of Savannah, the men in his ranks were guessing what their next move would be.1 Sherman had “no doubt whatever as to (his) future plans” after Savannah. “I have thought them over so long and well that they appear as clear as daylight. I left Augusta untouched on purpose, because the enemy will be in doubt as to my objective point, after crossing the Savannah river, whether it be Augusta or Charleston, and will naturally divide his forces.”6 Columbia was Sherman’s real target. General Ulysses S. Grant, commander –in-chief of the Union Army, dashing his plans. Grant directed Sherman to establish a base on the coast and “with the balance of (his) command, come (to Grant) by water with all dispatch.”7 Sherman responded quickly with three letters to Grant within six days respectfully arguing for his plan. December 16 –“Indeed, with my present command I had expected, after reducing Savannah, instantly to march to Columbia, South Carolina, thence to Raleigh, and thence to report to you.”8 December 18 –“With Savannah in our possession, at some future time, if not now, we can punish South Carolina as she deserves…I do sincerely believe that the whole United States, north and south, would rejoice to have this army turned loose on South Carolina, to devastate that State… it would have a direct and immediate bearing on your campaign in Virginia.”9 December 22 –“I have now completed my first step, and should like to go on to you via Columbia and Raleigh…You know better than anybody else how much better troops arrive by land march than when carried by transport.”10 Ironically, two days after Grant wrote his letter to Sherman with the directive for a water route and before receiving Sherman’s first response, Grant changed his mind due to other military victories and the lack of available ships to transport Sherman’s army.11 On December 24, 1864, Sherman received the change in orders12 and immediately wrote to Major General Halleck in Washington saying that he was now “free to make a broad swath through South and North Carolina”. “The truth is, the whole army is burning with an insatiable desire to wreak vengeance upon South Carolina. I almost tremble at her fate, but feel that she deserves all that seems in store for her.”13 Sherman transported the right wing of his army by ship to Beaufort where the heavy rains made the roads impassable. “Mules and wagons actually (sank) out of sight.”23 Sherman joined General Oliver Howard in Beaufort on January 2124 while the left wing of his army, under the Command of General Henry Slocum, struggled through the rain up the flooding Savannah River. By January 24th the weather improved25 and on January 30, 1865, “the actual invasion of South Carolina” began.26 “There was a grim determination on the part of the men in the ranks to visit a severe judgment on South Carolina…We practically burned a swath 60 miles wide across…The Commanders were powerless…This destruction of property was a matter of revenge.”31—Private John C. Arbuckle, Company K, Fourth Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX To read the rest of the account go to; http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/redir?src=websearch&requestId=1ab55676c99fcf02& clickedItemRank=1&userQuery=SHERMAN%27S+MARCH& clickedItemURN=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shermansrevenge.com%2F "It was the most monstrous barbarity of the barbarous march" Whitelaw Reid

>Nothing the South did can compare with the cruel and inhumane > treatment to mankind by man than that which was perpetrated by the "animal" (no > offense to the animal world intended), that Sherman was. I am no big fan of Sherman but yes, there were men in the South that did equally horrible things. How many unarmed boys in the early to mid teens that were executed at Lawrence Kansas by Quantrill's men ? Sherman had points about him that were admirable, just like Quantrill. They have their place in history and that must be preserved. We may not like their whole person but our feelings are beside the point. They were notable men of the Civil War however horrible their acts may have been. --Scott Williams