Would general Sherman be a war criminal?

Would general Sherman be a war criminal?

Some have claimed that Sherman was a war criminal, authorizing plunder and looting of civilian property. But the matter is more complex than either of these charges indicate. In fact, Sherman's actions were the culmination of a Union policy toward civilians that evolved during the course of the war.

Was General Sherman cruel?

From Bull Run, Sherman rose in rank until he commanded vast Union armies on campaign. Through it all, Sherman witnessed war's devastation. But contrary to popular myth, he was not indifferent to it or cruel himself.Mar 31, 2022

What did General Sherman do that upset people in the south?

Sherman abandoned his supply line and marched across Georgia to the Atlantic Ocean to prove to the Confederate population that its government could not protect the people from invaders.

How did General Sherman's March to the Sea affect Southern society?

Sherman's March to the Sea, coupled with his Atlanta Campaign, may have tipped the scales of victory toward the Union in the Civil War. The destruction wreaked by the operation caused significant Confederate economic loss and diminished Confederate morale, generating deep resentment in Southerners.

What does Sherman mean when he says war is cruelty and you Cannot refine it?

To stop war, we must defeat the rebel armies which are arrayed against the laws and Constitution that all must respect and obey. To defeat those armies, we must prepare the way to reach them in their recesses, provided with the arms and instruments which enable us to accomplish our purpose.Feb 9, 2013

What does Sherman say about war?

Sherman wrote: You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out.

What was the purpose of Sherman's destructive war?

The purpose of Sherman's March to the Sea was to frighten Georgia's civilian population into abandoning the Confederate cause. Sherman's soldiers did not destroy any of the towns in their path, but they stole food and livestock and burned the houses and barns of people who tried to fight back.Feb 22, 2010

Did Sherman burn the South?

The purpose of Sherman's March to the Sea was to frighten Georgia's civilian population into abandoning the Confederate cause. Sherman's soldiers did not destroy any of the towns in their path, but they stole food and livestock and burned the houses and barns of people who tried to fight back.Feb 22, 2010

Who burned down the South in the Civil War?

On November 15, 1864, Union forces led by Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman burned nearly all of the captured city of Atlanta, Georgia.May 19, 2022

Were Shermans actions justified?

Sherman's March to the Sea was justified because, by destroying the army's ability to be fed and supplied, Sherman could help end the war sooner. This would mean fewer dead and wounded on both sides.

Were Sherman's actions justified?

Sherman's March to the Sea was justified because, by destroying the army's ability to be fed and supplied, Sherman could help end the war sooner. This would mean fewer dead and wounded on both sides.