Sherman's March.

This is coolbert:

Perhaps one of the most, perhaps the most, maligned man in U.S. military history is General William Tecumseh Sherman. Commanded the “March to the Sea”. Prior to that is credited with “burning Atlanta to the ground”. Sherman is a man widely despised throughout the south for his “scorched earth” tactics. Sherman is a man generally felt to be cold, callous, cruel, sadistic, perhaps even mentally deranged.

What is the truth to these characterizations??

One thing is true for certain, and is undisputedly so! Sherman DID NOT burn Atlanta to the ground.

Yes, Atlanta was burned to the ground during the American Civil War. And yes, Sherman was at the command of his army was present during the conflagration.

But, did Sherman order that Atlanta be put to the torch? Burn in a deliberate manner a major metropolis without qualms!!

NO!! Emphatically NO!!

It is a well established fact that the fire that DID consume Atlanta originated from the efforts of retreating southern troops to destroy by burning ammunition stocks of the Confederacy that were present in Atlanta. Stocks that had to be destroyed rather than be left for Sherman to use at a later date. This fire, set by southern troops, and intended to destroy ONLY the ammunition stocks, got out of control, spread to nearby warehouses, and from there spread to the city of Atlanta as a whole.

It may very well be that Sherman did not mourn the loss of Atlanta to the south. It may be very well that Sherman, if left to his own resort, might have done the same [burn Atlanta]. It may be very well that Sherman did not take any effort to control or extinguish the fire once it started in Atlanta proper. All this maybe very well be true. But was the fire that actually burned Atlanta in 1864 set by Yankee troops at the order of Sherman?? NO!!

More on Sherman later.

coolbert.