Sherman's March to the Sea

Thanks to Under Lucky Stars for sponsoring today's video. Go to underluckystars.com/warographics to get 10% off your order right now.

Legend says that if you say "It's my heritage!" Three times to a foggy mirror in a darkened mirror, Sherman will climb out and burn your house down.

Sherman used a detailed report of the 1860 census to plot his route through Georgia. He used its details of factory and farm output to literally plot his path forward, county by county, in order to maximize his men's access to food along the way - and ravage the richest farms and war making potential in each county.

"Grant stood by me when I was crazy, and I stood by him when he was drunk, and now we stand by each other." - William Tecumseh Sherman

It's important to understand two things about the march to the sea. 1) The American Civil War was fought along railroads and rivers; it was the only way to adequately supply armies of tens of thousands of men. Marching from Atlanta to Savannah meant abandoning the Union Railroad Network. There was a very realistic chance that Sherman's army could have starved to death. 2) Georgia truly was the heartland of the Confederacy, and the land from Atlanta to Savannah was (and still is) the heartland of Georgia. Sherman wasn't marching through the wilderness, he was marching through many of the major population centers of the state which included highly productive farms, manufacturing centers, and plantations which were critical to the Confederate war economy.

Still to this day in South Carolina, there is a billboard near the Georgia border calling General Sherman a terrorist, and arsonist, and a thief. Funny thing is I'm pretty sure it this would bring a smile to uncle Billy's face. That he is still so deeply ingrained in the southern psyche even other after 150 years.

Some great Sherman quotes: “If the people raise a great howl against my barbarity and cruelty, I will answer that war is war, and not popularity seeking.” “I would make this war as severe as possible, and show no symptoms of tiring till the South begs for mercy.” “My aim, then, was to whip the rebels, to humble their pride, to follow them to their inmost recesses, and make them fear and dread us.“ “If you get blown up, I don’t care.” (spoken to Confederate prisoners whom Sherman forced to dig up land mines that Confederate soldiers had planted in the roads ahead of his army) “War cruelty. There’s no use trying to refine it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over.” “You people of the South don't know what you are doing. This country will be drenched in blood, and God only knows how it will end. It is all folly, madness, a crime against civilization.” (written in a letter to a southern friend at the very beginning of the war).

"War is the remedy that our enemies have chosen, and I say let us give them all they want." William T. Sherman

Sherman correctly applied the principles laid out in the art of war

"...make Georgia howl." That's such a chilling line, brilliantly written, but damn...

Abraham Lincoln: "Sherman, have you taken Atlanta yet?" Sherman: "That's a strange way to pronounce firewood, sir."

In the beginning Sherman was the only one who understood what was coming. So he had a mental breakdown, got over it and then got the job done.

Gen. Sherman: I wonder how these fools would remember me for? M4 Sherman tank: exists Gen. Sherman: An arson locomotive... 🤠

"War is hell. You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it. Those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out." - William Tecumseh Sherman -

In the late '60s, my friend and I were stopped for speeding by a Georgia State Trooper. He was delighted to have caught a car with Pennsylvania plates. He said "I ain't never seen Yankees speed through my state like you boys". To which my friend in the passenger seat that couldn't help himself said "I guess you never heard of General Sherman?". Needless to say, we spent the night in a Georgia jail cell......

I’m from Ohio, and I have a shirt with this wonderful man’s face plastered on it that reads “undefeated out of conference” I wear it every time I go down south, and the pure comedy gold that happens every time is freakin amazing lol

Say what you want about Sherman and Grant, but they got the job done. I think both are underrated as generals.

Love your multitude of shows. One point that’s been overblown is that Grant was a drunk. He struggled with alcohol, but if you read his dispatches from the war and the accounts of contemporary witnesses, he was stone cold sober during his campaigns. He saved the Union and was an amazingly effective leader.

Sherman: "execute order 67" Union soldiers: " it will be done my lord"

Sherman did exactly what Sun Tzu advised in terms of supply lines.