Sherman Total Warfare

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Total warfare is described as “warfare that includes any and all civilian-associated resources and infrastructure as legitimate military targets, and justifies using weapons and tactics that result in significant civilian or other non-combatant casualties” (Wikipedia.com). Sherman swept through Atlanta in a way that was quick and swift during his march to the sea. He showed his brute force by burning supplies, the homes of those who did not support the Yankees, and major military outposts (killing the wounded). According to Sherman there was not a code of war that described its need to be “just”. Sherman's burning of Atlanta did what he wanted it to do which was to hurt Southern morale and cause damage to the Confederacy to end the war. “Behind …show more content…

This tactic Sherman used ended up making some southerners resist the Confederacy and ultimately made the Confederates surrender.
Sherman not only wanted to see Atlanta in flames, but he wanted to do it secretly. Not only did he threaten to kill those who gave information to the rebels, but he also destroyed the telegraph lines to be sure that his intelligence reports would not reach the enemy. As a result of this maneuver, the Confederates were confused in lots of the battles and skirmishes that took place along Sherman's march to the sea. Not only did this affect the Confederacy, but it also affected many Civilians who …show more content…

Repeatedly throughout the campaign his forces continued to outflank the Confederate forces.“break it up, and get into the interior of the enemy’s country as far as you can, inflicting all the damage you can against their war resources.” (William T. Sherman). It gives reference that his officers and regiments he sent out maintained the same idea which was to destroy everything in sight. Major Davidson of the 14th Illinois Cavalry stated, “Striking the Georgia Central Railroad at Gordon, the junction of the Eatonton and Georgia Central Railroads, I burned a large brick depot filled with army supplies, destroying 11 locomotives, and burned 11 trains of cars consisting of 40 passenger-cars, 80 box-cars filled with commissary and quartermaster stores, and 20 open cars loaded with machinery, also burned a large building stored with tools and machinery belonging to the railroad company, and 1 cotton factory; destroyed the telegraph office, with several instruments, capturing the operator, and tore up half a mile of railroad track.” By tearing up railroad tracks as indicated in the previous report, various supply trains were destroyed by Sherman's “tie” where his troops would bend the two sides of a railroad track into the shape of a

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