What was Sherman arguing in this passage?
Most white people in the Confederacy had always supported the Union.
Sherman’s march through Georgia had been anfailure for the Union army.
The war should only be fought against Confederate soldiers, not civilians.
The Union army should make life hard for Confederate civilians.

Sherman was advocating for a strategy that extended beyond traditional battlefield tactics. His view reflected a belief that in order to undermine the Confederacy, it was necessary to disrupt not only military forces but also the will and resources of civilians supporting them. This approach played a critical role in shaping what later became known as “total war,” where civilian infrastructure was targeted to diminish morale and support for the enemy.

In the context of Sherman’s campaign, his infamous “March to the Sea” showed this philosophy in action. As his troops moved through Georgia, they systematically destroyed railroads, bridges, and supplies, impacting the Confederacy’s capacity to sustain itself. This was not just a military strategy; it was a psychological tactic meant to shake the foundations of Confederate society and hasten the end of the war.