Sherman's March: The First Full-Length Narrative of General William T. Sherman's Devastating March through Georgia and the Carolinas Paperback – May 12, 1988

This well researched and finely written book was a balanced look at Sherman and his wild rampage through the southern states especially Georgia. Ultimately it had a direct and powerful impact on stopping the war and avoiding even more senseless deaths.The book seems to distance the Union army from the Foragers as being somewhat out of their control. It is a stretch for me to believe they were not under direct command to do many of the things they did. The counter point is their activities were met with a wink and a turned eye of the leadership. It was the kind of scorched earth they carried out which brought the pain and hardship on the population which brought an end to the madness.So many public buildings were destroyed there is a void in the history of our people which can never be replaced. As a geneologist I now understand why their are so many blanks in my family tree I will never be able to fill. They either moved away leaving no records or lie moldering in the earth somewhere with no record of how they met their death or where they were laid to rest.I walked many of the battle fields of Georgia and wondered if I was standing where a member of my family had fallen .

The unique thing about Burke's book on Sherman 's March is it isn't a book about a military campaign. It's about a wild, devastating escapade in age where madness was every where and the zeal of all involved to declare their own righteousness over one another was all that mattered. Full of individual stories of horror, selfish acts, graphic hatred, anger occasionally shocking kindnesses i the mist of all.If you are looking for detailed accounting of troop movements, military communiques this not it. There sre other books for that.Burke has done a service to the above books and taken to heart the legend of Sherman and his march to the sea. Was he a ruthless butcher l, a bigot or some other sort.Burke gives you personal accounts of southerners caught in his wake, slaves who plantations abandoned followed his 10 mile long as it winded its way through Georgia and the Carolina's. From accounts of union soldiers, bummers, and foragers alike.An engaging read. Well written.

I found this book to be a well balanced account of Sherman's march through Georgia, South Carolina and part of North Carolina as the war ended. It neither excuses the excesses of his troops, nor jumps to the defense of the Southern cause.As one can tell by the reviews, many come to this topic with their minds made up, either in support of Sherman or with him as the bete noire of the Southern cause.The march was a devastating blow to the south, and whether one finds it justifiable or reprehensible, rational arguments can be made to support either side. On one side there is the devastation visited on women and children, old and young and on the other side, that the march shortened the war, and was in this sense justified to shorten the nation's suffering.Much like the horrific effects of dropping the atomic bombs on Japan at the end of WWII, the march must be taken in the context of its time and circumstances. I doubt there will ever be a consensus agreement on either the march, or the use of atomic bombs on civilian populations.The personal perspectives of both common people, and the powerful (Grant, Lincoln, Stanton and several of Sherman's opponents and generals) is a strong point of the narrative, and it gives a good perspective that the leaders in the north were apprehensive and unsure of the armies ability to make this march, while the Western army was never seriously threatened by confederate forces after Atlanta.The treatment of blacks by both the North and South is abhorrent, and well documented throughout. The most poignant example is the difference in rape, and it's consequences, depending solely on the color of the victim's skin.While racism is unfortunately still thriving in our nation, one can not but help regard the extreme prejudice so prevalent at the end of the civil war with horror.All in all, I found this a good read, and recommend it to anyone looking for a well researched perspective on a troubling period of our history.

This has to be the classic account of William T Sherman's 'March to the Sea', cutting a swathe of devastation through the heart of the Confederacy - Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Meticulously researched, it brings together a myriad of eye-witness accounts from all sides, and throws an interesting light on Sherman' abilities - very strong on strategy, but less so on the art of handling armies in the field, and seriously deficient at the political level. Fortunately, Grant was able to shield him from the worst consequences of political naivety.Reading the book makes it clear why it was that the Civil War ended as it did, rather than trailing away into a years of guerrilla warfare. Sherman was one of the very few high ranking officers, on either side, who understood the concept of total war, and was prepared, and in a position to, employ his theories.A fascinating book, well written, and easy to read.

Sherman was a very complex person caring and compassionate on one side doing very cruel atrocities on the other. A real Jekal and Hyde, were the ends justified the means . Period!

Great stuff. A really interesting account of this episode. i only give it 4 stars as writing a bit lumpy. But you do feel involved in the whole march and the with the people who made it. Interesting how Sherman by this stage was super confident in everything he did. A major difference from his early activity in the War

found out how the march went and the various characters on it and who they met from the other side

A thoroughly absorbing book which brings to life Sherman’s March to the sea. The US civil war equivalent of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs. Both designed to bring a war to an end. Given the subject matter you can’t say I enjoyed this book but if you enjoy reading history this book is for you..