The Figure of W.T. Sherman in

A detailed Summary of The Figure of W.T. Sherman in

Through the veil of time, the Civil War has come to mean many things. For some, it was a war to free the slaves-for others, it was a matter of patriotism under the fist of tyranny. However, to concede to either of these explanations as the sole correct answer is an over simplification of grotesque proportions. To uncover the real meaning of the war, it is necessary to view all aspects of the conflict exactly as they were and not pander to the fickle nature of memory and remembrance. To William T. Sherman, the war was not about slaves, or cotton, or even states rights-it was about righting a wrong of epic magnitude. The South, through insurrection had shattered the union, and that sort of criminal act could not stand if the nation were to survive and prosper. Sherman understood the war best because he cut past all the political window dressing to the bare facts: Southerners and Northerners are really no different and Secession is essentially chaos. To end the war was to put down the rebellion and re-establish order among a common people.

Early in him memoirs, Sherman dispels the myth of a war fought for slavery. While he was still employed as an instructor at the Louisiana Seminary of Learning and Military Academy, S

In conclusion, as much as memory might like to pigeon-hole history into stereotypes, the motivation for the Civil War is based on a number of contributing factors. However, the real issue which split the nation was not slaves or states rights-it was a matter of insubordination-of breaking the union apart and defying the constitution of common law. Sherman, though his experiences in the chaotic West, realized this in a way perhaps few others could, and stood to reason that in a war between a common people the only victory is one which units them again. Despite the ugly side of his tactics, they were necessary to ensure the reformation of the union.

For Sherman, secession was an unpardonable act of anarchy. The same sort of structure that was critical to keeping an army together and cohesive was imperative to running a nation as well. The thoughtless and hasty decision which caused Ft. Sumter to be fired upon was not so different than a chaotic situation Sherman witnessed in his California days. Casey and King, the two reporters with different agendas, egged one another to the extent that Casey reacted with brutality and fired upon the practically unarmed King. Both men were popular, and the commotion that rose within the city formed a chaotic mob. "There were a good many citizens," Sherman notes, "who contended that, if civil authorities were properly sustained . . . they could execute the law. But papers inflamed the public mind". The only way to defeat the surging Vigilance Committee and restore calm was to bring in the army and literally crush the life out of the insurrection.

After Grant and Sherman's tirade, which left the South unable to rise, the matter of reconstruction was on the forefront. Sherman's largest fear was that men who h

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Category: History