Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman, Volume II., Part 4

In Short

This volume serves as a primary account of the conclusion of the American Civil War, detailing the strategic brilliance and logistical rigor behind the famous March to the Sea and the subsequent Carolinas Campaign. Beyond the battlefield, it offers a candid look at the friction between military command and Washington’s political machine during the post-war era. It remains a foundational text for historians and readers interested in the internal mechanics of a massive national conflict, providing a direct, unvarnished window into the professional life of one of history’s most influential military figures.

The Story

The narrative picks up in November 1864, as the army prepares to sever its communications and move into the heart of Georgia. The logistical precision is immediate: sixty-two thousand men are organized into two wings, stripped of non-combatants and excess baggage, and set on a course that would redefine modern warfare. The sweep through Georgia is a calculated exercise in making the region untenable for the enemy, characterized by the systematic destruction of rail lines, depots, and public infrastructure. The author describes the methodical burning of bridges and even the destruction of infrastructure like wells, all part of a larger plan to force a psychological and material surrender.

As the army reaches Savannah, the narrative shifts from tactical movement to the political and diplomatic negotiations that follow military success. The capture of the city is not just a tactical victory but a strategic pivot point. The author finds himself dealing with Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and a retinue of officials who arrive to manage captured cotton—a process that the author views with suspicion, particularly regarding the handling of seized property and the potential for fraud.

The arc then turns to the Carolinas Campaign. The march continues with the same cold, administrative resolve, aiming for Columbia and eventually aligning with other Union forces to trap the Confederate armies. The author details the burning of arsenals and the destruction of railroad centers, consistently framing these actions as necessary steps to prevent the South from continuing the war.

The final movement of the book takes place after the surrender of Joseph E. Johnston. The narrative here captures the intense, often bitter, conflict between military commanders and the political leadership in Washington. The author describes his attempt to secure a lasting peace through generous surrender terms—terms he insists were aligned with Abraham Lincoln’s own wishes—only to find them publicly repudiated by the Secretary of War. The book moves into its final chapters by detailing the author’s transition from an active combat commander to a peacetime general. He describes his frustration with the bureaucratic inertia of the War Department, the political intrigue of the post-war era, and his eventual retirement. The story closes with a reflection on his decades of service, acknowledging his own imperfections while firmly asserting his belief that the preservation of the Union was a task that required the sacrifice and vigilance he provided.

How It Unfolds

The march begins The army detaches from all rear communication, transforming into a self-sufficient force of over sixty thousand men. The author meticulously categorizes his corps and divisions, emphasizing the removal of any element that might impede the speed and effectiveness of the movement.

The path of destruction The narrative tracks the systematic dismantling of Georgia’s infrastructure. From the burning of depots to the twisting of railroad iron, the author shows the cold, deliberate logic applied to every mile of the campaign.

The fall of Savannah The focus shifts to the capture of the city and the subsequent arrival of Northern officials. The author records his growing discomfort with the interference of civilians and the questionable administration of captured cotton.

Into the Carolinas The army drives north,feigning toward Augusta while heading for Columbia. The author explains his strategy of breaking the enemy's heartland, ensuring the destruction of war-making capabilities while trying to maintain order among his troops.

The surrender and the fallout The book covers the capitulation of Confederate forces and the immediate, scathing political backlash in Washington. The author defends his liberal terms of surrender, characterizing the opposition from the War Department as petty and obstructive.

The long shadow of peace The final section examines the author’s tenure in various military departments after the war. He details his ongoing struggle to define the power of the General of the Army against the encroaching influence of the Secretary of War, leading to his eventual retirement and reflection.

The People

The author, William T. Sherman, remains the central lens through which all events are filtered. He portrays himself as a pragmatic, duty-bound officer who is often at odds with the "intrigue and excitement" of Washington. He values military efficiency above all else and views his subordinates, like O. O. Howard and H. W. Slocum, as extensions of his own tactical will.

Joseph E. Johnston, the Confederate general, appears as a formidable adversary whose eventual surrender is handled with a level of professional respect that Sherman feels is missing from his own government's reaction.

Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War, acts as the primary antagonist in the latter half of the book. Sherman views him as a power-hungry bureaucrat whose actions regarding the surrender terms were driven by personal political ambition rather than the best interests of the country.

Abraham Lincoln is mentioned with a sense of reverence, serving as the moral and political justification for the generous terms Sherman offered the defeated South.

Finally, the soldiers themselves—the "veteran divisions" of the army—are depicted as an invincible, self-confident body. Sherman views them with a mix of pride and protective detachment, always ensuring they are well-fed and well-led, even when the weather and terrain present nearly impossible obstacles.

In Its Own Voice

"The most extraordinary efforts had been made to purge this army of non-combatants and of sick men, for we knew well that there was to be no place of safety save with the army itself."

Sherman explains the logistical necessity of keeping his army lean and agile for the March to the Sea.

"The fact is, they met an old beggar in the road, whose crutches had broken from under him: they let him have only the broken crutches to get home with!"

Sherman uses a metaphor to describe the supposedly "liberal" terms he offered the defeated Confederate army.

What It's Really About

The book is a study in the disconnect between the battlefield and the capital. Sherman argues that once the military purpose of a war is achieved, the government’s focus should immediately shift toward a stable, orderly peace. He questions whether civilian leadership—specifically the Secretary of War—should have the authority to manage the details of military surrender or command. It is also an argument about the nature of total war; Sherman firmly believes that the destruction of a society’s ability to wage war is the only way to shorten the conflict and prevent future violence. Beneath the tactical accounts, the book asks whether a democracy can effectively manage a professional military during times of both crisis and transition without succumbing to internal political strife.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the gritty, technical details of military planning and logistics will find much to admire here. Sherman writes with a clinical, almost architectural focus on how an army survives and moves, making the reader feel the weight of every supply wagon and the necessity of every twisted railroad tie. It is an honest, if occasionally self-justifying, look at a man who was acutely aware of his place in history and determined to frame his legacy before he left the stage.

The book is not without its challenges. Modern readers may find the author’s period-specific attitudes toward the civilian population and his dismissive tone toward bureaucratic oversight jarring. The prose is utilitarian and sometimes dry, reflecting the character of a man who valued "soldier’s frankness" over political decorum. However, for those who want to understand the mindset of the commanders who fought the Civil War, this is essential reading. What stays with the reader is the sense of absolute, unwavering certainty in Sherman’s voice—a man who believed he was doing the difficult, necessary work of holding a fracturing nation together, even when that work brought him into conflict with his own government. It is a dense, rewarding document of a transformative moment in American history.