It won the penfaulkner award for fiction 2006 and the national book. Historians have debated whether shermans march to the sea was simply a particularly brutal act of war or whether it was a war crime. The march was very much a doctorow creation, but the here there was a sense that the author was actually interested in the characters of his novel. Brilliantly written in a rickyticky ragtime prose, the book not only mingled. In assessing the influence of sherman on 20thcentury war, carr fortress europe argues that his greatest contribution lies not in the march itselfthough his tactics did inform pattons third army and macarthurs pacific campaignbut rather in sherman s willingness to wage war against civilians. I had a gr gr uncle in the xiv corps so id really like to find one detailing their experiences on the march. William tecumseh sherman, union commander in the west, turned his thoughts to the most direct assault he could imagine on the heart of the confederacy, one that targeted southern morale. Civil war union army leader known for sherman s march, in which he and his troops laid waste to the south. Noah andre trudeau, author of several outstanding books on the civil war, has published this long book on the famous sherman march to the sea which transpired from november 15, 1864 to the capture of savannah in december 1864. Morton handles the voices of the diverse cast with incredible variety and precision. Despite this minor criticism, i personally enjoyed the numerous stories from the march which trudeau presented. Up to 20 books are listed, in descending order of popularity. Sherman s devastating march through georgia and the carolinas by davis, burke and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Central to the novel is the character of general william tecumseh sherman as he marches his 60,000.
Books about shermans march to the sea 1864 what should i. General sherman s march through the state of georgia from atlanta to savannah was one of the most devastating blows to the south in the american civil war. This aptlynamed book chronicles the destructive 60mile wide, 300mile long march of shermans army from atlanta to savanah during late november and early. The end of the civil war, according to basss powerful debut novel, began in november 1864, when general william tecumseh sherman signed special order number 120. The campaign began with sherman s troops leaving the captured city of atlanta on november 15 and ended with the capture. Sherman and his army through georgia, south carolina, and north carolina in 1864 1865. Sherman s infamous march to the sea began after his 60,000 troops left the captured city of atlanta on november 15, 1864, and ended 285 miles later on december 21, 1864 when sherman s troops seized the port city of savannah 35. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Doctorow, the march is a historical fiction novel set in late 1864 and early 1865 near the conclusion of the american civil war. Just the mention of william tecumseh sherman s name conjures. William tecumseh sherman, by james lee mcdonough the new. Doctorow explores the american civil war, specifically the march of general w.
Soldiers, civilians, and the american way of war, is presented as an antimilitarist military history that is, half of it is a history of general william tecumseh sherman s shermanu2019s ghosts. Synopsis this aptlynamed book chronicles the destructive 60mile wide, 300mile long march of shermans army from atlanta to savanah during late november and early december 1864, and the attempts by local, state, and confederate patchwork forces to stop them. Her book afterwar tells the real story of the moral and psychological injuries of war. Shermans march in american history and cultural memory. Jul 30, 2014 im wanting to research sherman s march. Sherman of the union army, leaning on a cannon at right, with staff members on nov. Sherman s march to the sea also known as the savannah campaign or simply sherman s march was a military campaign of the american civil war conducted through georgia from november 15 until december 21, 1864, by maj.
This superlative, impeccably researched account of gen. The purpose of shermans march to the sea was to frighten georgias civilian population into abandoning the confederate cause. In 1864, union general william tecumseh sherman marched his sixty thou. William tecumseh sherman, by james lee mcdonough the. This book is a great follow up to fierce patriot, a sherman biography by robert oconnell. Todd groce talked about union general william tecumseh sherman s background, his march to the sea campaign, and how general sherman is.
Nichols published a book about his exploits during sherman s march in which he describing south carolinians as the scum, the lower dregs of civilization who are not americans. General shermans troops captured atlanta on september 2, 1864. Central to the novel is the character of general william tecumseh sherman as he marches his 60,000 troops through the heart of the south, from atlanta to savannah, carving a 96 km 60milewide scar of destruction in their wake. Nov 15, 2014 150 years later, wrestling with a revised view of sherman s march gen. Sherman was an erudite, complicated man, far from the monster. Central to the novel is the character of general william tecumseh sherman as he marches his 60,000 troops through the heart of the south, carving a 60 mile wide scar of destruction in their wake. Glatthaar examines the devastating savannah and carolinas campaigns from the perspective of the common soldiers in shermans army, seeking, above all, to understand why they did what they did.
William tecumseh shermans 1864 march through georgia and the carolinasa march that led more than 60,000 union troops across the land. In the fall of 1864, the union general william tecumseh cump sherman took 60,000 men and pillaged his way through georgias civilian farmsteads. Shermans march to the sea the environmental impact of the. Shermans march is conjured up as a human entity as large as the. Shermans march, more accurately known as the georgia and carolinas campaigns, cut a swath across three states in 18641865. May 15, 2020 sherman s march to the sea refers to a long stretch of devastating union army movements that took place during the united states civil war. Shermans march in myth and reality is caudill and ashdowns latest foray into the shadowy regions wherein myth and public memory reside. Doctorows novel help you to understand shermans belief that this was not only a war between armies but also a war between societies. In november and december 1864, general sherman marched his troops. The sherman offers upscale and casual dining options both indoors and outdoors.
Burke davis 192006 was an american author and journalist best known for his narrative histories of the civil war, including to appomattox. Jun 19, 2016 oddly, for a book of epic scale, mcdonoughs recounting of shermans march in november and december 1864 is a bit flat, less colorful than his lively earlier depictions of shermans emergence as a. It won the penfaulkner award for fiction 2006 and the national book critics circle awardfiction 2005. Shermans devastating sweep through georgia and the carolinas during the last days of the u. Shermans march book suggestions nonfiction history of the. Us soldiers raped, pillaged, and plundered lewrockwell. What we dont know about sherman s march january 4, 2009 author noah andre trudeaus book, southern storm, is about sherman s march and what actually. Nov 17, 2014 the march to the sea has come down to us as an act of savage brutality perpetrated by one of the great villains of american history. Sherman s devastating sweep through georgia and the carolinas in the closing days of the civil war. History civil war general sherman s march through the state of georgia from atlanta to savannah was one of the most devastating blows to the south in the american civil war. The march to the sea has come down to us as an act of savage brutality perpetrated by one of the great villains of american history. Dec 01, 2014 the history of the georgia cavalrys participation in shermans march to the sea is recorded in the book polk county, georgia. It won the pen faulkner award for fiction 2006 and the national book. William tecumseh shermans march to the sea devastated the south, as sherman pruned the oldsouth myth of magnolia splendor to a stump.
The author of twelve books and numerous articles, his most recent book is commander of all lincolns armies, a life of henry w. Sherman abandoned his supply line and marched across georgia to the atlantic ocean to prove to the confederate population that its government could not protect the people from. Not only did he take control of atlanta, a major railroad hub, and savannah, a major sea port, but he laid the land between atlanta and savannah to waste, destroying all that was in his path. Nancy sherman is a military ethicist of war trauma and resilience. Nine april days, 1865 1959, shermans march 1980, and the last surrender 1985.
Sherman s march in myth and memory looks at the generals treatment in the press, among historians, on stage and screen, and in literature, from the time of the march to the present day. William tecumseh sherman 18201891was along with us grant the commander who won the civil war for the united states. In 1864, union general william tecumseh sherman marched his sixty thousand troops through georgia to. William tecumseh shermans 1864 march through georgia and the carolinasa march that led more than 60,000 union troops across the land, leaving a swath of destruction and ruin in its wake. The first fulllength narrative of general william t. This meant taking the war to civilians, mostly women, children, and slaves. In november 1864, just days after the reelection of president abraham lincoln, gen. General sherman is, of course, most noted for his march to the sea, which took place during the civil war, in november and december 1864, through central and southern georgia. Shermans march through the eyes of sherman, a union soldier, and a southern belle. Sherman s inclusion of civilian and commercial property. William tecumseh shermans march through georgia in 18641865 brings to life civil. After they lost atlanta, the confederate army headed west into tennessee and alabama, attacking union. In 1864, union general william tecumseh sherman marched his sixty thousand troops through georgia to the sea, and then up into the carolinas. Oct 18, 2005 the book of daniel, 1971 welcome to hard times, 1960 for years, e.
Shermans march in myth and memory by edward caudill, paul. Book overview sherman s march is the vivid narrative of general william t. Shermans ghosts, by matthew carr the new york times. Shermans devastating sweep through georgia and the carolinas in the closing days of the civil war. It was one of the most significant campaigns of the war, making confederate civilians howl as farms and plantations were stripped of everything edible and all their valuables.
Shermans march to the sea new georgia encyclopedia. The march to the sea for floyd legion started with a skirmish at buckhead, just south of madison, on nov. Earn money by sharing your favorite books through our affiliate program. Before the army left atlanta, the general issued an order outlining the rules of the march, but soldiers often ignored the restrictions on foraging. Sherman statue anchors one southern corner of central park with columbus on a stick anchoring the other. Sherman s march is the vivid narrative of general william t. Mar 28, 2021 union general william tecumseh sherman, the subject of history professor brian holden reids new book the scourge of war, has been a controversial figure pretty much since he graduated from west point in 1840. Just the mention of william tecumseh shermans name conjures.
Shermans march is an excellent account of william t. Shermans march is generally regarded by historians as the predecessor of modern total war. In retrospect, general william tecumseh sherman considered his march through the carolinas the greatest of his military feats, greater even than the georgia campaign. A new york times bestselling historian sheds new light on shermans epic march to the sea, especially the soldiers, doctors, nurses. Trudeau, a prizewinning civil war historian gettysburg, addresses william t. Im wondering what yall feel is the best allaround book on sherman s march to the sea campaign. Jun 01, 2009 relying on primary sources to help tell the tale is always a worthy endeavor, but in sherman s storm the sheer number of stories and anecdotes makes the book longer than it needed to be and at times a bit difficult to read. I felt i was a member of sherman s march to the sea, meeting the personalities along the waythe emancipated slaves, the ruffians, the homeless planation ownersand even sherman himself.
Doctorow tells the story through multiple small vignettes from a multitude of characters, all of whom revolve in some way around sherman and the strategic decisions he makes. Doctorow attempts to portray shermans trek across georgia and the carolinas as it would have been experienced by individuals caught up in the armys push. A new york timesbestselling authors account of the devastating military campaign that broke the confederacys back in the last months of the civil war. The end of the civil war, according to basss powerful debut novel, began in november 1864, when general william tecumseh sherman signed special order. This book starts after the capture of atlanta and follows sherman and his troops as they trek through georgia and the carolinas, attempting to cut off the supply lines to the confederate troops and bring an end to hostilities. Shermans devastating sweep through georgia and the carolinas in the closing days. William tecumseh shermans destructive march through georgia and the carolinas near the end of. Overall a pretty engaging and quick read of the brutal civil war. May 29, 2020 william tecumseh sherman is mostly, if unjustly, remembered as a vandal, if not a war criminal, for the supposed atrocities committed wholesale by his army during his 1864 march to the sea. After capturing atlanta in september 1864, a victory that guaranteed the reelection of abraham lincoln and the continuation of the civil war, gen. Shermans march is the vivid narrative of general william t. Its a somewhat controversial subject and i want to get. In this intensively researched and carefully detailed study, listed in civil war magazine as among the one hundred best books on the civil war, joseph t.
Sherman had about 2,500 supply wagons and 600 ambulances. It would be beneficial for the reader to have some idea of shermans march across the south, but this is not a story about the she rmans tactics as it is to show how it was experienced by the civilians and this is the best part of the book and would make it interesting beyond civil war students. A new york times bestselling historian sheds new light on shermans epic march to the sea, especially the soldiers, doctors. It would be beneficial for the reader to have some idea of shermans march across the south, but this is not a story about the she rmans tactics as it is to show how it was experienced by the civilians. Shermans soldiers did not destroy any of the towns in their path, but. Ive read southern storm but im wondering if there are better books than that one out there. In addition to the thorough and engaging narrative, davis includes eyewitness accounts from hundreds of soldiers and civilians that serve to make history come alive in this work of nonfiction. Doctorow, is a 2005 historical fiction novel about general sherman and his march through the south near the end of the american civil war. Anne sarah rubin talked about union general william tecumseh shermans march to the sea and the concept of civilized war.
This book starts after the capture of atlanta and follows sherman and his troops as they trek through georgia and the carolinas, attempting to cut off the supply. What we dont know about sherman s march january 4, 2009 author noah andre trudeaus book, southern storm, is about sherman s march and what actually happened during this famous civil war event. When he set out northward from savannah with 60,000 veteran soldiers in january 1865, he was more convinced than ever that the bold application of his ideas of total war could. The lyrically written introduction to the third book of this essential trilogy should, in fact, be read as a primer by anyone seeking to follow in their footsteps. Shermans devastating march through georgia and the carolinas paperback may 12, 1988. Shermans march to the sea essential civil war curriculum. The authors show us the many ways in which sherman has been portrayed in the media and popular culture, and how his devastating march has been stamped into our. Shermans march by burke davis nook book ebook barnes.
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