Memoirs of General W.T. Sherman

One of the most colorful figures in Civil War history, General William Tecumseh Sherman was also one of the most complex and intriguing individuals in the war. To some, he was a barbarian; to others, a deliverer. Sherman was and still is immensely quotable. He was also very opinionated and outspoken. "The Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman" is a must-read for anyone studying the Civil War. Though somewhat lengthy, Sherman's memoirs are anything but dry. Many have found this book to be an engaging and very worthwhile autobiography, which any student of the war may profit by reading. Hailed as a prophet of modern war and condemned as a harbinger of modern barbarism, Sherman is the most controversial general of the Civil War. "War is cruelty, you cannot refine it," he wrote in fury to the Confederate mayor of Atlanta, and his memoir is filled with dozens of such wartime exchanges and a fascinating, eerie account of his famous march to the sea. After the Civil War ended, Sherman found himself facing a number of public misrepresentations. Sherman undertook the writing of his memoirs to clear things up. The historical value of "The Memoirs of W. T. Sherman" is enormous. Sherman contributed a great deal to the war, and was partially responsible for the war ending when it did. He conducted one of the most brilliant military campaigns in modern history (actually, they were three campaigns—Atlanta, Savannah, and the Carolinas) and accomplished what many considered to be the impossible. His policy of total war, applied in the South, was utilized by Sheridan in the Shenandoah. Thanks to Sherman's memoirs, we have a step-by-step account of how this policy developed. As a writer, Sherman is engaging, interesting, easy-to-read, and to the point. If you enjoy history or want a detailed view of the Civil War, you will enjoy "The Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman."