Sherman on Vicksburg | Eyewitness Account/Official Report
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2024
- On July 4, 1863, the vital southern river city of Vicksburg was captured by Union forces commanded by Ulysses S. Grant. William T. Sherman was not with Grant during the surrender. He was 20 miles away at the Big Black River securing bridges and planning action against Joseph E. Johnston who was at Jackson, Mississippi. This letter highlights Sherman's response to his wife and how important the capture of Vicksburg was to the nation, but he also comments on the politics in Washington D.C. that controlled the Union Army in the East. He has respect for Abraham Lincoln, but sees the public and lobbyists as hampering the president's decisions. Enjoy this video on the anniversary of Vicksburg's capture and the Fourth of July.
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My great-grandfather was at Vicksburg, with Uncle Billy. Years later he attended a reunion of regiments at Vicksburg on the opening of a park dedicated to the fight. He received a book of short regimental histories, the dedication speeches, and pictures of the memorials on the parks opening. His regiment, organized in Indiana, had been kicked around prior to its Vicksburg service so it was sent home for a breather and to reform with new recruits. The regimental history said the outfit took on 300 new recruits. Next to that line, in the margin of the page was the poignant handwritten notation "I was one of them."
Both the book and his notation brings home the Civil War in a very personal fashion.
Sherman was like many of the major characters of the civil war, a complex person. It would be easy to look upon him as some kind of savage, but he was very hard on Georgia and other places South because he wanted to get the thing done as soon as possible. That was the kindest way to him.
He also went on record to Grant as having his doubts about the wisdom of some of the moves in the Vicksburg campaign, he later said to Grant one way or another that Grant had been right and he had been mistaken.
They really were two of Americas finest ever generals.
Sherman's Army was tougher on South Carolina than Georgia. They blamed South Carolina for starting the war. The Gone With the Wind garbage ignores South Carolina.
@@steveschlackman4503 Yeah I've read about that too. They stated as much that they wanted to punish SC.
Also the confederates were not different, when they invaded Pensilvanya they also caused destruction and the worst of all, they captured some black people and send them to the south to be enslaved, in my opinion that's worst than everything Sherman ever did.
@@steveschlackman4503 Gone with the wind was a love story not a documentary, and was largely fiction. The blame SC received was also unfair. The problem were the fire eaters, which were the very wealthy slave holding politicians. Succession was LARGELY unpopular in the south beyond the 30% who owned slaves and listened to the rhetoric of the fire eaters; which by action, were vile people, no different than northern politicians who used slavery, as a very hypocritical argument, to get support for the funding the south was being made to contribute to northern infrastructure and westward expansion, which began after the war of 1812 because N.E. was nearly bankrupt, largely due to the English blockade, during said war.
It ( slavery ) was the emotional gasoline on the sectional fires. Its moral and social implications colored every issue in terms of right and rights. William Seward, the Republican leader, recognized the fact: "Every question, political, civil, or ecclesiastical, however foreign to the subject of slavery, brings up slavery as an incident, and the incident supplants the principal question." Same political strategy used today when politicians pretend to care about equality, of we, the common - people. Perhaps you already know this, if so forgive the history lecture my friend.
@@1996koke True they took contraband, and food in PA, that they left IOU's for. Lincoln, during the war, himself, exiled 500 freed blacks to Haiti from the north because in his words " There is an unwillingness on the people of the north to live with you colored people therefore it is better that we both be separated." To the contrary as Jubal Early wrote in a letter "We do not make war upon women and children in the south". If you think that was the worst thing shermans boys did, read about the black church he had burned in Atlanta for one, the Ursuline convent he had burned in Columbia SC...NUNS... the slaves his boys left for slaughter in Ebenezer Creek Ga, or the women and children he took POW's in Roswell GA. then sent to Indianapolis, homeless and broke for the winter, where many died ( little is actually known of their fate to this day ). The children and mothers tortured in NC in an effort to locate their fathers out in the field. Perhaps you should learn about shermans boy Kilpatrick and how his men behaved. Say what you will but the south never took women and children POW's, then remember, the first casualty in war is truth.
It is far easier to accept that the south did not want slavery to end, any more than did northern business and industry, which was largely driven off of slavery, than to have try to justify, that they were actually - killing - children... in union armies. This is why northerners and unionists to this day are still apologizing for sherman and trying to make the war monocausal. No valor in this man. Had he had any bravery in his heart perhaps he might have given Forrest a fight instead of attacking civilians all over Memphis and the Mid South, as his response to Forrest's attacks. His tactics were not new, they were as old as war it's self, they were only new to this country, not new to the Indians however, which is probably why Indians also fought for the confederacy. Most men agree that only cowards attack women, children and the elderly.
Lastly, had he marched to Petersburg, continuing to destroy rail, he could have helped Grant and Sheridan capitulate on Lee, likely preventing the breakout and subsequent battles leading up to five forks and the ultimate surrender; not only avoiding intentional civilian casualties, on the unprotected civilian population, but also other loss of life on the part of both armies, leading up to five forks.
His letters make clear his intentions. He hated people in the south as much as his wife ellen did, and said "There is a certain class of people in the south that must be EXTERMINATED before peace can be achieved." Oh yes, the south was indeed different. His campaign of theft, plunder and lies in Ga and the Carolinas, only left Grant stuck in the wet and swampy snow around Petersburg for nine months dragging the war out longer than need be, he hastened nothing but prolonged agony on civilians by refusing to fight...against... MEN. I can understand his position too, after taking rounds at Shiloh, women and children must have been a more attractive target. His boys got fed, laid and stole wedding rings and other jewelry, which had nothing to do with liberating anyone but rather enriching themselves.
Tell me, do you think he is as good of a general as Lee or Jackson? Could he have EVER won a battle with inferior numbers ? Over and over again ?His legacy suggests not.
Sherman marched right through my hometown Fayetteville NC, burned down the armory, the Fayettville Observer (which is still thr local paper), the iron works, the courthouse, and many homes, pillaged farms. My mothers great grandfather ×3 fought and was wounded at Antietum with the 27th North Carolina, Walkers division under Longstreet. I áqired some of his personal belongings from my dear mother after she passed in 2015, I've always been fascinated with the civil war especially having a relative that fought in it, and the war history of my own hometown.
You can never go wrong using Sherman's letters. A great treat for July 4th.
My 2nd grandfather was in Vicksburg in his journal he wrote he was on the verge of starvation weighing on 90 lbs when they surrender when his normal weight was 140 at the beginning of the war. His journal is in history archives museum in Montgomery Alabama he gave details of what he seen during the war after reading it I can understand why soldiers say war is he'll. (William Lewis Roberts.)
My 3rd grandfather Frank Perrett was there as well. I wish I had journals.
Sherman burned my great grandfather’s cotton field, cotton gin, and his tannery in Meridian, MS. My great grandfather owned 15 slaves.
The battle plan Sherman used to attack Confederate forces in Meridian was the same plan he used against later in Atlanta.
Thank you, General Sherman and your troops for helping to right a wrong.
He was a great man and Louisiana State University needs to recognize this man as its first Superintendent just prior to the war.
Meridian is an important, but often forgotten campaign. The destruction of the rail in and around Meridian and to the Mississippi was important in securing control of the Mississippi river for the Union.
Are you seriously celebrating a man who burnt your families property down? Is there something wrong with you?
@@AmericanMilitaryHistoryI mean that “propriety” only exists (through cotton) was labored through slavery so…
A wonderful letter to read to us for Independence Day. Thank you !!
Happy 4th of July. Thank you for a week of intetesting videos particularly picketts charge & Sherman's reaction to vicksburg both of which hold special intetrst for me
Even though I am late to see this video, I thank you for giving me such an insight into the man and mind of William Tecumseh Sherman through this very personal letter. Cheers Shaun
“....the weather is intensely hot and dust, terrible”. He ain’t kidding. I live almost 2 hours south of Vicksburg and this time of year is brutally hot, humid and either dusty or muddy. Also, we grew up in the early ‘60s without A/C but I couldn’t imagine not having it now. Those people of Vicksburg and the soldiers arrayed against it lived in tents, caves or out in the open. Wow.
Another wonderfully insightful video indeed:) Happy 4th of July folks!!
Happy 4th of July.
For someone so skilled at war and so dedicated to the Union cause, Sherman sounds tired of war here.
He definitely he does. I noticed that too. He's just ready for it to be over and he even says hes angry with the eastern union army because of their lack of victories.
He was tired of it before it started.
Sherman hated frontal assaults because of the huge wastage of life and limb. Part of his rationale in marching through enemy territory while avoiding battle was to save his men from it. He was incredibly popular with his men for the same reason.
That was good stuff! Thanks for doing the research and Read! 🌺
Thank you so much for watching.
I often feel bad for Vicksburg and Sherman this time of year. In my mind, when you balance Gettysburg to Vicksburg, Vicksburg was the more important to Union victory, and it makes my glad to hear this letter and that Sherman agreed.
War is cruelty and you cannot refine it .
Sherman was always well aware of what was really happening in Washington. His foster father Thomas Ewing and his brother Tom Sherman were both US Senators during the CW, and his brother Hoyt Sherman was the Paymaster for the Union Army. So Sherman knew the truth about the "goings on" , the political back biting, influence peddling, and the attempts of certain "people" to discredit Grant and Sherman for their success in the West. As well as the East(general public) not understanding how important the campaigns in the West were!
Hey David, your boyfriend wants you to put your computer down and go snuggle with him.
@@mustlovedogs272 "mustlovetoddlers", Don't you have a public park to go skulk around in looking for your next victim? And I bet you're thanking whatever God you think condones your "abominable acts"( yes I know, you'll have to look that up, again) for the public PPE directives so you don't look suspicious.... "anymore!" And, I don't have a boyfriend anymore, you stole him!
Northover why do you think Sherman was so great? Is it because he thought Blacks were better off as slaves?
Thank you. I wish Sherman's portrait pictured his flaming red hair. I find his observation of the newly destitute preacher instructive of the passions each side felt for pursuing the war.
My gggf fought at Vicksburg. Very incomfortable place in the heat. Treatment areas were dugouts in the side of hills. Amputations were merely tossed aside. Never understand how the agonizing pain of an amputation was merely the soldier biting on a stick and or shots of any liquor and cleaning wound with same. Germs were still not knowledge.
Mr. Fox. One of many rich southerners who lost just about everything in the war. Sherman called it a “judgement of God” and Fox disagreed. I call it another example of the ending of the Old South. There were many Mr. Fox’s in the south during this war.
Whole lotta intel in these letters. Obviously unconcerned that they might fall into the wrong hands.
Play marching through Georgia.
That was so interesting. An under appreciated American icon.
I love me some General Sherman! The greatest armies of the U.S. the army of the Tennessee and the army of the Cumberland! Oh let's not forget the rock the hammer George Thomas.
happy independence day !!
awesome Virginian thank you so much. i fish the big black since a kid
While our world changes rapidly, and the vestiges of those venerated removed, this history of our own struggles should never be lost.
While I have always believed that the veneration of those who fought for the south was impractical, the history of what was given, is the most important to American history.
Good job and great insight, too.
Pemberton had been Grant’s closest friend from the regular army.
After reading a biography of Grant, I feel like the north lost the civil war in the short run and maybe even longer. After the shooting war the south just kept the rebellion going just without open warfare with a different flag.
My black ancestors were from Vicksburg. Any Garrett’s out there??
Vicksburg was the beginning of the end for for the Confederates. The first domino.
Uncle Billy!!
I wonder if he wrote this before he got word of Gettysburg.
I heard they had great plaes for ribs
Sherman could only war against civilians
Now Now, "lil" joe, let's not EXAGGERATE!
That’s just silly. I think he’s somewhat overrated, especially when he had an independent command, but he was a good corps commander and a good second in command to Grant. Skilled in operations and a good strategic thinker. Not the best battlefield general, but he had his moments. Decent at Bull Run. After he was surprised at Shiloh he rallied and fought admirably. He also fought well at Champion Hill which was, after all, probably the most decisive battle of the war.
@@mjfleming319 I had no idea Sherman was at Bull Run.
@@josephcockburn1402 So you have no idea what he actually did and yet feel qualified to issue statements like you did here. Maybe think a little before posting?
Prior to Atlanta's fall, Sherman handled Johnston's manoeuvres and Hood's belligerence equally well. He was a supremely competent army commander.