Respect for William Tecumseh Sherman
I have always hated William Tecumseh Sherman. Given my southern heritage and sentiment, I held Sherman in contempt for his “March to the Sea.” I have long since developed a respect and understanding of that specific policy as necessary and vital for the conclusion of that war, and look upon it as an example to emulate in all war. A massive and decisive demoralization of the enemy must be undertaken regardless of public sentiment or loss of the enemies’ civilian property or life. The will to fight must be fully broken, otherwise a situation like that in Iraq today is almost guaranteed to arise. Truman needed to decimate the Japanese fighting spirit, and Sherman the Confederacy.
Recently, I have been reading Shelby Foote’s “The Civil War: A Narrative.” In doing so, I have found a greater appreciation for Sherman in at least one aspect, his feelings towards journalism. In regards to journalists and their ability to sway public opinion during war, Sherman wrote, “The men have sense, and will trust us. As to the reports in the newspapers, we must scorn them, else they will ruin us and our country. They are as much enemies to good government as the secesh, and between the two I like the secesh best, because they are a brave, open enemy and not a set of sneaking, croaking scoundrels.” [Foote, The Civil War Narrative: A Narrative Volume II, p. 332]
At a later date, when he was under the impression that four journalists died when a U.S. naval vessel was sunk, he wrote, “They were so deeply laden with weighty matter that they must have sunk,” and “In our affliction we can console ourselves with the pious reflection that there are plenty more of the same sort.” [Foote, The Civil War Narrative: A Narrative Volume II, p. 353]
It is amazing, yet not surprising; to consider that we suffer the same scourge, “sneaking, croaking scoundrels,” today as has been experienced in every American military action. Having studied to become a journalist for a time, I have concluded that any benefits the press has to offer are greatly diminished by despicable and pandering journalism of war. If there is any justice in the universe, then surely their action will be met with sufficient consequence.
On a related side note, I bow to the superior wisdom of Shelby Foote, “I’ve never known, at least a modern historical instance, where the truth wasn’t superior to distortion in every way.” [Foote, seminar excerpt, New York State Writers Institute, March 20, 1997]
I wish journalists and filmmakers would come to that realization.
