War is at it's best barbarism

War is at it's best barbarism

William Tecumseh Sherman was a Union general during the American Civil War, known for his brutal tactics and ruthless approach to warfare. He famously said, "War is at its best barbarism," a statement that encapsulates his belief in the harsh realities of conflict.

Sherman's philosophy on war was shaped by his experiences on the battlefield. He witnessed the devastation and destruction that war brought upon both soldiers and civilians, and he understood the brutal nature of armed conflict. Sherman believed that war was a brutal and savage endeavor, where the rules of civilization were often abandoned in favor of survival and victory.

Sherman's famous "March to the Sea" campaign during the Civil War exemplified his belief in the barbarism of war. In this campaign, Sherman and his troops marched through Georgia, destroying everything in their path. They burned crops, destroyed infrastructure, and laid waste to towns and cities. The goal was to break the will of the Confederate army and the Southern population, and Sherman believed that the only way to achieve this was through total war.

Sherman's tactics were controversial at the time, and they continue to be debated by historians today. Some see him as a ruthless and brutal general who was willing to do whatever it took to win, while others view him as a strategic genius who understood the harsh realities of war. Regardless of how one views Sherman, it is clear that he believed in the barbarism of war and was willing to embrace it in order to achieve victory.