Sherman's March to the Sea 1864 - David Smith

Part of the Campaign series by osprey, number CAM 179, this book describes the ruthless trek by William Tecumseh Sherman through Georgia during the American Civil War.

A trek that actually might not have happened, had Jefferson Davies not made a big mistake.

Because in the beginning of 1864, tactical genius Sherman was tied up against the defensive battles fought by confederate general Johnston.  And things looked well for the Confederacy, as Lincoln would have a big struggle to get re-elected in november, as the North grew war weary, and the in July Davies made the mistake.  he thought Johnston would hand over Atlanta and replaced him with hot headed John Bell Hood, who promptly went on the attack... and suffered defeat after defeat against Sherman's maneuvering tactics.  This opened the way to heartland Georgia, and Sherman ultimately got the permission of Grant to push through, in what would become a hard march and "scorhed earth" tactics ripping the fight literally out of the state of Georgia, and securing the presidential election for Lincoln.

Hood tried to stop Sherman on multiple occassions, but events like destroying railroads, only to see them rebuild in a week's time severly demoralised the south.  And at times by luck, at times by numbers, but often by quality of Sherman's Corps commanders, the southern army of Tennessee is forced back one city at a time, until Sherman reached his target: Savannah.  Having set out from Atlanta, his March to the Sea was completed and a huge blow stricken to the Confederacy, as he wrote to Grant that he could "make the march, and make Georgia howl!", becoming the North's avengening angel; but the south's devil incarnate, driven as he was by his hatred for the southern sessessionists.

The book takes a look at the commanders of both sides, not only Sherman and Hood, but also Thomas (a Virginian chosing for the North and crucial in the whole March!), Schofield, colourful Killpatrick, Forrest, ... but also the opposing forces (though, Georgia had next to none) and plans.

The next parts are dedicated to the actual March to the Sea, on how the plans where forged by Sherman (and the razing of Atlanta) all the way to savannah, including the battles on the way like Griswoldville.  In these, it becomes quickly clear that not only Sherman was a superior tactical general compared to Hood, but also that as a result the Union steamroller couldn't be stopped by the spread out defenders, as the Confederates where pushed back piecemeal.  While the south managed to organise some delays and heroic stands, in the end the north was just to big a machine as it thundered through the lands.

Hood's Tennessee campaign, as he advanced on Nashville, on the other hand was blunted by miscommunications even when his army might have had an opportunity to strike a serious blow.  The morale had been boosted by his men going back to their homelands, but the failed offensives quickly started blunting this again and his men becoming less confident in their command hierarchy, especially after failing to exploit a critical mistake in the Union line at the battle of Franklin.

The first part of the March as such ends with the battle of Nashville, before starting off again towards Savannah.  But the hardest battles had been fought, and now Sherman could march his army into the histroy books.

Greatly detailed and mapped out, this campaign book is a true beauty to read.  It handles Sherman well, and how he was far ahead of his contemporaries in method of warfare, often seen as the first general to grasp the concept of current day fighting.  Hence, probably why they named the tank after him...