The Most Decisive 37 Weeks in American History 

People who talk about Civil War today have NO IDEA what they are wishing for.

"At first you will make headway, but as your limited resources begin to fail ... you will surely fail" Prophetic

Its crazy. Im black american my whole family is from Georgia, born from slaves then, lived as sharecroppers until WW2, and soldiers until the civil rights movement and to this day we revere General Sherman as the liberator of our family. I love my state, im proud of my Georgia clay but also burning it to the ground was necessary to free my family.

Wow… that letter Sherman wrote pre-war was incredible. Never knew about that. Thank you!

My great great grandfather was at Shiloh, wounded and captured by the Confederates. Spent some time in a POW camp until he and another escaped and later rejoined his unit. Fought at the Battle of Yellow Bayou and was wounded seriously enough to be sent home. Unfortunately his time as a POW and in the war completely changed his personality, so after his return his family split, with his wife leaving to Oregon, and his children moving away. The family never spoke about him again. Probably a serious case of PTSD, but no one really knew about it or had much empathy. I found out all this information after someone contacted me who was a descendent of the other person he had escaped the POW camp with. His family had remembered him and honored him for over 100 years for saving his ancestor, where as his own family forgot him.

It’s pretty… interesting… that Sherman is still considered maybe the most polarizing figure at a time when people owned people.

If Sherman was a confederate and ran through the North the lost cause zealots would be kissing his tombstone.

"till those who appealed to it are sick and tired of it, and come to the emblem of our nation, and sue for peace. I would not coax them, or even meet them halfway, but make them so sick of war that generations would pass away before they would again appeal to it". - William T. Sherman

Props to the painter. It was lovely watching the process and it was a nice result!

Something much forgotten was Sherman's March north, into the Carolinas, after his march to the sea. He was even more ruthless in South Carolina as it was the state that started the war. Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, was burned to the ground. This entire campaign impressed Joseph E. Johnston so much that the two of them became friends after the war. So much, that Johnston was one of Sherman's pallbearers at his funeral. Johnston actually contracted pneumonia at the funeral and died a few weeks later. All because Johnston didn't want to wear his hat in respect of his deceased friend; knowing Sherman would do the same.

Sherman overcomes his mental illness, rises in command, then his Son, 9 year old Willie dies. Life was harder then.

Sherman and Grant met in Cincinnati and planned out in a hotel room the plan for ending the war. No notes were taken, and Sherman and Grant had no staff officers were with them. But what Grant started at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, would be finished by both men.

Given Sherman's prophetic pronouncement at the beginning of the war, and the eventual size that the union army grew to by the end of the war. I think Sherman was actually a genius, and was not only not insane, but actually correct when he requested 200k men.

As William Tecumseh Sherman said "War is the remedy our enemies have chosen, and I say let us give them all they want."

My great great grandfather was with Sherman, and his famous March to the sea.. survived over 100 battles in the civil war.

Remember, remember the ides of November and Sherman's March to the Sea. I see no reason why a flag of Treason, should fly in the land of the free.

I pretty much have already heard everything that has been reported on Sherman. But how y’all narrated this video, I honestly couldn’t stop watching/Listening to.. I loved it!!..

The South: "we want to own people as property!" Also the South: "why's Sherman so meaaaan??"

Rhett Butler's monologue at Tara in Gone With The Wind scolding all the southern men right before the war starts is almost word for word Sherman's pre-war letter.

I can't imagine a world where this channel doesn't take off.

He wanted to end the war as quickly as possible. Kudos to him. “War is cruelty, and it cannot be refined “.

Sherman hatred is just a form of lost cause nonsense. Very interesting and well done documentary!

Outstanding. Perhaps the best history lesson I've' ever received.

A great hour of a good but simplified history of Sherman. A relaxed talk about a quick view of Sherman's part in the Civil War. Well worth the time for many Americans who stopped their investigation of American history after high school. There are some problems with this cursory analysis though. The biggest of which is the perception of the narrator that Sherman had more to do with successfully concluding the insurrection against the United States than his Commander, U.S. Grant. It was Grant's strategic genius that accomplished the rebel's surrender. Unlike all his predecessors back east, Grant understood that disjointed tactical battlefield victories were going to allow the confederates to keep on fighting on other fronts and continue the butchery of that rebellion till it seemed like it would never end. Grant understood that only combined multiple and, most importantly, simultaneous assaults by Union armies upon all the major rebel armies would overstretch the enemy's' capacity to continue. It was Grant's Plan to attack in 3 campaigns at the same time. 1. He directed Sherman's Western armies to attack through the industrial center of the rebel states after Grant's victory at Chattanooga. 2. He ordered a union thrust through the "breadbasket" Shenandoah Valley by a commander of Grant's choosing, Sheridan and 3. He sent (and accompanied) Meade's Army of the Potomac to defeat Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and capture Richmond. To say that Sherman was more important than Grant in subduing the south is frankly ridiculous, as Sherman, himself, said many times during and after the war whenever that notion was put forth. Yes, Sherman played an indispensable part and was the only subordinate commander that Grant fully trusted. To the point of allowing Sherman's army to cut itself off of communications and supplies. To allow it to (for that time).....simply "disappear". Sherman did what Grant told him to do and "make Georgia howl". Also, Grant's "problem" with alcohol was greatly exaggerated, then and now. The only instance that has any validity was during Grant's stationing in California after the Mexican War. Grant wrote, in his auto-biography, that his drinking was a symptom of his "melancholy" due to years of separation from his wife and family while out in the wilds of the West Coast. Ultimately, he left the army because of his unhappiness, only to rejoin years later when the south seceded. This rumor was spread again and again during the Civil War by those who thought that they should have his job and by newspapermen that wanted to see their papers sell more copies. Or would you rather believe that a "drunkard" defeated Lee and the south? Doesn't make much sense to me. Semper Fi

The man obviously had survivors guilt which can trigger PTSD. The symptons described are almost textbook. This is the war that christened the infantry as "cannon fodder".

Sherman in 1860 wrote a prophecy to his neighbors in Louisiana about their desire for Southern Succession: Has any soothsayer ever been more accurate about foolhardy ventures? About the course of future events? Sherman nailed it. The South was destroyed. Sherman had a major hand in it.

"We can make this march, and make Georgia howl!"

Take a drink every time dude says "and everything like that". I dare ya!

At first I wondered what that orange was behind Sherman in the portrait. Then it dawned on me that it was flames. Sherman had two armies under his command on the march to the sea. One was the Army of the Ohio. The other was the Army of the Tennessee. One acted as his left flank force. The other operated some 20 to 40 miles away and was his right flank force.

"We're no longer gonna try to win by invading the north or anything like that, we're gonna win the war by not losing" - Gen. Robert E. Lee

Great video, as an employee who works in the Battle Of Atlanta Cyclorama, this is everything I try to educate people on. The vast importance of this miraculous and controversial period of the Civil War is what i always try to drive through to people. Gordon Jones, one of the voices used in this video, is a remarkable historian who I have had the pleasure to work alongside.

Detaching from the supply line and marching through enemy territory is not only bold but gusty. This makes him one of the greatest generals in the world.

At 31:38..the expression is "for all intents and purposes", not "intensive purposes"

I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell.

Love him or hate him, Sherman is a total badass.

The production value of this is insane. Great video.

Sherman was the first modern general to use total war tactics against the civilian population. Those tactics would be used in WW1 and WW2 to greater effects.

Illustrious documentary. Informational, artful, narrational - all excellence.

WOW! That was one of the most compelling videos that I have ever watched. Beautifully constructed with the combination of audio, video, and the painting of Sherman's portrait. Fantastic! If this was the way that history was taught in schools ...

There's never been any evidence of any rape or murder during the March to the Sea. If there had been, trust me, growing up in Savannah, Georgia, I would have heard of every incident. None were ever cited.

I love the subtle 'Something in the Way', Nirvana undertones when describing Sherman's internal conflicts! That was tight!

Compared to what happened to civilians in wars in Europe prior to and after Sherman’s March, this was extremely mild. If you want to see war as hell, look at the 30 Years War or World War II.

Really enjoyed this video. Thank you

If you drive from Atlanta to Savanah, Ga, on I 75 & I 16 you can tell you are on Sherman's path of destruction. The trees are smaller, more erosion etc., than the surrounding areas of thick pine forest.

One of the best Civil War doc’s I’ve seen on RU-vid. Stellar work

Sherman: "I need 200000 men!" War department: "This man is insane!" *Meanwhile at the Camp of the Man the War Department put in control of the entire Army* McCellan: "I NEED 1 Million more men!"

I loved this. Thank you so much!

Absolutely loved this documentary, thank you so very much for making this. God bless

The Sherman tank was named after him!!! Running over lands with no remorse

Awesome video, just found this channel and wow, never heard the full letter just snippets as quotes. Well done all , cant wait to see the next one.

A sensitive God fearing soul who didn’t feel emotions of Anxt or melancholy (much like Lincoln) while understanding the weight of over 10 million souls lost has never existed…..a stoic viewing the situation coldly like a video game is a terrifying neurosis to encounter.

Incredible video. Thank you very much for the insight.

This channel is criminally underviewed. To the individuals who are making these videos give it time the quality of these videos will pay off. Very excited for the next video. If you take suggestions I would love for people to know more about Thomas Francis Meagher. His story is fascinating from Irish revolution to the civil war and everything in between.

In 1973 I was given a certificate for playing the calliope on the Delta Queen. The certificate states that it can be revoked if I am ever caught playing "Marching Through Georgia".

I need a series of these, I love this

Great Great job, I love the format and want more.

As a diagnosed bipolar man, the description is pin perfect. Great and inspiring content.

Also Confederate control had an additional importance for Lincoln that I didn’t learn about until today.. The Midwest couldn’t export agricultural, and to a lesser extent industrial, production east-or overseas because the new railroads were choked because of the war. The Mississippi was the route to the markets east and to an extent to Europe circling around the Appalachian mts.

Interesting and fast-moving. Thanks

“There was a panic or summting,” really articulate narration

they need to make a movie about Sherman's western campaign

West Point is not the "West Point Military Academy," as the map has it at 3:02. It is the United States Military Academy.

WTS is one of my personal heroes. He knew how to put the boot in when it mattered.

this is incredible work. Subbed.

Sherman and Grant saved the United States of America... Lincolns vice president gave it back to chaos.

Narrator says with Grant's support Sherman got better, but he hadn't even met Grant yet.

Should have listened to Sam Houston: "Let me tell you what is coming. After the sacrifice of countless millions of treasure and hundreds of thousands of lives, you may win Southern independence if God be not against you, but I doubt it. I tell you that, while I believe with you in the doctrine of states rights, the North is determined to preserve this Union. They are not a fiery, impulsive people as you are, for they live in colder climates. But when they begin to move in a given direction, they move with the steady momentum and perseverance of a mighty avalanche; and what I fear is, they will overwhelm the South."

Thank you for sharing knowledge.

We were taught in school that the war was all but decided by 3 July 1863. But that tends to minimize developments on the home front, the Copperhead movement, overall tiring of war. I don't think we can know the effect of a significant setback in 64, even as late as Franklin, although I tend to see the deadline for such to have been the election earlier in the month.

Brilliant Production, mesmerizing narration and script. The ongoing portrait of Sherman is Captivating. BRAVO to all !

This was a terribly entertaining episode…worth a like and subscribe and then some! 👍 I reckon it doesn’t hurt your main character is straight out of central casting. Those eyes and deep crevices on the face were well earned.

Dude sweet video this was super information dense and compelling format. Very nice. Even some good references with the dawgs in the beginning

Too little noted by historians: until the Germans invented the fixation of nitrogen, in about 1918 but perhaps a little earlier, every artillery shell consumed nine pounds of cotton: gun-cotton was the main explosive.

As Sherman himself so aptly put it, “war is hell”. What is often required is so heinous to observers. But Sherman knew exactly what was required.

This was cool! Loved the music in the background. Thanks for the history lesson

I was listening to this in the background as i was cleaning my apartment and doing other chores and came back to see how more the painting was done

Keep up the great work guys! You should do a video on Cormac McCarthy.

Damn this is great. A lot of these smaller view vids you get recomeded are just bot vids....but not this one, this was awesome.

Fascinating. As someone who knew nothing of him before this, I thank you for the lesson.

Your artist is fantastically talented, and has the most beautiful hands I've ever seen.

Sherman once said "f they want eternal war, well and good; we accept the issue, and will dispossess them and put our friends in their place. I know thousands and millions of good people who at simple notice would come to North Alabama and accept the elegant houses and plantations there. If the people of Huntsville think different, let them persist in war three years longer, and then they will not be consulted. Three years ago by a little reflection and patience they could have had a hundred years of peace and prosperity, but they preferred war; very well. Last year they could have saved their slaves, but now it is too late. All the powers of earth cannot restore to them their slaves, any more than their dead grandfathers. Next year their lands will be taken, for in war we can take them, and rightfully, too, and in another year they may beg in vain for their lives. A people who will persevere in war beyond a certain limit ought to know the consequences. Many, many peoples with less pertinacity have been wiped out of national existence." Letter to Major R.M. Sawyer (31 January 1864), from Vicksburg. The there is the thing he was to have said "war is hell I intent to make it that for the ppl of GA" Dont know if he ever said this or not or in these words but... It is Sherman...

I love this series! I wish I could do what you are doing with this with the most interesting people from my homecountry…!

I have no clue how I just found out about this channel. More importantly and don’t know how the fuck this channel doesn’t have more subscribers with such EXCELLENT content. Keep up the great work seriously great episode on one of the most fascinating people of the 1800s .

Hey Confederates: play stupid games/win stupid prizes.

As a native Georgian who's well acquainted with the area that Sherman marched through, I'm forced to admit that tales of the destruction he wrought along the way are greatly exaggerated. To this day If you visit many of the small towns along his line of march you will find no shortage of antebellum homes and structures. This simply doesn't support the claim of indiscriminate devastation on his march to the sea.

Enjoyed the show

Appeals to the dark emotions of selfish pride, spiteful envy, and vengeful wrath will always manifest into hate.

I'm a southern born in Atlanta and have absolutely no problem with what his army did.

Sherman was a devout unionist and an actual Soldier and he would have been a great Samurai following Bushido

This was incredible

I like the format...

Sherman made the slave owning plantation aristocrats pay the price for their reaping huge benefits derived from owning people whose hard work sent untold millions into the pockets of the slave owners. The southern ruling elite had everything their own way for over a century. In the end justice caught up with them and they could no longer steal the fruit of the labors from their slaves. best Bruce Peek

11:52 pronunciation check: the city of Cairo, Illinois is spoken either "CARE-oh" or "KAY-row", but never like the city in Egypt.

Thanks

Incredible

I think there is a reason the largest tree in the world the General Sherman tree in Sequoia National Park is named what it is, besides the California connection

Great video....but too much painting. Please include more images of the time.

Sherman's great respect for Grant probably stemmed more than anything from a meeting after the first day of Shiloh. Sherman, battered and discouraged after the horrifie losses of the first day, told Grant "well, General, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant responded "yes . . . yes. Lick 'em tomorrow though."

As I remember it he told the secretary of War that he needed 200,000 men to take the war South. In the end, a year or so later, the north was taking armies about that size in two major thrusts, one in the west central South towards, eventually, Vicksburg and the other in central Tennessee eventually headed towards Chattanooga. One reason Sherman was so upset was that he apprehended a truth that he couldn’t communicate well, confusing immediate tactics and long-term strategy. and felt he had little effective support to accomplish the ends his superiors were asking for. On another note, I think that Shiloh was the first significant battle, as opposed to a little skirmishing, that he had ever participated in, much last been a commander in. That’s why Sherman had told Lincoln he didn’t want senior command in late summer 1861. He felt he wasn’t ready. At that point, it seems Sherman may have been right. Finally Sherman was probably not a classic bipolar, definitely tendency to depression, and able to sometimes bounce out of it. Doesn’t sound full fledged to me, there are types in which personal relationships/friendships can pull a person fairly quickly out of a depression. Ever after Sherman always had persons he was close with, supportive, and competent to work with to achieve common ends. Overalll it seems he was fairly well liked, though a bit “hi strung”. The Atlanta campaign was genius and very innovative against a very competent opposing general. The textbook example of the “Indirect approach” (before the term was invented, I believe) in encounters after encounter until he had maneuvered, with some fighting, into the trenches around Atlanta. There were three other phases of his campaign, Hood’s attacks, then tightening the noose around Hood until he flees Atlanta. Then after Hood looped around through Alabama he effectively thought with difficulty fended Hood off cutting his supply line to Tennessee. After this, he divided up his Army into two parts, taking the healthiest 60,000 South to the Sea, sending the rest of The army to Tennessee to retrain, refit, and to defend against and destroy Hood as things developed. It IS an incredible story, especially recounted in all its complexity. Sherman could never have accomplished this without a core of seasoned, talented officers, with Thomas the most important, but Ten more of high caliber could be added easily) as well as consistently competent and supportive superiors such as Grant, Lincoln, and yes, I include Halleck. A fascinating, talented, and in so many ways, very strange man.

After the1st yr of the war Robert E. Lee lost battle after battle. He's vastly overrated as a general.