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Sherman's march to the sea

Discussion in 'History Forum' started by seekingthetruth, Oct 20, 2011.

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  1. seekingthetruth

    seekingthetruth New Member

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    Being raised in the South, I was taught in school and by my relatives that Sherman was a butcher. He did not attack the Confederate Army, he attacked their wives and children. He killed, raped and stole from civilians, not the military.

    And then, again, our government dropped atomic bombs on civilian cities in Japan in WWII. We attacked women and children, not soldiers. Does that make us terrorists? Couldn't we have dropped the bombs on the many islands that Japan occupied as military bases?

    When the Al-Qaeda attacked the World Trade Center, the pentagon, and the airliner, we called them terrorists because they attacked civillians in a cowardly manner.

    My thoughts are that Sherman attacked civillians in a cowardly manner. He is regarded as a hero in the North, and a butcher in the South. How is is he different than Al-Qaeda? I believe he was a terrorist.

    How is our attack on civillian cities in Japan different from Al-Qaeda?

    I am not trying to justify the 911 attacks, I am just saying, what makes them terrorists and us heros?

    Does the definition of "terrorist" depend on which side you are on?

    John
     
    #1 seekingthetruth, Oct 20, 2011
  2. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    Sherman knew war is a terrible thing. Remember his quote, "War is hell." But most folk have not read the entire quote.

    In a letter to Atlanta in 1864 Sherman said:

    But you are incorrect about his not fighing the Confederate soldiers. He was at:

    Shiloh
    Vicksburg
    Chattanooga
    Battle of Chickasaw Bayou
    Meridian, Mississippi
    Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
    Battle of Franklin
    Battle of Nashville
    Battle of Savannah
    Battle of Columbia
    and others.

    I grew up in the South also and we were not taught about the Confederate "terrorists" such as:

    Quantrill's Raiders
    Bloody Bill William Anderson
    Jesse Woodson James
    Morgan's Raiders
    Nathan Bedford Forrest
    John Hunt Morgan
    There were others, but you get my point.

    War is horrible and all Christians should be anti-war. There is no glory in war. There is only death, maiming, misery and destruction.
     
    #2 Crabtownboy, Oct 20, 2011
  3. seekingthetruth

    seekingthetruth New Member

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    I know Sherman was in legitimate battles....but does that justify wageing war on women and children?

    John
     
    #3 seekingthetruth, Oct 20, 2011
  4. seekingthetruth

    seekingthetruth New Member

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    Also?

    In these letters you posted by Sherman. I feel that he is just trying to justify his butchery by calling it "war".

    Again, if some nation or radical group wages war against our women and children, we call them "terrorists".

    How is Sherman different from them?

    John
     
    #4 seekingthetruth, Oct 20, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 20, 2011
  5. seekingthetruth

    seekingthetruth New Member

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    Nation divided?

    When a son leaves home and starts his own home, it is not "a home divided". It is now two homes.

    When the south left the union, it was not a "nation divided", it was two seperate and distinct nations. And the south had the right to form a seperate nation. When they entered the union they did so willingly. And if they had the right to willingly enter into the union, then they should have had the right to withdrawl from said union.

    They certainly didn't deserve to be attacked and killed for leaving what they thought was an oppresive government.

    John
     
    #5 seekingthetruth, Oct 20, 2011
  6. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    Let me try to play Sherman's advocate. He was different from terrorists in that he was fighting a war. He went about systematically destroying the ability of the south to take care of those who were firing rifles. As long as they could continue to farm and send food to the rebel troops, the rebellion would continue.

    By the way, if destroying those farms and hurting those "innocent" bystanders was terrorism (and it's not) then the carpet bombing by the US and Great Britain during WW 2 was also terrorism.
     
    #6 Tom Bryant, Oct 20, 2011
  7. seekingthetruth

    seekingthetruth New Member

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    I agree with with your observation about war, but I strongly disagree with the notion that killing women and children is justified because they grew food for the Army.

    BTW, the intent of Sherman's march had nothing to do with food, it was a campaign waged for the soul purpose of breaking the will of the confederate soldier to fight. Sherman wasn't worried about what the Southern Army was eating, he killed their children so they would stop fighting and return home.

    I deeply resent the notion that Sherman tried to starve the Southern Army. He killed their children, he raped their women, and he burned their homes, NOT to starve them, but to break their will to fight.

    The murder of all of these women and children had nothing to do with logistics. It was simply a dirty tactic that was cowardly and ruthless.

    Just like 911

    John
     
    #7 seekingthetruth, Oct 20, 2011
  8. seekingthetruth

    seekingthetruth New Member

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    Rebel?

    Why are the soldiers in 1776 called "patriots", and the confederate soldiers are called "rebels"?

    I submit to you that the confederate soldiers were just as patriotic as Washington was. They loved their country just like you do.

    John
     
    #8 seekingthetruth, Oct 20, 2011
  9. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Excellent question - too bad no one has really answered it yet.

    Why did we drop the A-bomb on Japan - because it appeared to be the only way to end the war. Why not drop it only on a military installation - it probably would not have had the effect as a civilian city did. In fact even after the first bomb - no surrender was in the works.
    The US was planning on a land attack - in fact many from EUCOM were be levied to be shipped to Japan.
    It was estimated that thousands upon thousands of GI would have died during a landing. Look how many died on D-Day. during the invasion of France- over 4,000 just killed, not to mention those injured, ect. So you might say that we dropped the bomb to save lives. and BTW, we did drop leaflets about what was soon to happen.

    I would say the airmen were heroes, not terrorist - as our purpose was not to occupy enemy territory - but to bring real peace. I realize that some Rebels did the same thing as Sherman - but two wrongs do not make a right.
     
    #9 Salty, Oct 20, 2011
  10. plain_n_simple

    plain_n_simple Active Member

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    Sherman was a smart man war wise in destroying the South's ability to wage war. There was no army in front of him and he knew it, and he knew about where where Hood was. He sent Thomas after him. It was the shock value that made the march legendary. It was a new way to break the will of the opposition. This "great" march to the sea overshadows a better general, George Thomas. As far as terrorists go, anyone who raises a hand against another is a terrorst from a believers perspective. Jesus said to love your enemies, not wage a holy war.
     
    #10 plain_n_simple, Oct 20, 2011
  11. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    That is absolute liberal hogwash. Sometimes the "peacemaker" is the guy with the bloody bat in his hand. But I just don't expect some folks to get that.

    Following you logic, Christ hisself was a terrorist for raising his hands to remove the marketeers from his temple.

    Just because it is "your" perspective, does not give you the right to call anyone an unbeliever.
     
    #11 Bro. Curtis, Oct 20, 2011
  12. plain_n_simple

    plain_n_simple Active Member

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    Sorry I offended you, but they are not my words.
     
    #12 plain_n_simple, Oct 20, 2011
  13. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    You don't have the power to offend me, as I will not give it to you. But don't expect to twist my savior's words around, and then tell me what you wanted him to say, and have me sit silent.
     
    #13 Bro. Curtis, Oct 20, 2011
  14. plain_n_simple

    plain_n_simple Active Member

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    Your Savior's words are to love your enemies. Notice the example when Peter cut off the servants ear, Peter was in the wrong spirit. Jesus had compassion on the man and replaced the ear, and they still took Him. "Love overcomes" is what He said, not a ballbat peacemaker lol.
     
    #14 plain_n_simple, Oct 20, 2011
  15. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    Like I said, I don't expect you to understand. But I do expect you to respect people. Disagreement with your interpretation makes nobody a disbeliever. Or a terrorist. Unless, you are saying, Christ was one.
     
    #15 Bro. Curtis, Oct 20, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 20, 2011
  16. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    The police officer who shot & killed Charles Whitman was a peacemaker.
     
    #16 Bro. Curtis, Oct 20, 2011
  17. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    So will Christ the pacifist really kill people with the Word? or will he simply love them into hell?

    But your freedom to say that was paid for by people who fought and made those who would take away those freedoms die for their country. So enjoy your war bought freedom.
     
    #17 Tom Bryant, Oct 20, 2011
  18. plain_n_simple

    plain_n_simple Active Member

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    It isn't "my" interpretation of simple words. He did not say love your enemies and forgive them unless they punched you in the head now kick them lol. Where did Jesus say go kill in my name on a personal or national level? You might be confusing the right to bear arms with deny yourself an become like Him.
     
    #18 plain_n_simple, Oct 20, 2011
  19. plain_n_simple

    plain_n_simple Active Member

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    "So will Christ the pacifist really kill people with the Word? or will he simply love them into hell?"

    Right now we are under Grace. When He comes back He will be the Lion. He did not come to condemn the world but to save it.
     
    #19 plain_n_simple, Oct 20, 2011
  20. plain_n_simple

    plain_n_simple Active Member

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    According to men and the world yes. There is a way that seems right to a man but isn't His way.
     
    #20 plain_n_simple, Oct 20, 2011
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