Good afternoon all: A very entertaining thread. It seemed like a goood one to get back on Mudcat with. The interesting thing for me about the Civil War is the fact that the people involved were complex people. The times might have been simpler but the people certainly were not.
   I believe, had the South won the Civil War, the Confederacy would have Balkanized (Split and went their separate ways) I cite a notable Confederate as my proof; "It the South dies you may say it was killed by states rights" Jefferson Davis.
   I do understand why some don't like Sherman. Although I must add that he was thought of far better by Southerners immediately following the Civil War than now. JOsepph E, Johnston caught Pneumonia after going hatless to Sherman's funeral and reasoned sherman would have done the same for him. I certainly can understand about Sheridan. Never cared for him after I discovered that he was the one who came up with "The only good Indian is a dead Indian" remark, (and for the record I am not of Native American extraction.)
Sherman did tell them how the war would proceed and both sides thought he was crazy. (He was actually going to berelieved of duty for a time but Grant vetoed that idea.) More later, Neil