In the Civil War, did the North ever burn any of the souths' fields as they moved from place to place?

Question

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Answer 1

Being a native Georgian, I can tell you YES. He started in TN and fought his way from NW GA, across the central part of the state and then headed towards Savannah and the coast before turning up to destroy Charleston to "punish the city that began it all." All along the way, especially in middle GA and along the coast, he burned farms, homes, crops and killed animals. It was the first wholesale effort of any army in the history of 'modern war' to make war on a civilian population. Sherman desired to break the will of the people of the South to fight, rob the Army of Tennessee (CSA) of resources and to destroy the rail and commerce system of the region. He effectively took Florida, much of GA and AL out of the war going forward (just like the fall of Vicksburg weakened contributions by TX and LA to the war).

There were only a few towns, like Madison, GA, that were spared because of some personal connection between Sherman and someone in the town (like the mayor). He is still hated by many Southerners. Look to a book called Decision in the West by Castel on the Atlanta campaign.

Answer 2

General Sherman was probably the first "modern" General to use scorched earth or " total war" as a means of defeating the enemy. He knew it would break their spirit and ruing their infrastructure. He hardest hit target was South Carolina, the first State to secede from the Union. For that, they were punished probably more harshly than the other states.

Answer 3

Yes, burned everything on way to Atlanta. Did not burn fields of blackeyed peas, because thought cow feed or worthless. That is why in south they are considered good luck on New Years day.

Answer 4

When General Sherman paid a call he brought his matches with him.

Answer 5

Scorched earth policy.