Customer Reviews

When Sherman Marched North from the Sea: Resistance on the Confederate Home Front (Civil War America)

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This is a very condensed book, mainly dealing with how the war, ( Sherman's March) affected the people in the path of Shermans army. Mrs. Campbell (the author, and a professor of history) uses extensive footnotes, and numerous sources, from a wide spectrum of people, and authors. One thing Mrs. Campbell bears on, is how Shermans march affected the African-American people, and how it differed with it's affect on the white people; and the differences in effect it had on the moral of the people, versus the effect it had on the Confederate soldiers.

If you're new to Shermans March, this is a good book to start with. It's an excellent, quick view of the effect on the Southern people.

If you've read extensively, on Sherman March, this is an excellent book, that adds to your knowledge.

I also recomment, "Sherman's March"-Richard Wheeler; "Shermans March"-Burke Davis; as well as Shermans March through the Carolina's"- John G. Barrett.

Normally I do not write reviews for the items I purchase, in fact this is my first. I so strongly disliked this book that I had to write a review, however. If you are required to read this book for a class, then buy it and do what you have to. If you are contemplating reading this book for pleasure, do not do so. It repeats the same information over and over. I honestly tried to find out where the author was from because she so strongly sympathizes with the confederate women that it is ridiculous. Yes, Sherman's army created a path of intense destruction and demoralized the women and people of the south. They destroyed family posessions and loved property. THAT WAS THE POINT!!! The primary intent was to demoralize the southern people and cut to the core of their identity. All this book is quote southern people on how badly they were treated. 10 pages would have sufficed, but I had to read 110 monotonous pages. Find a relatively unbiased book, because this sure isn't one. Don't waste your time...

This book is what happens when 21st. Century feminist thinking trys to layer itself over the 19th. Century and the American Civil War.

Basicly the book deals with the abuse of white southern women, black women and the wanton destruction of property by General Sherman's campaign through the Southern heart land in 1864. Using limited sources the author builds a case of excessive violence, rape and destruction of property. Gen. Sherman's campaign is well documented and know to historians and although there obviously were examples of what Prof. Campbell described it was not the normal standard of behaviour of Gen. Sherman's Army of 61K.

I have no doubt that the examples given in this text are factualy true but the historicaly records as well as personal diaries and letters that have survived strongly indicate that these atrocities toward Souther civilians or slave were the norm.