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A review by castlelass
Sherman's March by Carolyn Reidy, Burke Davis, Jeff Stone
4.0
I had recently read a novel of historical fiction about the end of the American Civil War and decided to find out more about it. This book starts after the capture of Atlanta and follows Sherman and his troops as they trek through Georgia and the Carolinas, attempting to cut off the supply lines to the Confederate troops and bring an end to hostilities. This meant taking the war to civilians, mostly women, children, and slaves. It ends with the final victory parade and a few words about the remainder of Sherman’s life. Although it contains biographical material, it is not a biography of Sherman; rather, it is a detailed examination of the “march” and related events that led to the end of the war.
The author has taken eye-witness accounts and woven them together with his narrative into a cohesive story depicting what life was like during this difficult time. His research and the inclusion of anecdotes and quotes from letters and diaries of participants on both sides, lends a feeling of authenticity, and it certainly helps that many people of the time tended to write eloquently of their experiences. The structure is chronological, and the storyline is focused. Enough detail is offered without being too verbose. Davis includes sights, sounds, smells, textures to bring the past to life: the appearance of the countryside, the weather, the clothing, the food (or lack thereof), almost like scenes in a movie. He does not shy away from describing the horrific destruction, lives shattered, and sense of “punishing” the south (especially in South Carolina, the seat of secession). Sherman is lauded as a fine military strategist, but his racism and mercurial temperament are not overlooked. He did not condone pillaging but did little to stop it. One of the most interesting parts, for me, was the backstory of the bad blood between Sherman and Secretary of War Stanton, and the controversy over the terms of surrender negotiated with Confederate General Johnston.
Content warnings include descriptions of war-related violence, looting, racism, rape, and executions. Recommended to readers interested in American Civil War history, especially how it came to an end. Overall, I found it vivid, readable, and informative.
The author has taken eye-witness accounts and woven them together with his narrative into a cohesive story depicting what life was like during this difficult time. His research and the inclusion of anecdotes and quotes from letters and diaries of participants on both sides, lends a feeling of authenticity, and it certainly helps that many people of the time tended to write eloquently of their experiences. The structure is chronological, and the storyline is focused. Enough detail is offered without being too verbose. Davis includes sights, sounds, smells, textures to bring the past to life: the appearance of the countryside, the weather, the clothing, the food (or lack thereof), almost like scenes in a movie. He does not shy away from describing the horrific destruction, lives shattered, and sense of “punishing” the south (especially in South Carolina, the seat of secession). Sherman is lauded as a fine military strategist, but his racism and mercurial temperament are not overlooked. He did not condone pillaging but did little to stop it. One of the most interesting parts, for me, was the backstory of the bad blood between Sherman and Secretary of War Stanton, and the controversy over the terms of surrender negotiated with Confederate General Johnston.
Content warnings include descriptions of war-related violence, looting, racism, rape, and executions. Recommended to readers interested in American Civil War history, especially how it came to an end. Overall, I found it vivid, readable, and informative.