Talk:William Tecumseh Sherman

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• An army is a collection of armed men obliged to obey one man. Every change in the rules which impairs this principle weakens the army.

• Courage — a perfect sensibility of the measure of danger, and a mental willingness to endure it.

• The more Indians we can kill this year, the less will have to be killed next year.

• Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and defeat.

• Grant stood by me when I was crazy, and I stood by him when he was drunk, and now we stand by each other always.
  • A reference to rumors that plagued both men during the Civil War — that Sherman was unstable and Grant was a drunkard.

• I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah.
  • Letter to President Lincoln

• I can handle a hundred thousand men in battle, and take the City of the Sun, but am afraid to manage a lot in the swamp of San Francisco.

• I hate newspapermen. They come into camp and pick up their camp rumors and print them as facts. I regard them as spies, which, in truth, they are. If I killed them all there would be news from Hell before breakfast.
  • Variant: If I had my choice I would kill every reporter in the world, but I am sure we would be getting reports from Hell before breakfast.

• I will accept no commission that would tend to create a rivalry with Grant. I want him to hold what he has earned and got. I have all the rank that I want.

• I make up my mind from facts and reasoning, and not to suit any body but myself. If people don't like my opinions, it makes little difference as I don't ask for their vote or solicit their opinions.

• I think I understand what military fame is: to be killed on the field of battle and have your name misspelled in the newspapers.

• I would make this war as severe as possible, and show no symptoms of tiring till the South begs for mercy.

• If forced to choose between the White House and the penitentiary for four years, I would say the penitentiary, thank you.

• If the people raise a great howl against my barbarity and cruelty, I will answer that war is war, and not popularity seeking.

• If you get blown up I don't care!
  • To a Confederate prisoner ordered to dig for land mines.

• My aim, then, was to whip the rebels, to humble their pride, to follow them to their inmost recesses, and make them fear and dread us. Fear is the beginning of wisdom.

• The carping and bickering of political factions in the nation's capitol reminds me of two pelicans quarreling over a dead fish.

• The legitimate object of war is a more perfect peace.

• The scenes on this field would cure anyone of war.

• This war differs from other wars in this particular: We are not fighting armies but a hostile people, and must make young and old, rich and poor, feel the hard hand of war.

• Vox populi, vox humbug!

• War is the remedy our enemies have chosen, and I say let us give them all they want.

• War is, at its best, barbarism.