Personally, I believe the wilting of the Southern cause began with the end at Gettysburg and did not begin with Sherman's march to the Sea. What he and his 60 thousand didn't accomplish was fulfilled by the follow-on renegades who fell upon and took what was left. I don't doubt for one minute defenseless women, children and old men who were in the path of this march suffered severe psychological impact upon seeing this great hord of blue coats invading and burning their home land not to mention the ruination of and the taking of food stuffs. The latter itself enough to create physical harm to the old and young. And also, have I not read accounts of women taken prisoner because they worked in uniform factories in Roswell GA and spirited away to the North never to return again? No, for my money, Sherman was the commander of these forces which makes him responsible for any and all atrocities suffered by Georgia and Georgians and is not forgiven.