Well, I am not intending on defending what happened. My intention was to separate a professional soldier from unfair accusations of intent. I'll seek your advice on this point. How much destruction do you think was directly attributable to Sherman's regular army and how much to the legions of "bummers", the skulkers, bounty jumpers, conscript deserters, miscreant, sub-humans. Once again, you know my family suffered under Sherman's March. But my tendency is to defend the professional "volunteer" soldiers from those that followed in their wake. Someone would have to delve into the OR's to know. If a regular army unit was ordered to burn X,Y, Z they would have done so and submitted a proper report of the matter. I guess I'm just worried about throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Let me hear from you as I want to know more. I am no expert on Sherman or his March to the Sea. Give me the proof that it was policy and I'll be the first to call Sherman an SOB.