You made your points in a well written manner. IF one were to be objective they can make a bit of sense. If we were talking of a war in another country that we had no personal tie to, sure, there were different directives for each side.

The problem is that there isn't much Education unless one takes it upon oneself to study even a small part of that war. There is so much to it and so many people involved. We all know what we learned in school was bunk.
As an example---Sherman did not get Grants ok to deport the women from the Roswell Mills. Not trying to open that discussion but using the example. He 'branded' them as traitors and deported them into enemy territory even though he darn well knew that they were not capable of doing anything to harm the Union. Weaving fabric wasn't exactly making ammo. We also know the US condoned this type of 'warfare' during the Indian eradication policy. It wasn't until the Japanese interrments in WWII that it was rethought and changed. It isn't part of the 'make nice' policy of today. They didn't pass out candy to the Southern children.

It is difficult to be objective.The NORTH invaded the South. The NORTH wasn't even willing to talk about it before hand. They just came on down and started killing. No, the Confederate Army wasn't free of problems, but they weren't of the type the Union had. They just didn't have the men or the time for anything but survival.

Many of us Southern soldier descendants were told of some of the things that happened to our ancestors. It is still a 'personal' thing to many. We aren't trying to refight the war or even say that secession would have worked. We are though, aware that we have a unique heritage that has been bashed, disrespected and ignored. To us, that is the biggest crime of all.

Sherman was a soldier and did his job. I feel he was a good man in spite of what he did in the South. I'm still proud that Robert E. Lee was our leader in the field. Even though he didn't get the job done as he wished, he did it with honor. I can think of only one time I wish he'd have not done something.

Pam