11 quotes
Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and disaster.
Memoirs of General W.T. Sherman (1889)
You might as well appeal against the thunder-storm as against these terrible hardships of war.
Letter to the City of Atlanta (1864)
If they want eternal war, well and good; we accept the issue, and will dispossess them and put our friends in their place.
Letter to R.M. Sawyer (1864)
If they want peace, they and their relatives must stop the war.
A people who will persevere in war beyond a certain limit ought to know the consequences. Many, many peoples with less pertinacity have been wiped out of national existence.
Letter to R.M. Sawyer (1864)
War is war, and not popularity-seeking. If they want peace, they and their relatives must stop the war.
I regard the death and mangling of a couple thousand men as a small affair, a kind of morning dash — and it may be well that we become so hardened.
You people speak so lightly of war; you don't know what you're talking about.
Three years ago by a little reflection and patience they could have had a hundred years of peace and prosperity, but they preferred war; very well.
Letter to R.M. Sawyer (1864)
I would make this war as severe as possible, and show no symptoms of tiring till the South begs for mercy.
[the quote is on pages 342-343 of Volume I.]
War is the remedy our enemies have chosen. Other simple remedies were within their choice. You know it and they know it, but they wanted war, and I say let us give them all they want; not a word of argument, not a sign of let up, no cave in till we are whipped or they are.
Letter to James Guthrie (1864)