Saturday, August 29, 2009

Why did Sherman make Georgia 'howl'?

Have you ever seen similarities between the burning of Atlanta and the bombing of Hiroshima? Two new books examine the taking of Atlanta, a turning point of the Civil War. Winston Groom, author of “Forrest Gump,” uses his reviews of “The Bonfire” and “War Like the Thunderbolt” to examine the legacy of the scorched-earth policy of Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman. Groom says this about the destruction of Atlanta: “What Sherman finally decided on was the annihilation of the city — itself — an instructive example, as it were, for other Southern cities; or if you will, an act of terrorism.” • More about the two books.

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