The Bashing of Sherman

The memoirs of General William Sherman are a very valued and important historical asset when it comes to understanding the Atlanta campaign, but sadly as it happens with most historical documents these memoirs are far from perfect in there description of events and many times are mistaken in the relaying of some facts, but imperfection is the virtue of man and it would stand to reason that a mans memoirs would not be either, this however is not the view held by Albert Castel. The article Prevaricating through Georgia: Sherman's Memoirs as a Source on the Atlanta Campaign sadly is little more then a glorified thirty page rant against General Sherman not only as a poor records keeper but as a person, which is a surprising thing to find in a scholarly journal.

The basis for Castel's criticism stems from the frequent errors that occur in Sherman's memoirs and the fact that in several cases Sherman glorifies his own deeds and exaggerates others errors. The article is broken into four general parts which lay out the four offences of Sherman in recording his memoirs in the Atlanta campaign. The first offence Castel claims against Sherman is his exaggerative statements about the Atlanta campaign which are meant to be more flattering on Sherman himself. The second offence is omitting or distorting of important facts for his own benefit and hiding his blunders. The third offence was the fabrication and falsification of information with the intent to make it seem as though Sherman had done things he did not due. The fourth and final offense was the blatant slandering of his subordinate generals Hooker and Thomas both personally and professionally. Though it is likely a futile matter to dispute Castel's credibility and dependability as a historian and most likely each point made against Sherman's memoirs is a valid inconsistency that one would be foolish to over look, but the sad truth that Castel seems to over look is that Sherman's memoirs were not meant at the time to become the important historical documents they are today and he would have no motive to attempt to rewrite his own history in the equivalent to his diary, as Castel seems to be accusing him of doing.

Castel, Albert. "Prevaricating through Georgia: Sherman's Memoirs as a Source on the Atlanta Campaign." Civil War History 40, no. 1(1994): 48-71.