General William T. Sherman explained that his aim was to relentlessly pursue the Confederates and make them fear and dread him and the Union Army.
Which wartime strategy is represented by this idea?
naval blockade
martial law
total war
defensive war
Total war.
The idea of relentlessly pursuing the Confederates, making them fear and dread the Union Army, is a characteristic of total war strategy. Total war involves the use of all available resources and forces, including civilian and economic resources, to achieve the objective of defeating the enemy. It is characterized by the elimination of the enemy's ability to fight and resistance, including their will to continue the fight.
hm?
The wartime strategy represented by General William T. Sherman's idea is total war.
Total war is a strategy in which all resources and efforts are dedicated to the war effort, not only on the battlefield but also in civilian life. It involves targeting not only enemy combatants but also their economy, infrastructure, and civilian population. The goal is to break the enemy's will to fight by directly attacking their ability to wage war.
In General Sherman's case, he believed that by relentlessly pursuing the Confederates and instilling fear and dread in them and the Union Army, they would be more likely to surrender or give up the fight. He implemented this strategy during his infamous "March to the Sea" campaign, during which he led the Union Army on a destructive path through Georgia, destroying infrastructure, confiscating resources, and demoralizing the Confederate troops and civilians along the way.