In terms of military tactics, General Sherman's "March to the Sea" was worthless. He engaged no armies, nor fought by what was then considered the Rules of Engagement. His whole objective in perpetuating a swath of destruction was to break the morale of the Confederacy. However, his scorched earth policy was not without precedent -- a year earlier, General Sheridan, coming upon the Shenandoah Valley, had been given orders to "eat out Virginia clear and clean . . . so that crows flying over it for the balance of this season will have to carry their provender with them." Destruction of this area caused food shortages in the South.
Warfare never remains contained between opposing armies. What happened during the Civil War was that it spread into the destruction of civilians and their holdings, who were supporting the Confederacy. Were Sherman's actions tactically necessary? No, but neither was the fire bombing of Dresden the Allies inflicted upon Germany -- the city had no strategic nor military value, but was destroyed because -- it could be destroyed.
How can measurement be made of the impact psychological warfare has in ending the real war?
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