Did General Sherman salt Southern fields in the Civil War?

I was born and raised in Georgia. We know Sherman quite well. While it is true that he was an ass at times, he never went that far. As a matter of fact, many of the attrocities attributed to Sherman are not entirely his doing. read more

Sherman did report burning the town to the War Dept., but the only thing he actually destroyed was the train depot. The churches, stores and homes were left standing. Much of the damage to Atlanta was actually done by the retreating Confederates who torched military supplies before their evacuation, setting off the fire that destroyed the city. read more

Salt was a crucial resource during the American Civil War. Salt not only preserved food in the days before refrigeration, but was also vital in the curing of leather. Union general William Tecumseh Sherman once said that "salt is eminently contraband", as an army that has salt can adequately feed its men. read more

Yesterday General Sherman returned to the scene of this destruction and disaster, and looked upon the answer that our people have made to his torch. A proud city, prosperous almost beyond compare, throbbing with vigor and strength, and rapturous with the thrill of growth and expansion, stands before him. read more