The Union and the Total War Campaign
by The American Civil War is the most prominent form of Total War. During the time period, the people were targeted by each opposing force and were considered to be enemy assets. The tactics and mindset of the war may have been required, but they were carried on unnecessarily into the following battles after the war.
However useful these tactics were, I believe that a certain amount of respect was lost for the innocence of war. Even Sheridan was a witness to what the U.S. had lost in regards to respect when he observed the Franco-Prussian War. He did not see a problem with U.S. tactics, but the other nations found it to be too isolated and rare an instance to emulate .
Comparing Janda’s article with the “Western Way of War” by Geoffrey Parker turns up with a few similarities. Parker explains in his five foundations of Western Warfare that “the overall aim of western strategy was the total defeat and destruction of the enemy” . Janda’s article touches on this by demonstrating that the Union forces basically began destroying the infrastructure of the Confederacy. They aimed to completely annihilate all opposition and did so through resources and the civilian population. This crippled the Confederacy in the end allowing for the Union to claim a victory in the south.
Parker also stressed discipline as one of the five foundations of Western War. This is clearly demonstrated through the constant effort by the troops during battle. They listened and trusted their generals and were disciplined enough to remain in the war effort and follow the orders they were given. Even this discipline was put to the test when the Union had to change it’s tactics to accommodate the changing battlefield. Adapting to change was a clear principle that was stressed by Parker. The Union and Confederate soldiers were able to adapt to changing tactics and geography.
Overall, this article was a very interesting read. I found myself disagreeing with the “total war” aspect of it in the beginning, due to my own ignorance. My opinion of the war changed drastically as I finished reading the article. I agreed with the tactics of the Union to an extent, but when those same tactics were carried into the next campaign, I disagreed with their application. It may have been necessary to use during the Civil War to reunite a country, but a more hospitable, negotiatory approach would have probably sufficed with the Native Americans.
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