Sherman's prose is more prolix passion than prescient prediction, but his exuberance is a time machine of sorts. One need not agree with Sherman and few probably do to appreciate that he spoke fervently of reality at the time and how he wished the future to be. Of course, it rarely is as we might wish it, and was not to be so for him and his ever-shrinking legions. My comment is not a call for return to the articles of war. Yet many today may forget the ultimate purpose of the military and how ineffective and, indeed, dangerous to liberty an undisciplined force is.
Armed forces are powerful, dangerous, and expensive mobs unless well-ordered.
Defiant soldiers will fail to vanquish enemies and threaten domestic stability. He referred to problems that Royalist and parliamentary commanders confronted with their rowdy forces during the English Civil War. Slavish surrender to civilianization threatens to erode the core of obedience that Sherman knew was necessary. We may well, however, relearn some old lessons at great cost in the 21st century. Carnage on the digitized battlefield will be no prettier than blood-soaked Shiloh.