Allen Guelzo's recent book, "Gettysburg, the Last Invasion" discusses the subject at considerable length, providing quotes from letters home, and examples, especially in chapter 5.
When I can figure out how to copy & paste some examples from Kindle, I will...
Looking at the larger picture, in past threads I've reviewed at length examples of Confederate misbehavior, not denying that Yankees also misbehaved, only to show that it did happen, on occasion, on both sides.
And I always say that, compared to other armies in other wars, our ancestors were gentlemen and Christian soldiers whose worst behavior in no way compares to much that was common elsewhere.
Consider again: the death rate among young Confederate men was as high as any country suffered in WWII, for example the Soviets.
And yet, in WWII, of the 75 million who died, 50 million were civilians.
By stark contrast, in the US Civil War, the documented deaths of civilians were a few hundred, at most.
You did mention the Army of the Potomac lived almost entirely from supplies shipped by rail from the north, but imply that other Union armies, not so much.
In reality, most Union armies lived off their own rail-heads most of the time, and it was the rare exception, often now exaggerated, when they "lived off the land".
The most common experience of southern farmers was that if they stayed to defend their homes, Union troops didn't molest them, but if they ran and abandoned their farms, they would often return to find them burned down.
Confederate troops always "lived off the land", taking what they needed, with "requisitions" or without.
central_va: "Military Targets i.e. RR and bridges were destroyed but not civilian."
Generally, yes, but the definition of what was "military" or "contraband" could be very loosely interpreted.
A prime example is horses for cavalry, always considered fair game, but also any food or clothing the troops might feel short of.
Gathering up such items was JEB Stuart's specialty, even when it could cost his commander, Gen. Lee, the loss of important intelligence.
And, iirc, the practice of burning homes began even before the war, in "bleeding Kansas."
No, it did not happen often, but did, on occasion, happen.
Anyway, this afternoon I'm still away from home, will make an effort later to cite passages from Guelzo to demonstrate the reality of "requisitions" and "contraband".
In light of Sherman's "behavior" you position is untenable. This is typical of liberals when the spout "they all do it". You cannot say minor infractions of the ArmyOfNoVa even comes close what happened in GA and SC. Its ridiculous, it is what alcoholics say to their spouses when the get totally drunk at a party and they use the excuse well "I saw you have a drink". So that covers their entire embarrassing drunk-ex.