This is disproven by your boy, Sherman:
Dear Brother:.....It is about time the North understood the truth. That the entire South, man, woman and child are against us, armed and determined. It will call for a million men for several years to put them down. They are more confident than ever, none seem to doubt their independence, but some hope to conquer the northwest. My opinion is there never can be peace and we must fight it out.
Actions speak louder than words and Sherman’s actions made my ancestors’ part of the South safer.