The American Civil War: A Union Divided Season 1 Episode 3 Total War

In the third episode of The American Civil War: A Union Divided season 1, titled "Total War," the viewers are taken on a journey through the darkest period of America's civil war. The episode highlights how the war took a brutal turn as both sides looked for effective ways to gain an advantage over the other.

As the Civil War progressed, both the Union and Confederate armies were finding it hard to win battles against an opposing army that was equally matched. Therefore, in "Total War," we see both sides making strategic decisions to attack the enemy on all fronts- be it on the battlefield, in their homes, or their farms, with the goal of weakening their enemy's resolve.

The Union army, under the command of General Sherman, came up with a new strategy called "Sherman's March to the sea." In this strategy, the Union forces would cut off the Confederates from the rest of the country and destroy everything in their path. The goal was two-fold: to break the Confederate's supply chain and to demoralize their soldiers by destroying their homes, farms, and property. This strategy proved effective, and the Union forces were able to take control of Atlanta and many other key locations.

The Confederates, under the leadership of General Jubal Early, also retaliated by launching a similar attack on Washington D.C., the capital of the Union. The plan was to attack the capital and make the Union forces, especially the civilians, feel the same pain and suffering as they had inflicted on the Confederates. However, the Confederate forces were not as successful as they hoped, and the attack on Washington D.C. failed.

Additionally, the episode also highlights how the Civil War was fought not only on the battlefield but also in the press, with both sides using propaganda to paint themselves as the victors. The Union used the power of the printing press, while the Confederates relied on newspapers to spread their message. The idea was to control the narrative of what was happening in the war, and this was just as important as winning the actual battle.

Overall, "Total War" shows the viewers how brutal and devastating the Civil War was for both sides. By attacking each other's homes, farms, and civilians, there was no clear winner in this war. Instead, what they achieved was the destruction of many lives and properties. Despite the immense loss, the war would continue for a few more years, with both sides refusing to relent until the final battle was fought.