Sleep Well, America

On March 27th, 1794, the U. S. Congress passed the Naval Act, thus laying the groundwork for the United States Navy. Although the fledgling nation had used ships under the authority of the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War, it is generally accepted that this is the date of the Navy's inception. The first ships in the Navy were the six frigates that included the U.S.S. Constitution, now the oldest active commissioned naval vessel in the world. She is a three-master whose storied career started with the defeat of six British warships during the War of 1812, during which she won her moniker, "Old Ironsides." The total cost to build all six frigates was just under $700,000.

Today, the United States Navy has almost a half million sailors, with a little over a quarter of that number in the reserves. It has 280 ships and 3,700 aircraft divided into six fleets and nine operational commands. 11 carrier groups conduct operations around the world to satisfy our commitments to our allies and governmental policy as it evolves. As in all military commands in America, the top post is held by a civilian, the Secretary of the Navy and under that is the Chief of Naval Operations. In terms of operational command, the Joint Chiefs, under the direction of the Secretary of Defense, command the Fleet Admirals for the projection of American seapower.

Having served in the U. S. Navy on active duty during the Vietnam era and watching the Navy's forces today, little has changed since then in terms of customs and decorum. What has changed is the level of sophistication of its weapons systems and shipboard technology. The Navy quickly adapts to contemporary threats both operationally and in its hardware.

Today, take a few moments to reflect on the millions of Americans that have gone into harm's way to protect our interests throughout history. As you read this, thousands of men and women serve in the finest Naval Force to ever sail.

Blazing Trails and Winning Wars

Surely, no face evokes more sentiment in the South 144 years hence than that of William Tecumseh Sherman. As the hated General of the Union Army that crushed the Confederate armies and burned its way to the sea, time has not abated the anger at this one individual soldier. His campaigns not only attacked the enemy forces, he systematically destroyed the supplies, transportation and even the will to fight as he bludgeoned his way to victory.

What most don't realize is that he was in a way an unwilling participant. Suffering from a nervous breakdown earlier in life, cursed with the tendency for excessive drinking and largely intolerant towards deliberation, he was a unique figure in the American Civil War. If faced with the unappealing prospect of waging a war, he was unsurpassed in his ruthlessness.

His past included his being a banker at a failed bank, a superintendent of a college (later becoming Louisiana State University), practicing law and of course, attending West Point. Most of his non-military career was spent during the 1850's. During his tenure as superintendent at the precursor to LSU, he easily mixed with the Southern aristocracy, having come from a well-to-do family of politicians. In the broiling climate of secession, he warned with great passion to his Southern friends the folly of their fight. He knew the capacity of the North to wage war and the inability of the South to produce much more than uniforms and agricultural products. His warnings fell of deaf ears.

Sherman was a paradoxical figure. He hated war but waged it in such a way that his tactics have been studied by such figures as Erwin Rommel, George S. Patton and military scholars for over a century. He was vicious in his strategy to eradicate the Indian nations but held out contempt for government agents and swindlers that cheated them. He was compassionate to the freed slaves but found them to be a nuisance and unfit for military service. He cruelly burned cities and crops but accepted the gift of Savannah without destroying it and in turn offered it to President Lincoln for his birthday.

W. T. Sherman concluded his career being appointed as Commanding General of the Army by U. S. Grant and then as an interim Secretary of War in 1869. He lived out his years as a lecturer, student of the arts and exhibited a fondness for Shakespeare. He passed away on February 14, 1891 in New York City.

Little remains of the fervent passions that created the Civil War. As in most conflicts, it was found by history to be largely unnecessary. The invention of the cotton gin would have eventually changed the need for slaves and made the whole issue somewhat moot. War is hell, but if one is to wage it, win it quickly and decisively. To Sherman, we owe our understanding of this awful truth.