--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sherman’s army, after all the depletions…" description: "\"“Sherman’s army, after all the depletions, numbered about sixty thousand effective men. All weak men had been left to hold the rear, and those remainin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/ulysses-s-grant-1793_good-soldiers_sherman-s-army-after-all-the-depletions_2997191.jpg" --- # Sherman’s army, after all the depletions, numbered about… ![“Sherman’s army, after all the depletions, numbered about sixty thousand effective men. All weak men had been left to hold the rear, and those remaining were not only well men, but strong and hardy, so that he had sixty thousand as good soldiers as ever trod the earth; better than any European…” quote by Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/ulysses-s-grant-1793_good-soldiers_sherman-s-army-after-all-the-depletions_2997191.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/ulysses-s-grant-1793_good-soldiers_sherman-s-army-after-all-the-depletions_2997191.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/ulysses-s-grant-1793_good-soldiers_sherman-s-army-after-all-the-depletions_2997191.jpg) > ““Sherman’s army, after all the depletions, numbered about sixty thousand effective men. All weak men had been left to hold the rear, and those remaining were not only well men, but strong and hardy, so that he had sixty thousand as good soldiers as ever trod the earth; better than any European soldiers, because they not only worked like a machine but the machine thought. European armies know very little what they are fighting for, and care less.”” [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grant praises his army’s effectiveness, contrasting it with European forces that lack purpose and cohesion. **In simple terms:** Grant praises his army’s purpose versus European armies’ lack of purpose. Key Takeaway Value purpose and cohesion in teamwork. Themes military purpose efficiency Mood analytical historical Type military history leadership When to use this quote - military training - organizational culture - strategic planning Key Concepts historical analysis leadership Questions to Reflect On - What factors contributed to the Union army’s effectiveness? - How do modern organizations emulate purpose‑driven teams? A Different Perspective The comparison may ignore historical context and differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good soldiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-soldiers/) [Men Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-weak-1236155/) [Sherman Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sherman-army-4740421/) [Soldiers Worked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldiers-worked-2399211/) [Weak men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak-men/) ## Related quotes > [If you ask, do you like strong men or weak men, I'd say, I like who I like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miuccia-prada/if-you-ask-do-you-like-strong-men-or-weak-men-i-d-say-i-like-who-i/) [Miuccia Prada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miuccia-prada/) > [My mother said that we're so lucky to be women. It's not that men are weak. Men are men. We're two completely different animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/my-mother-said-that-we-re-so-lucky-to-be-women-it-s-not-that-men-are/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [Men are passionate, men are weak, men are stupid, men are pitiful; to bring to bear on them anything so tremendous as the wrath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-somerset-maugham/men-are-passionate-men-are-weak-men-are-stupid-men-are-pitiful-to/) [William Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-somerset-maugham/) > [“I certainly found most of the Marines and soldiers I worked with to be top-notch. You had your exceptions—but then you have your exceptions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/i-certainly-found-most-of-the-marines-and-soldiers-i-worked-with-to/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [The colored man has been accustomed all his life to lean on the white man, and if a good officer is placed over him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-colored-man-has-been-accustomed-all-his-life-to-lean-on-the-white/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [Something had gone amiss with men, and the weak ones were dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mcguane/something-had-gone-amiss-with-men-and-the-weak-ones-were-dangerous/) [Thomas McGuane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mcguane/) > [“Loneliness makes us men weak. - Wilhelm Barli”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesb/loneliness-makes-us-men-weak-wilhelm-barli/) [Jo Nesbø](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesb/) > [What worries me the most is that most men are so weak. 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I guess it's also why only women are Mord-Sith, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/the-training-of-a-mord-sith-takes-years-to-learn-to-handle-the-pain-i/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [Men are weak now, and yet they transform the Earth's surface. In millions of years, their might will increase to the extent that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/men-are-weak-now-and-yet-they-transform-the-earth-s-surface-in/) [Konstantin Tsiolkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/) > [“Nearly all men have weak hearts, in one way or another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-j-carroll/nearly-all-men-have-weak-hearts-in-one-way-or-another/) [Steven J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-j-carroll/) > [Men are the weak ones, luv. Didn't you know? Oh, you make a lot of noise, but its the women who are strong. Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-donnelly/men-are-the-weak-ones-luv-didn-t-you-know-oh-you-make-a-lot-of-noise/) [Jennifer Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-donnelly/) ## More by Ulysses S. Grant > [“In the early days of the country, before we had railroads, telegraphs and steamboats—in a word, rapid transit of any sort—the States were each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/in-the-early-days-of-the-country-before-we-had-railroads-telegraphs/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“The much talked of surrendering of Lee’s sword and my handing it back, this and much more that has been said about it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-much-talked-of-surrendering-of-lee-s-sword-and-my-handing-it-back/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“General Lee was dressed in a full uniform which was entirely new, and was wearing a sword of considerable value, very likely the sword…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/general-lee-was-dressed-in-a-full-uniform-which-was-entirely-new-and/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“The great bulk of the legal voters of the South were men who owned no slaves; their homes were generally in the hills and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-great-bulk-of-the-legal-voters-of-the-south-were-men-who-owned-no/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/if-we-are-to-have-another-contest-in-the-near-future-of-our-national/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [...but for a soldier his duty is plain. He is to obey the orders of all those placed over him and whip the enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/but-for-a-soldier-his-duty-is-plain-he-is-to-obey-the-orders-of-all/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“I was afraid, every morning, that I would awake from my sleep to hear that Lee had gone, and that nothing was left but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-was-afraid-every-morning-that-i-would-awake-from-my-sleep-to-hear/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“The efforts to kill off politically the two successful generals, made them both candidates for the Presidency. General Taylor was nominated in 1848, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-efforts-to-kill-off-politically-the-two-successful-generals-made/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [Hold fast to the Bible. To the influence of this Book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/hold-fast-to-the-bible-to-the-influence-of-this-book-we-are-indebted/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“The fact is the constitution did not apply to any such contingency as the one existing from 1861 to 1865. Its framers never dreamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-fact-is-the-constitution-did-not-apply-to-any-such-contingency-as/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [It was my fortune, or misfortune, to be called to the office of Chief Executive without any previous political training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/it-was-my-fortune-or-misfortune-to-be-called-to-the-office-of-chief/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [No other terms than unconditional and immediate surrender. I propose to move immediately upon your works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/no-other-terms-than-unconditional-and-immediate-surrender-i-propose/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [I would suggest the taxation of all property equally whether church or corporation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-would-suggest-the-taxation-of-all-property-equally-whether-church/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [I know only two tunes: one of them is 'Yankee Doodle,' and the other isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-know-only-two-tunes-one-of-them-is-yankee-doodle-and-the-other-isn-t/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“I could have allowed myself more time. I have used my best efforts, with the aid of my eldest son, F. D. Grant, assisted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-could-have-allowed-myself-more-time-i-have-used-my-best-efforts/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) [Explore all 208 Ulysses S. Grant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) ## More Good soldiers quotes > [A good soldier is a blind, heartless, soulless, murderous machine. He is not a man. His is not a brute, for brutes kill only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/a-good-soldier-is-a-blind-heartless-soulless-murderous-machine-he-is/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [No man was ever a good soldier but the man who goes into the battle determined to conquer, or not to come back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-o-connell/no-man-was-ever-a-good-soldier-but-the-man-who-goes-into-the-battle/) [Daniel O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-o-connell/) > [A good soldier, like a good horse, cannot be of a bad color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/a-good-soldier-like-a-good-horse-cannot-be-of-a-bad-color/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [Good soldiers are defined by what they can endure, not by what they can inflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/good-soldiers-are-defined-by-what-they-can-endure-not-by-what-they/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [To have good soldiers, a nation must always be at war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/to-have-good-soldiers-a-nation-must-always-be-at-war/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-sinews-of-war-are-not-gold-but-good-soldiers/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Every good soldier is trained for the battle field. God is prepping you my darlings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tonto-dikeh/every-good-soldier-is-trained-for-the-battle-field-god-is-prepping/) [Tonto Dikeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tonto-dikeh/) > [If slaves will make good soldiers, then our whole theory of slavery is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howell-cobb/if-slaves-will-make-good-soldiers-then-our-whole-theory-of-slavery-is/) [Howell Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howell-cobb/) > [“Good soldiers know that if they don’t recognize who their enemy is, they are destined to lose the war. That is also true for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stormie-omartian/good-soldiers-know-that-if-they-don-t-recognize-who-their-enemy-is/) [Stormie Omartian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stormie-omartian/) > [To be a good soldier, you must love the army. To be a good commander, you must be willing to order the death of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/to-be-a-good-soldier-you-must-love-the-army-to-be-a-good-commander/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [One sailor will do us more good than two soldiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/one-sailor-will-do-us-more-good-than-two-soldiers/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [America has also forever lost the service of thousands of good soldiers who are now disabled as a result of battle wounds in Iraq.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/america-has-also-forever-lost-the-service-of-thousands-of-good/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [A good soldier has his heart and soul in it. When he receives an order, he gets a hard on, and when he drives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/a-good-soldier-has-his-heart-and-soul-in-it-when-he-receives-an-order/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [“I dislike his talk; it goes against my grain to hear him speak so contemptuously of cobblers. They made as good soldiers as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/i-dislike-his-talk-it-goes-against-my-grain-to-hear-him-speak-so/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [I never read Ford Madox Ford's "The Good Soldier." I've been reading books that I should have read years ago and did not. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/i-never-read-ford-madox-ford-s-the-good-soldier-i-ve-been-reading/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) [Browse all 40 Good soldiers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-soldiers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sherman’s army, after all the depletions, numbered about sixty thousand effective men. All weak men had been left to hold the rear, and those remaining were not only well men, but strong and hardy, so that he had sixty thousand as good soldiers as ever trod the earth; better than any European soldiers, because they not only worked like a machine but the machine thought. European armies know very little what they are fighting for, and care less.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ulysses S. 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