--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have for some days held and controlled…" description: "\"“I have for some days held and controlled every avenue by which the people and garrison of Savannah can be supplied, and I am therefore justified in de..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/william-t-sherman-44658_civil-war_i-have-for-some-days-held-and-controlled_1312075.jpg" --- # I have for some days held and controlled every avenue by… ![“I have for some days held and controlled every avenue by which the people and garrison of Savannah can be supplied, and I am therefore justified in demanding the surrender of the city…I am prepared to grant liberal terms to the inhabitants and garrison; but should I be forced to resort to assault…” quote by William T. Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/william-t-sherman-44658_civil-war_i-have-for-some-days-held-and-controlled_1312075.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/william-t-sherman-44658_civil-war_i-have-for-some-days-held-and-controlled_1312075.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/william-t-sherman-44658_civil-war_i-have-for-some-days-held-and-controlled_1312075.jpg) > ““I have for some days held and controlled every avenue by which the people and garrison of Savannah can be supplied, and I am therefore justified in demanding the surrender of the city…I am prepared to grant liberal terms to the inhabitants and garrison; but should I be forced to resort to assault, or the slower and surer process of starvation, I shall then feel justified in resorting to the harshest measures, and shall make little effort to restrain my army—burning to avenge the national wrong which they attach to Savannah and other large cities which have been so prominent in dragging our country into civil war.”” [William T. Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-sherman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sherman claims authority over Savannah’s supply lines, justifying harsh measures if resisted, framing violence as a necessary response to perceived betrayal. **In simple terms:** He argues that control over resources legitimizes severe retaliation. Key Takeaway Consider ethical limits of wartime authority. Themes war power ethics authority Mood serious critical Type political historical When to use this quote - siege negotiations - resource control - civilian impact Key Concepts military strategy civil conflict moral justification Questions to Reflect On - Is force ever a legitimate first resort in conflict? - How do we balance military objectives with humanitarian concerns? 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