War is hell.

"War is hell." These words, spoken by the legendary general William Tecumseh Sherman, strike at the very core of human experience. Sherman, who led Union forces through the brutal campaigns of the American Civil War, understood better than most the true cost of conflict. His words are not merely a reflection of the immediate suffering that war brings, but a profound truth that has echoed throughout history: that war, in all its forms, is a hellish existence—a place where humanity, decency, and life are sacrificed in the name of power, control, or ideology. In Sherman’s eyes, war is not a glorious undertaking, nor is it a noble pursuit; it is a destructive force, one that strips away the veneer of civilization and reveals the savagery that lurks beneath.

To understand the full weight of Sherman’s words, we must turn our gaze to the Civil War, that brutal chapter in American history that tore the nation apart. Sherman, who led the infamous March to the Sea, cutting a swath of destruction through the southern states, saw firsthand the devastation war brought to both soldiers and civilians. The carnage of war is not just measured in battles fought or cities burned, but in the lives destroyed, the families torn apart, and the human spirit crushed under the weight of constant violence. Sherman’s march, though strategically important, left scars on the landscape and the people that would endure long after the war had ended. His words—"War is hell"—capture the unimaginable suffering that both the victors and the vanquished face in the wake of battle.

In the ancient world, war was often seen as the ultimate test of valor and honor, but the reality of war was known to be far less glorious. The Greek epics of Homer, particularly the Iliad, are filled with tales of heroes and warriors who fight valiantly on the battlefield, but their victories often come at a heavy cost. In the end, even the greatest warriors, like Achilles, are consumed by the very violence they participate in. Achilles, driven by rage and the desire for honor, wreaks havoc on his enemies, but the death of his beloved friend Patroclus drives him into a madness that leads to his own doom. The great triumphs of war come at the expense of peace and life. Homer’s works, though steeped in glory, remind us that war does not bring about lasting honor but leaves behind only the scars of suffering and grief. This is the true nature of war—it is a hellish endeavor, one that consumes not just the bodies of soldiers, but the very souls of those who participate in it.

As we turn to the modern age, the brutality of war has only increased. The First World War, with its endless trenches and chemical warfare, is often regarded as a turning point in human history. Millions of young men, sent off to fight for causes they often barely understood, found themselves trapped in the hell of battlefields that stretched across Europe. The loss of life was staggering, and the psychological toll on the survivors was immense. Sherman’s words ring as true today as they did during the Civil War—war is not just a matter of strategy or victory; it is a force that reshapes the very nature of the human experience. Those who return from the horrors of battle are often left to grapple with the psychological scars, the trauma, and the deep sense of loss that never truly heals.

World War II offers another tragic reminder of Sherman’s insight. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are perhaps the most visceral demonstration of war’s hellish nature. The destruction of two cities in the blink of an eye, the death of tens of thousands of civilians, and the lingering effects of radiation created a level of devastation that was unimaginable. War was no longer confined to the battlefield—it became a force of mass destruction, leaving whole populations devastated and entire landscapes scarred. The survivors, many of whom were children at the time, were left to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, haunted by the memories of suffering that would never fade. In the end, the use of nuclear weapons proved to the world that war had reached a new, more terrifying stage, one in which the consequences could not only be felt for generations, but could threaten the survival of all humanity.

Sherman’s words also serve as a reminder that the human spirit is both resilient and fragile. While war leaves behind suffering, it also awakens in us the desire for something greater—peace. It is in the aftermath of war that nations, cultures, and individuals come to understand the true cost of conflict and the value of life. From the ashes of destruction rise the voices of those who call for reconciliation, understanding, and unity. Sherman’s warning about the hellishness of war is not a call for despair, but for action—a call to work towards a world where the horrors of war are never repeated.

The lesson that Sherman’s words impart to us today is one of reflection and responsibility. It is not enough to look at the past with regret; we must take action in the present to ensure that future generations never have to face the same horrors. We must prioritize diplomacy, understanding, and cooperation over violence and aggression. The true strength of a nation is not measured by the size of its military, but by its ability to resolve conflict without resorting to war. In our own lives, we must recognize that war begins not just in foreign lands, but in the divisions that we allow to grow between ourselves. Let us honor the lessons of history by striving to build a world where peace is not a fleeting ideal, but a lasting reality.