The J. Burden Show The History of Total War w/ George Bagby: Ep. 458
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Apr 9, 2026 George Bagby, historian of American military ethics, provides a concise mini bio and frames a sweeping history of total war. He traces ancient and biblical precedents, medieval limits on violence, and shifts in Civil War and World War II practices. The conversation highlights changing norms around civilian targeting, unconditional surrender, and moral boundaries in modern conflict.
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Total War As Godlike Usurpation
- Total war abandons the moral distinction between combatants and civilians, placing states in Godlike roles to annihilate opponent peoples.
- George Bagby traces this from Old Testament exterminations to modern total war ethics that erase limits on violence.
Civil War Shift Toward Targeting Civilians
- The American Civil War marked a major break toward total war through policies targeting civilian property and livelihoods.
- Bagby highlights Sherman's March and Sheridan's Shenandoah campaign as explicit doctrines of punishing noncombatants to break will.
Grant Reverses Unconditional Surrender
- Ulysses S. Grant initially demanded unconditional surrender but then reversed course to offer terms that preserved honor and avoided needless suffering.
- Bagby cites Vicksburg and Appomattox as pivotal moments shaping more humane postbellum practices.