[GK3]

Sherman would have taken every cow and pig he could find and all the food he could carry, but in those days the only other problem was really ammunition.  Today Ukraine can probably feed its men, but they can't put gas in the tanks or replace expended munitions unless they get lucky and capture a supply dump with the right stuff.  Patton would have done what he did back then, run out of gas and have to sit and then deal with whatever else happened.

Sherman didn't need to take any food on the way to Atlanta. He had a railroad that worked and that he could keep open. Of course the troops took what they wanted, but didn't need to. The railroad also ensured Sherman always had enough ammunition and replacements. Sherman had plenty of railroad troops and rebuilt the line whenever required. Johnston, who initially had a bigger army than Sherman, lacked supplies of all sort, even though it was home country. On the way through Georgia into South Carolina was a different story. Sherman could indeed get all the food his men could want, but he could not get ammunition. Sherman had to reach the coast where he could be supplied with ammunition by the USN. Along the way it was touch and go. Sherman was concerned. He was pretty sure there was no organized force that could stop him before he reached the sea, but he didn't have enough ammunition to fight an extended engagement. Fortunately he didn't have to. He got to Savannah just fine, taking just over a month to do so. After that, he had, worst case a place he could retreat to and be supplied easily.

True, but it was still pretty much a scorched earth march in terms of anyone opposing him.  If the locals left him alone, he left the towns and cities alone but heaven help those who fought him.  There were Confederate guerillas who attacked him and in response he burned or destroyed all the crops and forage.

True. Your earlier point about ammunition and gas is right on. Patton ran out of gas and Sherman was concerned about ammunition. Patton had no solution. Sherman had one, he just had to get there. Ukraine has no Savannah in their invasion of Russia. They also don't have a railroad, secure or otherwise. I don't think Ukraine can afford a Voie Sacrée. We will have to see how it plays out, but it isn't obvious how Ukraine can retain a military position in Russia. Then again, lots of things in this war aren't "obvious".

Todays discussion of the Ukrainian situation in ISW really shows how messed up their command and control is. Everytime Ukraine shows up somewhere somewhere unexpected more wheels seem to come of their C2 system. Units are sent into the mess with little or no communication with adjacent units.  There are reports of Ukrainian units from Korenevo in the NW and Belaya to the SE.  As a result Russia seems to be playing Whack-a-Mole.  Russian units involved appear to include FSB, Naval Infantry, Conscripts and bits and pieces of regualar Russian units. Apparently Conscripts are not supposed to be involved since sending draftees home in a body bag will not be popular.
I agree that Ukraine has no intent to seize and try and hold Russian territory, but if the Russian Command and Control continues to be so screwed up, they may not be able to resist trying to hold on.  I would think they would be far better off just to keep showing up where they are not expected and then leave. It seems to me Russia is trying to avoid pulling assets out of the areas where they are applying pressure to Ukraine's lines. This makes sense of course, but the big question is whether their alternative solution works. Ukraine seems now to have a C2 structure far more able to control rapidly moving units and still maintain some sort of cohesion.  Maybe some of our and NATO's philosophy has sunk in.

[GK3]

Sherman would have taken every cow and pig he could find and all the food he could carry, but in those days the only other problem was really ammunition.  Today Ukraine can probably feed its men, but they can't put gas in the tanks or replace expended munitions unless they get lucky and capture a supply dump with the right stuff.  Patton would have done what he did back then, run out of gas and have to sit and then deal with whatever else happened.

Sherman didn't need to take any food on the way to Atlanta. He had a railroad that worked and that he could keep open. Of course the troops took what they wanted, but didn't need to. The railroad also ensured Sherman always had enough ammunition and replacements. Sherman had plenty of railroad troops and rebuilt the line whenever required. Johnston, who initially had a bigger army than Sherman, lacked supplies of all sort, even though it was home country. On the way through Georgia into South Carolina was a different story. Sherman could indeed get all the food his men could want, but he could not get ammunition. Sherman had to reach the coast where he could be supplied with ammunition by the USN. Along the way it was touch and go. Sherman was concerned. He was pretty sure there was no organized force that could stop him before he reached the sea, but he didn't have enough ammunition to fight an extended engagement. Fortunately he didn't have to. He got to Savannah just fine, taking just over a month to do so. After that, he had, worst case a place he could retreat to and be supplied easily.

True, but it was still pretty much a scorched earth march in terms of anyone opposing him.  If the locals left him alone, he left the towns and cities alone but heaven help those who fought him.  There were Confederate guerillas who attacked him and in response he burned or destroyed all the crops and forage.

True. Your earlier point about ammunition and gas is right on. Patton ran out of gas and Sherman was concerned about ammunition. Patton had no solution. Sherman had one, he just had to get there. Ukraine has no Savannah in their invasion of Russia. They also don't have a railroad, secure or otherwise. I don't think Ukraine can afford a Voie Sacrée. We will have to see how it plays out, but it isn't obvious how Ukraine can retain a military position in Russia. Then again, lots of things in this war aren't "obvious".

Todays discussion of the Ukrainian situation in ISW really shows how messed up their command and control is. Everytime Ukraine shows up somewhere somewhere unexpected more wheels seem to come of their C2 system. Units are sent into the mess with little or no communication with adjacent units.  There are reports of Ukrainian units from Korenevo in the NW and Belaya to the SE.  As a result Russia seems to be playing Whack-a-Mole.  Russian units involved appear to include FSB, Naval Infantry, Conscripts and bits and pieces of regualar Russian units. Apparently Conscripts are not supposed to be involved since sending draftees home in a body bag will not be popular.
I agree that Ukraine has no intent to seize and try and hold Russian territory, but if the Russian Command and Control continues to be so screwed up, they may not be able to resist trying to hold on.  I would think they would be far better off just to keep showing up where they are not expected and then leave. It seems to me Russia is trying to avoid pulling assets out of the areas where they are applying pressure to Ukraine's lines. This makes sense of course, but the big question is whether their alternative solution works. Ukraine seems now to have a C2 structure far more able to control rapidly moving units and still maintain some sort of cohesion.  Maybe some of our and NATO's philosophy has sunk in.