Justified?

I feel that civilians did not deserve to face siege and total war. Southern civilians are just people and should not of been kept in caves with very few resources. But, in order for the Union to win the war, the city had to be burnt down and civilians and soldiers had to suffer casualties. Then again, Southerners didn't do anything to influence the ways of the army and for that reason, I believe the civilians shouldn't of had to go through this.