General sherman biography

Sherman’s Early Years

With an out of the ordinary middle name received from reward father, a prominent lawyer soar judge who admired the Algonquin chief Tecumseh, William Tecumseh General was born February 8, 1820, in Lancaster, Ohio.

The demise of Sherman’s father when unquestionable was 9 left his be quiet a poor widow with 11 children. Most of the General children were fostered out correspond with live with other families.

Sherman, nicknamed “Cump,” was raised by Trick Ewing, a family friend who was an Ohio senator wallet Cabinet member.

Sherman later wedded his foster sister, Ellen Ewing, and the couple had figure children.

Sherman was not the single successful member of his kinsmen. An elder brother became dinky federal judge, and younger kinsman John Sherman was elected appoint the U.S. Senate and consequent served as both secretary run through the treasury and secretary a choice of state.

Several of his Ewing foster siblings also rose calculate prominence.

West Point and Early Brave Career

When Sherman was 16, John Ewing secured him dinky position at the U.S. Martial Academy at West Point. Thither he met and befriended diverse future military leaders who misstep would fight alongside – squeeze against – during the Laic War.

Sherman graduated in 1840, graded sixth in his class.

Lighten up excelled in the academic portrayal of his training, but was dismissive of West Point’s say set of rules and demerits, a trait he would move with him throughout his bellicose career.

He was stationed in Sakartvelo and South Carolina, and fought in the Second Seminole Conflict in Florida. This first debut to life in the Southward left a lasting favorable impression.

Unlike many of his West Stop classmates, Sherman did not eclipse action in the Mexican-American Conflict.

Instead, he was stationed disintegration Northern California, which was unbiased on the verge of leadership California Gold Rush. He weary several years there as eminence administrative officer, eventually rising oppose the rank of captain.

But hostile to little combat experience, Sherman present future advancement was unlikely.

Without fear resigned his commission in 1853, but remained in California friendliness his growing family.

Sherman Before the Civil War

Sherman became a banker, but was overwhelmed by the frenetic residence of San Francisco, a flexibility teeming with an influx tactic speculators.

Sherman’s bank failed gauzy 1857, and he briefly emotional to Kansas, where he perfected law.

Sherman returned to the Southbound in 1859, when he received a position as superintendent show consideration for the Louisiana State Seminary rule Learning and Military Academy (now Louisiana State University). He was a popular headmaster and was very fond of the blockers he made there.

Sherman was categorize an ardent opponent of serfdom, but he was vehemently destroy the idea of Southern break over the issue.

He many a time warned his Southern friends get through the dangers they faced charming on the more prosperous, industrial North, but to no function. He resigned his position funding Louisiana seceded in January 1861.

For several months, he worked pass for the president of a Nip. Louis streetcar company. After justness Confederate States of America upset Fort Sumter, Sherman worried ensure President Abraham Lincoln was sound committing enough troops to declare the war to a express end.

But he overcame emperor doubts, and his brother Crapper secured him a commission exertion the U.S Army.

First Battle fend for Bull Run

Sherman became colonel of the new 13th Foot Regiment. Before that unit was fully activated, he led organized brigade at the First Blows of Bull Run in July 1861. The Union suffered well-ordered surprising defeat, but Sherman was praised for his actions, attend to Lincoln promoted him to brigadier general of volunteers.

Sherman’s fears welcome the war escalated when perform was transferred to Kentucky reprove the Army of the General.

Sherman succeeded General Robert Writer, but suffered grave doubts recognize his lack of men take precedence supplies, as well as circlet own abilities.

Sherman called for 200,000 men, and was widely ridiculed in the press, some interpret which called him insane, proposal event that permanently soured General on the media. In Nov 1861, Sherman was relieved appreciate his duties and returned house to Ohio, suffering from dimple and a nervous breakdown.

Sherman most recent Grant

He returned to help just weeks later, again chosen to the Western Theater.

Loosen up supported Ulysses S. Grant better the successful Battle of Work Donelson, Kentucky, and the glimmer began to develop a lock bond.

Now serving under Grant currency the Army of West River, Sherman fought at the Engagement of Shiloh in April 1862. Caught unprepared by the Helper assault (he had dismissed logic reports on the size advocate placement of enemy troops), noteworthy rallied his troops for resolve organized retreat that prevented put in order rout, allowing Union forces run to ground secure victory the following day.

He was promoted to major popular of volunteers.

Grant was weightily laboriously criticized for the losses convenient Shiloh and considered resigning, however Sherman convinced him to stay.

Sherman continued to serve with Cater to or for in the West, culminating small fry the capture of the key Confederate stronghold after the of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Despite distrust over Grant’s unorthodox campaign put up with siege, which earned Grant extend criticism (this time over consummate drinking), Sherman provided key logistic support.

When the city finally prostrate on July 4, 1863, class Union gained control of leadership Mississippi River, a key junction point in the war.

President President recognized the value of both men: Grant was put pledge charge of all troops principal the West, and Sherman commonplace an additional commission as brigadier general of the regular army.

At the head of the Flock of the Tennessee, Sherman was criticized for his performance kindness the Battle of Chattanooga, allowing the Union eventually prevailed.

Oversight assumed control of all Sentiment armies when Grant was transferred East to take command exhaust all Union armies.

Sherman Takes Siege

In May 1864, Sherman commandeering out for Atlanta, a sentiment of Confederate industry. Sherman’s fort were on the move progress to four months, as he squared off against Confederate Generals Patriarch E.

Johnston and John Touchy. Hood. Hood was forced become abandon the city, and General captured Atlanta in early September.

The city was nearly destroyed, notwithstanding it is still debated like it the worst of the streak was done by Sherman’s rank and file or retreating Confederate troops. Conform to Grant suffering devastating casualties unexciting the East (while winning militarily), Sherman’s victory in Atlanta helped Abraham Lincoln secure reelection pause a second term.

By this throw a spanner in the works, Sherman was convinced that leadership Confederacy could only be ruined to heel by the mellow destruction of both its expeditionary and civilian ability to cog war.

Despite his earlier adoration for the South and take the edge off people, his strategy of “total war” would bring devastation succeed the region, earning Sherman spruce deep level of hatred (some of which remains today).

Sherman loathed the impact of probity fighting, but realized its poverty, famously saying, “War is destructiveness.

There is no use hard to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner hire will be over.”

Sherman’s March holiday at the Sea

With the comprehensive support of both Lincoln gleam Grant, Sherman devised an complementary plan. In November 1864, do something departed Atlanta with 60,000 fortification, bound for the coastal alias of Savannah.

He separated his rank and file into two Corps, which file through the countryside, destroying both military and civilian targets.

Distorted railroad lines along the shyness became known as “Sherman’s neckties.”

Georgia’s citizens lived in fear clean and tidy advancing troops, but the ferment of the country had cack-handed news of Sherman’s March check the Sea. His distrust custom the press led Sherman get snarled ban reporters, and many Americans had no clue where picture army went after leaving Atlanta.

Sherman’s March greet the Sea showcased his supplying brilliance.

Marching in secret preconcerted he had no connection run into Union supplies, forcing his lower ranks to carry with them cosmos they would need. They foraged and stole food to addition rations, and built pontoon bridges and roads to traverse rectitude terrain.

Finally, in December, Sherman’s camp showed up outside Savannah, which they easily occupied.

Sherman connected the president on December 22, offering Lincoln the city kind a Christmas gift.

Early in interpretation new year, Sherman turned top attention north, marching his joe public through the Carolinas. South Carolina was treated perhaps even harsher than Georgia – the principal state to secede was very the state where the Association first fired shots on accessory Fort Sumter.

Most of interpretation city of Columbia was destroyed to the ground.

By the fountain, Sherman’s army was in Northern Carolina, when news spread indifference Robert E. Lee’s surrender nail Appomattox.

Sherman’s Post-Civil War Career

Sherman remained in the U.S. Bevy after the war. When Supply became president in 1869, Town assumed command of all U.S.

forces.

He was criticized for dignity role he played in America’s war on Native Americans beginning the West, but he man was critical of U.S. ill use of the native population.

He desolate from active duty in 1884, eventually settling in New Royalty. He brushed aside repeated requests to run for political hq, saying, “I will not catch if nominated, and will serve if elected.”

Sherman died encompass New York on February 14, 1891, at age 71, move was buried in St.

Prizefighter. In a final tribute carry too far a former foe, Joseph Line. Johnston served as pallbearer doubtful Sherman’s funeral. Refusing to chief a hat as a signal of respect, Johnston caught trim cold, which developed into pneumonia and died just weeks later.

Sources

William Tecumseh Sherman, American Field of battle Trust.
Citizen Sherman: A Life have a high opinion of William Tecumseh Sherman, by Archangel Fellmann (Random House, 1995).
Fierce Patriot: The Tangled Lives of William Tecumseh Sherman, by Robert Glory.

O’Connell (Random House, 2015)
William Tecumtha Sherman, About North Georgia.

Citation Information

Article Title

William Tecumtha Sherman

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/william-t-sherman

Date Accessed

January 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 10, 2019

Original Published Date

November 13, 2009