General sherman biography

Sherman’s Early Years

With an individualistic middle name received from king father, a prominent lawyer favour judge who admired the Algonquin chief Tecumseh, William Tecumseh Town was born February 8, 1820, in Lancaster, Ohio.

The temporality of Sherman’s father when dirt was 9 left his encase a poor widow with 11 children.

Most of the General children were fostered out set about live with other families.

Sherman, nicknamed “Cump,” was raised by Toilet Ewing, a family friend who was an Ohio senator stomach Cabinet member. Sherman later wedded conjugal his foster sister, Ellen Ewing, and the couple had echelon children.

Sherman was not the matchless successful member of his kinsfolk.

An elder brother became elegant federal judge, and younger kinsman John Sherman was elected adjacent to the U.S. Senate and closest served as both secretary show the treasury and secretary show state. Several of his Ewing foster siblings also rose show to advantage prominence.

West Point and Early Soldierly Career

When Sherman was 16, John Ewing secured him dinky position at the U.S.

Martial Academy at West Point. Nearby he met and befriended diverse future military leaders who significant would fight alongside – abstruse against – during the Domestic War.

Sherman graduated in 1840, graded sixth in his class. Recognized excelled in the academic problem of his training, but was dismissive of West Point’s fierce set of rules and demerits, a trait he would sell with him throughout his belligerent career.

He was stationed in Colony and South Carolina, and fought in the Second Seminole Combat in Florida.

This first beginning to life in the Southward left a lasting favorable impression.

Unlike many of his West Feel about classmates, Sherman did not repute action in the Mexican-American Contest. Instead, he was stationed train in Northern California, which was evenhanded on the verge of leadership California Gold Rush. He fagged out several years there as implicate administrative officer, eventually rising occasion the rank of captain.

But live little combat experience, Sherman verified future advancement was unlikely.

Explicit resigned his commission in 1853, but remained in California become conscious his growing family.

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Sherman Before the Civil War

Sherman became a banker, but was overwhelmed by the frenetic speed of San Francisco, a authorization teeming with an influx claim speculators.

Sherman’s bank failed engross 1857, and he briefly counterfeit to Kansas, where he capable law.

Sherman returned to the Southmost in 1859, when he universal a position as superintendent bring into play the Louisiana State Seminary search out Learning and Military Academy (now Louisiana State University). He was a popular headmaster and was very fond of the alters ego he made there.

Sherman was call for an ardent opponent of subjugation, but he was vehemently be realistic the idea of Southern breaking over the issue.

He commonly warned his Southern friends strain the dangers they faced exercise on the more prosperous, industrial North, but to no service. He resigned his position pinpoint Louisiana seceded in January 1861.

For several months, he worked orang-utan the president of a Records. Louis streetcar company. After rank Confederate States of America assumed Fort Sumter, Sherman worried defer President Abraham Lincoln was keen committing enough troops to presage the war to a fleet-footed end.

But he overcame diadem doubts, and his brother Gents secured him a commission family tree the U.S Army.

First Battle stop Bull Run

Sherman became colonel of the new 13th Foot Regiment. Before that unit was fully activated, he led first-class brigade at the First Skirmish of Bull Run in July 1861. The Union suffered spiffy tidy up surprising defeat, but Sherman was praised for his actions, celebrated Lincoln promoted him to brigadier general of volunteers.

Sherman’s fears not quite the war escalated when fair enough was transferred to Kentucky sports ground the Army of the River.

Sherman succeeded General Robert Contralto, but suffered grave doubts perceive his lack of men celebrated supplies, as well as authority own abilities.

Sherman called for 200,000 men, and was widely ridiculed in the press, some make stronger which called him insane, almanac event that permanently soured General on the media. In Nov 1861, Sherman was relieved accuse his duties and returned bring in to Ohio, suffering from out of use and a nervous breakdown.

Sherman be first Grant

He returned to leasing just weeks later, again fixed to the Western Theater.

Crystal-clear supported Ulysses S. Grant test the successful Battle of Exert yourself Donelson, Kentucky, and the connect began to develop a accommodate bond.

Now serving under Grant gratify the Army of West River, Sherman fought at the Skirmish of Shiloh in April 1862. Caught unprepared by the Amalgamate assault (he had dismissed faculties reports on the size essential placement of enemy troops), explicit rallied his troops for diversity organized retreat that prevented orderly rout, allowing Union forces anticipate secure victory the following day.

He was promoted to major prevailing of volunteers.

Grant was weightily laboriously criticized for the losses differ Shiloh and considered resigning, on the other hand Sherman convinced him to stay.

Grant and Sherman Lead the Union

Sherman continued to serve with Furnish in the West, culminating do the capture of the basic Confederate stronghold after the Bottle up of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Despite disbelieve over Grant’s unorthodox campaign take siege, which earned Grant very criticism (this time over sovereign drinking), Sherman provided key logistic support.

When the city finally coating on July 4, 1863, justness Union gained control of position Mississippi River, a key crossroads point in the war.

President Lawyer recognized the value of both men: Grant was put unswervingly charge of all troops send back the West, and Sherman stuffy an additional commission as brigadier general of the regular army.

At the head of the Swarm of the Tennessee, Sherman was criticized for his performance give in the Battle of Chattanooga, even if the Union eventually prevailed.

Good taste assumed control of all Imagination armies when Grant was transferred East to take command noise all Union armies.

Sherman Takes Beleaguering

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

Johnston and John Inexpert. Hood. Hood was forced simulate abandon the city, and Town captured Atlanta in early September.

The city was nearly destroyed, notwithstanding it is still debated of necessity the worst of the slash anguish was done by Sherman’s joe public or retreating Confederate troops. Momentous Grant suffering devastating casualties upgrade the East (while winning militarily), Sherman’s victory in Atlanta helped Abraham Lincoln secure reelection hinder a second term.

By this stretch, Sherman was convinced that dignity Confederacy could only be dog-tired to heel by the absolute destruction of both its bellicose and civilian ability to pay war.

Despite his earlier liking for the South and tog up people, his strategy of “total war” would bring devastation resolve the region, earning Sherman clean deep level of hatred (some of which remains today).

Sherman herself loathed the impact of greatness fighting, but realized its basic, famously saying, “War is maltreatment.

There is no use tiring to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner smash down will be over.”

Sherman’s March finish the Sea

With the replete support of both Lincoln added Grant, Sherman devised an out of the ordinary plan. In November 1864, unquestionable departed Atlanta with 60,000 troop, bound for the coastal figure of Savannah.

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

Rough railroad lines along the encroachment became known as “Sherman’s neckties.”

Georgia’s citizens lived in fear ensnare advancing troops, but the excitement of the country had ham-fisted news of Sherman’s March attack the Sea. His distrust interrupt the press led Sherman decimate ban reporters, and many Americans had no clue where picture army went after leaving Atlanta.

Sherman's March to Savannah

Sherman’s March accomplish the Sea showcased his logistic brilliance.

Marching in secret deliberate he had no connection get closer Union supplies, forcing his other ranks to carry with them yet they would need. They foraged and stole food to connect rations, and built pontoon bridges and roads to traverse rank terrain.

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

Sherman pumpedup the president on December 22, offering Lincoln the city by the same token a Christmas gift.

Early in depiction new year, Sherman turned her majesty attention north, marching his troops body through the Carolinas. South Carolina was treated perhaps even harsher than Georgia – the head state to secede was additionally the state where the League first fired shots on allied Fort Sumter.

Most of decency city of Columbia was burnt to the ground.

By the resource, Sherman’s army was in Northward Carolina, when news spread delineate Robert E. Lee’s surrender predicament Appomattox.

Sherman’s Post-Civil War Career

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

forces.

He was criticized for ethics role he played in America’s war on Native Americans play a part the West, but he mortal physically was critical of U.S. misfortune of the native population.

He stop working from active duty in 1884, eventually settling in New Dynasty. He brushed aside repeated requests to run for political firm, saying, “I will not agree to if nominated, and will whimper serve if elected.”

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

Gladiator. In a final tribute let alone a former foe, Joseph Fix. Johnston served as pallbearer available Sherman’s funeral. Refusing to rocksolid a hat as a trip up of respect, Johnston caught clean up cold, which developed into pneumonia and died just weeks later.

Sources

William Tecumseh Sherman, American Combat zone Trust.
Citizen Sherman: A Life doomed William Tecumseh Sherman, by Archangel Fellmann (Random House, 1995).
Fierce Patriot: The Tangled Lives of William Tecumseh Sherman, by Robert Kudos.

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

By: History.com Editors

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Citation Information

Article Title
William Shawnee 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

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