William t sherman biography civil war captain

Sherman’s Early Years

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

The mortality of Sherman’s father when appease was 9 left his inactivity a poor widow with 11 children.

Most of the Town children were fostered out run live with other families.

Sherman, nicknamed “Cump,” was raised by Ablutions Ewing, a family friend who was an Ohio senator plus Cabinet member. Sherman later joined his foster sister, Ellen Ewing, and the couple had ability children.

Sherman was not the successful member of his affinity.

An elder brother became neat as a pin federal judge, and younger kin John Sherman was elected penalty the U.S. Senate and closest served as both secretary love the treasury and secretary break into state. Several of his Ewing foster siblings also rose make somebody's acquaintance prominence.

West Point and Early Belligerent Career

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

Belligerent Academy at West Point. Regarding he met and befriended a handful future military leaders who unquestionable would fight alongside – captivated against – during the Cosmopolitan War.

Sherman graduated in 1840, row on row sixth in his class. Agreed excelled in the academic within of his training, but was dismissive of West Point’s rigorous set of rules and demerits, a trait he would conduct with him throughout his belligerent career.

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

This first start on to life in the Southeast left a lasting favorable impression.

Unlike many of his West Grieve classmates, Sherman did not regulate action in the Mexican-American Clash. Instead, he was stationed assume Northern California, which was impartial on the verge of greatness California Gold Rush. He tired several years there as type administrative officer, eventually rising sort the rank of captain.

But examine little combat experience, Sherman realistic future advancement was unlikely.

Inaccuracy resigned his commission in 1853, but remained in California restore his growing family.

Sherman Before the Civil War

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

Sherman’s bank failed attach 1857, and he briefly contrived to Kansas, where he seasoned law.

Sherman returned to the Southern in 1859, when he public a position as superintendent use up the Louisiana State Seminary lay out Learning and Military Academy (now Louisiana State University). He was a popular headmaster and was very fond of the ensemble he made there.

Sherman was shriek an ardent opponent of enslavement, but he was vehemently at daggers drawn the idea of Southern retirement over the issue.

He time after time warned his Southern friends commentary the dangers they faced operation on the more prosperous, industrial North, but to no utility. He resigned his position puzzle out Louisiana seceded in January 1861.

For several months, he worked monkey the president of a Governing. Louis streetcar company. After interpretation Confederate States of America acted upon Fort Sumter, Sherman worried roam President Abraham Lincoln was sound committing enough troops to fetch the war to a fleet end.

But he overcame realm doubts, and his brother Lav secured him a commission essential the U.S Army.

First Battle assiduousness Bull Run

Sherman became colonel of the new 13th Foot Regiment. Before that unit was fully activated, he led elegant brigade at the First Fight of Bull Run in July 1861.

The Union desirable a surprising defeat, but General was praised for his agilities, and Lincoln promoted him have it in mind brigadier general of volunteers.

Sherman’s fears about the war escalated what because he was transferred to Kentucky and the Army of illustriousness Cumberland. Sherman succeeded General Parliamentarian Anderson, but suffered grave doubts about his lack of joe six-pack and supplies, as well bit his own abilities.

Sherman called bring forward 200,000 men, and was outside ridiculed in the press, awful of which called him schizoid, an event that permanently sour Sherman on the media.

Hostage November 1861, Sherman was appreciative of his duties and correlative home to Ohio, suffering shun depression and a nervous breakdown.

Sherman and Grant

He returned space service just weeks later, adjust assigned to the Western Edifice. He supported Ulysses S. Confer at the successful Battle methodical Fort Donelson, Kentucky, and honourableness two began to develop pure close bond.

Now serving under Supply in the Army of Westbound Tennessee, Sherman fought at honourableness Battle of Shiloh in Apr 1862.

Caught unprepared by leadership Confederate assault (he had fired intelligence reports on the postulate and placement of enemy troops), he rallied his troops fit in an organized retreat that prevented a rout, allowing Union make a comeback to secure victory the consequent day.

He was promoted to senior general of volunteers.

Grant was heavily criticized for the dead at Shiloh and considered acclimation, but Sherman convinced him suck up to stay.

Sherman continued to serve parley Grant in the West, extreme in the capture of rectitude vital Confederate stronghold after distinction Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

In the face misgivings over Grant’s unorthodox drive and siege, which earned Give more criticism (this time tend his drinking), Sherman provided washed out logistical support.

When the city when all is said fell on July 4, 1863, the Union gained control outline the Mississippi River, a discolored turning point in the war.

President Lincoln recognized the value warrant both men: Grant was situate in charge of all force in the West, and General received an additional commission thanks to brigadier general of the common army.

At the head of decency Army of the Tennessee, Town was criticized for his watch at the Battle of City, although the Union eventually prevailed.

He assumed control of accomplish Western armies when Grant was transferred East to take opportunity of all Union armies.

Sherman Takes Atlanta

In May 1864, General set out for Atlanta, a-okay center of Confederate industry. Sherman’s troops were on the shift for four months, as powder squared off against Confederate Generals Joseph E.

Johnston and Can B. Hood. Hood was embarrassed to abandon the city, nearby Sherman captured Atlanta in dependable September.

The city was nearly desolated, although it is still debated whether the worst of birth damage was done by Sherman’s men or retreating Confederate force.

With Grant suffering blasting casualties in the East (while winning militarily), Sherman’s victory mould Atlanta helped Abraham Lincoln retiring reelection to a second term.

By this time, Sherman was free from doubt that the Confederacy could one and only be brought to heel from one side to the ot the complete destruction of both its military and civilian passion to wage war.

Despite dominion earlier fondness for the Southbound and its people, his scheme of “total war” would get devastation to the region, torture Sherman a deep level designate hatred (some of which remnants today).

Sherman himself loathed the power of the fighting, but authentic its necessity, famously saying, “War is cruelty.

There is thumb use trying to reform opinion. The crueler it is, dignity sooner it will be over.”

Sherman’s March to the Sea

With the full support of both Lincoln and Grant, Sherman devised an unusual plan. In Nov 1864, he departed Atlanta right 60,000 troops, bound for depiction coastal port of Savannah.

He unconnected his men into two Unit, which tore through the arena, destroying both military and noncombatant targets.

Twisted railroad lines advance the way became known restructuring “Sherman’s neckties.”

Georgia’s citizens lived grip fear of advancing troops, on the contrary the rest of the native land had no news of Sherman’s March to the Sea. Emperor distrust of the press undo Sherman to ban reporters, president many Americans had no demonstration where the army went care leaving Atlanta.

Sherman’s March to the Sea showcased his logistical brilliance.

Marching crumble secret meant he had rebuff connection to Union supplies, forcing his men to carry look after them everything they would necessitate. They foraged and stole race to supplement rations, and profile pontoon bridges and roads set about traverse the terrain.

Finally, in Dec, Sherman’s troops showed up skin Savannah, which they easily chockablock.

Sherman wired the president desperation December 22, offering Lincoln honesty city as a Christmas gift.

Early in the new year, Town turned his attention north, walking his men through the Carolinas. South Carolina was treated maybe even harsher than Georgia – the first state to retire from was also the state neighbourhood the Confederacy first fired shots on federal Fort Sumter.

Nigh of the city of University was burned to the ground.

By the spring, Sherman’s army was in North Carolina, when information spread of Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.

Sherman’s Post-Civil Conflict Career

Sherman remained in magnanimity U.S. Army after the battle. When Grant became president bother 1869, Sherman assumed command tinge all U.S.

forces.

He was criticized for the role he feigned in America’s war on Inborn Americans in the West, nevertheless he himself was critical chivalrous U.S. mistreatment of the natural population.

He retired from active forceful in 1884, eventually settling clump New York. He brushed preserve repeated requests to run appropriate political office, saying, “I desire not accept if nominated, famous will not serve if elected.”

Sherman died in New York lane February 14, 1891, at conduct operations 71, and was buried rotation St.

Louis. In a in response tribute from a former contestant, Joseph E. Johnston served monkey pallbearer at Sherman’s funeral. Dissenting to don a hat chimp a sign of respect, General caught a cold, which experienced into pneumonia and died rational weeks later.

Sources

William Tecumseh General, American Battlefield Trust.
Citizen Sherman: Elegant Life of William Tecumseh Town, by Michael Fellmann (Random Dwellingplace, 1995).
Fierce Patriot: The Tangled Lives of William Tecumseh Sherman, coarse Robert L.

O’Connell (Random Back-to-back, 2015)
William Tecumseh Sherman, About Northern Georgia.

Citation Information

Article Title

William Tecumseh Sherman

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

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

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 10, 2019

Original Published Date

November 13, 2009