American Civil War Biographies: William T. Sherman (1820-91)


Figure 1.--

William T. Sherman is one of America's great army commanders. It was Sherman wjo broke the South. Like Grant, he was born in Ohio and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Sherman grduated in 1840. He is perhaps the most controversial of the major military commanders. Sherman like Grant had left the Army, but after the sucession was commissioned as an infantry colonel. His first battle was in the east in the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) in July 1861. He soon joined Grant in the West. He was with Grant at Shiloh and witnessed Grant's legenbdary coolness under fire. Sherman was promoted to brigadier general in July 1863 and named commander of the Army of the Tennessee. He played a major role and played an important role in the Federal victory at Chattanooga. Sherman persued the Confederate forces into Georgia, but it was to be months before he succeeded in taking Atlanta. Sherman on May 5, 1864, a massive army of nearly 100,000 men back into Georgia. Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston fought off Sherman with a much smaller force for 3 months. In desperation as Sherman edged closer to Atlanta, Davis replaced Johnston on July 17 with Texan John Bell Hood who engaged in aggressive tactics resulting in horrendous losses. The Confederate forces weree so weakened that after 6 weeks, Confederate casualties had doubled, and on September 1 Sherman entered Atlanta. The victory rose spirits in the North and were a great was a great help to President Lincoln's reelection bid. Sherman then launched his army on March to the Sea with 60,000 men. Removed from Federal supply lines, Sherman's army foraged and cut a swath of destruction across the heart of Georgia aimed at destroyong thge South's ability to wage war. Sherman entered the Atlantic coast port of Savanah where he could once again be supplied on December 23. Sherman's march through Georgia became a symbol of Federal brutality in the post-war years. It was not just the destruction, but Sherman sought to destroy the basis of plantatioin society which he saw as the root cause of the war. [Hanson, Soul] He then procedded in a similar march across South and North Carolina, moving north to hook up with Grant at Richmond and Pettersburg. . Before this occurred, Lee surrender at Appomattox. Johnston 2 weeks later was compeled to surrender in North Carolina on April 26, 1865. Excepted for small scattered forces, the Confederacy ceased to exist. Johnston would many years later serve as a pallbearer at Sherman's funeral and die soon after.

Parents


Childhood

William T. Sherman is one of America's great army commanders. Like Grant, he was born in Ohio.

Education

He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Sherman grduated in 1840.

Army Career

Sherman is perhaps the most controversial of the major military commanders. Sherman like Grant had left the Army. He did not have the martial bearing expected of a commanding officer. In fact photographs show him often dishelved--but this hid an sharp if unconvential intellect. He was confident in his capabilities to make face-to =face demands oin Presidenbt Lincoln. He was sympathetuc with the freedmen and listen to their problems. And although committed to preserving the Union and intent on brining the War to the southern population, he had great affectiin to the people of the South. [Eisenhower]

Civil War

Sherman, after the sucession of southern states, was commissioned as an infantry colonel. His first battle was in the east in the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) (July 1861). He soon joined Grant in the West. He was with Grant at Shiloh and witnessed Grant's legenbdary coolness under fire. Sherman was promoted to brigadier general (July 1863) and named commander of the Army of the Tennessee. He played a major role and played an important role in the Federal victory at Chattanooga. Sherman persued the Confederate forces into Georgia, but it was to be months before he succeeded in taking Atlanta. Sherman led a massive army of nearly 100,000 men back into Georgia (May 5, 1864). Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston fought off Sherman with a much smaller force for 3 months. In desperation as Sherman edged closer to Atlanta, Davis replaced Johnston with Texan John Bell Hood (July 17). Hood engaged in aggressive tactics resulting in horrendous losses. The Confederate forces weree so weakened that after 6 weeks Sherman entered Atlanta (September 1). It would be Sherman who broke the South. The victory rose spirits in the North and were a great was a great help to President Lincoln's reelection bid. Sherman then launched his army on March to the Sea with 60,000 men. Removed from Federal supply lines, Sherman's army foraged and cut a swath of destruction across the heart of Georgia aimed at destroyong thge South's ability to wage war. Sherman entered the Atlantic coast port of Savanah where he could once again be supplied (December 23). Sherman's march through Georgia became a symbol of Federal brutality in the post-war years. It was not just the destruction, but Sherman sought to destroy the basis of plantation society which he saw as the root cause of the war. [Hanson, Soul] As a result, Sherman became the most hated northener in the South. Not all historians accept the view of Sherman's brutality. One historian writes, "Despite Sherman's reputation in the south as a ferocious ogre of vengnce and spoliation, he wasactually sparing of the lives of his soldiers, of the eneny's soldiers, and of civilians." McPherson] Sherman then procedded in a similar march across South and North Carolina, moving north to hook up with Grant at Richmond and Pettersburg. Before this occurred, Lee surrender at Appomattox. Johnston 2 weeks later was compeled to surrender in North Carolina (April 26, 1865). Excepted for small scattered forces, the Confederacy ceased to exist. Johnston would many years later serve as a pallbearer at Sherman's funeral and die soon after.

Indian Wars


Sources

Eisenhower, John S.D. American General: The Life and Times of William Tecumseh Sherman (2014), 352p.

McPherson, James M. The Mighty Scourge: Perspectives of the Civil War (Oxford University Press, 2007), 260p.






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Created: 11:01 PM 2/11/2007
Last updated: 8:13 AM 10/26/2014