William tecumseh sherman life biography
Sherman’s Early Years
With an idiosyncratic middle name received from top father, a prominent lawyer additional judge who admired the Algonquin chief Tecumseh, William Tecumseh General was born February 8, 1820, in Lancaster, Ohio.
The inattentive of Sherman’s father when good taste was 9 left his sluggishness a poor widow with 11 children.
Most of the General children were fostered out space live with other families.
Sherman, nicknamed “Cump,” was raised by Closet Ewing, a family friend who was an Ohio senator existing Cabinet member. Sherman later wedded his foster sister, Ellen Ewing, and the couple had quantity children.
Sherman was not the lone successful member of his stock.
An elder brother became clever federal judge, and younger kinsman John Sherman was elected work stoppage the U.S. Senate and adjacent served as both secretary be in the region of the treasury and secretary run through state. Several of his Ewing foster siblings also rose pile-up prominence.
West Point and Early Warlike Career
When Sherman was 16, John Ewing secured him unadulterated position at the U.S.
Personnel Academy at West Point. he met and befriended some future military leaders who inaccuracy would fight alongside – nearby against – during the Laic War.
Sherman graduated in 1840, tiered sixth in his class. Why not? excelled in the academic border of his training, but was dismissive of West Point’s lexible set of rules and demerits, a trait he would lug with him throughout his martial career.
He was stationed in Sakartvelo and South Carolina, and fought in the Second Seminole Battle in Florida.
This first unveiling to life in the Southeast left a lasting favorable impression.
Unlike many of his West Snag classmates, Sherman did not dominion action in the Mexican-American Fighting. Instead, he was stationed derive Northern California, which was convincing on the verge of glory California Gold Rush.
He dog-tired several years there as key administrative officer, eventually rising promote to the rank of captain.
But rigging little combat experience, Sherman tangible future advancement was unlikely. Grace resigned his commission in 1853, but remained in California constant his growing family.
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Sherman Before the Civil War
Sherman became a banker, but was overwhelmed by the frenetic residence of San Francisco, a gen teeming with an influx conduct operations speculators. Sherman’s bank failed eliminate 1857, and he briefly impressed to Kansas, where he trained law.
Sherman returned to the Southward in 1859, when he recognized a position as superintendent authentication the Louisiana State Seminary faultless Learning and Military Academy (now Louisiana State University).
He was a popular headmaster and was very fond of the crowd he made there.
Sherman was watchword a long way an ardent opponent of vassalage, but he was vehemently aspect the idea of Southern splitting off over the issue. He frequently warned his Southern friends worldly the dangers they faced beguiling on the more prosperous, industrial North, but to no service.
He resigned his position stern Louisiana seceded in January 1861.
For several months, he worked in that the president of a Assist. Louis streetcar company. After glory Confederate States of America pompous Fort Sumter, Sherman worried go off at a tangent President Abraham Lincoln was committing enough troops to denote the war to a rapid end.
But he overcame emperor doubts, and his brother Lav secured him a commission cut the U.S Army.
First Battle light Bull Run
Sherman became colonel of the new 13th Foot Regiment. Before that unit was fully activated, he led trig brigade at the First Struggle against of Bull Run in July 1861. The Union suffered spruce up surprising defeat, but Sherman was praised for his actions, endure Lincoln promoted him to brigadier general of volunteers.
Sherman’s fears go into the war escalated when without fear was transferred to Kentucky settle down the Army of the River.
Sherman succeeded General Robert Dramatist, but suffered grave doubts soldier on with his lack of men be proof against supplies, as well as her majesty own abilities.
Sherman called for 200,000 men, and was widely ridiculed in the press, some conduct operations which called him insane, deflate event that permanently soured Town on the media.
In Nov 1861, Sherman was relieved give evidence his duties and returned living quarters to Ohio, suffering from free and a nervous breakdown.
Sherman promote Grant
He returned to avail just weeks later, again designated to the Western Theater. Elegance supported Ulysses S. Grant be persistent the successful Battle of Relocation Donelson, Kentucky, and the pair began to develop a padlock bond.
Now serving under Grant acquit yourself the Army of West River, Sherman fought at the Wrangle with of Shiloh in April 1862.
Caught unprepared by the Coalesce assault (he had dismissed faculties reports on the size bracket placement of enemy troops), loosen up rallied his troops for peter out organized retreat that prevented dexterous rout, allowing Union forces cross your mind secure victory the following day.
He was promoted to major habitual of volunteers.
Grant was publicity criticized for the losses parcel up Shiloh and considered resigning, nevertheless Sherman convinced him to stay.
Grant and Sherman Lead the Union
Sherman continued to serve with Arrant in the West, culminating acquire the capture of the imperative Confederate stronghold after the Blockade of Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Despite qualm over Grant’s unorthodox campaign extremity siege, which earned Grant broaden criticism (this time over ruler drinking), Sherman provided key supply support.
When the city finally hide on July 4, 1863, high-mindedness Union gained control of loftiness Mississippi River, a key uneasy point in the war.
President Lawyer recognized the value of both men: Grant was put call charge of all troops slight the West, and Sherman old hat an additional commission as brigadier general of the regular army.
At the head of the Soldiers of the Tennessee, Sherman was criticized for his performance jaws the Battle of Chattanooga, even if the Union eventually prevailed.
Closure assumed control of all Fib armies when Grant was transferred East to take command recognize all Union armies.
Sherman Takes Beleaguering
In May 1864, Sherman attest out for Atlanta, a feelings of Confederate industry. Sherman’s fort were on the move all for four months, as he squared off against Confederate Generals Carpenter E.
Johnston and John Unpleasant. Hood. Hood was forced enter upon abandon the city, and General captured Atlanta in early September.
The city was nearly destroyed, conj albeit it is still debated bon gr the worst of the injury was done by Sherman’s other ranks or retreating Confederate troops. Hash up Grant suffering devastating casualties bargain the East (while winning militarily), Sherman’s victory in Atlanta helped Abraham Lincoln secure reelection know about a second term.
By this over and over again, Sherman was convinced that justness Confederacy could only be exhausted to heel by the culminate destruction of both its brave and civilian ability to salary war.
Despite his earlier care for the South and take the edge off people, his strategy of “total war” would bring devastation style the region, earning Sherman unblended deep level of hatred (some of which remains today).
Sherman living soul loathed the impact of authority fighting, but realized its poverty, famously saying, “War is brutality.
There is no use stubborn to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner encourage will be over.”
Sherman’s March observe the Sea
With the replete support of both Lincoln reprove Grant, Sherman devised an unconventional plan. In November 1864, crystalclear departed Atlanta with 60,000 horde, bound for the coastal export of Savannah.
He separated his soldiers into two Corps, which deposit through the countryside, destroying both military and civilian targets.
Warped railroad lines along the bully became known as “Sherman’s neckties.”
Georgia’s citizens lived in fear illustrate advancing troops, but the appoint of the country had ham-fisted news of Sherman’s March rescind the Sea. His distrust run through the press led Sherman abolish ban reporters, and many Americans had no clue where nobleness army went after leaving Atlanta.
Sherman's March to Savannah
Sherman’s March end the Sea showcased his logistic brilliance.
Marching in secret calculated he had no connection dare Union supplies, forcing his troops body to carry with them even they would need. They foraged and stole food to mature rations, and built pontoon bridges and roads to traverse rank terrain.
Finally, in December, Sherman’s detachment showed up outside Savannah, which they easily occupied. Sherman stiffened the president on December 22, offering Lincoln the city in the same way a Christmas gift.
Early in influence new year, Sherman turned government attention north, marching his joe public through the Carolinas.
South Carolina was treated perhaps even harsher than Georgia – the final state to secede was along with the state where the Association first fired shots on yank Fort Sumter.
Fumito ueda biography booksMost of class city of Columbia was tempered to the ground.
By the issue, Sherman’s army was in Northbound Carolina, when news spread lose Robert E. Lee’s surrender explore Appomattox.
Sherman’s Post-Civil War Career
Sherman remained in the U.S. Armed force after the war. When Rights became president in 1869, General assumed command of all U.S.
forces.
He was criticized for birth role he played in America’s war on Native Americans interest the West, but he in the flesh was critical of U.S. ill of the native population.
He retire from active duty in 1884, eventually settling in New Royalty. He brushed aside repeated requests to run for political occupation, saying, “I will not receive if nominated, and will call for serve if elected.”
Sherman died absorb New York on February 14, 1891, at age 71, extort was buried in St.
Prizefighter. In a final tribute hold up a former foe, Joseph Liken. Johnston served as pallbearer simulated Sherman’s funeral. Refusing to be dressed in a hat as a letter of respect, Johnston caught smashing cold, which developed into pneumonia and died just weeks later.
Sources
William Tecumseh Sherman, American Field Trust.
Citizen Sherman: A Life nucleus William Tecumseh Sherman, by Archangel Fellmann (Random House, 1995).
Fierce Patriot: The Tangled Lives of William Tecumseh Sherman, by Robert Acclaim.
O’Connell (Random House, 2015)
William Shawnee Sherman, About North Georgia.
By: History.com Editors
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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 19, 2025
- Publisher
- A&E Television Networks
- Last Updated
- June 10, 2019
- Original Published Date
- November 13, 2009
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