William Tecumseh Sherman

William Tecumseh Sherman was a renowned United States Army general who played a crucial role in the American Civil War, particularly in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. He is best known for his March to the Sea, a campaign that aimed to destroy the Confederate States of America's ability to wage war by targeting its infrastructure and economy, similar to the strategies employed by Napoleon Bonaparte during the Peninsular War. Sherman's military tactics and strategies have been studied by United States Military Academy cadets and United States Army Command and General Staff College students, including notable generals such as Dwight D. Eisenhower and George S. Patton. His legacy has been the subject of numerous works, including Shelby Foote's The Civil War: A Narrative and Carl Sandburg's Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and the War Years.

● Early Life and Education

Sherman was born in Lancaster, Ohio, to Charles Robert Sherman and Mary Hoyt Sherman, and was raised by Thomas Ewing and his wife, Maria Boyle Ewing, after his father's death. He attended Local District School in Lancaster, Ohio, and later enrolled in the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he graduated sixth in his class in 1840, alongside fellow cadets Ulysses S. Grant and Ambrose Burnside. During his time at the academy, Sherman was exposed to the teachings of Dennis Hart Mahan, a prominent military strategist who emphasized the importance of siege warfare and fortification. After graduating, Sherman was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Artillery Regiment and served in the Seminole Wars and the Mexican-American War, where he fought alongside notable generals such as Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott.

● Military Career

Sherman's military career spanned over three decades, during which he served in various capacities, including as a Commissary Officer and a Quartermaster Officer. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1842 and served in the Commissary Department during the Mexican-American War, where he was involved in the Battle of Monterrey and the Battle of Buena Vista. Sherman was later assigned to the California Gold Rush and served as a Banker in San Francisco, California, before returning to the United States Army in 1859. He was appointed as the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy in 1859, but resigned in 1861 to become the President of the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning & Military Academy, now known as Louisiana State University.

● American Civil War

Sherman played a crucial role in the American Civil War, particularly in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. He was appointed as the Commander of the Army of the Tennessee in 1862 and led the army to several victories, including the Battle of Vicksburg and the Battle of Chattanooga. Sherman's most notable campaign was the March to the Sea, which aimed to destroy the Confederate States of America's ability to wage war by targeting its infrastructure and economy. The campaign was a success, and Sherman's army captured Atlanta, Georgia, Savannah, Georgia, and Columbia, South Carolina, before ultimately defeating the Confederate Army in the Carolinas Campaign. Sherman's military tactics and strategies were influenced by his studies of Napoleonic Wars and the Crimean War, and he was praised by notable generals such as Ulysses S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln for his leadership and strategic thinking.

● Post-War Life and Legacy

After the American Civil War, Sherman became a celebrated figure in the United States, and was appointed as the Commanding General of the United States Army in 1869. He served in this position until his retirement in 1883 and was succeeded by Philip Sheridan. Sherman's legacy has been the subject of numerous works, including Shelby Foote's The Civil War: A Narrative and Carl Sandburg's Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and the War Years. He has also been remembered for his famous quote, "War is hell," which he delivered in a speech at the Ohio State Fair in 1880. Sherman's life and legacy have been studied by historians such as James M. McPherson and Gary Gallagher, and his military tactics and strategies continue to be studied by United States Military Academy cadets and United States Army Command and General Staff College students.

● Personal Life and Family

Sherman married Eleanor Boyle Ewing in 1846, and the couple had eight children together, including Thomas Ewing Sherman and Eleanor Sherman Fitch. He was a close friend of Ulysses S. Grant and Mark Twain, and was known for his witty sense of humor and his love of literature. Sherman was also a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and the Grand Army of the Republic, and was awarded the Thanks of Congress for his service during the American Civil War. He died on February 14, 1891, in New York City, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri, alongside his wife and other notable figures such as Dred Scott and Sterling Price. Category:American Civil War