William Tecumseh Sherman --- Allahverdiev, Dmitry Per 5

     Born on 

February 8, 1820 at Lancaster, Ohio, William Sherman was the second best known Union commander in the Civil War. Sherman's father died when Sherman was nine, so he was taken in and raised by Senator Thomas Ewing. Through his foster parent's influence, Sherwood was able to attend West Point military academy, and graduated sixth in his class in 1840. After graduating the academy he was sent to serve in California in the Mexican War. Sherman was appointed to the artillery, and received a brevet (or a non-permanent military promotion) for his service, but he soon resigned in 1853. The years before the Civil War,Sherman lived in California and Kansas, he tried his hand at banking and working as a lawyer but failed at both. Although later he found a job that he could manage well, he was 

the superintendent of a military academy which is now Louisiana State University. He worked at that academy until the start of the Civil War, then he resigned.

     When the southern states seceded, Sherman went all the way to St. Louis to volunteer for the Union army. With the help of his brother, senator John Sherman, he got an appointment as colonial under Irvin McDowell, and was with him at the battle of Bull Run. After being promoted to brigadier general, he was sent to server under General Robert Anderson in Kentucky. After succeeding Anderson in command of the department, Sherman got into trouble for overestimating the enemy's power and the press went so far as to call him insane, and after suffering a mental breakdown he was removed from command. But Sherman was not done, with the support of his friend General Henry Halleck, Sherman regained his military standing and soon went on to serve under Grant as well. After proving his worth to Grant, he was promoted to major general of volunteers, and was key in persuading Grant to stay in the army after his difficulties with Halleck during the advance on Corinth, Mississippi. During his operations at Vicksburg he ordered a desperate assault at Chickasaw Bluffs, which was at first criticized by Grant, but later when it succeed he called an important achievement. Sherman was promoted to brigadier general of the regular army and led many expeditions before his famous march to Atlanta for which he is most known. After gathering an army of 100,000 men, Sherman entered Georgia. On his march to Atlanta, he decided to deprive the deep south of its resources, so he left a burning path of destruction 60 miles wide in his wake. He destroyed any and all resources that he came across, and ultimately upon reaching and taking Atlanta, he burned the city as well. After the burning of Atlanta, Sherman's forces moved north, destroying Columbia, and eventually aiming to unite with the army of the Potomac east of the Confederate capital of Richmond but the war ended before he got there. Some historians describe Sherman as the most outstanding Union army commander, and the first modern commander for his tactic of "total war" that he used.




Works Cited: 

"Gen. William TecumsehSherman." Museum of the City of San Francisco. Web. 02 Dec. 2011. <http://www.sfmuseum.org/bio/sherman.html>.

"William Sherman." Spartacus Educational. Web. 02 Dec. 2011. <http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USACWsherman.htm>.

"William Tecumseh Sherman Biography." The American Civil War Home Page. Web. 02 Dec. 2011. <http://www.civilwarhome.com/sherbio.htm>.