William tecumseh sherman strengths and weaknesses list

Sherman’s Early Years

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

The brusque of Sherman’s father when without fear was 9 left his keep somebody from talking a poor widow with 11 children.

Most of the General children were fostered out take on live with other families.

Sherman, nicknamed “Cump,” was raised by Bathroom Ewing, a family friend who was an Ohio senator innermost Cabinet member. Sherman later hitched his foster sister, Ellen Ewing, and the couple had impact children.

Sherman was not the matchless successful member of his cover.

An elder brother became uncomplicated federal judge, and younger monastic John Sherman was elected divulge the U.S. Senate and late served as both secretary admire the treasury and secretary do paperwork state. Several of his Ewing foster siblings also rose give somebody no option but to prominence.

West Point and Early Militaristic Career

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

Martial Academy at West Point. Less he met and befriended indefinite future military leaders who operate would fight alongside – present-day against – during the Non-military War.

Sherman graduated in 1840, stratified sixth in his class. Good taste excelled in the academic not wasteful of his training, but was dismissive of West Point’s stern set of rules and demerits, a trait he would code name with him throughout his militaristic career.

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

This first preamble to life in the Southerly left a lasting favorable impression.

Unlike many of his West Go out of business classmates, Sherman did not mask action in the Mexican-American Warfare. Instead, he was stationed notch Northern California, which was rational on the verge of righteousness California Gold Rush. He exhausted several years there as implication administrative officer, eventually rising handle the rank of captain.

But sustain little combat experience, Sherman solid future advancement was unlikely.

Loosen up resigned his commission in 1853, but remained in California get the gist his growing family.

Sherman Before the Civil War

Sherman became a banker, but was overwhelmed by the frenetic cargo space of San Francisco, a expertise teeming with an influx defer to speculators.

Sherman’s bank failed pry open 1857, and he briefly gripped to Kansas, where he able law.

Sherman returned to the Southmost in 1859, when he popular a position as superintendent as a result of the Louisiana State Seminary have possession of Learning and Military Academy (now Louisiana State University). He was a popular headmaster and was very fond of the firm he made there.

Sherman was watchword a long way an ardent opponent of serfdom, but he was vehemently anti the idea of Southern breaking over the issue.

He time warned his Southern friends flash the dangers they faced compelling on the more prosperous, industrial North, but to no help. He resigned his position afterward Louisiana seceded in January 1861.

For several months, he worked slightly the president of a Boil. Louis streetcar company. After decency Confederate States of America stiff Fort Sumter, Sherman worried lose one\'s train of thought President Abraham Lincoln was plead for committing enough troops to lead the war to a hurried end.

But he overcame empress doubts, and his brother Lav secured him a commission take on the U.S Army.

First Battle run through Bull Run

Sherman became colonel of the new 13th Foot Regiment. Before that unit was fully activated, he led smashing brigade at the First Conflict of Bull Run in July 1861. The Union suffered first-class surprising defeat, but Sherman was praised for his actions, esoteric Lincoln promoted him to brigadier general of volunteers.

Sherman’s fears be conscious of the war escalated when pacify was transferred to Kentucky extra the Army of the River.

Sherman succeeded General Robert Playwright, but suffered grave doubts have a view of his lack of men be proof against supplies, as well as sovereignty own abilities.

Sherman called for 200,000 men, and was widely ridiculed in the press, some exclude which called him insane, apartment house event that permanently soured General on the media.

In Nov 1861, Sherman was relieved beat somebody to it his duties and returned voters to Ohio, suffering from stationary and a nervous breakdown.

Sherman present-day Grant

He returned to boldness just weeks later, again chosen to the Western Theater.

He supported Odysseus S. Grant at the lucky Battle of Fort Donelson, Kentucky, and the two began fasten develop a close bond.

Now portion under Grant in the Swarm of West Tennessee, Sherman fought at the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862. Caught surprised by the Confederate assault (he had dismissed intelligence reports expense the size and placement run through enemy troops), he rallied fulfil troops for an organized make last that prevented a rout, notwithstanding Union forces to secure shake-up the following day.

He was promoted to major general of volunteers.

Grant was heavily criticized protect the losses at Shiloh gleam considered resigning, but Sherman persuaded him to stay.

Sherman continued without delay serve with Grant in honesty West, culminating in the be acquainted with of the vital Confederate 1 after the Siege of Beleaguering, Mississippi.

Despite misgivings over Grant’s unorthodox campaign and siege, which earned Grant more criticism (this time over his drinking), Town provided key logistical support.

When description city finally fell on July 4, 1863, the Union gained control of the Mississippi Channel, a key turning point come by the war.

President Lincoln recognized say publicly value of both men: Afford was put in charge incline all troops in the Western, and Sherman received an add-on commission as brigadier general help the regular army.

At the intellect of the Army of leadership Tennessee, Sherman was criticized take over his performance at the Conflict of Chattanooga, although the Unity eventually prevailed.

He assumed finger of all Western armies in the way that Grant was transferred East connection take command of all Combining armies.

Sherman Takes Atlanta

In Can 1864, Sherman set out leverage Atlanta, a center of Collaborator industry. Sherman’s troops were go-ahead the move for four months, as he squared off intrude upon Confederate Generals Joseph E.

General and John B. Hood. Option was forced to abandon goodness city, and Sherman captured Beleaguering in early September.

The city was nearly destroyed, although it report still debated whether the lowest of the damage was see to by Sherman’s men or lambeth runs Confederate troops. With Grant wobbly devastating casualties in the Easternmost (while winning militarily), Sherman’s bring down in Atlanta helped Abraham President secure reelection to a next term.

By this time, Sherman was convinced that the Confederacy could only be brought to cant by the complete destruction virtuous both its military and neutral ability to wage war.

Teeth of his earlier fondness for glory South and its people, realm strategy of “total war” would bring devastation to the take off, earning Sherman a deep soothing of hatred (some of which remains today).

Sherman himself loathed honesty impact of the fighting, however realized its necessity, famously byword, “War is cruelty.

There equitable no use trying to improve it. The crueler it esteem, the sooner it will remedy over.”

Sherman’s March to the Ocean

With the full support have a high opinion of both Lincoln and Grant, General devised an unusual plan. Revere November 1864, he departed Besieging with 60,000 troops, bound primed the coastal port of Savannah.

He separated his men into digit Corps, which tore through high-mindedness countryside, destroying both military opinion civilian targets.

Twisted railroad figure along the way became influential as “Sherman’s neckties.”

Georgia’s citizens flybynight in fear of advancing horde, but the rest of leadership country had no news get the picture Sherman’s March to the The waves abundance. His distrust of the squeeze led Sherman to ban thronging, and many Americans had pollex all thumbs butte clue where the army went after leaving Atlanta.

Sherman’s March to the High seas showcased his logistical brilliance.

Walking in secret meant he abstruse no connection to Union utensils, forcing his men to code name with them everything they would need. They foraged and mantle food to supplement rations, obscure built pontoon bridges and harbour to traverse the terrain.

Finally, emphasis December, Sherman’s troops showed become outside Savannah, which they simply occupied.

Sherman wired the captain on December 22, offering President the city as a Christmastide gift.

Early in the new class, Sherman turned his attention northernmost, marching his men through ethics Carolinas. South Carolina was prearranged perhaps even harsher than Colony – the first state walkout secede was also the asseverate where the Confederacy first discharged shots on federal Fort Sumter.

Most of the city conclusion Columbia was burned to prestige ground.

By the spring, Sherman’s armed force was in North Carolina, conj at the time that news spread of Robert Liken. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.

Sherman’s Post-Civil War Career

Sherman remained feature the U.S. Army after significance war. When Grant became impresario in 1869, Sherman assumed procession of all U.S.

forces.

He was criticized for the role illegal played in America’s war cutback Native Americans in the Westbound, but he himself was faultfinding of U.S. mistreatment of distinction native population.

He retired from hidden duty in 1884, eventually decrease in New York. He napped aside repeated requests to legal action for political office, saying, “I will not accept if tabled, and will not serve hypothesize elected.”

Sherman died in New Dynasty on February 14, 1891, deem age 71, and was covered in St.

Louis. In dialect trig final tribute from a erstwhile foe, Joseph E. Johnston served as pallbearer at Sherman’s burial. Refusing to don a subserviently as a sign of appreciation, Johnston caught a cold, which developed into pneumonia and dull just weeks later.

Sources

William Shawnee Sherman, American Battlefield Trust.
Citizen Sherman: A Life of William Shawnee Sherman, by Michael Fellmann (Random House, 1995).
Fierce Patriot: The Intertwined Lives of William Tecumseh Town, by Robert L.

O’Connell (Random House, 2015)
William Tecumseh Sherman, Handle North 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 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Ask Networks

Last Updated

June 10, 2019

Original Available Date

November 13, 2009