William Tecumseh Sherman was born February 8, 1820 in Lancaster, Ohio.
After the death of his father in 1829, nine-year-old Sherman went to live with a family friend, the prominent Whig politician Thomas Ewing. The Ohio senator – and later secretary of the Interior – steered young Sherman toward West Point, securing an appointment for him at the age of 16.
After graduating from West Point, Sherman served in the US Army as a second lieutenant, stationed in Florida during the Second Seminole War. Following assignments in Georgia and South Carolina, Sherman went to California during the Mexican-American War, where he performed administrative duties. He was present during the California Gold Rush, but didn’t profit financially.
By 1850, Sherman had been promoted to captain and married his foster sister in a wedding attended by President Zachary Taylor. The couple would eventually have eight children. Sherman held various jobs before becoming the first superintendent of the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy (which would become Louisiana State University). While there, Sherman became attached to the South and the people who lived there. However, as the clouds of war gathered, he resigned his post and moved north to defend the Union cause. Sherman declined the offer of a job in the War Department, which the Lincoln administration intended as a stepping-stone to becoming assistant secretary of War.
Sherman distinguished himself at the First Battle of Bull Run, which led to a promotion to brigadier general. He was assigned to serve in the Department of the Cumberland in the border state of Kentucky, where he was soon given overall command. However, he was quickly replaced following what some historians believe was a nervous breakdown. When he returned to duty in December 1861, Sherman was again sent to Kentucky where he served under Ulysses S. Grant during his attempt to capture Fort Donelson.
The two became friends and allies during the long siege of Vicksburg, leading one newspaper to comment, “the army was being ruined in mud-turtle expeditions, under the leadership of a drunkard (Grant), whose confidential adviser (Sherman) was a lunatic.” Sherman would later recall, “ stood by me when I was crazy, and I stood by him when he was drunk; and now … we stand by each other always.”
At the Battle of Shiloh, Sherman’s troops prevented a rout on the first day and staged a counterattack on the second. Sherman was wounded twice and earned a promotion to major general of volunteers. Though he continued to rise in the Union ranks, his overall performance was mixed. In the spring of 1864, Lincoln ordered Grant to take charge of all the Union armies. Grant then assigned Sherman to take his place as head of the Military Division of the Mississippi. This placed Sherman in charge of the entire Western Theater.
Sherman devised a strategy that called for Grant to beat Lee in the North while he divided the South by marching his troops through Georgia. Sherman gathered three armies with nearly 100,000 Union troops and set out for Atlanta. On September 2, 1864, he captured the city.
Sherman was given permission to march south – after intentionally giving up his line of communication – so he could “make Georgia howl.” As Union troops destroyed John Bell Hood’s army at the battles of Franklin and Nashville, Sherman set off with 62,000 men on a march to Savannah, Georgia. Sherman’s “scorched earth” policy was a severe blow to morale in the Confederacy, which was further damaged by his December 21, 1864, capture of Savannah, Georgia. The general then turned his men northward, again destroying everything in his path. Sherman’s last significant battle was at Bentonville on March 19-21. A few weeks later, Lee surrendered at Appomattox and the Civil War came to a close.
Four years later, Sherman succeeded General Grant as commanding general of the Army, a position he held for 14 years. In that role, Sherman oversaw the Army’s involvement in the Indian Wars. He retired in 1884 and spent his last years in New York City enjoying theater, art, and delivering speeches before his death on February 14, 1891.
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His father died in 1929? No doubt before the stock market crash.
This proves that Stephen Hawking’s theories of time travel are true!
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Additional research will be needed! The typo, however, has been fixed.
Thanks I enjoy learning of history.
Thanks I enjoy learning of our great history.
Good info. Correction: his father died in 1829.
Oops! The typo has been corrected.
His father must have died in 1829.
The date has been fixed.
His father died in 1829 not 1929. Really enjoy getting these every day!!!!!
The typo was corrected.
One historian has posited that Sherman loved order, one reason he disliked politics. He saw the breakup of the union as a symbol of ultimate disorder. In the South, while in Louisiana, he enjoyed the order of the social system, and also basked in the friendship, especially after taking over the La Seminary, of the Southern upper/planter class. His views on slavery are blurry at best, but his ideas about session are not. This is a complex man, a man that Grant trusted, a general whoes name meant destruction “from Atlanta to the Sea.” James J. Cooke, Prof. Emeritus of History, U. of Mississippi
Leaving out “If nominated I will not run, if elected I will not serve” does him a great disservice.
I think that Grant, not Sherman, deserves the credit for devising the Union strategy of 1864 with Grant going after Lee in the East while Sherman went after the Confederate forces (then under Joseph E. Johnston, later John Bell Hood) in the West.
The “make Georgia howl” reference is the understatement of that century. Over 150 years later you can still hear it and it’s not an echo. Being careful not to make a typo. Your “editors” rip you like Von Miller rips the “Sulk”.
He should have been tried as a War Criminal for his atrocities against civilians!
A few interesting factoids about Sherman. His middle name was Tecumseh, after the famous Shawnee chief who fought against the U.S. in the War of 1812. William’s brother was John Sherman, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State under President McKinley. Famous quotes: When asked about war by some school boys, Sherman replied, “Boys, war is all hell.” This is usually shortened to, “War is hell.” When the Presidency was suggested, Sherman stated, “I will not accept if nominated and will not serve if elected.” This is referred to as a “Shermanesque” statement, and is usually shortened to, “If nominated I will not accept and if elected, I will not serve.”
Thanks Mystic. Enjoyed the history lesson.
I’m GLAD PROPLE ARE STILL PAYING ATTENION TO WHAT THEY ARE READING AND THAT MYSTIC IS STARTING TO DRAW A LOT MORE FOLLOWERS LATELY. ANY THOUGHTS IN PUTTING THESE ARTICLES IN THE SCHOOLS OF AMERICA.
Another great article on American history … and I agree with Mr. James Pepper that these Mystic Stamp history articles should ABSOLUTELY he included in teaching American history in American schools because of their informing, important and crucial facts that strengthen one’s understanding and appreciation of America’s history in becoming the greatest Nation on Earth … after less than 150 years following the end of America’s civil war and slavery !!
Yes, I enjoyed reading the history behind the stamp. It is good that we spend the time with history to ensure its accuracy. One of biggest fear I have with history is the changing of history to fit someone’s narrative of history. Our country went through a lot of changes since the Civil War, and the unification process of our country took time.I am a novice when it comes to learning history, but I wonder how the War Department was able to unify the country to fight as one army, and the test came in the Spanish-American War and World War I. I am sure the military leaders from the training posts throughout the United States had to deal with sectionalisms from both the north and south. Were they successful? I would say with a qualified yes. In my opinion, the leaders blended the “good” qualities on both sides from the North and the South. It took several decades to take the next step to integrate the armed services of both the black and white members of the armed services. It took a guy from Missouri, President Truman, to make this decision. I am sorry for taking so long, but your responses were interesting to me, and in the future, I hope to be a part of this adventure.
During the long march to the sea in Georgia, Sherman’s soldiers referred to their beloved commander as “Uncle Billy.” Whether that expression was admiration or disgust is debatable.
The original post as well as all following comments were found very interesting and informative. Good work Mystic