The Life and Legacy of William Tecumseh Sherman
Explore the life and military career of William Tecumseh Sherman, a key Union General during the American Civil War. Known for his 'March to the Sea' and the strategy of total war, Sherman played a pivotal role in the Union's victory and the end of slavery. His tactics remain a subject of debate, reflecting his complex legacy in American history.
See moreEarly Life and Military Education of William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was born on February 8, 1820, in Lancaster, Ohio. Tragedy struck early in his life when his father, a prominent lawyer, died in 1829, leaving the family in financial distress. Through the patronage of a family friend, Sherman secured an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he excelled academically and graduated in 1840. His early military service included postings in the southern United States and participation in the Second Seminole War. He also served in California during the Mexican-American War but in primarily administrative roles. A young Sherman is depicted in Figure 1, a testament to his formative years before rising to national prominence.Transition to Civilian Life and Return to Military Service
After his initial military service, Sherman transitioned to civilian life, where he pursued various ventures including banking in San Francisco during the California Gold Rush. He married Eleanor Boyle Ewing in 1850 and resigned from the military in 1853. He later became the first superintendent of the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning & Military Academy (now Louisiana State University), a position he held until Louisiana's secession in 1861. Sherman, a staunch Unionist, relocated to St. Louis and briefly served as president of a streetcar company. The onset of the Civil War, however, compelled him to return to military service, and he was commissioned as a colonel in the 13th U.S. Infantry in May 1861.Sherman's Initial Civil War Engagements
Sherman's reentry into military service during the Civil War began with his leadership of a brigade at the First Battle of Bull Run, where he conducted an organized retreat in the face of defeat. Subsequently assigned to the Department of the Cumberland in Kentucky, Sherman briefly suffered from depression and anxiety, but he recovered and was placed under the command of General Ulysses S. Grant. Their partnership was solidified at the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862, where Sherman's performance, despite being wounded, was commendable and marked the beginning of a significant strategic partnership with Grant (Figure 2).Key Roles in the Vicksburg and Chattanooga Campaigns
Sherman's strategic acumen was on full display during the Vicksburg Campaign, where his contributions were crucial to the Union's eventual success in July 1863, leading to his promotion to major general. The capture of Vicksburg gave the Union control of the Mississippi River, a vital strategic victory. Later that year, Sherman played a significant role in the Chattanooga Campaign, where Union forces lifted the Confederate siege of Chattanooga and secured a decisive victory, further cementing Sherman's reputation as a capable military leader (Figure 3).Embracing the Strategy of Total War
Sherman became an advocate for the strategy of total war, which entailed the destruction of not only enemy combatants but also the resources and infrastructure that supported them. He applied this strategy effectively in February 1864 during the Meridian Campaign in Mississippi, where he targeted railroads and other logistical assets to disrupt Confederate operations. This campaign served as a prelude to his more infamous Atlanta and Carolina campaigns, where he sought to undermine the Confederacy's war-making capabilities (Figure 4).The March to the Sea and Its Consequences
Sherman's capture of Atlanta in September 1864 was a pivotal moment in the Civil War, bolstering Northern morale and contributing to President Abraham Lincoln's reelection. Following this victory, Sherman led his troops on the March to the Sea, a campaign of deliberate destruction from Atlanta to Savannah. This operation aimed to demoralize the Southern population and hasten the end of the war. In December 1864, Savannah was captured with little resistance, and Sherman famously offered the city to President Lincoln as a Christmas gift (Figure 5).The Carolinas Campaign and Conclusion of the Civil War
After Savannah, Sherman's forces proceeded north through the Carolinas in early 1865. The campaign was marked by the capture and accidental burning of Columbia, South Carolina, and continued with the Battle of Bentonville in North Carolina. Sherman's troops emerged victorious, and he advanced to Raleigh. Upon learning of General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox, Sherman negotiated the surrender of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston's army, effectively ending the war in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida (Figure 6).Sherman's Postwar Career and Enduring Legacy
After the Civil War, Sherman remained in the military, overseeing campaigns against Native American tribes and serving as the Commanding General of the United States Army from 1869 until his retirement in 1884. He succeeded Grant, who had been elected President. Sherman's postwar years were spent in New York City, where he died on February 14, 1891. His legacy is complex and multifaceted; while he is often criticized in the South for the harshness of his wartime tactics, he is also credited with helping to preserve the Union and hasten the end of slavery. His Special Field Orders No. 15, which promised land to freed slaves, although later rescinded, is an example of his controversial but impactful role in American history (Figure 7).Want to create maps from your material?
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1
Birthplace and date of William Tecumseh Sherman
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2
Sherman's education and early military training
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3
Sherman's military roles before the Civil War
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4
Sherman left the military in ______ and ventured into ______ in San Francisco during the California Gold Rush.
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5
During the Civil War, Sherman rejoined the army and was made a colonel of the ______ U.S. Infantry in May ______.
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6
Sherman's action at First Battle of Bull Run
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7
Sherman's mental health in Kentucky
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8
Sherman and Grant's partnership origin
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9
During the ______ Campaign, Sherman's vital role was instrumental to the Union's triumph in ______, resulting in his elevation to ______.
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10
Sherman's Total War Advocacy
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11
Meridian Campaign Purpose
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12
Significance of Atlanta and Carolina Campaigns
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13
The seizure of ______ in 1864 significantly boosted Northern spirits and aided in the reelection of President ______.
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14
In 1864, ______ presented ______ to President Lincoln as a Christmas present after a military campaign across Georgia.
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15
Sherman's march post-Savannah
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16
Columbia, South Carolina incident
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17
Battle of Bentonville significance
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18
Sherman took over as the ______ General of the U.S. Army in 1869, following ______, and served until 1884.
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