William Tecumseh Sherman Civil War Major General of the Union Army Born: February 8, 1820 Died: February 14, 1891 By: Justin Keaney

Background Born on February 8, 1820 in Lancaster, Ohio. 1 of 11 children of a Ohio Supreme Court member. Graduated 6th in his class at the U.S. Military Academy in 1840. 8 children of his own. Died on February 14, 1891 in New York City, NY.

Civil War Background Conflict between Union and Confederacy from 1861-1865. Southern states seceded from the North and formed the Confederacy in January, 1861. One of the major reasons behind the war was slavery. Ended in 1865 with the Union coming out victorious.

Map of the Union and Confederacy during the Civil War

The War Begins At the start of the war, Sherman resigned from the U.S. Military Academy and was appointed to colonel of the 13th U.S. infantry. Sherman first saw the battlefield and the First Battle of Bull Run. A Union defeat, but Sherman was promoted to brigadier general nonetheless.

Sherman’s Promotions Colonel of the 13th U.S. Infantry- May 14, 1861. Brigadier General- August 7, 1861. Major General of the Volunteers- May 1, 1862. General of U.S. Army- 1869

Battles William T. Sherman was involved in many battles throughout the Civil War. Most notably: First Battle of Bull Run- Union defeat Battle of Shiloh- commanded a division but was defeated by Confederates. Battle of Chattanooga- Union victory Battle of Resaca- Union victory Battle of Bentonville- ended in Johnston’s armistice and surrendering of army Battle of Atlanta

Sherman’s March to the Sea On November 15, Sherman led an army of 62,000 men in two wings, 35,000 horses, and 2500 wagons through Georgia on his way to Savannah. He cut his army off from its supplies and relied solely on the land that he marched through. “The utter destruction of roads, houses, and people will cripple their military resources... I can make Georgia howl!” On December 21, Sherman took Savannah. Turned his focus North to the Carolinas. He and his army covered 450 miles in 50 day.

Sherman’s March to the Sea

Sherman’s New Warfare With his March to the Sea, Sherman implemented a new style of warfare known as “total warfare”, or as he called it, “modern warfare”. This warfare included destruction of all parts of a society including civilian houses, roads, and any other aspects of society. He made a path to Savannah that left everything in his path destroyed. “Total destruction… upon the civilian population in the path of the advancing columns of his armies.”

An example of this destruction is when Sherman and his army would wrap railroad ties around trees, making them unable to be used anymore. Doing things like this hurt not only the military transport of the Confederacy, but it also hurt the economy.

The Carolinas and the Battle of Bentonville After his march in Georgia, Sherman shifted his attention to the Carolinas. He targeted South Carolina more due to the fact that it was the first state to secede from the Union. He faced off against the Confederates under Joseph E. Johnston at the Battle of Bentonville in North Carolina. The victory in Bentonville eventually led to the surrender of all Confederate troops in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida on April 26, 1865.

Sherman After the War At the conclusion of the Civil War, he remained a part of the military. He rose to the rank of general in 1869 after Ulysses S. Grant became the president. He served in that position of General-in-Chief from 1869-1883. He is most notably known militarily for his achievements in revolutionizing “total war” tactics. He retired from the army in 1884.

Sherman’s Later Life Upon retirement from the military in 1884, he moved to St. Louis for two years until he moved to New York. In New York, he took up amateur painting, theater, and speaking at various functions. He died on February 14, 1891 in New York City and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis. President Benjamin Harrison ordered all flags be flown at half-staff to honor his life. Although the South viewed him as a villain, he is greatly respected for his high marks as a military strategist and tactician. He changed the nature of war and coined the term, “War is hell.”

Bibliography Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2016. Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2016. "William Tecumseh Sherman." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2016.