William Tecumseh Sherman

1. William Tecumseh Sherman By: Sean Mooney

2. Early Life • Born February 8, 1820 in Lancaster, Ohio. • He was one of eleven children born to Charles and Mary Sherman. • At age 9 William’s father died and William had to be raised by his neighbor Thomas Ewing.

3. Schooling • William attended the United States Military Academy at West point at age 16. • At the Academy he was very good at his academics but failed to honor the demerit system. • He dropped in class rank from fourth to sixth because his average demerits per year were around one hundred and fifty.

4. After College • After his schooling William married his long life friend Ellen Ewing. • He served in the Seminole War, and after becoming a captain resigned to become a broker in California. • After being a broker he traveled to Kansas and practiced law. • He was then made the superintendent of a military academy in Louisiana, but resigned from that job after Louisiana succeeded. • Before the Civil War broke out he was made a colonel in the U.S. infantry.

5. The Civil War • He began the war by commanding a brigade at the battle of Bull Run. • After his actions there he was promoted to Brigadier General. • Next he took over the command of the department of Kentucky. • He was asked by the Secretary of War how many men he needed to finish war in Kentucky. • His response was a little outrageous for the secretary and he thought Sherman was crazy. • He was removed of his duties afterwards.

6. Civil War Continued • He was then made the commander of the Army of the Tennessee. • After the battle of Shiloh he was promoted to Major General. • He then was moved to Mississippi and was told to inflict as much damage as he could.

7. The March to the Sea • On November 9, 1864 Sherman received permission to “march to the sea”. • The march started with the burning of Atlanta on November 14. • Sherman split his army into two separate forces to inflict maximum damage. • He marched through Georgia to Savannah and presented the city as a Christmas present to President Lincoln.

8. The Aftermath • The march crushed southern morale, and crippled the south’s source of food. • Sherman burned all fields and food supplies that the rebels were saving up for winter. • He later was told to continue his warfare through South Carolina. • He became a villain in the South and a hero in the North.

9. Post War Sherman • He was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1866. • He then became the successor of Grant as General-in-Chief of the United States Army. • He died in New York City on February 14, 1891. • He is buried in Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

10. A Story • “Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston, who had commanded the resistance to Sherman's troops as they marched through Georgia and South Carolina, served as a pallbearer at Sherman's funeral. It was a very cold February day, and a friend of Johnston, fearing that the general might become ill, asked him to put on his hat. Johnston famously replied: "If I were in his place, and he were standing in mine, he would not put on his hat."Johnston did catch a serious cold, and died soon afterwards.” • Copied from : http://www.sonofthesouth.net/union-generals/sherman/william-tecumseh-sherman.htm

11. Legacy • “War is hell.” • The Sherman Tank • Total War- a war that is unrestricted in terms of the weapons used, the territory or combatants involved, or the objectives pursued, esp. one in which the laws of war are disregarded.

12. Bibliography • http://www.sonofthesouth.net/union-generals/sherman/william-tecumseh-sherman.htm • http://www.sonofthesouth.net/union-generals/sherman/william-tecumseh-sherman.htm • http://ngeorgia.com/ang/William_Tecumseh_Sherman • Google Images • American Nation Book