William+T.+Sherman

=William T. Sherman=

an HMS American Cultures collaborative production
[|William T. Sherman] had never really commanded in a major Union victory before. He had occasional ups and downs but he did get to be known as the second best known in Northern commanders. When he was just nine years old his father died, but he was then raised by a man by the name of Senator  [|Thomas Ewing] and he became part of the family. After that he was influenced by the Senator and he obtained an appointment to West Point. Then he was appointed to the artillery and also received a brevet for his services in California during the [|Mexican War] but then resigned in 1853 as a captain and commissary officer. In 1859 he seemed to have found his niche as the superintendent of a military academy which is now the Louisiana State University. Then he resigned from that and became a volunteer the Union Army. He lead a brigade of volunteers of the first Division which crossed Bull Run to aid the 2nd and 3rd divisions after the attack on the enemy left had begun. During the early operations against Vicksburg he then ordered a doomed assault at Chickasaw Bluffs and a few days later was superseded by John A. McCiernand who accepted Sherman's proposal to attack Arkansas Post. Following the fall of the river city he was named a brigadier in the regular army and led an expedition against Jackson. On August 12, 1864, Sherman had been promoted to major general in the regular army, and he vacated his volunteer commission. Also he was the only man to twice receive the Thanks to Congress during the civil war. After the war he remained in the service, and was promoted to full general, replacing Grant as Commander- In- Chief. He then retired from the army on February 8, 1884. He was noted for his absolute refusal to be drawn into politics. Then in 1886 he made his home in New York City, where he died on February 14, 1891.

Online Sources: http://www.civilwarhome.com/sherbio.htm

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