William Tecumseh Sherman was born on February 8, 1820 in Lancaster, Ohio. He was named after the Shawnee chief Tecumseh, a Native American leader who had fought against American expansion in the early 19th century. Sherman's father died when he was just nine years old, leaving his mother to raise him and his 10 siblings on her own. Despite this early hardship, Sherman was able to attend the prestigious West Point Military Academy, where he graduated in 1840.
After graduating from West Point, Sherman joined the Army as a second lieutenant in the 3rd U.S. Artillery. He served in the Mexican-American War and later in the Seminole Wars in Florida. Sherman's military career was marked by his rise through the ranks and his reputation as a capable and strategic leader.
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Sherman was appointed as a brigadier general in the Union Army. He quickly rose to prominence for his leadership and his unconventional tactics. In 1864, Sherman took command of the western theater of the war and began his famous march through Georgia. His scorched earth policy, which involved destroying everything in his path, culminated in the burning of Atlanta.
Sherman's actions during the Civil War have earned him the nickname of the 'first modern general.' His tactics of total war and destruction were controversial at the time, but they are now seen as instrumental in bringing about the end of the war. Sherman's legacy as a military leader is one of innovation and ruthlessness.
Sherman married Ellen Ewing Sherman in 1850, and the couple had eight children together. Ellen was a strong supporter of her husband's military career, despite the hardships it brought. Sherman's brothers, Charles Taylor Sherman and John Sherman, also played prominent roles in politics during this time.
After the Civil War, Sherman continued to serve in the Army, eventually rising to the rank of General of the Army, the highest rank in the U.S. military at the time. He retired in 1884 and spent his later years writing and lecturing on military strategy.
Sherman died on February 14, 1891 in New York City. He was buried with full military honors in St. Louis, Missouri, where he had spent the last years of his life.
William Tecumseh Sherman was a complex and controversial figure in American history. His ruthless tactics during the Civil War have earned him both praise and criticism, but there is no denying his impact on the outcome of the war. Sherman's legacy as a military leader continues to be studied and debated to this day.