Josh Rhea 11-29-05 Biographical Sketch

Outline
I. Introduction A. William Sherman B. Born on February 8, 1820 in Lancaster, Ohio C. Father was Judge Charles Sherman D. William was named Tecumseh after the Shawnee Indian chief II. Williams Early Life A. His Father died when he was only nine years old B. After his father died, William was sent to live with attorney Thomas Ewing, a friend of his father, who served as a Senator of Ohio and U.S. Secretary of the Interior C. With help from Thomas Ewing, William is accepted into the United States Military Academy at West Point at the age of 16 1. William does well at West Point, and he graduates sixth in his class of 1840 and is sent into the artillery D. Sherman entered the military as a second lieutenant E. He saw action in Florida fighting against the Seminole tribe in the Seminole War. F. Sherman did not have to see actual combat, as he was assigned to administrative duties in California G. In 1850, He married Thomas Ewings daughter, Eleanor Boyle Ewing H. In 1853, He resigned from his duties in the Military to become the President of a Banking Company in San Francisco, and he also tried his hand as an attorney. 1. In 1857, His bank went under during the financial panic. 2. Because of this, he was offered and took a job offered to him by two friends as a superintendent of the Louisiana Seminary and Military Academy. a. Now knows as Louisiana State University 3. On January 18, 1861, Sherman decided to resign from his position as superintendent because of the states decision to break away from the union I. On February 25, Sherman left Louisiana and joined his family in Lancaster. J. Only a month later, Sherman moved to St. Louis, Missouri (the city of the devil) and was elected president of a railroad company. K. Shermans love for the military prevailed over him, and on May 8, 1861, he wrote a letter to the Secretary of War stating that he was offering his service to the military for three years III. Civil War Efforts A. After writing his letter to the Secretary of War, Sherman was admitted as Colonel in the Thirteenth Regular Infantry on June 20, 1861

B. Shermans first battle back, he was assigned a brigade that was stationed under a stone bridge in the Battle of Bull Run. His troops were hammered with Confederate cannon fire C. Sherman was promoted to a Brigadier General in August of 1861 and assigned to the Department of the Cumberland under Brigadier General Robert Anderson D. In October of the same year, Sherman took over for Anderson 1. His first job was to fill out quotas for volunteers of Kentucky. This was hard to do because of the state being split of where their allegiance should stand. 2. Later that month, Sherman told the Secretary of War that he would need 60,000 men to drive out the resistance in Kentucky and 200,000 to finish the war. 3. The Secretary of War relayed this message wrong back to Washington saying that Sherman needed 200,000 men, and from then on everyone thought he was insane E. Because of this misjudgment and all of the heat coming from the media, Sherman was relieved by Don Carlos Buell and Sherman was assigned to the Department of the West in St, Louis F. Even after the move, the media still harassed him saying that he was insane and unable to do his job. 1. Although the public was becoming skeptical of his ability, his peers still had faith in him G. Sherman assumed command of the post at Paducah, Kentucky relieving U.S. Grant of that job so that he could assist in commanding the Army of the Tennessee H. Not long after this, Sherman was once again promoted to be in command of the Fifth Division of the Army of the Tennessee 1. The first battle that the Army of the Tennessee fought was the battle at Shiloh I. After successful efforts, Grant was moved to command the District of Memphis where he failed to seize Vicksburg at first, but was there when it was finally captured in July of 1863. Because of this, he was promoted to U.S. Grants job, commander of the Army of the Tennessee. J. He fought in the Battle of Chattanooga where he and his troops were battered on Missionary Ridge by Pat Cleburne and his fierce cannons. K. In the spring of 1864, Sherman was appointed supreme commander of the armies in the West and was told by Grant to create havoc and to destroy all of the enemies resources L. Because of this, Sherman set out to begin the Atlanta Campaign on May 4, 1864 M. Sherman started his attack on the troops of Joe Johnston. The Union army was strong, but defeated Shermans army at the battle of Kennesaw Mountain. Sherman however gained ground because Johnston had to move his troops back because of the number of Shermans troops

N. After much persistence, Sherman took control of Atlanta and declared it to be their military base. He ordered all civilians to leave immediately. 1. He faced a few skirmishes of opposition from the enemy forces trying to take back Atlanta, but never slipped hold O. Sherman decided to take his veteran troops and make his March to the Sea. He set out toward Savannah Georgia with 60,000 men destroying everything that would be useful to the enemy in his path. P. Upon taking Savannah, Sherman sent a telegram to president Lincoln saying that he was going to give the city of Savannah to him as a Christmas gift. Q. After taking Savannah, there was only one thing left to do, defeat General Joe Johnstons men for good. R. Sherman chased Johnstons army all the way through North Caroline before he met them and Johnston surrendered. The war was over. IV. After the Civil War A. When U.S. Grant became President in 1869, Sherman became the top general in the U.S Army and remained such until his retirement on February 4, 1884 B. After he retired, Sherman worked vigorously against the Indian Tribes. He said that they should be confined to certain reservation grounds where they could reside. C. He was devoted to the theatre and was known as a great speaker D. He was proposed by some Democrats as a presidential candidate, but refused to run or serve if he was elected. E. Sherman died in New York City on February 14, 1891