Was General Sherman a good general?

A brilliant leader who understood well the impact that war has on soldiers and societies, Sherman was credited by Liddell-Hart as being the first “modern” general. But as the architect of a brutal campaign that severly weakened the Confederacy, Sherman also invoked fear and anger from enemies and friends alike.

How was Union General William T Sherman viewed by the citizens of the South?

Despite his earlier fondness for the South and its people, his strategy of “total war” would bring devastation to the region, earning Sherman a deep level of hatred (some of which remains today).

What was General Sherman known for?

William Tecumseh Sherman, (born February 8, 1820, Lancaster, Ohio, U.S.—died February 14, 1891, New York, New York), American Civil War general and a major architect of modern warfare. He led Union forces in crushing campaigns through the South, marching through Georgia and the Carolinas (1864–65).

Did Sherman really burn Atlanta?

On November 15, 1864, United States forces led by Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman burned nearly all of the captured city of Atlanta, Georgia, United States. This event occurred near the end of the U.S. Civil War during which 11 states in the American South seceded from the rest of the nation.

What does Sherman mean?

Sherman is a surname that originated in the Anglo-Saxon language. It means a “shearer of woolen garments”, being derived from the words scearra, or “shears”, and mann, or “man”. The name is cognate with Sharman, Shearman and Shurman. Sherman has also been regularly used as a given name in the United States.

Was Sherman’s total war justified?

Sherman’s march was justified because he was able to feed his troops while denying the enemy food and supplies. And even though this showed the hardness of war, it was done without physically harming civilians like Dolly Sumner Lunt.

Why did Savannah surrender Sherman?

Yet another tale says that Sherman spared the city because Savannah was too beautiful to burn. These stories ignore the brilliant brutality of Sherman’s (and the Union’s) strategy. The ‘Girlfriend(s) Theory’ is ludicrous.

Did Sherman salt the earth?

Closer to home, some say that Union soldiers salted the fields in Georgia during General Sherman’s infamous march to the sea (though it’s not likely they used very much, since salt was a hot commodity during the American Civil War). One million tons of salt were used in 1955, and 10 million in 1972.

Why did General Sherman fear the Civil War?

Sherman’s fears about the war escalated when he was transferred to Kentucky and the Army of the Cumberland. Sherman succeeded General Robert Anderson, but suffered grave doubts about his lack of men and supplies, as well as his own abilities.

What was the relationship between General Grant and General Sherman like?

President Lincoln recognized the value of both men: Grant was put in charge of all troops in the West, and Sherman received an additional commission as brigadier general of the regular army. At the head of the Army of the Tennessee, Sherman was criticized for his performance at the Battle of Chattanooga, although the Union eventually prevailed.

What was General Sherman’s strategy of Total War?

Despite his earlier fondness for the South and its people, his strategy of “total war” would bring devastation to the region, earning Sherman a deep level of hatred (some of which remains today). Sherman himself loathed the impact of the fighting, but realized its necessity, famously saying, “War is cruelty. There is no use trying to reform it.

What happened to William Sherman’s father?

The death of Sherman’s father when he was 9 left his mother a poor widow with 11 children. Most of the Sherman children were fostered out to live with other families. Sherman, nicknamed “Cump,” was raised by John Ewing, a family friend who was an Ohio senator and Cabinet member.