GENERAL WILLIAM T. SHERMAN
WAR TACTICS PLAYED A ROLE IN
CIVIL WAR
By: Cassandra Hurley
General William Tecumseh Sherman played a crucial role in the victory over the Confederate
States by using what known as Total War was known to end the Civil War a lot quicker. Some
believe that General Sherman war tactics were unorthodox, or too extreme. General Sherman
knew dramatics steps was needed to end the Civil War sooner than having the Civil War drag on
longer than needed. Sherman troops burned farms, slaughtered livestock, destroyed railway lines
and burned down cities. Sherman war tactics were extreme, but his war strategy was not
something anyone seen before. Sherman war tactics were hardly killing any of the Confederates
or Southerners, he was mostly destroying the supplies to the Southerner Soldiers. Who was
William T. Sherman? What background did William Sherman have for fighting in the military?
Was Sherman considered a war hero or war criminal for his actions? What was so special about
the March to the Sea campaign?
Who was William T Sherman and what was his military background. Sherman was born in Ohio
in 1820 and he lost his father at a young age. It was known back that time period children were
fostered out to other families. Sherman went to stay with a close friend of his father Mr. John
Ewing. Sherman was a young boy when his foster father John Ewing secured him a position at
the US Military Academy. [ CITATION Wes11 \l 1033 ]. West Point was never Sherman choice
but since Sherman wanted to appease his foster father for taking him in at young age after his
father was killed. Sherman wanted to make his foster father happy. Sherman graduated in 1840
from West Point, where he ranked sixth in his class. Sherman excelled in the academic side of his
training.[ CITATION Wes11 \l 1033 ]
Sherman actually despised war and he wanted no part being in any wars. After Sherman
completed his military education, he was stationed in Georgia and South Carolina and found in
the smaller battles like Second Seminole War in Florida and Mexican American War. Sherman
spent several years as an administrative office and very little in combat experience. It was in
1853 when Sherman reassigned from the military and went to reside with his family in
California. Sherman was married to his foster sister Ellen Ewing, and they had eight children.
The only reason that Sherman took part in the military battles was to financially support this
family. It was Sherman main goal to make sure his family was financial supported, so Sherman
became a banker. It was 1857, when the bank that Sherman worked in went under and Sherman
lost his means of supporting his family. After the bank closed it doors, Sherman went to Kansas
with his family to practice law for a little while.
Sherman knew the only way to successful support his family was having a military career rather
than being a