The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1891-02-19
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Sketch of the Life of Que of America'a
Greatest Generals.

a Sketch of the Lie of Que of Amertca'A
Greatest Generals.
Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman was born at
Lancaster, Ohio, Feb. 8. 1920. He was cadet
at West Point from 1896 to 1910, when he was
graduated and promoted to second lieutenant OF
the Third artillery. He served in the Florida
war until 1912. during which he was promoted to
first lieutenant. In 1916 he went to California,
and was in the war with Mexico, being breveted
captain in 1913 for meritorious conduct. He
was acting assistant adjutant general Of the
deparement of California from 1s47 to 1S49;
aide ede-camp to Gen. P. r. Smith, and acting
assistant adjutant general ofthe Pacific division
to 1850; promoted to captain Sept. 22. 1850,
and on cOmmissary duty at st. Louis and New
Or:eans until Sept. 6, 1853, when he resigned and
went to San Francisco, where he WAS in the
banking business until 1857. In 1859 he was
in the practice of the law at Leavenworth, Kan,
and during the two years following was presi-
dent OF the Louisiana state seminary and mill
tary academy at Alexandria, La. On the break
ing out OF the civil war he was reappolnted to
the United States army, May IA, 1861, with
the rank of colonel OF the Thirteenth infantry,
and May II was appointed crigadier general of
volunteers, and commanded q brigade in the
first bate of Bull Run. In October he was
placed in the command OF the department of
the Cum berland but afterward he took charge
OF a camp OF instruction at st. Louis until Feb
ruary, 862. when he was placed in command
OF the district OF Paducah, KY. In the Tennes.
see and Mississippi campaign he commanded a
division; was in the battle OF Shiloh. April and
Z, in which he was wounded; was in the advance
in the siege OF Corinth, April 15 to May 80, and
was promoted to major general of volunteers
May l. He commanded the hastily organized
expedition which attempted to capture Vicks-
Fifteenth army corps, he ledl the expedition
which carried Arkansas Post by assault
Jan. II, and until July 3 was actively
July 4 he was made brigadier general in the
regular army, and during the summer and fall
was engaged in various operations in Tennessee
and Mississippi. At Chattanooga ne COM
manded the lett wing OF the army Nov. 1925,
and early in December compelled Gen. Long
street to raise the siege at Knoxville. In Febru-
ary, 1864, with 10000 men he marched to
Meridian, Miss. and destroyed the railroads
centering there. He was in command of the de-
partment and Army of the Tennessee until
March IL, when he was
PLACED IN COMMAND
of the military division OF the Mississippi, which
was composed of the departments of the Ohio,
the Cumberland, the Tennessee and the Arkan-
sas. At Nashville he organized an army Of more
than 100000 men. and with them he invaded
Georgia, where he met the Confederate forces
under Gen. J. E. Johnston. forcing them to
evacuate Dalton, Resaca, Cassville and Dallasin
rapid succession, batween May II and 2S, and
almost daily thereafter engaged the enemy until
the occupation Of Marietta, July B. In several
subsequent engagements he defeated Gen. Hood
before Atlanta, the hardest battle being fought
July % when the siege of Atlanta began.@On
Aug II he was made major general in the regu-
lar army Aug. 81 the battle of Jonesboro was
fought and the night of Sept. 1 Gen. Hood
evacuated Atlanta and Gen. Sherman took pos
session and occupied the city until Nov. Is,
when he began his memorable march to the
sea-" He reached Savannah Dec. 13 and
stormed and captured Fort McAllister, and
eight days thereafter the city was surrendered
to him. Making the Savannah river his base
OF operations he marched his forces unto the
Carol1nas, capturing Columbia, S. G., Feb IT,
1865, Cheraw March 3 and Fayetteville March
l2. -Four days later he fought the battle of Av-
erysboro and March 10, 20 and II fought and
gained the battle OF Bentonville, and entered
checked aud he reached and occupied Rale1gn
April 49, while on April 26, at Durham station,
n. c., the army OF the Confederacy, under Gen.
j. +. Johnston. surrendered to him upon terms
which were not accepted by the government.
Following this surrender, Gen. Sherman, be-
gan bis advance to Richmond and Washington
April 22 and on May "a, 1865, ended his won
derful southern marches of more than $500
miles at Washington, his efforts having been
crowned with success from the first to the last.
On June 2 he was appointed to the command
of the military division of the Mississippi, in
which were comprised the departments of the
Ohio, Missouri and Arkansas, his headquarters
being at ST. Louis. On July 25, 1865, he sue
ceeded Gen. Grant as lieutenant general, and on
Aug took command of the division of the
Missouri. In November and December of that
year he was employed Oh special mission to
Mexico After the election of Gen. Grant to the
presidency and the consequent vacation of the
office OF general of the armies of the United
States by President Grant, Lieut.. Gen. Sherman
was made general March 4, 1859. In 1871, after
nearly thirty years of active service In the
army, he obtained leave of absence for a year.
He at once went to Europe, extending his trav-
els to the East, being everywhere received with
that marked distinction which the people OF
the old world are ever ready to, accord to
one who has occupied such prominent posi-
tions in military life and had won such laurels
as had Gen. Sherman. On his return from his
travels he took up his residence at Washington
as commander-inchief OF the army, remaining
there until October, 1874. when he removed his
residence to St. Louis. On Feb. 8, 1884, Gen.
Sherman was placed OF the retired list, at his
Nhn Los foV I~aap of htS fo
passed in New York. In 1875 he published
two octave volumes. entitled Memoirs of Gen.
w. T. Sherman, by Himself" which have been
we'll received and accepted as most important
addition to the history of the United States.
THE GENERAL AT FORT SMELLING.
Soon after his graduation from West Point,
Gen. (then second lieutenant) Sherman was
ordered to Fort Smelling. and was stationed
there for several mouths, occupying quarters in
the old stone barracks along the south side OF
the old parade ground. His experience at that
time was not more eventful than that of several
other junior officers by whom an order trans
ferring them to an Eastern was regarded as a
special dspensation OF Providence, on account
OF the lonesomeness and remoteness OF their sta
tion at that time.
The second memorable visit of Gen. Sherman
to the Northwest occurred very soon after the
close of the war, and partook of the nature of
an ovation. Gen. w. S. Hancock, who was then
in command of the department OF Dak kota, with
headquarters at st. Paul, entertained him.
The trip was undertaken for the purpose Of in
specting the forts in the Northwest, and hence
was fruitful of military receptions as we'll as
pleasant social reunions. One lieutenant upon
the occasion of a formal military reception and
inspection during the visit had decked himself in
all the panoply of war, but IN his desire to make
a stunning appearance, had allowed his tailor
to adorn the dress coat with more aiguillettes
than the regulations called for. Gen. Sherman
took IN the situation at a glance, and he point
edly said, "Mr. -, l should be pleased to see
you in your uniform"
Gen. Sherman was present as an invited guest
at the celebration in Minneapolis of the bi-cen-
tennial anniversary of the discovery OF the
Falls of st. Anthony, and was one Of thespeak-
ers ON that occasion.