The Somerset reporter., 1891-02-19
william Tecumseh Sherman.


great captains of the late civil war, died
at his New York home at l.50 p. m. Sat
urday last, his family and nearest friends
at his bedside. HIS Illness was
so brief that his death was shock to a
great many people In our country and has
caused genuine sorrow to millions includ-
ing every survivor of the great army Of
which he was loved and popular gen.
eral.
His one march, from Atlanta to the
sea-" was sufficient to immortalize his
name, and at once place him among the
great military strategists of the world and
give Thin enduring fame as military
chieftain, but his fame is not alone depend
ent upon this achievement The success
of his former campaigns and his career
siuce both military and civil give added
luster and complete his glory as q soldier
and a citizen.
Truly great man has passed away and
the expression of esteem and affection by
his countrymen Is earnest and wide
spread.
William Tecumseh Sherman was born
at Lancaster, o., Feb. 8, 1920. His father
was Judge Charles Sherman of the su-
preme court OF Ohio. 10 July, 1888, he
was appointed cadet at West Point. His
four years course at this institution,
while not Of unsurpassed brilliancy, was
marked by devotion to his studies and
duties that won for him the admiration
and respect Of hts fellow students and his
instructors.
He graduated from West Point In July,
1870, the sixth In his class, and received
the appointment of second lieutenant In
the Third As.il!esy. 70 q H.s;1e over q year-
he was promoted to the rank Of the first
lieutenant. He served In Florida until
1912, and from that date, with brief in
terval In garrison at Fortress Moultrie,
S. c., until 1876, when he was ordered to
California, serving as acting assistant
adjutaut-general of the department OF
California until, lS49. He was then trans
ferred to San Francisco ON similar duty
on the staff OF Gen. p. f. Smith, COM
handing the division OF the Pacific. He
was married May l., 1850, to Ellen Ewing.
daughter of Hon. Thomas Ewing, then
secretary of the interior. In September
Of that year he was transferred to the
commissary department with the rank Of
captain, and stationed alternately at St.
Louis and New Orleans, until March.
1853, when, after six months leave Of
absence, he resigned from the army Sept.
G. 1858, to engage in the banking business
In San Francisco, and afterward In the
practice Of law at Lesvenworth, Kansas
until 1859, when he was elected Supt. of
Louisiana Military academy, which
he resigned In advance because Of the
proposed secession Of that state.
He was one of the few men who COM
pretended the magnitude OF the impend-
ing struggle when the war broke out and
urged the government to vigorous meas
ures. His first services were as Colonel
Thirteenth Regular Infantry.
He commanded brigade at Bull Run,
division at Shiloh at which Gen. Hal
lock said his frmness saved the day and
indebted to Gen. Sherman for the success
Of the battle.
He bore very prominent part at Vicks-
burg, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge,
Atlanta, which he forced Hood to evacu.
ate, and then began his marvellous march
to the sea.
1t was trlumphal march. All opposi-
tlons melted before them. Savannah was
the next point to be gained, and Sher-
man was soon able to send the following
despatch to the President Of the United
States: II beg to present to you, a
Christmas gift, the city Of Savannah, with
100 guns and plenty Of ammunition, and
about 25, 900 bales Of cotton"
Resuming his march. Washington was
reached May "a, 1865, when, after the
grand review, his army was dissolved.
or this campaign Gen. Grant wrote
1t was most remarkable campaign. He
cut loose from all that was behind him,
burned his bridges, threw aside superfiu-
GUS baggage, apd marched without pro-
visions into the heart of the enemy's
country. He set at defiance many of the
old and established maxims OF warfare,
and when his daring project was first
made public the world was astonished.
Military critics and warriors In this
country and In Europe predicted the des-
truction of his army.
ModeBty WAS one of his most noticed able
characteristics. Speaking of his celebrat-
ed march to the sea, he says II only
regarded the march from Atlanta to Saw
annah as shift Of base, as the transfer
of strong army which had no opponent,
and had finished Its work, from the in.
terror to point on the sea coast, from
which 1t could achieve other important
results. l simply moved from Atlanta to
Savannah, as one step In the direction of
Richmond, q movement that had to be
met and defeated or the war was neces
sarily at an end. Were to express my
measure Of the relative Importance of the
march to the sea, and of that from Saw
annah northward, l would place the form
er at one and the latter at 10, or the max
imum."
Upon the appointment of Grant as Gen.
eral of the army In 1886, Sherman was
promoted to be Lieutenant General, and
when Grant became President, March 4,
1869, Sherman succeeded him as general,
with headquarters at Washington. From
Nov. 10, 1871 to Sept. II, 1872 he made
professional tour In Europe, and WAS
everywhere received with the honor due
to his rank and distinguished service. At
his own request, and In order to make
Sheridan general In chief, he was placed
on the retired list, Feb. 8, 1884
or late ne has resided In New York
where he received the humblest old
soldiers cordially II his errand was
legitimate one. He also took great in
terest In literature, leading q quiet life
devoid of ostentations and show. There
Is little doubt but he could have been
President, but he steadfastly refused to
consent to allow the use of his name for
the high office.