Sherman, William Tecumseh

Sherman, William Tecumseh (b. Lancaster, Ohio, 8 February 1820; d. New York, N.Y., 14 February 1891) In 1840 Sherman graduated sixth of 42 cadets from West Point as an artilleryman. After the Mexican War, he resigned from the army, became president of Louisiana State University, and reentered the military in the Civil War. He became major general after being cited for gallantry at Shiloh, where he was wounded; he took a major role in the Vicksburg and Chattanooga campaigns. Sherman became principal US military commander in the west in March 1864, and then drove on Atlanta. His March to the Sea and his Carolinas campaign forced the surviving CSA armies there into surrendering to him on 26 April 1865. By the war’s end, only Ulysses S. Grant had contributed more to Union victory than Sherman. He served as commander of the army (lieutenant general) 1869–83.