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General William Tecumseh Sherman

Description:

This portrait is of General William Tecumseh Sherman. Sherman was born in Lancaster, Ohio. Orphaned at age nine, he was raised by Thomas Ewing, a U. S. Senator who also served as secretary of the treasury and secretary of the interior. He graduated sixth in his class from West Point and served in positions in the south where he gained great knowledge of the southern people and the geography of the region. Sherman served in the Mexican War, but left the army in 1853.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Sherman accepted a position as a colonel in the regular army. Sherman became well known for his tactics of property damage and psychological warfare against the southern people, best illustrated by his march through Georgia. His goal was to convince the southern people to stop the war, and prevent more battle field deaths. Sherman is credited with the saying "War is hell."

Creator:

Unknown

Creation Date:

1869

Collection Title:

Sherman Family Photographs

Collection Number:

P 42

Image Number:

TAH0933

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