William T. Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was born in 1820, in Ohio. He graduated 6th in his class from West Point in 1840, and saw limited combat in the Second Seminole War. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was made colonel of the 13th US infantry. Sherman's brigade first saw battle at Manassas, and though the battle resulted in defeat he was promoted to brigadier general. Following his defeat at Shiloh, he was again promoted, this time to major general in '62. It was around this time that Sherman and Grant adopted their philosophies of total war. This idea holds to the notion that war must be waged not only on armies, but civilians and infrastructure. This tactic was effective as all get-out, however, and surely led to the end of the war.
I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell.
- William Tecumseh Sherman
I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell.
- William Tecumseh Sherman