William Sherman

William Tecumseh Sherman (1820–1891) was an American soldier, businessman, educator, and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861–65), for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched earth" policies that he implemented in conducting total war against the South.

After the Civil War, Sherman oversaw the country's various Indian Wars, and published his memoirs.

William Sherman in Southern Victory
When the War of Secession began in 1861, William Sherman was promoted to the rank of Colonel and participated in the Battle of Bull Run, where he fought with distinction and received a promotion to Brigadier General. Unfortunately, not long afterwards, Sherman suffered a brake down, an event that would latter haunt his military career. Although he fought with valour at Shiloh, and received a promotion to Major General, it came to naught when the Union was defeated at Camp Hill, and forced by England and France to recognise the Confederacy. In the years following, Sherman was stripped of his generalship and was returned to the rank of colonel. Haunted by lingering rumors of insanity, he would never receive a generalship of regular troops.

Nonetheless, Sherman remained in the US Army and by 1881, he commanded the defences of San Francisco from his headquarters at Presidio. When the Second Mexican War began later that year, Sherman organised volunteers and harbour guns in preparation for any attacks. His efforts were mocked greatly by anti-war journalist and Confederate veteran Samuel Clemens of the Morning Call. Because of this, he interviewd Clemens on suspicion that  he was a Confederate agent, but found nothing to substantiate it and gave Clemens a letter to that effect.



As the war dragged on, the Royal Navy turned up the pressure against the United States and raided San Francisco. In spite of Sherman's preparations, the harbour guns were all destroyed and his own troops proved inadequate in stopping the Royal Marines from raiding the San Francisco Mint.

After the British raid on San Francisco, Sherman was greatly embarrassed and ridiculed in the city's papers, especially the Morning Call. However, after the cease fire was called, Samuel Clemens couldn't help but acknowledge that Sherman was smarter than most generals after word of his mobile defence strategy against any further Royal Navy attacks reached him.

William Sherman in The Guns of the South
General William Sherman's advance into the heart of the Confederacy was halted by General Joseph Johnston, whose forces were armed with AK-47s. Sherman's forces met Johnston's at Rocky Face Ridge, and then again as Resaca and Snake Creek Gap. After these encounters, Sherman's losses were so heavy that he was unable to press forward for fear of losing more men.

William Sherman in Supervolcano
When the U.S. Geological Survey expedition that Kelly Birnbaum was a member approached the Yellowstone Supervolcano caldera, she heard the cry of a raven. She was reminded of the raven in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" but Daniel Olson was reminded of William Sherman's march through Georgia and his saying that he'd wreck it so well that even a crow would have to carry provisions. The desolate and ash covered landscape made that easy comprehend.