General Sherman
Sherman was born one of eleven kids in a distinguished family. After his father unexpectedly died, he found himself living with Senator Thomas Ewing, helping him gain an appointment at West Point. He graduated 6th in his class in 1840. He fought Seminoles in Florida, but did not fight in Mexico, being stuck in California. As a result, he resigned his commission in 1853, taking short careers in both banking and law before finally becoming superintendent of the Louisiana Military Academy in 1859. When the war started though, he resigned from the academy, becoming colonel of the 13th US Infantry instead. He first fought at First Bull Run, commanding a brigade under Tyler, and was promoted to brigadier general following, in August 1861. He was sent to Kentucky to keep the state from seceding and sharing his views that the war would be a long war, was sent to St Louis under Halleck, and replaced by Buell. At Shiloh he commanded a division and was overrun by confederates under Albert Sydney Johnston, but he was promoted to major general anyways. He led troops at Chickasaw Bluffs and Arkansas Post and led the 15th Corps during the Vicksburg campaign. He also fought at Missionary Ridge and Chattanooga. After Grant was promoted to general-in-chief, Sherman became commander of the Western Theatre, and fought the war from there in a distinctively brutal new way. He set on the idea that in order to win the war, he had to win the field contests, but he also had to erode the southern material and psychological will to wage war. With three armies and superior numbers, he constantly outflanked Joseph E Johnston, taking Atlanta in September 1864. His victory helped Lincoln win reelection. He then left two of his armies to tend to John Bell Hood, and took his remaining army on his famous destructive “March to the Sea,” cutting himself off from supply and communications with the north, and then sending Lincoln an early Christmas present, the city of Savannah on December 21. His attention then turned north and he marched through the Carolinas, especially South Carolina for seceding first, and defeating Johnston’s army at Bentonville. He accepted the surrender of all troops in Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas on April 26, 1865 making the largest surrender of the war.
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