February 8
William Tecumseh Sherman Born in Lancaster
Summary
William Tecumseh Sherman was born on February 8, 1820, in Lancaster, Ohio. After his father's death, he was raised partly in the family of politician Thomas Ewing and entered the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1840. Sherman served in the Army before resigning in 1853 and pursuing civilian work, then returned to military service when the Civil War began. He became one of the Union's most important generals, working closely with Ulysses S. Grant in campaigns at Vicksburg and Chattanooga before taking command of Union forces in the western theater. Sherman captured Atlanta in 1864 and then led the March to the Sea and the subsequent Carolinas campaign. His forces deliberately destroyed railroads, supplies, industrial resources, and other property intended to support Confederate war-making, causing extensive economic damage and civilian hardship. Sherman later became commanding general of the U.S. Army and remained influential in postwar military policy.
Why It Matters
Sherman's campaigns helped break the Confederacy's military and economic capacity and contributed significantly to Union victory in the Civil War. His strategy of attacking infrastructure and resources supporting enemy forces became an influential and controversial example of large-scale warfare. His later tenure as commanding general also connected Civil War military leadership with U.S. western expansion and campaigns involving Indigenous peoples.
Related Sites
- US Military Atlas: A related profile connecting William Tecumseh Sherman with West Point and his military career.
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Sources
- Commanding Generals and Chiefs of Staff, 1775-2022, U.S. Army Center of Military History. Accessed 2026-08-25.
- Sherman, William Tecumseh, Texas State Historical Association. Accessed 2026-08-25.
- Civil War General Busts, National Park Service. Accessed 2026-08-25.