Why was William T. Sherman an important part of the civil war?

Answer 1

Sherman was a brutal officer and a drunkard who is famous for his "March to the Sea". He is known for his military skills as a general, but basically, his soldiers raped, pillaged and burned their way through the Southeast.

Answer 2

Sherman was one of the most effective of generals of either side. IMO he is the north's equivalent of 'Stonewall' Jackson. Both were excellent tacticians. Sherman was at first Bull Run and was removed form the field with a nervous breakdown. He was sent out west. With Grant he help siege and capture Vicksburg (same day as Gettysburg!!) and this led to control of the whole Mississippi river. there is more to research but I leave that to you
IMO Sherman's greatest contribution to military tactics is his development of 'Total Warfare' As his army marched through the South, they destroyed any material or resource that may be useful to his opposition. He ordered fields burned, animals slaughtered, bridges blown up, and railroad beds destroyed. This devastation was not only effective in reducing his enemies ability to make war but more importantly this was hugely damaging to the populous that support the Confederacy. This was not an entirely new tactic, see the Phrygia war and consequential 'scorched earth' However Sherman had chose to use scorched earth as an offensive tactic! Also, as a marauding army, he did not have supply lines that were vulnerable to attack
Its easy to be critical of Sherman. Although his march to the sea was successful it was certainly overkill. It was also greatly exaggerated. Sherman was not interested in the freedom and lives of the african slaves that were freed during the 'march to the sea' and left many ex-slaves behind to be captured by pursuing confederate forces
Sherman is generally atributed to the quote 'War is Hell'
the American tank of World War Two was named Sherman to honor him

Answer 3

He was one of the few competent General Officers in the Union forces. He knew how to lead, had experience leading, had studied tactics and manouvre, unlike many other Civil War generals who were political appointees with virtually no military background. And he wasn't afraid of a fight on a personal level, either. Look him up on Wikepedia to see just how much experience he brought to the battlefield. No, he wasn't perfect - but he learned from his mistakes and proceeded to prosecute the war.
He was a remarkable man, and it's telling to note that he was horrified by the results of battle, although he continued until his combat goals were reached. Some years after the war, he was asked to deliver a speech to young men who were about to graduate from a military academy in the midwest. In talking about battle, he remarked about how the youngsters, who had never actually experienced it first-hand, thought it was all about grand heroics and romance and all. I can imagine a slight catch in his voice as this man, who had led thousands of other men to their deaths, told them "There is many a boy here today who thinks war is all glory. But boys, it is all he l l ."

He was right. It is all hell. It was for my ancestor Andy who was a captain in the Virginia Militia during the War of 1812. It was for my grandpa who was a soldier in World War One, and for my father who was an artilleryman in World War Two, and it was for me in Viet Nam. It ain't fun and it ain't pretty and it ain't exciting when the fire comes at your face or when you look at the guy you just shot and see he has no face 'cause you just blew it off. It sickens you. It poisons you. You do your job and you do it well and you can take pride in that - but it sears your soul!

Answer 4

Lincoln grow to be a railroad lobbyist. for the time of his administration he surpassed charges that had some greater effective crimson meat for his railroad friends. whilst the Union military grow to be marching around blowing up the South, railroads have been a splendid precedence.

Answer 5

I think he was the guy that captured atlanta georgia wich at the time was a city the confederacy stored and made weapons.