Introduction

My name is William Tecumseh Sherman. For those of you who do not know me, you may address me as General Sherman. I was a Union general in the Civil War. I led a campaign through Georgia, burning Atlanta and destroying munitions in Georgia during the Atlanta Campaign. My strategy was the concept of total warfare. This means bringing the war to the home of the Confederate citizens.

I was born February 8, 1820, in Lancaster, Ohio. I graduated from U.S. Military Academy in West Point in 1840. After the Mexican War, I resigned my position in the U.S. military. I was the Superintendent of the Louisiana State Seminary and Military Academy in Alexandria. When talk of secession began, I resigned my position to remain loyal to the U.S.

I became one of the most hated men in Georgia history for the Atlanta campaign. My orders from General Grant were clear, inflict as much damage to
the war machine of the South. On September 2, 1864, the Union forces under my command had captured Atlanta, Georgia. This was a crippling blow to the Confederate forces. It split the Confederate forces and helped cripple their ability to fight back.

Source:
Bengston, Wayne C. "William Tecumseh Sherman." About North Georgia. 8 January, 2009. <http://ngeorgia.com/ang/William_Tecumseh_Sherman>