Chapter I: Front Matter

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LIFE AND MILITARY CAREER OF MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN.

by

REV. P. C. HEADLEY,

Author of “Napoleon,” “Josephine,” “Women of the Bible,” “Hero Boy,” etc., etc.

New York: William H. Appleton, 92 & 94 Grand Street. 1865.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by Wm. H. Appleton, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

T O

H E N R Y S T A N L E Y A L L E N, E S Q.,

O F N E W Y O R K,

THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED,

W I T H S I N C E R E R E S P E C T A N D R E G A R D,

BY THE AUTHOR.

P R E F A C E.

ALTHOUGH General Sherman’s military career has only reached its most interesting and brilliant period, grateful and admiring thousands will welcome an authentic outline of his history to the present time. The facts of his early life were obtained from those who knew him best.

To Colonel Bowman, an appreciative friend of General Sherman, whose sketches of him in the _U. S. Service Magazine_ were graphic and reliable, to the _Army and Navy Journal_ and able correspondents, we are indebted for valuable material.

The pen-portrait of the great commander, by Mr. Alvord, which has never before been published, will be read with special interest.

The volume is not offered to the public as a complete biography, with all that might have been omitted carefully sifted from the essential statements, but the annals of a remarkable man, with incidents connected with his movements; affording the youth and all others, a general view of the nation’s hero, from infancy to the unrivalled distinction he now holds.

May the unpretending volume stimulate the youthful mind to virtuous and noble deeds, while it contributes to the more complete and voluminous memoirs which will be written in the peaceful future before us, for whose blessings of a perpetuated Union and civil liberty we shall owe a lasting debt of gratitude to General Sherman.

C O N T E N T S.

CHAPTER I.
PAGE
The Boyhood of Heroes—The ancestry of William Tecumseh
Sherman—The death of his Father—Why the name of the Indian
Chief was given him—The Birth-place of William Tecumseh, 13

CHAPTER II.
The Eventful Call—“Cump” in the Sandbank—The Unexpected
Summons—He obeys—His new Home—School days—A Studious and
Reliable Boy—Is appointed Cadet—Leaves Home for West Point—His
Life in the Academy—Graduates and goes to Florida, 23

CHAPTER III.
The Lieutenant in the Florida War—Its Origin—The
“Exiles”—Seminole Indians—Osceola—His wife made prisoner—The
second Seminole War—Wild Cat’s Daughter—Peace—Lessons of the
events before and after, 28

CHAPTER IV.
Lieutenant Sherman in Fort Moultrie—The Fortress—The Mexican
War—He goes to California—His Service there—Appointed
Captain—His Marriage—Exciting Scenes in California—In the
Commissary Department—Resigns his Commission—Turns Banker, 39

CHAPTER V.
Takes charge of a Military Academy in Alexandria, Louisiana—He
sees the rising storm of Civil War—Resigns—A noble Letter—He
repairs to St Louis, and superintends a Street Railroad, 45

CHAPTER VI.
Sumter falls—Sherman repairs to Washington—His Interview with the
Secretary of War and the President—His Prophetic Insight of the
Threatening Times—The state of the Country—Rebel Expectations, 50

CHAPTER VII.
The Conflict Deepens—The Captain is made Colonel of the
Thirteenth New York Volunteers—The Battle of Bull Run—The
unterrified Commander of the Thirteenth and his Troops—The
Brave Stand, 54

CHAPTER VIII.
General Sherman goes to Kentucky—Muldraugh’s Hill—His army
weakened—General Buckner’s superior force—Succeeds General
Anderson—Writes General McClellan—Interview with Secretary
Cameron—Paducah, 60

CHAPTER IX.
Pittsburg Landing—The Surprise—The Battle—The Victory—Sherman’s
glorious part in the Struggle—The Testimony of Officers—His
Letter on the Contest, 67

CHAPTER X.
The Morning after the Battle—General Sherman’s column in
Motion—What it did—Corinth the next Goal—The Siege—The
Evacuation—General Sherman’s troops the first to enter the
Works—The Hero is made Major-General—Advance on Holly
Springs—Memphis—General Sherman’s successful Command in that
City—The Guerrillas, 82

CHAPTER XI.
General Sherman’s next Post—The Steele’s Bayou Expedition—A Trial
of Courage—The Leader’s Heroism, 89

CHAPTER XII.
The Position of the Western Forces—The Expedition against
Vicksburg under General Sherman—The Just and Stringent Orders
of the Chief—He shows the Speculators no Mercy—The Advance of
the Grand Army Checked—The Embarkation of Troops—The
Magnificent Pageant—The Progress and Arrival of the Fleet, 95

CHAPTER XIII.
The March—The City—Preparations for an Assault—The Attack—The
Abatis and Rifle-pits—The Charge upon the Hill—Sherman
succeeded by McClernand—General Sherman’s Farewell Order—Result
of the Expedition, 105

CHAPTER XIV.
The Plot—General Sherman’s Part—His Successful Feint at Haines’
Bluff—Joins the Main Army—The Advance toward Jackson, the State
Capital—The Victorious Entry of the City—On to Vicksburg
again—Assaults—Siege—Victory—General Sherman goes after “Joe”
Johnston, 118

CHAPTER XV.
General Sherman watching Joe Johnston—Foraging—An Attack—The
Enemy steals away in the Night—The Conquering Battalions have a
brief rest—Encampment on the Big Black River—Scenes
there—Reënforces General Rosecrans—Death of General Sherman’s
Son—Beautiful Letter—The Monument, 127

CHAPTER XVI.
The Grand Advance from Memphis—The Enemy prepare to Meet
it—General Sherman’s Genius equal to any Emergency—Rapid
Marches—The Foe driven from the Path—New Command—The Swollen
River—Into Chattanooga—The Tireless Chief and his Gallant
Troops push forward to Missionary Ridge, 136

CHAPTER XVII.
The Place of Battle—The Battle-ground—General Sherman’s Part in
the Struggle—Desperate Valor—Victory—Pursuit—No Rest—General
Burnside in Peril—General Sherman hastens to his Relief—The
Bridge breaks down—It is Rebuilt, and the Heroic Battalions
save Knoxville—General Sherman again at Chattanooga, 143

CHAPTER XVIII.
A New Expedition—Its Wise Design—Cause of its Failure in the Main
Purpose—The Hero of Vicksburg is created Lieutenant-General—The
New Order of Things—Two Grand Lines of March and of
Conquest—From Chattanooga to Kenesaw Mountain, 162

CHAPTER XIX.
The Battle of Kenesaw Mountain—On to Marietta—Across the
Chattahoochie—General Johnston succeeded by General
Hood—Marching and Fighting—Death of McPherson—Fight at
Jonesboro—The last struggle for Atlanta—Victory, 186

CHAPTER XX.
The Tidings of Victory at Washington—The President’s Messages to
the People and to the Army—General Sherman congratulates his
Battalions—The Rebel General is indignant—The Correspondence
between him and General Sherman—The authorities of Atlanta also
unreconciled to the new order of things—The noble Letters and
Conduct of the Conquerer, 217

CHAPTER XXI.
The Events which followed the Truce—General Hood’s Army in
Motion—Battle at Allatoona Pass—He is left to the care of the
gallant Thomas—The New and Magnificent Campaign of General
Sherman—The Field of his Operations—Burning of Rome—The
Advance—Atlanta partially Burned—The Rebel Fears and Hopes—The
March, 249

CHAPTER XXII.
The March beyond the River—The Exciting Discovery by the
Enemy—General Sherman’s Strategy—On to Savannah—The
Rebel—Surprise—The Army approach the City—A bold Movement—The
Scouts—The Signals—Fort McAllister stormed—Savannah invested, 287

CHAPTER XXIII.
The Surrender of the City demanded—The Refusal—Preparation to
Attack—The Enemy Flee—The Entrance of the Union Army—Scenes
that followed—General Sherman and the Negroes, 304

CHAPTER XXIV.
Major-General Sherman appreciated at Home—A Conflagration—A New
and Bolder Campaign—General Sherman begins his March—Perils and
Progress—Branchville and Columbia—Charleston, 330

CHAPTER XXV.
Wilmington—Peace Commissioners—General Sherman’s
Statesmanship—His Characteristics—Interesting Recollections of
General Sherman—His Pure Character, 357