Thomas W. Sherman

Thomas West Sherman (March 26, 1813 – December 31, 1879) was a United States Army officer with service during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.

Sherman, known to his friends as "Tim," was born in Newport, Rhode Island, and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1836. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 3rd U.S. Artillery. He took a distinguished part in the Battle of Buena Vista, leading his battery in a defensive action helping to stop the Mexican attack, and was brevetted to major for his actions.

At the start of the Civil War, Sherman was still serving in the U.S. Artillery when he received a volunteer commission as brigadier general on May 17, 1861. He assumed command of the ground forces in the Port Royal Expedition. Sherman and the naval force under Flag Officer Samuel F. du Pont captured Port Royal in a combined Army/Navy operation. After briefly commanding the Department of the South, Sherman was sent to the Western Theater. He took command of Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas's division during the Siege of Corinth when the latter assumed command of the Right Wing of Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck's army group. After that he commanded the Defenses of New Orleans before taking command of a division in Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks's army, which he led into action at the Siege of Port Hudson. During the May 27, 1863, attack on Port Hudson, Sherman was severely wounded, which led to the amputation of his leg. For the rest of the war he held administrative commands in Louisiana.

Sherman retired from active duty in 1870 and died in Newport, Rhode Island. He is buried there in Island Cemetery.

See also

• List of American Civil War generals
• Battle of Fort Pulaski, The Plan. T. Sherman approved Gillmore’s plan for successful siege.

References

• Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.

External links

• Thomas W. Sherman at Find a Grave