The Sherman Thanks



On this day in eighteen hundred eighty-four

The old wardog was quoted forevermore:

If nominated, I will not accept ... if elected, I will not serve

The Sherman - thanks, but no thanks - showed some verve



But it also clearly showed the other side of the man

Who plundered and pillaged the South according to plan

And through it all, decided war was hell

And, the way he fought it ... it left a smell



As he marched with sixty-thousand hand-picked

From Atlanta to Savannah, destroying every niche

Cutting off all potential retreats for Robert E. Lee

Circumventing the Civil War, and claiming victory ...



- Tristram



© Christopher W. Thomas

3:55pm Sat. June 5th, 1999



NB

Highpoints in the career of William Tecumseh Sherman:



1859 President of the Military College in Alexandria, LA ...

which came to be Louisiana State University



1861 Joined the Union Army

1862 made Brigadier General after the 1st Battle of Bull Run

1862 promoted to Major General of the Volunteer Army after the Battle of Shiloh

1863 fought alongside Grant and achieved the capture of Vicksburg

1863 given command of the Army of Tennessee and fought at the Battle of Chattanooga

1864 made Supreme Commander of the Armies in the West

1864 waged the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain (Union losses - 2500, Confederates - 800)

1865 Sherman's March to the Sea ... Atlanta to Savannah

1866 made Lieutenant General in the Regular Army

1868 promoted to Full General and given command of the entire US Army



1875 published his Memoirs