Sherman: A Soldier's Passion for Order
by John Marszalek
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"Sherman"" A Soldier s Passion for Order" is the premier biography of William Tecumseh Sherman, the Civil War commander known for his destructive war policy against Confederates and as a consummate soldier. This updated edition of John F. Marszalek s award-winning book presents the general as a complicated man who, fearing anarchy, searched for the order that he hoped would make his life a success. Sherman was profoundly influenced by the death of his father and his subsequent relationship show more with the powerful Whig politician Thomas Ewing and his family. Although the Ewings treated Sherman as one of their own, the young Sherman was determined to make it on his own. He graduated from West Point and moved on to service at military posts throughout the South. This volume traces Sherman s involvement in the Mexican War in the late 1840s, his years battling prospectors and deserting soldiers in gold-rush California, and his 1850 marriage to his foster sister, Ellen. Later he moved to Louisiana, and, after the state seceded, Sherman returned to the North to fight for the Union. "Sherman" covers the general s early Civil War assignments in Kentucky and Missouri and his battles against former Southern friends there, the battle at Shiloh, and his rise to become second only to Grant among the Union leadership. Sherman s famed use of destructive war, controversial then and now, is examined in detail. The destruction of property, he believed, would convince the Confederates that surrender was their best option, and Sherman s successful strategy became the stuff of legend. This definitive biography, which includes forty-six illustrations, effectively refutes misconceptions surrounding the controversial Union general and presents Sherman the man, not the myth. " show lessTags
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Member Reviews
I loved this book. It was an enlightening look into the mind of an often misunderstood man. Sherman has been maligned by many southerners because of the march to the sea, but this book makes the point that Sherman's desire was to end the war as quickly as possible with as little of loss of life as possible. Any atrocities that were committed were not by his will or permission. Sherman actually seems to be a man who loved the south.
Worthwhile addition to any library
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Author Information
16+ Works 702 Members
John F. Marszalek is W. L. Giles Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History at Mississippi State University
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Awards
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Sherman: A Soldier's Passion for Order
- Original title
- Sherman: A Soldier's Passion for Order
- Original publication date
- 1993
- People/Characters
- William Tecumseh Sherman
- Important places
- USA
- Important events
- American Civil War (1861 | 1865)
- Dedication
- For
Jeanne
and
John, Chris, and Jamie - First words
- The huge man walked the one hundred yards down the Main Street hill to the house of his newly widowed neighbor.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)He helped preserve the union,he was proud of it; and he wanted even those who disagreed with him then, and those who came after him later, to honor his faithfulness to its preservation and to himself.
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Statistics
- Members
- 323
- Popularity
- 98,966
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (4.03)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 5
