Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A prominent Union general during the American Civil War: William Tecumseh Sherman was a senior United States Army officer who served as a commanding general in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. He is particularly noted for his "scorched earth" military campaigns.
   • A key historical figure in 19th-century America: He is remembered for his role in the Union victory and his subsequent impact on military strategy and post-war policy.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • General William Tecumseh Sherman is famous for his March to the Sea.
  • The military strategies of William Tecumseh Sherman are still studied today.
  • A statue of William Tecumseh Sherman stands in New York City.

Advanced Usage

• "Shermanesque" (adj): Pertaining to or reminiscent of the severe, decisive, and destructive strategies employed by General Sherman.
  • The general's Shermanesque campaign aimed to break the enemy's will to fight.
• "A Sherman statement": A definitive and unambiguous declaration of policy or intent, often referring to a refusal, derived from Sherman's famous quote about not running for president.
  • The CEO issued a Sherman statement, ruling out any merger possibilities.

Variants and Related Words

• Sherman (n): A common shorthand reference for William Tecumseh Sherman.
  • Sherman's memoirs provide a detailed account of the war.
• Sherman's March (n): Specifically refers to his military campaign from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia, in 1864.
  • Sherman's March was a turning point in the Civil War.

Synonyms

• Union General: A general who fought for the United States (the Union) during the American Civil War.
• Commanding General: A high-ranking officer in command of large military forces.

Related Phrases

• "War is hell": A phrase famously attributed to Sherman, summarizing his view on the brutal nature of warfare.
  • In his speech, he echoed Sherman's sentiment that "war is hell".
• "March to the Sea": The common name for Sherman's Savannah Campaign.
  • The March to the Sea devastated Confederate supply lines.

Noun

1. United States general who was commander of all Union troops in the West; he captured Atlanta and led a destructive march to the sea that cut the Confederacy in two (1820-1891)