First published 2016
General William Tecumseh Sherman stands amid the flames of Atlanta in 1864, his reputation as a merciless commander now cemented in history. James Lee McDonough follows Sherman's transformation from an eager West Point student into one of America's most controversial military leaders. The biography examines Sherman's role in pivotal Civil War battles at Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Atlanta before his devastating March to the Sea through the Carolinas. McDonough reveals a man haunted by the fear that history might leave him behind, desperate to prove his worth to his country. The author draws on extensive research to explore Sherman's troubled personal world, including his difficult marriage, mounting financial problems, and the tragic loss of his young son. Later, as commanding general of the U.S. Army, Sherman drove westward expansion during the Indian wars. McDonough presents Sherman as a complex figure torn between ambition and anxiety, offering readers an intimate look at the man behind the military legend.
Genres: biography, american-civil-war, 20th-century, american, military-history, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: ambition, complex-character, military-leader
Setting: Atlanta, Carolinas, Shiloh, Vicksburg
Period: 1864
816 pages · Hardcover · W. W. Norton & Company