Thomas W. Sherman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas West Sherman
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Thomas W. Sherman
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| Nickname(s) | Tim |
| Born | March 26, 1813 Newport, Rhode Island |
| Died | December 31, 1879 (aged 66) Newport, Rhode Island |
| Place of burial |
Island Cemetery,
Newport, Rhode Island |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1836–1870 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General Brevet Major General |
| Commands held | 3rd U.S. Artillery Regiment 1st Division, Army of the Ohio 2nd Division, XIX Corps |
| Battles/wars | Second Seminole War Mexican–American War |
Thomas West Sherman (born March 26, 1813 – died December 31, 1879) was an important officer in the United States Army. He served during two major conflicts: the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. Even though some people at the time thought he was related to the famous General William Tecumseh Sherman, they were not closely related.
Contents
Early Military Life
Sherman, who his friends called "Tim," was born in Newport, Rhode Island. He really wanted to go to the West Point military school. He wanted to go so much that he walked all the way from Newport to Washington, D.C., just to get a special invitation from Congress to attend.
He graduated from West Point on July 1, 1836. He became a second lieutenant in the 3rd U.S. Artillery Regiment. Sherman spent most of his career with this group and later became its leader.
His early work included fighting in the Florida Wars against the Seminole people from 1836 to 1838. He also helped move Native Americans in the Cherokee Nation to new lands in the West in 1838.
He was promoted to first lieutenant on March 14, 1838. He served again in the Florida War from 1838 to 1842. After that, he worked on finding new soldiers from 1842 to 1846. He became a captain on May 28, 1846.
Mexican–American War Service
During the war with Mexico, Sherman played a brave part in the Battle of Buena Vista on February 23, 1847. He led his artillery unit in a strong defense that helped stop a Mexican attack. Because of his brave actions, he was given the honorary rank of major.
After the war, he was stationed at Fort Trumbull in New London, Connecticut, in 1848. Then he moved to Fort Adams in Newport from 1849 to 1853.
He later served on the frontier at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, from 1853 to 1857. He also led an expedition to Yellow Medicine, Minnesota, in 1857. He helped calm down problems on the Kansas border from 1857 to 1858.
Family Life
In 1858, Thomas Sherman married Mary Hannah Shannon. Her father, Wilson Shannon, had been the Governor of Ohio and Governor of Kansas Territory.
Thomas and Mary had one son, Wilson Shannon Sherman (1860–1936). Sadly, Mary Shannon Sherman died from problems after surgery just four days before her husband passed away. Their son, Wilson, later lived at the Masonic Home in Charlton, Massachusetts, until his death in 1936.
American Civil War
When the Civil War began, Sherman was a major in the 3rd Artillery. President Abraham Lincoln made him a brigadier general of volunteers on August 6, 1861. Sherman took charge of the ground forces in the Port Royal Expedition. He worked with the navy, led by Flag Officer Samuel F. du Pont, to capture Port Royal in a joint Army and Navy operation.
After a short time leading the Department of the South, Sherman was sent to the Western Theater. He took command of a division during the Siege of Corinth. Later, he commanded the defenses of New Orleans. He then led a division in Major General Nathaniel P. Banks's army during the Siege of Port Hudson.
During an attack on Port Hudson on May 27, 1863, Sherman was badly wounded. His right leg had to be removed. His injuries were so serious that people thought he would not survive. The newspaper in his hometown of Newport, Rhode Island, even printed an obituary for him. For the rest of the war, he worked in administrative roles in Louisiana. He left the volunteer service on April 30, 1866.
To honor his bravery and service, President Andrew Johnson gave Sherman the honorary rank of brevet major general of volunteers. This rank was effective from March 13, 1865. He was also given the honorary rank of brevet major general in the United States Army (the regular army) on the same date.
After the War
After leaving the volunteer service in 1866, Sherman returned to his regular army rank of colonel. He was put in charge of the 3rd Artillery Regiment.
He commanded his regiment and the post of Fort Adams in Newport from July 29, 1866, to February 1869. He also temporarily commanded the Department of the East from January to July 1868. His last job was commanding his regiment and Fort Taylor in Key West, Florida, from February 1869 to November 29, 1870.
Sherman retired from active service on December 31, 1870. He retired as a major-general because of his "Disability caused by the Loss of a Leg in Battle."
Sherman lived at his home called "Twin Beeches" in Newport until he died there on March 16, 1879, at age 66. He is buried in the Island Cemetery in Newport.
His Legacy
In 2017, a group called the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) started a local chapter in Newport County, Rhode Island, named Major General Thomas West Sherman Camp 1. This group helps remember the history of the Civil War.
Military Ranks
- Cadet, United States Military Academy – July 1, 1832
- 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd Artillery – July 1, 1836
- 1st Lieutenant, 3rd Artillery – March 14, 1838
- Captain, 3rd Artillery – May 28, 1846
- Brevet Major – February 23, 1847
- Major, 3rd Artillery – April 27, 1861
- Lieutenant Colonel, 5th Artillery – May 14, 1861
- Brigadier General, Volunteers – May 17, 1861
- Colonel, 3rd Artillery – June 1, 1863
- Brevet Brigadier General, USA – March 13, 1865
- Brevet Major General, Volunteers – March 13, 1865
- Brevet Major General, USA – March 13, 1865
- Mustered out of Volunteers – April 30, 1866
- Retired with rank of Major General, USA – December 31, 1870
Images for kids
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Second Lieutenant rank insignia
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First Lieutenant rank insignia
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Captain rank insignia
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Major rank insignia
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Lieutenant Colonel rank insignia
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Colonel rank insignia
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Brigadier General rank insignia
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Major General rank insignia
See also
In Spanish: Thomas W. Sherman para niños
