# William T. Sherman — Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant character guide > William T. Sherman in Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Sherman, General Sherman, General W. T. Sherman, Major-General W. T. Sherman, Old Sherman **First appearance:** 0003-i ## Snapshot Grant's most trusted subordinate, a restless and brilliant commander whose troops march into Washington ragged, sunburned, and utterly unimpressed by ceremony. ## Who they are Sherman commands the western army that cuts its own path through enemy country, and at the grand review his men appear with captured chickens and contraband families trailing behind their companies — a living rebuke to the spit-and-polish Army of the Potomac. He nurses a bitter grudge against Secretary Stanton and pointedly refuses the man's outstretched hand on the reviewing stand, a small act of defiance that reveals how much personal injury festers beneath his professional composure. His friendship with Grant, tested by distance and rank, anchors the memoir's portrait of loyalty among men who trust no one else. ## In the story ### [Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/personal-memoirs-of-u-s-grant) Union general and close associate of Grant, mentioned in the context of military campaigns. ### [The Battle of Monterey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/viii) Not mentioned in this chapter. ### [Resignation—Private Life—Life at Galena—The Coming Crisis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xvi) Not mentioned in excerpts. ### [Investment of Fort Donelson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxii) Sent to Smithland to forward reinforcements and supplies; sends notes of encouragement and offers to waive rank to serve at the front. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxiv) Led the right flank; praised for his coolness and leadership; wounded twice on the first day. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxv) Division commander at Shiloh; his troops carried out burial instructions; later published a correct report of the battle. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxviii) Commands the right wing at Memphis; part of Grant's defensive arrangement. ### [The Campaign Against Vicksburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxx) Commands the right wing at Memphis; meets with Grant at Columbus and is ordered to join the main force with two divisions. ### [Headquarters Moved to Holly Springs—General McClernand in Command—Assuming Command at Young’s Point—Operations Above Vicksburg—Fortifications About Vicksburg—The Canal—Lake Providence—Operations at Yazoo Pass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxi) Leads the failed Yazoo attack; urges Grant to take personal command due to distrust of McClernand. ### [The Vicksburg Campaign: Running the Batteries](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxii) Major-General commanding the Fifteenth Army Corps (left wing) in the movement. ### [Attack on Grand Gulf — Operations Below Vicksburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxiii) Commands the 15th Corps; ordered to withdraw from Haines' Bluff and reinforce Grant on May 7. ### [Capture of Port Gibson — Grierson's Raid — Occupation of Grand Gulf — Movement Up the Big Black — Battle of Raymond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxiv) Arrives at Grand Gulf and crosses his command; advises Grant about supply difficulties. ### [Movement Against Jackson—Fall of Jackson—Intercepting the Enemy—Battle of Champion's Hill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxv) Leads two divisions in the capture of Jackson; destroys railroads, bridges, and military factories; later ordered to move to Bolton. ### [Battle of Black River Bridge—Crossing the Big Black—Investment of Vicksburg—Assaulting the Works](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxvi) Leads his corps from Jackson to Bridgeport, crosses the Big Black, and rejoins Grant at Walnut Hills. ### [Siege of Vicksburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxvii) Commands the right wing of the siege line, starting from the river above Vicksburg. ### [Retrospect of the Campaign](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxix) Commands the pursuit of Johnston after Vicksburg; declines to assume command during Grant's absence but assists with orders. ### [First Meeting with Secretary Stanton—General Rosecrans—Commanding Military Division of Mississippi—Andrew Johnson’s Address—Arrival at Chattanooga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xl) Grant requests his assignment to command the Army of the Tennessee; Sherman is already en route to reinforce Rosecrans. ### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xlii) Sherman is ordered to abandon road repairs and move his force to Stevenson, Alabama, then to Bridgeport, and is assigned to attack the enemy's right flank at Missionary Ridge. ### [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xliii) Led the assault on Missionary Ridge, crossing the Tennessee River with his command. ### [Battle of Chattanooga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xliv) Leads the attack on the Confederate right flank on Missionary Ridge, threatening Bragg's flank and supplies. ### [The Relief of Knoxville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xlv) Sherman's troops, exhausted and ill-equipped after the Chattanooga campaign, are ordered to march to Knoxville; they endure cold and hunger but succeed in relieving Burnside. ### [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xlvi) Promoted to Grant's former position; leads the Meridian expedition to clear Confederate forces east of the Mississippi. ### [The Military Situation—Plans For the Campaign—Sheridan Assigned to Command of the Cavalry—Flank Movements—Forrest at Fort Pillow—General Banks's Expedition—Colonel Mosby—An Incident of the Wilderness Campaign](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xlvii) Sherman commands the military division of the Mississippi, with a large movable force near Chattanooga, and is directed to move against Johnston's army and Atlanta. ### [Sherman's Campaign in Georgia—Siege of Atlanta—Death of General McPherson—Attempt to Capture Andersonville—Capture of Atlanta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xlix) Commander of the military division executing the Georgia campaign. ### [Chapter LVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lvii) Requests reinforcements for his campaign near Atlanta; Grant assures him of support. ### [The Campaign in Georgia—Sherman’s March to the Sea—War Anecdotes—The March on Savannah—Investment of Savannah—Capture of Savannah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lix) Leads the March to the Sea, invests and captures Savannah. ### [Sherman's March North](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lxii) Commanding the march through the Carolinas; proposed the overland route instead of transport by sea. ### [LXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lxix) Negotiates conditional surrender terms with Johnston; initially denounced but later restored to confidence; carries out Grant's instructions to obtain Johnston's surrender. ### [The End of the War — The March to Washington — One of Lincoln’s Anecdotes — Grand Review at Washington — Characteristics of Lincoln and Stanton — Estimate of the Different Corps Commanders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lxx) Marches his army from Goldsboro' to Manchester; refuses Halleck's hospitality after being insulted by his orders. ### [Report of Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, of the United States Armies 1864–65](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/report-of-lieutenant-general-u-s-grant-of-the-united-states-armies-1864-65) Moves against Johnston after learning of Lee's surrender; opens correspondence leading to Johnston's surrender. ### [Maps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/maps) Sherman is shown using maps to coordinate his marches and supply lines, emphasizing the need for accurate topographical data in his campaigns through the South. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/endnotes) Recipient of Grant's private letter outlining the spring campaign strategy. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/characters/william_tecumseh_sherman - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/characters