The Scourge of War: The Life of William Tecumseh Sherman

In this compelling and lucid reassessment of William Tecumseh Sherman (1820–91), Reid (King’s Coll. London; America’s Civil War) dispels the myths and misreadings of the commanding general of the Union Army and, later, secretary of war, recasting him as a man of wide intellectual interests who understood that winning demanded strategic vision and assiduous planning. Reid’s Sherman grew from an officer unsure of himself to a confident general at once bold in thought, meticulous in planning, and deft and decisive in action. This proved essential in Sherman’s famous marches through Georgia and the Carolinas that were, in design and execution, an essential demonstration of the Union’s military power. Reid considers the operational aspects of war-making, especially logistics, which Sherman mastered, as well as the importance of Sherman’s skill in inspiring common purpose among his troops. The author concludes that Sherman was a leader who understood and respected the political and military needs of the day.