Changes

Sherman joined Grant's main army after Vicksburg had been invested. His troops participated in the assaults on Vicksburg on May 19 and May 22, but without success. Siege operations were begun. When Johnston returned to the Union rear, Sherman's forces were detached to check this threat. Both Sherman and Johnston avoided a major engagement until after the fall of Vicksburg on July 4. Then Grant heavily reinforced Sherman, who was able to drive Johnston away, recapturing Jackson in the process. Sherman destroyed Jackson's military infrastructure and public buildings, but did not pursue Johnston's army any further.

Sherman joined Grant's main army after Vicksburg had been invested. His troops participated in the assaults on Vicksburg on May 19 and May 22, but without success. Siege operations were begun. When Johnston returned to the Union rear, Sherman's forces were detached to check this threat. Both Sherman and Johnston avoided a major engagement until after the fall of Vicksburg on July 4. Then Grant heavily reinforced Sherman, who was able to drive Johnston away, recapturing Jackson in the process. Sherman destroyed Jackson's military infrastructure and public buildings, but did not pursue Johnston's army any further.

Meanwhile the Union Army of the Cumberland had been defeated by Confederate general [[Braxton Bragg]] at the battle of Chickamauga and had been invested in Chattanooga. When the Army of the Cumberland's commander showed a lack of aggressiveness and self-confidence, Grant was appointed commander of all Union armies in the western theater, and he set out to relieve the siege of Chattanooga and deal with Bragg. Sherman succeeded Grant in command of the Army of the Tennessee, and his troops were sent to Chattanooga; in the battle of Chattanooga on November 25, they were supposed to crush the Confederate left flank, but failed to make much progress until the Confederate center crumbled to a determined assault by the Army of the Cumberland. In the aftermath, Sherman was dispatched to Knoxville to relieve yet another besieged Union army.

Meanwhile, the Union Army of the Cumberland had been defeated by Confederate general [[Braxton Bragg]] at the battle of Chickamauga and had been invested in Chattanooga. When the Army of the Cumberland's commander showed a lack of aggressiveness and self-confidence, Grant was appointed commander of all Union armies in the western theater, and he set out to relieve the siege of Chattanooga and deal with Bragg. Sherman succeeded Grant in command of the Army of the Tennessee, and his troops were sent to Chattanooga; in the battle of Chattanooga on November 25, they were supposed to crush the Confederate left flank, but failed to make much progress until the Confederate center crumbled to a determined assault by the Army of the Cumberland. In the aftermath, Sherman was dispatched to Knoxville to relieve yet another besieged Union army.

By early 1864, Sherman was back in his assigned theater on the Mississippi. In order to stop Confederate attacks on Union shipping and to deny the Confederates the use of central Mississippi's resources, he set out on a army-sized raid to Meridian, capturing the town on February 14. Sherman proceeded to destroy railways and military infrastructure in the vicinity, a small-scale test of the methods he would later employ on his [[Sherman's March through Georgia|March to the Sea]].

By early 1864, Sherman was back in his assigned theater on the Mississippi. In order to stop Confederate attacks on Union shipping and to deny the Confederates the use of central Mississippi's resources, he set out on an army-sized raid to Meridian, capturing the town on February 14. Sherman proceeded to destroy railways and military infrastructure in the vicinity, a small-scale test of the methods he would later employ on his [[Sherman's March through Georgia|March to the Sea]].

===Atlanta Campaign===

===Atlanta Campaign===

When Grant was promoted to general in chief, Sherman succeeded him to command of the western theater. Under Grant's plans for 1864, Sherman was to defeat the remnants of Bragg's army, by now commanded by Joseph E. Johnston, reinforced and reorganized. Johnston hat taken a powerful defensive position at Dalton in north [[Georgia]], defending the railway from Chattanooga to Atlanta. In a campaign of maneuver, Sherman repeatedly outflanked Johnston and forced him to retreat from several entrenched positions, driving him out of the mountains of northern Georgia and back towards Atlanta. While skirmishing was heavy throughout the campaign, Sherman mostly avoided all-out assaults, with the exception of the battle of Kennesaw Mountain on June 27, 1864, where Sherman believed Johnston had overextended his forces. The Union attack was repulsed with heavy losses, though. Thus, Sherman returned to outflanking Johnston.

When Grant was promoted to general in chief, Sherman succeeded him to command of the western theater. Under Grant's plans for 1864, Sherman was to defeat the remnants of Bragg's army, by now commanded by Joseph E. Johnston, reinforced and reorganized. Johnston hat taken a powerful defensive position at Dalton in north [[Georgia]], defending the railway from Chattanooga to Atlanta. In a campaign of maneuver, Sherman repeatedly outflanked Johnston and forced him to retreat from several entrenched positions, driving him out of the mountains of northern Georgia and back towards Atlanta. While skirmishing was heavy throughout the campaign, Sherman mostly avoided all-out assaults, with the exception of the battle of Kennesaw Mountain on June 27, 1864, where Sherman believed Johnston had overextended his forces. The Union attack was repulsed with heavy losses, though. Thus, Sherman returned to outflanking Johnston.

By July 17, Confederate President [[Jefferson Davis]] had lost patience with Johnston: Davis believed Johnston would not stop retreating and give up Atlanta without a determined effort to hold the valuable railroad junction. He relieved Johnston and transferred Confederate command to the more aggressive [[John Bell Hood]].  When Sherman, who respected Johnston and his style of warfare, learned of the change, he was elated: A battle in the open (or even with the Confederates attacking Union entrenchments) would suit his army, which outnumbered the Confederates about 1.5:1, well. Indeed Hood launched several attacks on Sherman, but he was repulsed at the battle of Peachtree Creek on July 20, the battle of Atlanta on July 22 and the battle of Ezra Church on July 28 with heavy losses. Sherman failed to completely invest Atlanta and cut the railroad lines supplying Hood's forces, though. During August, Sherman besieged Atlanta, trying to extend his lines to a point which would allow him to cut the railroads. He finally succeeded on August 31 when his forces defeated a detachment of two corps under Confederate general Hardee at the battle of Jones borough; Hood evacuated Atlanta, which was occupied by Union troops on September 2. Sherman evicted the inhabitants of Atlanta and turned the city into a supply depot.

By July 17, Confederate President [[Jefferson Davis]] had lost patience with Johnston: Davis believed Johnston would not stop retreating and give up Atlanta without a determined effort to hold the valuable railroad junction. He relieved Johnston and transferred Confederate command to the more aggressive [[John Bell Hood]].  When Sherman, who respected Johnston and his style of warfare, learned of the change, he was elated: A battle in the open (or even with the Confederates attacking Union entrenchments) would suit his army, which outnumbered the Confederates about 1.5:1, well. Indeed, Hood launched several attacks on Sherman, but he was repulsed at the battle of Peachtree Creek on July 20, the battle of Atlanta on July 22 and the battle of Ezra Church on July 28 with heavy losses. Sherman failed to completely invest Atlanta and cut the railroad lines supplying Hood's forces, though. During August, Sherman besieged Atlanta, trying to extend his lines to a point which would allow him to cut the railroads. He finally succeeded on August 31 when his forces defeated a detachment of two corps under Confederate general Hardee at the battle of Jones borough; Hood evacuated Atlanta, which was occupied by Union troops on September 2. Sherman evicted the inhabitants of Atlanta and turned the city into a supply depot.

While Union and Confederate losses during the campaign were roughly equal, Sherman had started with a larger army, had received reinforcements and by now outnumbered Hood more than two to one.

While Union and Confederate losses during the campaign were roughly equal, Sherman had started with a larger army, had received reinforcements and by now outnumbered Hood more than two to one.

==After the Civil War==

==After the Civil War==

Sherman was promoted to [[Lieutenant General]] and served in the western United states, supervising Army operations against the Plains Indians.

Sherman was promoted to [[Lieutenant General]] and served in the western United States, supervising Army operations against the Plains Indians.

When Grant became [[President of the United States of America|President]], Sherman succeeded him as Commanding General of the United States Army. He held that post until November 1, 1883, and retired from the army on February 8, 1884.  

When Grant became [[President of the United States of America|President]], Sherman succeeded him as Commanding General of the United States Army. He held that post until November 1, 1883, and retired from the army on February 8, 1884.