November 5, 2024
by Stephen T. Messenger
General William Sherman had a spectacular career exemplified by resiliency and teamwork, yet he is most often remembered as the architect of destruction during his March to the Sea in the Civil War. When history looks back, they see a man defined by one instance in his career—a cold, uncaring warmonger with no regard for the rights of innocent civilians.
Sherman was a well-respected general, loyal to his country and commanders, and wanted to end the war as quick as possible. His exceptional leadership was overshadowed by one 36-day period where he burned and pillaged the South. It’s a warning that a single negative act can have damaging consequences to how other’s perceive us.
As we’ll see, there‘s no doubt that Sherman’s acts alleviated bloodshed, but his methods tarnished his reputation. A period of great leadership can be erased with one negative act. For us, we need to both do our job well and leave a legacy in which to be proud. We must prevent even that one time where we erupt in public, berate someone, or do something to lose the trust and confidence of our people.
The Armor and Regimentals of Sherman’s Leadership
William Sherman embodied resiliency and loyalty. He graduated from West Point but missed the Mexican-American War, unlike many of his contemporaries such as Ulysses S. Grant. With no combat experience, Sherman left the Army in 1853 and was unsuccessful in a number of career fields. The Panic of 1857 ended his California banker days during the gold rush, and he performed mediocre law in Kansas.
When the Civil War Broke out, Sherman volunteered to rejoin the Army and was appointed Colonel in the 13th Infantry. At the First Battle of Bull Run, he performed well but the Union suffered a loss large enough for Sherman to question his own skills. He struggled with depression, had a mental breakdown, and was relieved after being considered unfit for duty.
We all have failures, and it’s not how we fail but how we respond to failing. Sherman put on the armor of leadership after struggling in banking, law, and soldiering, but got right back on his horse. After public failures, the best leaders dust themselves off and get back in the fight, and Sherman did just that.
He returned to service and performed brilliantly as the logistics officer for General Grant in the capture of Fort Donelson, then with the Army of West Tennessee, and next the battle of Shiloh. Here, Sherman and Grant fought side-by-side against a brutal Confederate offensive. This experience bonded them for life.
This is where we see Sherman placing service over self. He was a true team player to Grant, encouraging him to stay in the Army in the face of withering media attacks. As written in the newspapers, the, “Army was being ruined in mud-turtle expeditions under the leadership of a drunkard [Grant] whose confidential advisor [Sherman] was a lunatic.”
The nation believed Grant’s penchant for alcohol and knew of Sherman’s breakdown, but Sherman stood tall against media attacks and talked Grant out of resigning his position. Sherman truly put his interest to the nation first by placing his friend above his own promotion. Grant eventually went on to be the commander of all Union forces and the President, presumably, because Sherman talked him into staying.
Just like Sherman, we must be resilient to life’s attacks and be true team players. These two gentlemen went onto seize the strategically important Vicksburg, Mississippi leading to the Confederacy’s eventual demise. President Lincoln lauded their efforts and promoted both to increasingly important positions.
Total Destruction
Sherman continued to prove himself as a great battlefield commander. He next secured victories at the Battle of Chattanooga and then during the Atlanta Campaign.
Here’s where his narrative took a turn. It was no secret that Sherman thought a ruthless campaign against civilians would hasten the end of the war; he spoke often of this. His goal was to cripple the South’s economy, manufacturing, and transportation to force them to quit.
Sherman spent 36 days starting in November 1864 leading over 60,000 soldiers 285 miles from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia, burning and pillaging the South. His intent was not to cause pain, but to stop it. He thought by making life miserable for the Southern residents, they would demand an end to the war. By destroying factories, railroads, food, and the logistics of the Confederacy, their will to fight would evaporate.
In the end, it worked. This action helped speed the collapse of the Confederacy. However, in the process Sherman changed his legacy from being a brilliant military strategist who helped end to war to a destructive tyrant and terrorist of civilians.
His men seized food, animals, wagons, and anything else they found useful. They overran farms and plantations burning many, robbed houses of valuables, and caused chaos and confusion in the countryside, all under Sherman’s approval.
Sherman stated, “No doubt many acts of pillage, robbery, and violence were committed” by his men, and he encouraged it. One Georgian described it: “…like Demons they rush in!” The soldiers ransacked personal property, looted and stole, set fire to buildings, and took what they wanted.
This was all deliberate. Sherman warned Southern civilians that resistance meant no mercy destruction but would stop immediately upon surrender. Once they captured Savannah, the mayor relinquished the city, and the destruction stopped. A professional general with a deliberate plan, Sherman flipped a proverbial switch from tyrant to savior.
The entire 36-day period resulted in 3,000 total casualties, and many argue that the loss of life was nothing compared to what could have been another 50,000 casualties like Gettysburg. Moreover, Sherman’s tactics resulted in very few civilian deaths but instead focused on over $100 million in property damage, essentially reducing the will of the South to fight. Ultimately, it was not a bad strategy.
He was very effective, and many don’t realize he went on to be the Commanding General of the U.S. Army and a rising presidential candidate which he turned down. Most only remember his destructive wake in Georgia. Sherman’s exceptional military leadership was overshadowed by his total war campaign terrorizing civilians, a moniker he always carried with him.
It Only Takes One Time
This case study on William Sherman highlights a number of great leadership qualities such as being resilient to life’s attacks, placing service over self, and closing with and destroying the enemy to gain victory. But it also demonstrates the danger of how one act, even when done deliberately, can destroy a reputation.
We can excel in our leadership responsibilities, but one slip could define us. We all have times when our human nature wants to leave a destructive path.
For example, upon hearing bad news, we explode all over the one who delivered the message. When we see shoddy work, we denigrate an employee in public. We share an inappropriate joke that is not meant for the workplace. We send a fiery email that circulates the organization.
These events can define a person and erase the leadership capital we worked so hard to build up. One instance can erase consistent habits of good work. It’s up to us to understand how a negative action at any point in time can damage our reputation and subsequent leadership efforts.
William Sherman was a great leader but is now known throughout history as the man who burned Georgia. We need to make sure our reputation and legacy is defined by a consistent pattern of positive leadership behaviors and prevent slipping lest we be known as something less.
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This series is part of our BRAG+1 Leadership Philosophy. If you’re just joining us, start from the beginning on 16 January: A Team to BRAG about and continue from there:
Boots: Put Boots on the Ground
Regimentals: Place Service over Self
Armor: Be Resilient to Life’s Attacks
Gun: Close with and Destroy the Enemy
+1 (Belt): Not a Hint, Sniff, nor Whiff of Impropriety
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