William T. ShermanRezensionen

very well written autobiography but also drags a lot

Averysboro, N.C. and the conflict there is described by Sherman. He nonchalantly recites that 108 are buried on the first day and "a serious loss" the next day of 12 officers and 65 men killed (pp. 783-784). Sherman personally visited the temporary hospital (which I drove by when visiting) and details two stories with his men while at the scene.

Beware: This is the first book Sherman published, the one that starts in 1846. The one I was trying to get was the second version, which covers his life from birth. However, online booksellers don't seem to know that there is a difference, so their descriptions are not too reliable. If I remember right, there are also subsequent editions (or versions?) that are not the same either, with things added, taken out, etc. by various publishers. I elected not to send this one back as it was very cheap and not worth the shipping, but am still planning on getting what I call the "second version" which is his full memoir since birth and has only Sherman's words. So investigate before you buy.

In general, however, I have become more and more impressed with Sherman the more I read about him.

ADDENDUM: I did finally get the version I wanted. So far, impressive.

The period of the book includes only the siege on Atlanta and the "march to the sea"...one of the first American examples of total war taken to the enemy's people. The book is composed, largely, of correspondence between Sherman and other generals. Although he adds some personal opinions, it's largely about movements of the Army...boring to me. I plodded through the book expecting some good things later. As a career airman, I began to see the beginnings of a separate air force as well as the subsequent strategies of some air pioneers.

This book gives a first hand description of events that occurred during the three plus years of Union advance into the deep South; and the confessions of a general, who despite a break-down requiring leave, returned to duty to lead the Union armies to final victory.

Sherman's personal comments on other officers and civilian authorities provides a view not found in history books.

General Sherman never recognized his strategic genus. Along with 'Stonewall' Jackson of the confederacy the two best generals of the Civil War

General Sherman tells a good story, and in this book he certainly lives up to his reputation for talking a lot. Now and then he gets bogged down in details, but most of what he has to say is interesting, and quite descriptive.

Boards are loose. Has engravings of three Union generals, two dozen foldout maps.

Back cover states: "Hailed as a prophet of modern war and condemned as a harbinger of modern barbarism, William Tecumseh Sherman . . ."