William Tecumseh Sherman: In the Service of My Country: A Life

This is really an outstanding book, a great biography of one of the most important people in American history. I didn't start reading the book with that mindset, but I think McDonough makes a pretty effective case for it being true, given his contributions in several stages of the Civil War. McDonough weaves an enjoyable narrative, doesn't go off on tangents, provides important details but doesn't get bogged down in minutiae. I was looking for a book to read over a one-week vacation and this turned out to be it, and a good choice it was.Some features of Sherman's life that stand out, from McDonough's telling: Sherman's often troubled marriage life. He and his wife were often in conflict about Sherman's occupation, where the family would live, and religion. His wife was a devout Roman Catholic while Sherman was hostile to religion. His wife and her family wished for Sherman to live in Ohio to be near them and to choose an occupation outside of the military.Sherman's career arc before the Civil War reminded me a lot of U.S. Grant's, to whom Sherman would become close during the Civil War while serving under Grant. Sherman's pre-war years were more successful in California and Louisiana where he pursued banking and educational leadership roles. But the country's economic woes and the strife that would lead to the Civil War interrupted these pursuits. But Sherman much preferred military life to any occupation outside of it, so the coming of the war would suit Sherman just fine, at least eventually.As might be expected, McDonough's telling of Sherman's march to the sea, his capture of Atlanta, and his sweep through the Carolinas make for the book's most riveting section, and reinforce the conclusion that Sherman played a critical role in the war and ultimately in the country's destiny.Interestingly, Sherman was not initially impressed with Abraham Lincoln and throughout the war found many occasions to criticize, even if in private, the Commander in Chief's actions. Nor was Sherman enthused of using the former slaves in combat roles, although he did employ African Americans in supporting roles. In this way, he differed from Grant, who used African Americans as soldiers. Sherman was partially sympathetic to the South, as he spent time in Alabama, South Carolina, and Louisiana before the war. So one paradox of his life is the ruthlessness with which Sherman conducted the war throughout the South, and for the harsh "hard war" methods he was criticized for employing. But after the war, Sherman again supported the South and was not enthused about Reconstruction, or the Radical Republicans behind Grant who wanted to ensure greater protections for African Americans in the former Confederacy.Sherman lived for more than 20 years after the Civil War's end, ultimately retiring to New York City, although he loved California and preferred St. Louis where he lived for some time. His greatest disappointment was seeing his eldest remaining son choose the Roman Catholic priesthood. Sherman was active on the speaking circuit after the war in which his oral abilities were much remarked upon. Not surprisingly, Sherman was also much sought after to run for public office, particularly the Presidency, of which Sherman himself had no use or much interest. Although he formed a great partnership with Grant during the war, they did not have much interaction or much of a relationship in the years after the war, beyond Sherman's responsibilities as General in Chief. Sherman did not care for Washington, D.C. or politicians generally.I have other books about Sherman but this the only one I've read all the way through, and if you're interested in Sherman's life, it's the only one you'll need. At the least, "In the Service of My Country" should be considered the starting point for assessing William Tecumseh Sherman's life and military career.

McDonough's Shiloh and Franklin were outstanding. I had a sense of McDonough's method. Sherman doesn't disappoint. “Sherman” is a masterful biography. A biography of McDonough's depth demands a close review.Sherman is an 'everyman' and unremarkable in about every way ... except in the conduct of winning at war. He seems unpromising as a youth and never good with money, Sherman took advantage of the mid-19th century peculiarity of West Point. In the modern context, Sherman proved to be the best of the best and diminished only by his rule for earning 1 less conduct demerit than the maximum conduct demerits that separate the graduate from the expelled. Sherman's personal behavior seems both oddly troublesome and peculiarly compassionate in normative society. Sherman is fully a man of the earlier 19th century. He lived an exhaustively active and extraordinary life of travel and culture outside of war.McDonough makes no effort to build a case to lift Sherman historically transcendent with Lincoln or Grant. Sherman is simply not of that cloth but the best #2 by choice that might ever be had.Having recent biographies in my head from all around Sherman including White’s Ulysses and A. Lincoln, I was able to place Sherman squarely in context. McDonough's excursions and references comport superbly.McDonough spends considerable time in Sherman's largely forgotten heavy skirmish line battles of northern Georgia across a running 150 mile front of flanking maneuvers from roughly Cartersville-Pickett's Mill- Dallas, Ga ... not enough for a single defined battle but more than enough casualties in whole to be comparable in every way with Shiloh, Chickamauga, Chattanooga/Missionary Ridge or Vicksburg. McDonough's 2 long chapter citations are adequate to reconsider the Sherman assault on Atlanta and relentless leadership to get there. I was frankly unaware of the sheer magnitude and audacity. I enjoyed following the eyewitness Ambrose Bierce and read along with Sherman's northern Georgia march through the eyes of Bierce for the ‘blue collar’ slant. Parallel reading Bierce’s public domain ‘Crime at Pickett’s Mill” adds immensely to the verity of McDonough's biography.5-star biography. Exceeded my expectations. Lot's of mind fodder. A civil war deep diver must read.

Arrived on time, in excellent condition.

Enjoyable read. Detailed. Well written. Fair assessment of events from that era.

The book arrived with a creased front cover. I was disappointed with this.

I had the pleasure of study Mr. McDonough in Nashville some 40 years ago. After having seen the review of this book in the New Times I decided to order it. I must admit that I am neither a scholar nor enthusiasts of this period in American history, but I was intrigued by the review and I love biographies of great persons. First of all the book is superbly written and a pleasure to read. Secondly we come away after reading it with a better idea of the complexity of the issues and the people involved in this conflict. Above all what Mr. McDonough does exceedingly well is to reveal that great persons or legends, as Sherman can possess genius, iron will determination, leadership skills, loyalty and compassion as well as character flaws, moments of irrationality and self destruction.I would recommend to anyone who is interested in American history, the civil war, and biographies of great persons of this period.

If you are interested in the best biography of William T Sherman buy this book. Absolutely fabulous.