Military training and service William Tecumseh Sherman

young sherman in military uniform

senator ewing secured appointment 16-year-old sherman cadet in united states military academy @ west point, roomed , became friends important future civil war general, george h. thomas. there sherman excelled academically, treated demerit system indifference. fellow cadet william rosecrans later remember sherman @ west point 1 of brightest , popular fellows , bright-eyed, red-headed fellow, prepared lark of kind . time @ west point, sherman says following in memoirs:

at academy not considered soldier, @ no time selected office, remained private throughout whole 4 years. then, now, neatness in dress , form, strict conformity rules, qualifications required office, , suppose found not excel in of these. in studies held respectable reputation professors, , ranked among best, in drawing, chemistry, mathematics, , natural philosophy. average demerits, per annum, 1 hundred , fifty, reduced final class standing number 4 six.

upon graduation in 1840, sherman entered army second lieutenant in 3rd u.s. artillery , saw action in florida in second seminole war against seminole tribe. later stationed in georgia , south carolina. foster son of prominent whig politician, in charleston, popular lt. sherman moved within upper circles of old south society.

while many of colleagues saw action in mexican–american war, sherman performed administrative duties in captured territory of california. along fellow lieutenants henry halleck , edward ord, sherman embarked new york on 198-day journey around cape horn aboard converted sloop uss lexington. due confined spaces aboard-ship, sherman grew close halleck , ord, , in memoirs references hike halleck summit of corcovado overlooking rio de janeiro in brazil, notable future spot of cristo redentor statue. sherman , ord reached town of yerba buena, in california, 2 days before name changed san francisco. in 1848, sherman accompanied military governor of california, col. richard barnes mason, in inspection officially confirmed gold had been discovered in region, inaugurating california gold rush. sherman, along ord, assisted in surveys sub-divisions of town become sacramento.

sherman earned brevet promotion captain meritorious service , lack of combat assignment discouraged him , may have contributed decision resign commission. become 1 of few high-ranking officers during civil war had not fought in mexico.