[Illustration: Wm. T. Sherman] LIFE OF WM. TECUMSEH SHERMAN. Late Retired General. U. S. A. A GRAPHIC HISTORY OF HIS CAREER IN WAR AND PEACE; HIS ROMANTIC YOUTH; HIS STERN AND PATRIOTIC MANHOOD; HIS CALM AND BEAUTIFUL OLD AGE; A MARVELLOUS MARCH FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF TIME TO THE SEA OF ETERNITY. By W. FLETCHER JOHNSON, Author of "Stanley's Adventures in Africa," "History of the Johnstown Flood," "Life of Sitting Bull and History of the Indian Wars," etc., etc. Carefully Reviewed, Chapter by Chapter, and with an Introduction By MAJ. GEN. O. O. HOWARD, U. S. A. With Numerous Maps and Illustrations. EDGEWOOD PUBLISHING COMPANY. 1891. COPYRIGHT 1891, BY A. R. KELLER. INTRODUCTION. The title of this work is hardly a fair index to the contents. The "Life of General Sherman," written with any reasonable detail so as to depict his formative period, the gradual development of his energies, the bulk of his achievements and the great consummation of his genius, could not be contained in any three volumes of this size. The work, so far as the labor of the author, Mr. Johnson, is concerned, is eclectic,--mainly a compendium. There are beautiful sketches, choice pictorial presentations of Sherman and his environments from childhood to age. But, I do not think that the work, valuable as it undoubtedly is, could in any degree take the place of Sherman's Personal Memoirs. There are some chapters which have been furnished by war editorials and the writings of field correspondents which the author must have collected and carefully preserved. Many of these are life-like, and bear the impress and the inspiration of the exciting events amid which they were composed. There are, furthermore, in this book, chapters which are ingeniously formed and elaborated by quotations from officers who were themselves part and parcel of the campaigns which they describe. To me, the author appears to have done exceedingly well, and has herein furnished a choice entertainment to his readers. The part undertaken by me, and to which I have strictly confined myself, has been to review the work, some of it already in proof type, and the remainder in manuscript, going over each chapter with considerable care, and suggesting such changes as I thought the truth of history demanded. Where one has expressed an opinion and a quotation of that opinion appears, of course no change was admissible; so that I am entirely unwilling to assume that such a quoted writer gave utterance to my own convictions. For example: different views are given of the fearful struggle during the first day of "Shiloh" at Pittsburgh Landing. A famous journalist takes General Sherman to task for want of epaulements, intrenchments, and other means of defence. He claims that Sherman and Grant were both surprised, as they had known for a week or more that the enemy was close by, and liable to attack.