A titan among Civil War military geniuses gives an unvarnished account of his career, presented for the first time in a definitive annotated edition.

William Tecumseh Sherman’s memoirs were a sensation when first published in 1875, as Americans grappled with the aftermath of the Civil War and its emerging place in collective memory. Today, Sherman’s account remains arguably the most significant work of Civil War military history after that of his friend and commanding general Ulysses S. Grant.

In blunt terms, Sherman chronicles his military life and leadership from the First Battle of Bull Run to the Battle of Shiloh and the Atlanta and Vicksburg Campaigns. Most notably, he gives a detailed account of his notorious March to the Sea, which instituted a new and uniquely destructive type of warfare that would include civilians in the conflict between armies ever after. Along the way, he provides candid and often unsparing commentary on his fellow officers, subordinates, and adversaries. These assessments created immediate and lasting controversy, so much so that Sherman published a second edition with extensive appendixes responding to the outcry.

This newly annotated volume, featuring an introduction by leading Civil War historian John F. Marszalek, presents Sherman’s life and legacy for today’s audience. Detailed notes shed light on his editorial process, while contextualizing individuals, places, and events that loomed large for nineteenth-century readers but have since become obscure. Reintroducing a classic work of American military history, this edition brings to life a remarkable figure whose leadership continues to be debated today.

John F. Marszalek is William L. Giles Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History at Mississippi State University and Executive Director Emeritus of the Ulysses S. Grant Association. His numerous books include Sherman: A Soldier’s Passion for Order and, with Louie P. Gallo and David S. Nolen, The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant: The Complete Annotated Edition.