RETRO FILES / GENERAL SHERMAN GEARS UP FOR FINAL PUSH INTO THE DEEP SOUTH

Photograph shows Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman with his staff in 1864. Left to right: Generals Oliver O. Howard, John “Black Jack” Logan, William Hazen, Sherman, Jefferson Davis, Henry Slocum, and Joseph Mower. National Archives, Mathew Brady Collection.

On this date in 1864 General William Sherman met with Lt. General U.S. Grant and is promoted to Military Division of the Mississippi commanding the Department of the Ohio, Department of the Tennessee, Department of the Arkansas and Department of the Cumberland.  Precursor appointments giving Sherman the authority to launch his campaign toward Atlanta and his march through Georgia.