Commodore Joel Abbot, Camp No. 21

Major General Thomas West Sherman

Sherman, Thomas West, brigadier general, was born in Newport, Rhode Island in 1813. He was a cadet at the United States Military Academy from July 1, 1832 to July 1, 1836, where he graduated and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 3rd artillery. He served in the Florida war from 1836 to 1838, and in the Cherokee Nation war. He was promoted to first lieutenant in the 3rd artillery on March 14, 1838. He again served in the Florida war from 1838 to 1842. He was in garrison at Fort Moultrie, SC, from 1842 to 1844, and on recruiting service from 1844 to 1846. He participated in the war with Mexico from 1846 to 1848, being placed in command of a battery in the battle of Buena Vista. He was promoted captain in the 3rd artillery, on May 28, 1846, and was brevetted major on Feb. 23, 1847 for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle of Buena Vista. He was in garrison at Fort Trumbull, CT, in 1848, Fort Adams, RI, from 1849 to 1853, and on frontier duty at Fort Snelling, MN, from 1853 to 1857. He commanded an expedition to Yellow Medicine, MN, in 1857, and quelled Kansas border disturbances from 1857 to 1858. He was next stationed at Fort Ridgely, MN, as an instructor in an artillery school from 1858 to 1861. While at Fort Ridgely, he commanded an expedition to Kettle Lake, Dakota Territory, in 1859.

Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, he was placed in command of a battery of U. S. artillery and of a battalion of Pennsylvania volunteers, at Elkton, MD, from April 24 to May 10, 1861, guarding the Philadelphia & Baltimore railroad and the Delaware canal. He was engaged in reopening communications through Baltimore, May 10-12. He was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 5th artillery on May 14, and brigadier general of volunteers on May 17. As chief of light artillery, he was participated in the defense of Washington, D.C., from May 21 to June 28. He then recruited for the 5th U. S. artillery in Pennsylvania from June 30 to July 27. General Sherman next organized an expedition for seizing and holding Bull's Bay, SC, and Fernandina, FL, for use by the blockading fleet on the Southern coast, July 27 to Oct 21. He commanded the land forces of the Port Royal expedition from Oct. 21, 1861, to March 31, 1862. He then commanded a division of the Army of the Tennessee from April 30 to June 1, in the advance upon, and siege of Corinth, MS, and he commanded the center of the Army of the Mississippi in pursuit of the enemy upon evacuation of Corinth. General Sherman next commanded a division of the Department of the Gulf from Sept 18, 1862, to Jan. 9, 1863, and he participated in the defense of New Orleans from Jan. 9 to May 19. He participated in the attack on Port Hudson, May 19-27, commanding the left wing of the army, partaking in several skirmishes and in the assault upon the works, May 27, when in leading a column in the assault, he lost his right leg. He was commissioned colonel in the 3rd artillery on June 1, 1863. His wound disabled him until Feb. 15, 1864, when he was placed in command of the reserve brigade of artillery, Department of the Gulf, and was stationed at Forts Jackson and St. Philip, LA, from March 1 to May 4. He commanded the defenses of New Orleans from June 16, 1864, to Feb. 11, 1865, the southern division of Louisiana from Feb. 11 to July 23, and the eastern district of Louisiana from July 23, 1865, to April 20, 1866. He was brevetted brigadier general, U. S. Army, on March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services at the capture of Port Hudson, LA. General Sherman was given the brevets of major general of volunteers and major general U. S. Army for gallant and meritorious services during the rebellion.

He was mustered out of the volunteer service on April 30, 1866. He continued to serve in the army as commander of a regiment and the post commander of Fort. Adams, RI, until Feb. 1869. He then was stationed in Key West, FL. until Nov. 29, 1870. He retired from active service on Dec. 31, 1870, as a major general, for disability caused by the loss of a leg in battle. General Sherman died at Newport, RI, on March 16, 1879. He is buried in Island Cemetery, Newport, RI.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 8

Click HERE to view a map of Island Cemetery.

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