After the termination of hostilities, Sherman remained in the army and proceeded to St. Louis where he took over command of the Division of the Mississippi. Offered a cabinet post as Secretary of War by President Johnson in January, 1868, he declined despite his sympathy for Johnson in the latter's difficulties. Upon Grant's inauguration as President, Sherman, on Mar. 4, 1869, assumed command of the army, a post he retained until his retirement from active service. As commanding general, in addition to the normal duties of the office, he was forced continually to do battle with politicians eager to reduce the peacetime army to a strength which he considered incompatible with national security. Although in 1874 he endeavored to escape the political turmoil of Washington by moving his headquarters to St. Louis, he was persuaded to return to Washington in 1876. Mentioned on a number of occasions, and especially in 1884 when many leading Republicans were eager for his nomination, as a desirable presidential candidate, his disdain for politicians and intense dislike of politics led him to refuse without hesitation without hesitation the office that many were avidly seeking.

Subsequent to the General's retirement form active service on Nov. 1, 1883, the family resided in St. Louis for several years before moving to New York City in 1886. The last years of his life were spent, as most of his adult years had been, in a bustle of activity, for his popularity as a speaker, his reputation as America's most prominent toastmaster, and his duties as president of the Society of the Army of Tennessee, a post he held from 1869 until 1891, did not diminish. The death of his beloved Ellen on Nov. 28, 1888, left him desolate and despondent but within a few weeks he had recovered much of his old resilience. His own death came at New York on Feb. 14, 1891, hastened by the asthmatic condition that had plagued him throughout life.

Index :

 Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891. 
 Barnard, George N. 
 Sherman, Ellen Ewing, 1824-1888. 
 Sherman, Maria Ewing, 1851-1913. 
 Sherman, Mary Elizabeth, 1852-1925. 
 Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1854-1863. 
 Sherman, Thomas Ewing, 1856-1933. 
 Thackara, Eleanor Mary Sherman, 1859-1915. 
 Thorndike, Rachel Sherman, 1861-1919. 
 Sherman, Philemon Tecumseh, 1867-1941. 
 Sherman family. 

• CSHR William T. Sherman: Manuscripts

  • CSHR 1/01-19 Series : Charles R. Sherman Papers, 1808-1872, no date 1808-1872
    • CSHR 1/01 Folder : 1808-1815 1808-1815
    • CSHR 1/02 Folder : 1816, February-March 1816/02-03
    • CSHR 1/03 Folder : 1816, April-May 1816/04-05
    • CSHR 1/04 Folder : 1816, June-July 1816/06-07
    • CSHR 1/05 Folder : 1816, August-October 1816/08-10
    • CSHR 1/06 Folder : 1816, November-December 1816/11-12
    • CSHR 1/07 Folder : 1817, January-February 1817/01-02
    • CSHR 1/08 Folder : 1817, March-August 1817/03-08
    • CSHR 1/09 Folder : 1818, January-April 1818/01-04
    • CSHR 1/10 Folder : 1818, June 1818/06
    • CSHR 1/11 Folder : 1818, September-December 1818/09-12
    • CSHR 1/12 Folder : 1819 1819
    • CSHR 1/13 Folder : 1820-1822 1820-1822
    • CSHR 1/14 Folder : 1823-1825 1823-1825
    • CSHR 1/15 Folder : 1829 1829
    • CSHR 1/16 Folder : 1837-1872 (posthumous items found among his papers) 1837-1872
    • CSHR 1/17 Folder : no date nd
    • CSHR 1/18 Folder : no date nd
    • CSHR 1/19 Folder : no date nd

  • CSHR 1-2/ Series : Correspondence [Many transcripts are in box 9] 1832-1891

    • CSHR 1/20-66 Subseries : General Correspondence & Related Items [Some transcripts are in 9/12] 1832-1891
      • CSHR 1/20 Folder : 1832-1836 1832-1836
      • CSHR 1/21 Folder : 1839 1839
      • CSHR 1/22 Folder : 1840 1840
      • CSHR 1/23 Folder : 1841-1842 (includes related papers) 1841-1842
      • CSHR 1/24 Folder : 1847 1847
      • CSHR 1/25 Folder : 1848-1849 1848-1849
      • CSHR 1/26 Folder : 1850, February-May 1850/02-05
      • CSHR 1/27 Folder : 1850, June-July 1850/06-07
      • CSHR 1/28 Folder : 1850, August-October 1850/08-10
      • CSHR 1/29 Folder : 1851 1851
      • CSHR 1/30 Folder : 1852 1852
      • CSHR 1/31 Folder : 1853, January-April 1853/01-04
      • CSHR 1/32 Folder : 1853, May - 1855 1853-1855
      • CSHR 1/33 Folder : 1856-1859 1856-1859
      • CSHR 1/34 Folder : 1860-1861, May 1860-1861
      • CSHR 1/35 Folder : 1861, June 1861/06
      • CSHR 1/36 Folder : 1861, August-September 1861/08-09
      • CSHR 1/37 Folder : 1861, November 1861/11
      • CSHR 1/38 Folder : 1861, December [Transcripts in 9/12] 1861/12
      • CSHR 1/39 Folder : 1862 1862
      • CSHR 1/40 Folder : 1863 1863
      • CSHR 1/41 Folder : 1864, February-July 1864/02-07
      • CSHR 1/42 Folder : 1864, August-December 1864/08-12
      • CSHR 1/43 Folder : 1865 1865
      • CSHR 1/44 Folder : 1866 1866
      • CSHR 1/45 Folder : 1867 1867
      • CSHR 1/46 Folder : 1869 1869
      • CSHR 1/47 Folder : 1871 1871
      • CSHR 1/48 Folder : 1872 1872
      • CSHR 1/49 Folder : 1873, January-July 1873/01-07
      • CSHR 1/50 Folder : 1873, August-December 1873/08-12
      • CSHR 1/51 Folder : 1874, January-March 1874/01-03
      • CSHR 1/52 Folder : 1874, April-December 1874/04-12
      • CSHR 1/53 Folder : 1875 1875
      • CSHR 1/54 Folder : 1876 1876
      • CSHR 1/55 Folder : 1877-1878 1877-1878
      • CSHR 1/56 Folder : 1879 1879
      • CSHR 1/57 Folder : Ellen Ewing Sherman's Scrapbook re Indian Missions & Fr. J. Brouillet nd