His able opponent Johnston had been removed from his command, and Hood, Johnston's successor, began early in October a vigorous movement designed to carry the war back into Ten nessee. After a devious chase of a month Hood moved across Alabama to northern Mississippi. Sherman thereupon, leaving behind Thomas and Schofield to deal with Hood, made the cele brated "March to the Sea" from Atlanta to Savannah with 6o,000 picked men. After a march of 3oom. Savannah was reached in December. Railways and material were destroyed, the country cleared of supplies, and the Confederate government severed from its western states. In Jan. 1865 Sherman marched northwards again, once more abandoning his base, towards Petersburg, where Grant and Lee were waging their final campaign. Every mile of his march northwards through the Carolinas diminished the sup ply region of the enemy, and desperate efforts were made to stop his advance. Gen. Johnston was recalled to active service but his forces were inadequate. Sherman defeated him and reached Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, on April 13, having marched nearly 5oom. from Savannah. Lee's position in Virginia was now desperate. Hood had been utterly defeated by Thomas and Schofield, and Schofield (moved 2,000M. by land and sea) rejoined Sherman in North Carolina. With 90,00o men Sherman drove Johnston before him, and when Lee surrendered to Grant Johnston also gave up the struggle.
Sherman had the good fortune to learn the art of command by degrees. At Bull Run his brigade was wasted in isolated and dis connected regimental attacks, at Shiloh his division was com pletely surprised owing to want of precaution; but his bravery and energy carried him gradually to the front at the same time as he acquired skill and experience. When therefore he was en
trusted with an independent command he was in every way fitted to do himself justice. At the head of ioo,000 men he showed, besides the strategy which planned the Carolinas march and the skill in manoeuvre which finally gained Atlanta, the strength of will which sent his men to the hopeless assault of Kenesaw to teach them that he was not afraid to fight, and cleared Atlanta of its civil population in the face of a bitter popular outcry. He is justly regarded as one of the great generals of the Civil War.
When Grant became full general in 1866 Sherman was pro moted lieutenant-general, and in 1869, when Grant became presi dent, he succeeded to the full rank. Gen. Sherman retired after being commanding general of the army for 15 years, in 1884. He died at New York on Feb. 14, 1891. An equestrian statue, by Saint-Gaudens, was unveiled at New York in 1903, and another at Washington in the same year.