Was William Tecumseh Sherman Crazy

Answer 1

No, but during 1861-62 there were a series of newspaper articles stating that General Sherman was "crazy" and "insane".Sherman disliked newpaper reporters, considered them to be spies, and banned them from observing his troops. Secretary of War Simon Cameron took an opposite approach, seeking approval from the press by furnishing them with detailed information about Union (Federal) military operations. In a report to the New York Times, Cameron indicated that Sherman had requested 200,000 troops, which Cameron considered a "crazy" request. The Times and other papers, angry at the way Sherman treated them, jumped on the remark and for months ran articles accusing Sherman of insanity. Under the pressures of his command and the barrage of newspaper criticism, Sherman did suffer depression and a possible nervous breakdown. He was given a 20-day leave by his immediate commander General Halleck, who indicated that in his opinion Sherman was temporarily worn out from his duties and merely needed some time to rest. Sherman returned from that leave rejuvenated, and went on to serve as one of the Union's most successful and respected generals. The following link is an American Heritage Magazine article on the subject, prepared and edited by knowledgable historians.