Why did William Tecumseh Sherman die?

Answer 1

February 1891.

The funeral was on a freezing day in New York, and his old Confederate opponent Joseph E. Johnston was one of the pall-bearers.

Out of respect, the elderly Johnston insisted on remaining bare-headed throughout. His friends told him that he would catch his death, but Johnston was adamant. He said "If that were me lying there, Sherman would have left his head uncovered."

Johnston did, in fact, catch his death. He caught a cold that turned to pneumonia, and he died three weeks later.

Answer 2

William T. Sherman was a Union General during the American Civil War. He died by natural causes in New York City on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1891.

As an aside, former Confederate General Joseph Johnston was a poll bearer at Sherman's funeral in NYC. The funeral was held in bad Winter weather, and it is said that Johnston became ill and died soon after.

Answer 3

General William Tecumseh Sherman died in New York City on February 14, 1891, but the cause of death was not announced by his family. The William T Sherman family papers have been donated to the University of Notre Dame Archives. The background written by the archivists state that Sherman's death was "hastened by the asthmatic condition that had plagued him throughout life". The diary of Philemon Tecumseh "Cumpy" Sherman, son of General Sherman, states that "Papa" was ill for several days prior to his death without identifying a cause. There does not seem to be any reference to General Sherman's health prior to this time either in the General's diary or his son's. This information suggests that General Sherman was afflicted by an acute cardiopulmonary condition such as pneumonia or myocardial infarction (heart attack)rather than a chronic condition such as emphysema or congestive Heart disease. Entries from the diary of Philemon T Sherman, February 1891 (Archive CSHR 6/20 #14-0671): Feb 6, "Papa unwell"; Feb 7, no mention; Feb 8, "Papa's birthday, Papa sick"; Feb 9, "Papa very sick"; Feb 10, "Papa better"; Feb 11, "Papa much worse"; Feb 12, "Papa lingering"; Feb 13, "Papa slightly better"; Feb 14, "Papa died at 1.50 PM". Letter to Philemon T Sherman from George B Richards, February 14, 1891 (Archive CSHR 3/145 #08-0949): "You have been in my thoughts constantly since I heard of your father's sickness ... I trust and hope that this attack may pass off and that your brave good father may live with you for many years yet." The following link leads to the Sherman family papers collection at Notre Dame Archives.

Answer 4

General William Tecumseh Sherman died in New York City on February 14, 1891, but the cause of death was not announced by his family. The William T Sherman family papers have been donated to the University of Notre Dame Archives. The background written by the archivists state that Sherman's death was "hastened by the asthmatic condition that had plagued him throughout life". The diary of Philemon Tecumseh "Cumpy" Sherman, son of General Sherman, states that "Papa" was ill for several days prior to his death without identifying a cause. There does not seem to be any reference to General Sherman's health prior to this time either in the General's diary or his son's. This information suggests that General Sherman was afflicted by an acute cardiopulmonary condition such as pneumonia or myocardial infarction (heart attack)rather than a chronic condition such as emphysema or congestive heart disease. Entries from the diary of Philemon T Sherman, February 1891 (Archive CSHR 6/20 #14-0671): Feb 6, "Papa unwell"; Feb 7, no mention; Feb 8, "Papa's birthday, Papa sick"; Feb 9, "Papa very sick"; Feb 10, "Papa better"; Feb 11, "Papa much worse"; Feb 12, "Papa lingering"; Feb 13, "Papa slightly better"; Feb 14, "Papa died at 1.50 PM". Letter to Philemon T Sherman from George B Richards, February 14, 1891 (Archive CSHR 3/145 #08-0949): "You have been in my thoughts constantly since I heard of your father's sickness ... I trust and hope that this attack may pass off and that your brave good father may live with you for many years yet." The following link leads to the Sherman family papers collection at Notre Dame Archives.

Answer 5

General William Tecumseh Sherman died in New York City on February 14, 1891, but the cause of death was not announced by his family. The William T Sherman family papers have been donated to the University of Notre Dame Archives. The background written by the archivists state that Sherman's death was "hastened by the asthmatic condition that had plagued him throughout life". The diary of Philemon Tecumseh "Cumpy" Sherman, son of General Sherman, states that "Papa" was ill for several days prior to his death without identifying a cause. There does not seem to be any reference to General Sherman's health prior to this time either in the General's diary or his son's. This information suggests that General Sherman was afflicted by an acute cardiopulmonary condition such as pneumonia or myocardial infarction (heart attack)rather than a chronic condition such as emphysema or congestive heart disease. Entries from the diary of Philemon T Sherman, February 1891 (Archive CSHR 6/20 #14-0671): Feb 6, "Papa unwell"; Feb 7, no mention; Feb 8, "Papa's birthday, Papa sick"; Feb 9, "Papa very sick"; Feb 10, "Papa better"; Feb 11, "Papa much worse"; Feb 12, "Papa lingering"; Feb 13, "Papa slightly better"; Feb 14, "Papa died at 1.50 PM". Letter to Philemon T Sherman from George B Richards, February 14, 1891 (Archive CSHR 3/145 #08-0949): "You have been in my thoughts constantly since I heard of your father's sickness ... I trust and hope that this attack may pass off and that your brave good father may live with you for many years yet." The following link leads to the Sherman family papers collection at Notre Dame Archives.

Answer 6

the cause of William t shermans death is unknown

Answer 7

he died of heart attack