General Sherman judged ‘insane’ by newspaper 150 years ago today (1861)


Video: Sherman relieved (@ 1:29:52)

(Thursday, December 12, 1861) — Union General William Tecumseh today picked up a copy of the Cincinnati Daily Commercial and read, “General W.T. Sherman, late commander of the Department of the Cumberland, is insane. It appears that he was at times when commanding in Kentucky, stark mad…”

After other newspapers parroted the claim, Sherman, by his own admission, sank “into a perfect ‘slough of despond,” and even contemplated suicide.