Robert Anderson to Sherman

[major bill]

For a while in 1861 Robert Anderson was a major Union hero. On May 28 1861 he was in charge of the Department of the Cumberland (in charge in Kentucky) For some reason Anderson was replaced by Sherman on October 7 1861. This had a major impact on the war.

Did Lincoln have a problem with Anderson? The normal excuse for Anderson"s near disappearance during the Civil War was ill health. From hero to forgotten in such a short time. Was Anderson treated poorly?

 

[Copperhead-mi]

Whatever the reason was for Anderson relinquishing his command, Sherman most certainly did not want to be his replacement. During August 1861, Sherman had met with Anderson and Lincoln at the Willard Hotel in Washington in regards to Anderson's new command as head of the Department of Kentucky. After the meeting Sherman asked that Lincoln promise him that he would not be asked to take a high command position, which Lincoln agreed to. When Anderson announced in October 1861 that he was resigning his command because his health was ruined from the mental torture of his command, Sherman was the next senior officer in line and Anderson's command went to Sherman who protested that it was a "direct violation of Lincoln's promise to me." Sherman pestered the War Department reminding them of the president's promise until they finally relented and told him that as soon as General Buell arrived from California, he would relieve him.

 

[chucksr]

Sherman pestered the War Department reminding them of the president's promise until they finally relented and told him that as soon as General Buell arrived from California, he would relieve him.

Wasn't during that interim period before Buell arrived that Sherman almost suffered a nervous breakdown, related to his paranoia that some great Confederate force was about to attack his troops in Kentucky?

 

[Andy Cardinal]

I believe Anderson asked to be relieved due to poor health, but I don't know any of the specific details.

 

[Copperhead-mi]

Wasn't during that interim period before Buell arrived that Sherman almost suffered a nervous breakdown, related to his paranoia that some great Confederate force was about to attack his troops in Kentucky?

Yes, he stayed at the Galt House in Louisville and guests claimed he never slept and spent the days and nights pacing the corridor Apparently the gossip of Sherman's insomnia turned into gossip that he was insane which made its way to the local news correspondents.