William Tecumseh Sherman (February 20, 1820 – February 14, 1891) was an American soldier, businessman, educator, and author. He served as a General in the U.S. Army during the American Civil War (1861–5), for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched earth" policies that he implemented in conducting total war against the South, most notoriously in the March Through Georgia. After the Civil War, Sherman oversaw the country's various Indian Wars, and published his memoirs.