← Emerging Civil War

William T. Sherman and His "Demon Spirit" (with Timothy B. Smith)

Mar 3, 2026 · 53 min

About this episode

William T. Sherman and John McClernand started off as effective partners under Ulysses S. Grant, but by the time Grant began his inland campaign against Vicksburg, Sherman considered McClernand his "demon spirit." Historian Timothy B. Smith joins the Emerging Civil War Podcast to discuss the important Sherman/McClernanrd partnership/rivalry and Grant's role in managing it. The Emerging Civil War Podcast is hosted by Chris Mackowski. This episode is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠civilwartrails.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to start planning your trip today.