Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, U.S. Army (1820-1891)
Though many of my Southern brethren may skewer me for listing Gen. Sherman, it is impossible to have such a list and deny him a berth as he was a master of the concept of “total war,” and the so-called “first modern general.” His campaigns through the heart of the South were terribly destructive, but undeniably effective. http://www.humanevents.com/2010/11/16/the-big-10-americas-greatest-generals/