Sherman’s March to the Sea
1864-1865. Union General William Tecumseh Sherman’s destructive march through Georgia. An early instance of “total war”, purposely targeting infrastructure and civilian property to diminish morale and undercut the Confederate War effort.
Sherman’s March to the Sea was a military campaign conducted by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman during the American Civil War. The campaign took place from November 15, 1864, to December 21, 1864, and involved Sherman’s forces marching from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia, destroying Confederate infrastructure and resources along the way.
The purpose of the campaign was to break the Confederate Army’s morale and cripple the South’s ability to wage war. It was one of the most devastating military campaigns of the war and resulted in significant damage to Southern infrastructure and resources.
Sherman and his forces waged a “scorched earth” campaign, destroying factories, railroads, and other resources that the Confederacy relied on. The campaign was also designed to intimidate Southern civilians and create chaos behind Confederate lines.
The campaign was controversial at the time, with some criticizing Sherman’s tactics as unnecessarily harsh. However, Sherman argued that the campaign was necessary to bring a swift end to the war and prevent further loss of life.
In the end, Sherman’s March to the Sea was a significant victory for the Union and helped to hasten the end of the American Civil War. The campaign helped to break the Confederacy’s back and demonstrated the power of modern warfare.
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