Sherman's March
Sherman’s March
The March through Georgia and South Carolina, lead by General William Techumseh Sherman, was the turning point in the American Civil War. There had been heavy fighting in Tennessee and Kentucky. General Sherman requested permission to take a very large army to the Atlantic Ocean through North and South Carolina, Georgia, then turning North back through the Carolinas and then Virginia. He would divide the Confederate states by blazing a path through the middle of them, foraging and destroying anything of military importance to the Confederates. General Sherman's March achieved his goal, from a military standpoint, but the way his army accomplished it, many southerners say was despicable. The most famous portion of Sherman's March was from Atlanta to Savannah, and then to Columbia, SC. Sherman, with his enormous force, began it's March on November 14, 1864. He took 62,000 men, without a supply line, from Atlanta, GA to Savannah after capturing Atlanta, by shutting down its supply, the railroad and setting it ablaze. The most difficulty could be feeding his men when operating without a supply line. He found very little trouble foraging for food and supplies with his foraging teams. They cleaned a path, left very little food and supplies, mentally raped the civilians, hoping to wear down their will to fight.
His objectives included destroying any buildings that could assist the Confederacy, taking valuables, livestock, shutting down the railroad tracks and depots, cotton and tobacco fields. One of the most critical to achieve, was to defeat the Confederate spirit. To request permission to proceed with his plan, Sherman wrote to General Grant. “I can make this march and make Georgia howl.” Sherman’s presence in the middle of the South was an insult to the local residents. Even more so was the fact the Confederate Army could not stop him. Sherman's army moved so rapidly, the first towns they came to had little or no warning of Union
The March through Georgia and South Carolina, lead by General William Techumseh Sherman, was the turning point in the American Civil War. There had been heavy fighting in Tennessee and Kentucky. General Sherman requested permission to take a very large army to the Atlantic Ocean through North and South Carolina, Georgia, then turning North back through the Carolinas and then Virginia. He would divide the Confederate states by blazing a path through the middle of them, foraging and destroying anything of military importance to the Confederates. General Sherman's March achieved his goal, from a military standpoint, but the way his army accomplished it, many southerners say was despicable. The most famous portion of Sherman's March was from Atlanta to Savannah, and then to Columbia, SC. Sherman, with his enormous force, began it's March on November 14, 1864. He took 62,000 men, without a supply line, from Atlanta, GA to Savannah after capturing Atlanta, by shutting down its supply, the railroad and setting it ablaze. The most difficulty could be feeding his men when operating without a supply line. He found very little trouble foraging for food and supplies with his foraging teams. They cleaned a path, left very little food and supplies, mentally raped the civilians, hoping to wear down their will to fight.
His objectives included destroying any buildings that could assist the Confederacy, taking valuables, livestock, shutting down the railroad tracks and depots, cotton and tobacco fields. One of the most critical to achieve, was to defeat the Confederate spirit. To request permission to proceed with his plan, Sherman wrote to General Grant. “I can make this march and make Georgia howl.” Sherman’s presence in the middle of the South was an insult to the local residents. Even more so was the fact the Confederate Army could not stop him. Sherman's army moved so rapidly, the first towns they came to had little or no warning of Union
Cited: 1. America A Narrative History by George Brown Tindall and David Emory Shi 2. What Sherman Missed by Linda Barth 3. 3. Hell or High Old Times by Lee B. Kennett 4. The March to the Sea by Steven E. herman 's March Woodworth