SHERMAN’S MARCH TO THE SEA

After a long and bitter struggle, Major General William Tecumseh Sherman took the southern town of Atlanta on 2 September 1864. This was a severe blow to the Confederates as Atlanta was a supply depot, as well as a centre for industry and communications for the southern war effort.

Colin Farrant

Sherman’s next move was to lead approximately 62,000 men, wagons, livestock, and rations for 20 days on a march east from Atlanta to the coastal town of Savannah, to “Make Georgia howl”. While both the President and General Ulysses S. Grant had concerns over Sherman’s plan, General Grant trusted his judgement and sent Sherman a telegram saying “Go as you propose”. Sherman had studied the census data of 1860 regarding livestock holdings and grain/corn yields, and planned his route in order to “live off the land”. His intention was to be totally autonomous and move far behind enemy lines with no line of retreat. This, he believed, was to be the campaign that decided the fate of the country. On 10 November, the order was given to disable the railroad,…

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Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy (Digital) - 1 Issue, WSS 132

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