What is the Shermans March to the Sea?
Sherman’s army marched from Atlanta to Savannah for 36 days in 1864, in a path 40-60 miles wide, burning and destroying everything in his path. “The March to the Sea was devastating to Georgia and the Confederacy. Sherman himself estimated that the campaign had inflicted $100 million in destruction, about one fifth of which “inured to our advantage” while the “remainder is simple waste and destruction.” The Army wrecked 300 miles of railroad and numerous bridges and miles of telegraph lines. It seized 5,000 horses, 4,000 mules, and 13,000 head of cattle. It confiscated 9.5 million pounds of corn and 10.5 million pounds of fodder, and destroyed uncounted cotton gins and mills.” Basically, he left the civilians in his path without food for winter, which ensured that many Confederate soldiers would desert to go home and try to feed their families. This was very damaging to the South, both physically and mentally. And by taking out the major cities of Atlanta (transportation hub) and Savan
