Sherman's March to the Sea

What happened

Sherman marched some 60,000 men from Atlanta to the coast at Savannah, cutting loose from his supply lines and waging 'total war' — destroying railroads, factories, farms, and infrastructure across a wide swath of Georgia. He presented the captured city of Savannah to Lincoln as a 'Christmas gift.'

Why it matters

The march demonstrated the Confederacy's inability to defend its heartland and broke Southern morale, hastening the end of the war.

Sources

• World History Encyclopedia. Sherman's March to the Sea · Reputable source