During the American Civil War, Sherman led a famous military expedition called the March to the Sea. General William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army marched his troops through the heart of the Confederacy in 1864, wreaking havoc along the way from Atlanta to Savannah. By attacking the South’s supply lines, infrastructure, and economic resources, the march hoped to hamper its ability to wage war severely.

Sherman’s army began their “scorched earth” policy in November 1864, liberating slaves while they destroyed railways, factories, and farms. The seizure of Savannah in December marked the end of the march, which covered about 300 miles in total. The psychological toll of Sherman’s successful campaign was significant in hastening the downfall of the Confederacy. Strategically bold and consequential, the march is recognized for hastening the demise of the Confederate cause in the Civil War.