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The overall Confederate commander in the South-East was Joseph E. Johnston, based in Carolina. The commander of the only sizeable Confederate army in Georgia was General Hardee, who did not provide much resistance to Sherman during the march to the sea, but occupied Savannah, where Sherman expected quite a big battle, possibly destructive to that gracious city. In the event, Hardee escaped across the river into South Carolina, where Sherman followed him about a month later.
William Tecumseh Sherman
Become independent of his long supply-line back to Nashville, which was always being attacked by Confederate cavalry. Sherman saw that he could live off the land, following a good harvest.
Grant ordered Sheridan to destroy the farms in the Shenandoah. Then Sherman settled on a campaign of destruction across Georgia and South Carolina, to starve the Confederates into surrender. This strategy had the effect of ending the war quicker than assaulting the armies.
Joe Johnston had been brought back and put in charge of a large and unmanageable area which included Georgia. There was very little combat during the march. Sherman expected a battle at Savannah, but the small Confederate army under General Hardee escaped across the river, and Sherman followed it into South Carolina.
General William T. Sherman
William T. Sherman
Major General William Tecumseh Sherman was tasked with disrupting the Southern infrastructure during the Civil War. In late 1864, he captured Atlanta and then carved a destructive swath across Georgia to Savannah. Although his involvement with Southern civilians was controversial, he had the support of General US Grant and President Lincoln.
The March to the Sea
General sherman.
The overall Confederate commander in the South-East was Joseph E. Johnston, based in Carolina. The commander of the only sizeable Confederate army in Georgia was General Hardee, who did not provide much resistance to Sherman during the march to the sea, but occupied Savannah, where Sherman expected quite a big battle, possibly destructive to that gracious city. In the event, Hardee escaped across the river into South Carolina, where Sherman followed him about a month later.
Sherman
General William T. Sherman.
He destroyed everything in his path
William Tecumseh Sherman
Major General William Tecumseh Sherman, US Army.
For all practical purposes the three Union armies under the command of Major General William T. Sherman did not "march through Georgia". They battled their way under fierce resistance from Confederate forces.The General William T. Sherman was the highest ranking Union general to lead the march through Georgia. His first main target was Atlanta. The city surrendered in early September, 1864, helping President Lincoln's re election campaign.Sherman made that city his headquarters for almost two months. He then began his famous or to some, his infamousmarch to the sea, towards the port city of Savannah. He ordered Atlanta burned to the ground upon his departure, however, Catholic priests begged him to spare hospitals, which he did spare.Savannah surrendered on December 21, 1864.