Wreck the farms and railroads. This would help to starve the enemy troops in the field, and end the war quicker than assaults on the armies.
In its' day, it represented "Total War", just as the Atomic Bomb did in WWII.
It deprived the Confederate armies of food, and interrupted rail movement by troops and civilians. It also devastated morale.
Because he had targeted civilians and smashed up the whole infrastructure of Georgia and South Carolina.
By shortening the war by months at almost nil casualties.
Sherman's March to the Sea shortened the war by at least six months, at almost nil casualties.
William Tecumseh Sherman was an Union commanding general in the Civil war.
The Battle of Atlanta.
Atlanta, as part of his war plan.
Sherman's army was the civil war army commanded by General William Tecumseh Sherman.
Sherman believed that the quickest way to end the war was to deprive the army of the means to fight and destroy the civilians' will to support the war was to annihilate the infrastructure that supported the war effort: the agriculture, transportation, communications, and manufacturing capability of the enemy. When there was no food, no munitions, no clothing, and no means to produce it, the will of the South to continue was broken.
Shermans, they are eveywhere, Shermans, they will give you a scare, Shermans, look into the mirror and stare stare stare. <3
March to Sea