What was the importance of the battle Sherman's march to the sea?

Answer 1

Yes - in more ways than one.

Sherman literally turned round and headed South-East, instead of pursuing the Army of Tennessee northwards, as ordered by Grant.

But his strategy was also an entirely new form of combat, which decisively shortened the war - to attack the infrastructure that supported the Confederate armies in the field, burning farms, destroying Southern morale, and helping to starve their civilians and troops alike. It has been compared to the World War II bombing raids - which were also a new (and unrehearsed) branch of warfare.

The idea that Sherman's march to the sea shortened the US Civil War is open to debate.

Answer 2

The March to the Sea was one of the most extraordinary military enterprise of all time, brilliantly conceived and expertly executed.

It task was that to reach the sea at Savannah and then take to rear the so called "Atlantic Fortress" of the Confederacy.

From both tactical and strategic point of view, the March was a forerunner example of Blitzkrieg, that was fought first during the WW2, compared to the time in which it took place.

Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that in that campaign the awful tactic of the "Total War" was applied for the first time by the invading Sherman's Army.

Answer 3

{| |- | It was a series of skirmishes rather than a battle. The Union forces moved through the south cutting it in half with a swath of destruction. As they went through the areas they burned and destroyed any supplies that could be used by the Confederate Forces. |}

Answer 4

General Sherman's march to the sea turned an already horrific war into one of pure brutality. A nation and the South was a de facto nation, can be beaten by destroying its military forces. Sherman could not accomplish that, so he made war on the civilian population.