because he felt like it
Sherman's destructive campaign through the south is called 'Sherman's March to the Sea'. It began on November 15, 1864, and lasted through December.
Sherman's "March to the Sea"
It weakened the South's agricultural capacity.
The March to the Sea
During his march from Atlanta to Raleigh, General William Tecumseh Sherman traveled through Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. His campaign, known as Sherman's March to the Sea, began in Georgia as he moved through the state, before crossing into South Carolina and ultimately reaching North Carolina, where he concluded his campaign in Raleigh.
sherman went throught the south on a raid that was known as "shermans" march
General William Sherman's march through South Carolina
Sherman's march through Georgia encountered little resistance because most of the Confederate soldiers were engaged in battle elsewhere. It was also a march that cut off supply lines to the South so they were ill-equipped to defend Georgia.
Milledgeville, then Savannah. After they crossed into South Carolina, they burned down the state capital Columbia.
The March to the Sea
General Sherman took his army to the sea at Savannah, Georgia, but the march continued all the way to Columbia, South Carolina.
General Sherman's March to the Sea involved his army going through Georgia destroying and burning Southern properties. His men were spread 40-60 miles in width. Part of his purpose was to make the South weaker and for them to panic.