W.T. Sherman's overall goal was to undermine civilian morale in the hopes that Georgians would abandon giving support to the Confederacy . He wanted to conduct what is known today as 'Psychological Warfare' .
For the 1864 Union campaign, only General Sherman's army was given the explicit goal of cutting Southern rail links. He was to wage a conventional march on Atlanta, and from there cut as many Rebel railway links as possible. Later in 1864, Sherman's plans would be altered.
The fall of Atlanta in September of 1864, did not seal the fate of the Confederacy. In the East, Virginia was a stalemate. Although Union General Sherman seemed secure, it was not the case. Confederate General John Bell Hood decided to march north to cut Sherman's supply lines at the Western and Atlantic Railroad. If successful, the goal was to retake Tennessee.
richmond virginia
to push them out
As Union General Sherman was marching into Georgia with the goal of capturing Atlanta, he had an a significant troop advantage. Because of this he believed he could an offensive operation against the Confederate troops under the command of Joseph Johnston. Sherman made the mistake of trying an assault on the fortified positions Johnston had taken at Kennesaw Mountain. The result was a defeat.
For the 1864 Union campaign, only General Sherman's army was given the explicit goal of cutting Southern rail links. He was to wage a conventional march on Atlanta, and from there cut as many Rebel railway links as possible. Later in 1864, Sherman's plans would be altered.
The fall of Atlanta in September of 1864, did not seal the fate of the Confederacy. In the East, Virginia was a stalemate. Although Union General Sherman seemed secure, it was not the case. Confederate General John Bell Hood decided to march north to cut Sherman's supply lines at the Western and Atlantic Railroad. If successful, the goal was to retake Tennessee.
richmond virginia
Richmond,VA
Richmond, Virginia
Where was the first battle civil war fought at
to push them out
As Union General Sherman was marching into Georgia with the goal of capturing Atlanta, he had an a significant troop advantage. Because of this he believed he could an offensive operation against the Confederate troops under the command of Joseph Johnston. Sherman made the mistake of trying an assault on the fortified positions Johnston had taken at Kennesaw Mountain. The result was a defeat.
Union General William T. Sherman walked into Atlanta, Georgia after all Confederate troops were forced to evacuate the city or be captured or lose many soldiers in a battle with Sherman's three large armies. He entered Atlanta on September 1, 1864 and made the city his headquarters. After a month went by he began his infamous march to the sea. He left Atlanta after setting it afire. After a Catholic priest begged him not to burn down a hospital Sherman agreed. His march was intended to meet a Union naval convoy at the Georgia seaport city of Savannah. On his way there he destroyed or kept any crops or livestock that he could use and burned the rest. His goal was to deprive Rebel armies of the supplies they needed to carry on the war. Attacking civilian property was not a normal policy for either side in the war. Union General Henry Halleck was concerned that Sherman was violating combat normalities, perhaps committing war crimes. Nevertheless, Sherman left little of any value behind as he marched to the sea, Savannah surrendered and Sherman hooked up with a naval convoy in the Savannah harbor.
To create the idea of "total war" against the Confederacy. Total war meaning, to make the South as uncomfortable as possible with the war so they would withdrawal. IMPROVEMENT The strategic goal of Sherman's "March to the Sea" was not to exert the total war against the Confederacy; this was only the means to prevent the Confederates from effectively hindering his advance towards the weakly defended rear of the so called "Atlantic Fortress" of the Confederacy.
General William Tecumseh Sherman led the notorious "March to the Sea" through Georgia during the American Civil War. Starting in Atlanta in November 1864, Sherman and his Union forces marched through the state, destroying infrastructure and civilian property as they went. The goal of the campaign was to cripple the Confederacy's ability to wage war and ultimately hasten the end of the Civil War.
The main goal of the Union in the capture of Atlanta was to disable its railway network, cut off supplies going to Confederate general Johnston's army, and occupy a major Confederate city. By doing so and occupying Atlanta for over a month, Sherman dealt a psychological blow to the South. The fall of Atlanta, led the way for Sherman to battle on to the port city Savannah, Georgia.