The Final Phase The Main Idea Southerners continued to hope for victory in 1864, but military and political events caused those hopes to fade. Essential Questions What tactics did Grant use against Lee to change the course of the war? How did the election of 1864 affect Confederate hopes for victory in the Civil War? How did the actions of Sherman and Grant help bring the war to an end?

INTRODUCTION “You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses a people can pour out.” —William Tecumseh Sherman Letter to the city of Atlanta, 1864

All eyes Turn to Georgia-Total War is Declared Sherman’s March to the Sea was a military campaign begun by the Union soldiers during the American Civil War in late 1864, and was led by Major General William T. Sherman. Total War was a declaration against all those supplying the south with resources to continue to fight.

March to the Sea On November 11, 1864, Major General Sherman’s men began burning the city of Atlanta. On November 15, 1864 he left Atlanta with his 60,000 soldiers and continued his march toward the Atlantic coast. Chief among Sherman’s targets were railroads where his men twisted ties into “Sherman’s bow-ties”

Sherman’s March to the Sea In Atlanta During the March, Sherman’s army destroyed anything in, he cut the supply and communication lines, including bridges, telegraph wires, and railroad tracks to the north. Sherman’s army set off on a devastating march.

Sherman’s March to the Sea General Sherman moved his army south in two great wings of two corps each complete with a 5,000 man cavalry screen. The Federal troops left a path of destruction 275 miles long and up to 60 miles wide across the Georgia countryside. Anything of military value was burned. Bummers, or groups of stragglers, destroyed all food stuffs and livestock that they could not carry-off or use. No Confederate opposition was encountered.

Sherman’s March to the Sea While Sherman was cutting through Georgia, Hood was defeated at Franklin and Nashville Sherman arrived at Savannah in December, offered it as a “Christmas present” to Lincoln, got resupplied by the sea, and headed north to combine with Grant.

Who Gave President Lincoln a gift? General Sherman gave president Lincoln Savannah as a Christmas Gift.

Sherman’s telegraph to Lincoln What was given? “I beg to present you as a Christmas gift: City of Savannah one hundred fifty guns, plenty of ammunition, also about twenty-five thousand bales of cotton. Sherman’s telegraph to Lincoln

The cotton The cotton was shipped to the North were it sold for $28 Million! The south now had no way of making money to rebuild after Sherman’s destructive plan.

The War Comes to an End Sherman’s March The fall of Richmond Sherman marched across Georgia in what came to be known as the March to the Sea. Sherman cut a swath of destruction 300 miles long and 50–60 miles wide. After taking Savannah, Sherman turned north through South Carolina, destroying civilian property all along the way. The fall of Richmond As Sherman marches on to meet up with Grant, Lee is low on supplies and soldiers. Grant decided not to wait for Sherman’s troops. Instead, he broke through Lee’s defenses at Petersburg and went on to take Richmond. Lee tried to escape with his few remaining troops, but Grant blocked their way. Lee saw no other alternative but to surrender.

March North Sherman continued his destruction being particularly hard on South Carolina because of its role in starting the secessionist movement Burned the capital of Columbia

Surrender at Appomattox Lee and Grant With Union forces surrounding them, Lee decided to surrender. Grant presented the terms of the surrender to Lee. Grant showed mercy on the Confederate forces and was extremely generous for such a bloody conflict, Lee’s troops merely had to turn over their weapons and leave. Grant announced, “The war is over. The rebels are our countrymen again.” The war is over News of Lee’s surrender brought joyful celebrations in the north. Lincoln requested “Dixie” be played at the White House. The last of the Confederate forces surrendered on May 26, 1865. Sadly, President Lincoln would not live to see the official end of the war.

The Surrender! At Appomattox Court House in Virginia General Robert E. Lee surrendered to U.S. Grant This ended the Civil War

Sherman’s March to The Sea