1. The Union Advances
5.18 Describe the physical, social, political and economic consequences of the Civil War on the southern United States.

2. Sherman’s March To The Sea
During the American Civil War, General Sherman marched through the state of Georgia from Atlanta to Savannah. It was one of the hardest hits to the South in the War.
General Sherman was able to take control of Atlanta and Savannah while destroying all that was in his path. These were very hard for the South to lose because Atlanta was a major railroad hub and Savannah was a major sea port.

3. The Two Campaigns
General Grant arranged two campaigns for the year 1864.
The First Campaign - was led by himself for the seizure of the Confederate capital, Richmond.
The Second Campaign - was led by General Sherman for the seizure of Atlanta.

4. March To The Sea
For almost 5 weeks in Union General William T. Sherman led his soldiers on a long march from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia. This march is known as the “March To The Sea.”
The purpose of the march was to frighten Georgia’s civilian population into abandoning the Confederate cause.

5. Atlanta Captured
General Sherman led 100,000 troops to a very important victory on their “march” by first capturing Atlanta. This was crucial because Atlanta was a railroad hub that contained much of what kept the Confederate army supplied with food, weapons and other goods.
On September 2, General Sherman finally gained control of the city of Atlanta.
The captured of Atlanta was a hard blow to the South’s moral.

6. Sherman Splits Troops
After the Southern troops lost Atlanta, General Sherman then split the Union Troops into two groups.
First Union Troops - Major General George Thomas took some 60,000 men to meet the Confederates in Nashville.
Second Union Troops - Sherman took the remaining 62,000 on an offensive march through Georgia to Savannah. The strategy that Sherman believed could win the war was to hurt Southern morale and making life very hard for the people that lived in Georgia. His plan was that they would be so miserable that the citizens would demand an end to the war.

7. Savannah Captured
Sherman and his troops marched on toward Savannah after the victory in Atlanta. The Union soldiers raided properties and stole their animals and food supplies. They burned the houses and barns of people who tried to fight back. Sherman also destroyed cotton and other things that would provide economy for the Confederates. He was able to feed and take care of his troops with what the had stolen.
In December of Sherman’s troops arrived in Savannah about three weeks after they left Atlanta. The city was undefended when they got there and fell to the Union Troops.

8. The “Bummers”
Sherman’s army traveled with no supply trains so they could move quickly. Sherman thought the trains would slow them down and make themselves vulnerable to Confederate raids.  
Sherman’s force took only what they could carry.  His men depending entirely on pillaging Georgia for food, clothing, supplies, and ammunition.  The soldiers who went out to forage for food for the army were called "bummers".
Sherman’s bummers were not an elite group of special forces but more like pirates or thieves.

9. Estimated Damage
Sherman had lived generously off the country on his march, helping himself to the private property of Southern citizens.
Along with allowing his army to use and steal their food supplies, he also used their horses and mules for service.
He captured 1,328 prisoners and their guns. Sherman estimated that his army did $100m in damage (in dollars).

10. Onward To Charleston
Sherman and his men left Savannah and made another path of destruction through South Carolina to Charleston. General Ulysses Grant gave Sherman approval to turn east into South Carolina.
Sherman was particularly interested in South Carolina for the effect it would have on Southern morale.

11. The City Burns
On Feb. 17, The Union Troops came into Columbia, the capitol of South Carolina. On the same day, Charleston was evacuated by the South.
As the troops left, they set fire to cotton in the streets and high winds caused the beautiful city to burn and be left in ruins.

12. Path Of Destruction
Sherman, after destroying the arsenal at Columbia, left the ruined city and pressed on with his forces to Fayetteville, North Carolina.
He left a path of destruction through the Carolinas 40 miles in width.

13. Confederates Surrender
In April of Richmond fell, but it was merely a formality at that point. The Southern cause was lost.
On April 9, General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia. Although some fighting would continue for weeks before word finally spread, the war was officially over.

14. Lincoln’s Christmas Gift
General Sherman contacted President Lincoln on Christmas Day to present the fall of Savannah to him.
Sherman's decisive victories are thought to have assured Abraham Lincoln's reelection as president.

15. Sherman Promoted
In August, General Sherman was promoted to Major General of the United States army.
In July, He was promoted to Lieutenant General.
On March 4, He succeeded General Grant as General-In-Chief of the armies of the United States.
On Feb. 8, He was retired on his own request, on full pay.

16. Sherman Dies
On Feb William Tecumseh Sherman died in New York City. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery, St. Louis.
He was credited for saying “War Is Hell”.
Sherman is also considered to be a major architect of modern total war.