Sherman's March
Burning the Bridge
This is Major General William Tecumseh Sherman. The man that led the march to the sea, put in charge of 62,000 men. Living from February 8, 1820, and passing in February 14, 1891 he was praised for his tactic of Total Warfare.
Livestock
In the picture you can see how Sherman's men obtained food. Slaughtering livestock was just one way the men lived off the land on there march.
Farms
During the march, the men also resorted to potatoes and bread from farms for food. Taking them at the expense of the farmer.
"Sherman Bow Tie"
A Sherman "bow tie" was a tactic carried out by soldiers, bending the railroad ties around a tree making them useless.
The March
- Major General William Tecumseh Sherman led 62,000 soldiers.
- The campaign lasted from November 15 to December 21, 1864.
- The March went from Atlanta GA, to 285 miles away Savannah.
- Enforced the "total war" strategy, burning down the south's communication and supplies, expecting the south war effort to collapse as a result.
- The destruction was carried out between two "wings" of men 30 miles apart. This left a 50 mile wide eradicated portion of land.
- Supplies for the men were collected from the land. Pigs, cows, and other livestock were slaughtered and taken. As well as bread and potatoes, all for food for the soldiers.
- November 22 was the only resistance seen from the south. The southern loss was so drastic, the southern army retreated south and fought Sherman by burning bridges and making obstacles to slow and put a strain on the march.
Total War
In Sherman's total war strategy, factories were burned to the ground hoping to exhaust the southern war machine
Travel
During the march, railroad lines were cut and destroyed to disable communication and supply lines.
Burn
After a place was left, there was nothing left for everything was burned to the ground
This is the path that Sherman traveled to the sea. From Atlanta to Savannah GA