Sherman's march to the sea was a turning point for the Union. It was the beginning of the end of the war. Sherman showed the Confederacy that their government could offer them no protection as he marched generally unchallenged thru the heart of the South. The damage done by his Army crushed the military industrial complex in Atlanta and shut down supplies the Confederates needed to continue to wage war.
Because of the toll on civilian non combatants, the march has been viewed by critiques of both Lincoln and Sherman as war crimes. Bombarding defenseless cities and burning them to the ground - forcing inhabitants of Atlanta to vacate and become homeless and without food just before winter set in were not tactics considered acceptable to many in the mid 1800's.
The fall of Atlanta was one of the most, if not the most important military successes of the Union and certainly can be credited with changing the tide of the war. It ensured the reelection of Lincoln. It decimated Atlanta's ability to make war material and transport it, disrupted communications, and drove a stake thru the heart of many in the South's will to fight.
Friday, November 23, 2012
"I've got Savannah"
As the Army marches East, the terrain changes as the approach the sea. No longer crossing counties that are rich in a variety of agriculture and livestock, they are forced to rely on rice for their sustenance. Sherman realizes he needs to reach Savannah, take the city, and resupply quickly.
Upon arriving on the outskirts of Savannah, the Army digs in for a possible siege. Sherman realizes because of lack of supplies, he is going to have to take Savannah and open a lane to the sea in order to contact the Union Navy and resupply his men.
Savannah is guarded by Fort McAllister, which borders the Atlantic. Sherman knows he must take McAllister and he needs to take it quickly. A scouting report of the Fort reveals it is heavily fortified with 17 foot earth walls that can withstand artillery fire. It has 11 cannons which face the sea, making it virtually impregnable for a frontal assault. However, with a garrison of less then 250 soldiers, it does appear vulnerable from the rear.
The entire success of the march depends on the ability of the Union Soldiers to take the fort. An assault is conducted near dusk and the Union Soldiers charge the rear of the fort under artillery, rifle, and small arms fire. In what is a brief and bloody battle, the Union Soldiers are able to take control of the fort.
Capturing the fort assures Sherman access to the sea and Union supply ships where he will be able to get the supplies he needs for his men. He also knows his march to the sea is a success. Knowing defeat is inevitable, the Confederates abandon Savannah.
Sherman sends a telegraph to Lincoln informing him he has taken Savannah.
Transcript of telegram:
Upon arriving on the outskirts of Savannah, the Army digs in for a possible siege. Sherman realizes because of lack of supplies, he is going to have to take Savannah and open a lane to the sea in order to contact the Union Navy and resupply his men.
Savannah is guarded by Fort McAllister, which borders the Atlantic. Sherman knows he must take McAllister and he needs to take it quickly. A scouting report of the Fort reveals it is heavily fortified with 17 foot earth walls that can withstand artillery fire. It has 11 cannons which face the sea, making it virtually impregnable for a frontal assault. However, with a garrison of less then 250 soldiers, it does appear vulnerable from the rear.
The entire success of the march depends on the ability of the Union Soldiers to take the fort. An assault is conducted near dusk and the Union Soldiers charge the rear of the fort under artillery, rifle, and small arms fire. In what is a brief and bloody battle, the Union Soldiers are able to take control of the fort.
Capturing the fort assures Sherman access to the sea and Union supply ships where he will be able to get the supplies he needs for his men. He also knows his march to the sea is a success. Knowing defeat is inevitable, the Confederates abandon Savannah.
Sherman sends a telegraph to Lincoln informing him he has taken Savannah.
Transcript of telegram:
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Attrocities
By November 29th, Sherman's Army is about two thirds the way to Savannah. On the outskirts of Millen, Ga, they discover a POW camp designed to hold 40,000 prisoners. The camp had been hastily evacuated and the men were shocked at the conditions. It resembled more of a concentration camp than a POW Camp. They bury about 650 dead soldiers then proceed to burn down the nearby town of Millen. Sherman remarks "War is cruelty, there is no sense in trying to reform it."
On their march, the Union Army discovers what they call "torpedoes" or what would be called today "landmines" or "IED's". Sherman becomes outraged when some of his men have body parts blown off by stepping on one of these devices. Sherman has rebel prisoners walk ahead of his men to find the mines and dig them up when found. Sherman sends a message to Confederate leadership, telling them rebel prisoners will be used to ferret out land mines. Mines are never used again. This type of behavior endears Sherman even more to his men.
In this part of Georgia, food is much more scarce and Sherman becomes concern about hunger. He orders slaves following the Army to be turned around, but they do not listen.
On their march, the Union Army discovers what they call "torpedoes" or what would be called today "landmines" or "IED's". Sherman becomes outraged when some of his men have body parts blown off by stepping on one of these devices. Sherman has rebel prisoners walk ahead of his men to find the mines and dig them up when found. Sherman sends a message to Confederate leadership, telling them rebel prisoners will be used to ferret out land mines. Mines are never used again. This type of behavior endears Sherman even more to his men.
In this part of Georgia, food is much more scarce and Sherman becomes concern about hunger. He orders slaves following the Army to be turned around, but they do not listen.
Conduct of the Campaign
Sherman marches his men reletnlessly towards Savannah. They are organized into four columns with 40-60 miles between the outer columns and they march an astonishing 10-15 miles per day. Thousands upon thousands of slaves bring join the march, making the men of the Army feel as if they are a liberating force, which in way they certainly are.
The south fights Sherman's army anyway they can. The vast majority of military aged males are in Virginia fighting for the Confederacy, leaving only teenage boys and old men to put up any kind of resistance.
Outside of Macon, Ga, the confedracy attacks Sherman but it is futile and they are routed. As the Army continues to march, the leave destruction in their wake. Destroying whole towns, wharehouse, barns, and fileds, the devastation is total.
Part of the effort to destoy the infrastructure of the Confedearcy is damaging the railways. Soldiers dig up these rails, place them into fires, and bend them. They become known as "Sherman Neckties."
The south fights Sherman's army anyway they can. The vast majority of military aged males are in Virginia fighting for the Confederacy, leaving only teenage boys and old men to put up any kind of resistance.
Outside of Macon, Ga, the confedracy attacks Sherman but it is futile and they are routed. As the Army continues to march, the leave destruction in their wake. Destroying whole towns, wharehouse, barns, and fileds, the devastation is total.
Part of the effort to destoy the infrastructure of the Confedearcy is damaging the railways. Soldiers dig up these rails, place them into fires, and bend them. They become known as "Sherman Neckties."
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Right, Left, straight Up the Middle
Each night, Sherman plans the next day's march. He divides his forces and with his left wing, feigns towards Augusta and with his right wing, feigns towards Macon. This causes the 20.000 Confederate soldiers in between Sherman and Savannah to split their forces between the two cities. Sherman then drives his main force between to these two wings, unchallenged and towards Savannah. On average, they march 15 miles a day, in four columns, with 40 - 60 miles in between the outer two columns.
Slaves and the March
During the march, slaves approached the Army continuously. For many of the Union Soldiers, they are shocked at the horrors of slavery. They see the scars on the slaves backs and hear tales of how salt was rubbed into their wounds. Many of the soldiers encourage slaves to leave their homes and join the march.
General Sherman does not display the same enthusiasm for having slaves join his Army and ignores directives from Washington to enlist slaves. Sherman writes "The negro is in a transition phase and is not the equal of the white man." However, Sherman also has a practical reason for discouraging slaves from joining; he does not want them to eat his soldiers food or slow them down. Sherman allows single blacks to join his Army, as long as they are physically capable of keeping up. He uses them in advance of his Army to prepare the roads.
Still, despite his opposition, thousands of slaves join the march.
General Sherman believes that as a general rule, blacks are inferior to whites and slavery is not necessarily as bad thing. However, when interacting with blacks he is very cordial and even shakes their hands. At the time, a white man shaking a black man's hand was not socially acceptable. Because of this, he is considered a savior by many of the slaves.
General Sherman does not display the same enthusiasm for having slaves join his Army and ignores directives from Washington to enlist slaves. Sherman writes "The negro is in a transition phase and is not the equal of the white man." However, Sherman also has a practical reason for discouraging slaves from joining; he does not want them to eat his soldiers food or slow them down. Sherman allows single blacks to join his Army, as long as they are physically capable of keeping up. He uses them in advance of his Army to prepare the roads.
Still, despite his opposition, thousands of slaves join the march.
General Sherman believes that as a general rule, blacks are inferior to whites and slavery is not necessarily as bad thing. However, when interacting with blacks he is very cordial and even shakes their hands. At the time, a white man shaking a black man's hand was not socially acceptable. Because of this, he is considered a savior by many of the slaves.
The Numbers
Soldiers: 60,000
Horses and mules: 25,000
Wagons: 2500
Ambulances: 600
Although massive in size, General Sherman has slimmed down his forces as much as possible in regards to the supplies they would transport or carry themselves. The purpose of this was simple: To keep his Army moving quickly. Individual soldiers would carry just one blanket, 40 rounds of ammunition, and 20 days rations.
In order to meet the challenge of feeding his soldiers, General Sherman uses special maps that are divided into counties. The map contains information about each county. Crop yields, Census data and tax revenue, are contained on these maps of every county in the state of Georgia. Sherman designed his march so he could exploit the more affluent counties.
Foraging parties would operate in groups of 15-20 men and would be sent out miles away from the main camp in pursuit of food, horses, and other supplies. From larger plantations, thousands of pounds of meat would be confiscated from smoke houses, along with cows, pigs, sheep, wagons, horses and other valuables. Women and children were left on the plantations while the men fought the war. Many women would attempt to bury valuables, such as silverware. Slaves often times would aid the foragers in locating these items.
Sherman would write, "The success of these men in foraging was one of the features of this march and I was amused at their strange collections." Foraging operations were permissible under the codes of war, however, southerners are outraged at crossing this line, which they deemed outrageous.
Sheman's Army consumes 300 tons of food a day and leaves the countryside ravaged and decimated. Because cotton is traded by the south, storage facilities and cotton gins are burned to the ground, further reeking havoc on the south's economy.
Horses and mules: 25,000
Wagons: 2500
Ambulances: 600
Although massive in size, General Sherman has slimmed down his forces as much as possible in regards to the supplies they would transport or carry themselves. The purpose of this was simple: To keep his Army moving quickly. Individual soldiers would carry just one blanket, 40 rounds of ammunition, and 20 days rations.
In order to meet the challenge of feeding his soldiers, General Sherman uses special maps that are divided into counties. The map contains information about each county. Crop yields, Census data and tax revenue, are contained on these maps of every county in the state of Georgia. Sherman designed his march so he could exploit the more affluent counties.
Foraging parties would operate in groups of 15-20 men and would be sent out miles away from the main camp in pursuit of food, horses, and other supplies. From larger plantations, thousands of pounds of meat would be confiscated from smoke houses, along with cows, pigs, sheep, wagons, horses and other valuables. Women and children were left on the plantations while the men fought the war. Many women would attempt to bury valuables, such as silverware. Slaves often times would aid the foragers in locating these items.
Sherman would write, "The success of these men in foraging was one of the features of this march and I was amused at their strange collections." Foraging operations were permissible under the codes of war, however, southerners are outraged at crossing this line, which they deemed outrageous.
Sheman's Army consumes 300 tons of food a day and leaves the countryside ravaged and decimated. Because cotton is traded by the south, storage facilities and cotton gins are burned to the ground, further reeking havoc on the south's economy.
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