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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