The Importance Of Sherman's March To The Sea

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Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign. In thirty seven weeks, Sherman marched 62,000 men more than three hundred miles across Georgia. In his path lay ruin. Bridges, cotton, livestock, factories, telegraph lines and hundreds of miles of railroads were destroyed. The campaign begins on November 15, when Sherman's troops leave Atlanta after they razed it to the ground. It ends on December 21st, with the capture of the port of Savannah. The objective was to destroy any resource that strengthened the Confederate opposition and to spread terror in the opposite army. Among Sherman’s objectives was the road rail network. The railroads were the principal logistic nodes that transported industrial products, private property, and agricultural products that served as a logistical resource for the army during the march. Sherman's choice …show more content…

To this point, he wanted to solve the problem and lift the burden of supporting the freedmen. Therefore, On 12 January 1865, He has arranged a meeting with the Secretary of war, Edwin M. Stanton and the African American leaders, mostly Methodist and Baptist preachers, to solve the problem of the former slaves and had asked them for their opinion about the manner that they think they could be able to take care of themselves. They have convinced him that the only way to ensure their freedom was by having their own land. After the meeting, Sherman issued the field order 15 on 16 January 1865 most known by the name of “40 acres and a mule” which announces that every black have the rights to own land and they could not be forced to serve in the military, however “the young and able-bodied Negroes must be encouraged to enlist as soldiers in the service of the United States, to contribute their share toward maintaining their own freedom and securing their rights as citizens of the United