March through Georgia Flashcards
When did Sherman’s March to the Sea take place?
15 Nov - 15 Dec 1864
Who led the March to the Sea campaign?
General William Sherman
What major city did Sherman capture before beginning the march?
Atlanta
What was the primary military purpose of Sherman’s March through Georgia?
To prevent reinforcements from helping Lee’s army in Virginia
How many Union troops participated in Sherman’s March?
62,000
How many Confederate troops were available to oppose Sherman’s March through Georgia?
Only 13,000
What was Sherman’s tactical approach in the March through Georgia?
His army moved in two columns, lived off the land and created a wide path of destruction through enemy territory
What was the estimated value of property destroyed during the March through Georgia?
$100 million
What infrastructure was specifically targeted for destruction during the March to the Sea?
Railway lines, plantations and industries
How did Sherman’s March affect the civilian population in the South?
It caused immense psychological and physical damage and humiliated plantation owners
How many slaves were freed during Sherman’s March to the Sea?
Around 20,000
What similar campaign occured elsewhere in the South during 1864?
General Sheridan conducted a similar destructive campaign in the Shenandoah Valley
How did Sherman’s March to the Sea change the nature of the Civil War?
It represented a shift toward ‘scorched earth’ tactics and deliberate targeting of civilians
How wide was the destructive path that the March through Georgia created?
50 miles wide
Union vs Confederate casualties March to the Sea?
1,300 vs 2,300
