Sherman's Troops Reach Savannah's Defenses
Major General William Tecumseh Sherman's Union Army troops reached the outer Confederate defenses of Savannah, Georgia. This milestone followed a relentless campaign that began in Atlanta, where Sherman's forces employed a strategy of total war, aiming to cripple the Confederate war effort. As they approached Savannah, they encountered minimal resistance, showcasing the depletion of Confederate resources and morale. The fall of Savannah was seen as critical to the Union's objective of dividing the Confederacy and hastening its defeat.
Sherman's strategy aimed at total war.
Little resistance faced near Savannah.
Savannah was a key Confederate port.
Union army liberated enslaved people.
What Happened?
In the final stages of his famous 'March to the Sea,' Major General William Tecumseh Sherman aimed to dismantle the Confederate war effort by targeting infrastructure, supply lines, and civilian morale. Following the capture of Atlanta in September 1864, Sherman initiated his famed march towards Savannah, employing a strategy that emphasized speed, surprise, and destruction. His troops advanced through Georgia, cutting a swath of devastation that was meant to show the Confederacy the futility of continuing the war.
By early December, Sherman's forces had entered the outskirts of Savannah, facing the newly erected outer defenses installed by Confederate General William Hardee. The Union troops approached with a combination of confidence and determination, ready to lay siege to the city. Sherman's tactics also aimed to liberate enslaved people along the route, adding a moral dimension to the military campaign as they moved closer to the Atlantic, which would provide supply routes for Union forces.
On December 10, 1864, as Sherman's troops reached the outskirts of Savannah, they prepared for what would become a crucial battle. The Confederates, desperate yet determined, were overstretched and suffered from low morale. Sherman's success in reaching Savannah not only indicated a significant military achievement but also signaled a key turning point in the war as the Union poised to launch a full-scale assault against one of the Confederacy's most important ports.
Why Does it Matter?
The approach of Sherman's army to Savannah highlighted the efficacy of total war strategies employed by the Union forces. It not only showcased the diminishing power of the Confederacy but also set the stage for a decisive Union victory that would follow. Sherman's March not only aimed at military objectives but also sought to demoralize the Southern civilian population, deepening the rift and hastening the eventual end of the Civil War.