527,653 views
28 votes
28 votes
What was the war strategy that William T. Sherman used during the Civil War?

Explain the strategy and why it may have been effective.

User Elver Loho
by
2.8k points

1 Answer

23 votes
23 votes

Answer:

Vengeance aside, the real objective of Sherman's march was to cut the Confederacy in two, cripple Southern industrial capacity, destroy the railroad system and compel an early Confederate surrender. It was also intended to break Southern morale -- in Sherman's words, to "make Georgia howl."

Step-by-step explanation:

Sherman called this strategy "hard war". At the end of this campaign, known as Sherman's March to the Sea, his troops captured Savannah on December 21, 1864. Sherman then dispatched a message to Lincoln, offering him the city as a Christmas present.

User Rich DeBourke
by
2.8k points