Tecumseh Sherman's Impact

The American Civil War was a war derived from controversy. One topic that ignited the flame of the Civil War was slavery, an issue so controversial that is split the nation into two pieces. Each part of the Civil War was as essential as the next. However, General William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea was arguably one of the most contrasting. The March to the Sea was an event that left a lasting impact on American history and altered the fate of the United States of America. Between the merciless burning of Confederate states and the utter destruction brought upon them, the March to the Sea was one of the most pivotal events to happen during the Civil War. The reasons for its lasting impact are as followed: it defined the definition of

Despite his march being violent and brutal, the reasons were as followed, “Sherman practiced destructive war, but he did not do it out of personal cruelty. Instead, he sought to end the war as quickly as possible, with the least loss of life on both sides,” (Scorched Earth 1). His distaste for war did not stop him however from stitching himself in the fabric of American history as the instigator of one of the bloodiest events to ever occur in America. On September 2, 1864, Sherman’s troops captured Atlanta, which perpetually altered the events of the Civil War. The capture of Atlanta was critical because Atlanta acted as a railroad hub, the center of all Confederate industry, and it housed supplies for Confederate troops. (INSERT IN-TEXT) This pivotal capture became the first reason why the March to the Sea was so important. Atlanta’s capture became the linchpin for Union victory, starting the events that permanently altered the perception of modern total warfare. Total warfare can be described as unrestricted in weaponry, in combatants, and in law. (X) Sherman’s March suits total warfare in its entirety. Its merciless bloodshed and pure destruction became known in history as the emergence of modern total warfare. According to Civil War Trust, “...he launched a campaign in Georgia that was defined as ‘modern warfare’, and brought ‘total destruction’…upon the civilian population in the path of the advancing columns [of his armies],” (1). While Sherman and his troops burnt through the south, Sherman wanted to curtail the war as soon as possible. He wanted to convince the south, through destroying their cities and killing their soldiers, that the mental and physical pressure from the Union would be too much (Scorched Earth 1). Eventually, the combined pressure of Sherman’s March and the battlefield fighting became too much for the south and General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox