In this episode from NPR's Book of the Day, Sherman's March to the Sea and his capture of Savannah during the Civil War are explored. The summary delves into the strategic purpose behind Sherman's bold and destructive march across Georgia, aiming to weaken the Confederate war effort by severing supply lines and demoralizing Southern citizens with a display of Union might.
However, the episode examines how Sherman spared Savannah itself, allowing residents to celebrate Christmas in relative peace during the occupation. Despite his controversial legacy as a hero in the North and a villain in the South, the summary sheds light on Sherman's tactics of targeting infrastructure while minimizing harm to civilians. It paints a picture of how the festive season unfolded in the embattled city under Union control.
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After capturing Atlanta, sources say Sherman realized the city lacked the resources and strategic value for his troops to remain. His bold strategy was to march over 300 miles to Savannah, aiming to sever the Confederacy and cut off Confederate forces in the South from those near Washington D.C., thus weakening the overall rebel war effort.
Sherman targeted infrastructure crucial to the Confederate rebellion like mills and factories, conscious of logistical challenges. The march's psychological impact aimed to break Georgian morale by showing the Union's might and reach, leading Sherman to declare "he did make Georgia howl."
Sherman appreciated Savannah's beauty, sparing its famous mansions - not a single home was destroyed. He quartered at a British merchant's mansion, now marked with a plaque. Troops camped outside the city to minimize impact on residents and architecture.
Churches remained open, contributing to a peaceful Christmas scene during wartime occupation. Troops provided food, even decorating delivery mules like reindeer in impoverished suburbs lacking supplies.
Sherman's well-behaved troops paraded orderly through Savannah with little drunkenness during the festive holiday season. Sherman ensured residents could celebrate with food access and open churches as troops largely encamped outside the city.
In the North, Sherman was hailed as hastening the war's end through decisive actions, according to historians. But in the South, many reviled him as a villain, the Confederate press spreading tales of his supposed wanton destruction despite scholars saying he primarily targeted military infrastructure humanely. Sherman remains a polarizing symbol of the Union's harsh Confederacy treatment.
1-Page Summary
General William Tecumseh Sherman's march from Atlanta to the sea was a significant military campaign during the American Civil War. Sherman's decision for this unusual move was driven by the strategic dead-end he reached in Atlanta and the need to weaken Confederate forces.
After capturing Atlanta, Sherman realized that remaining in the city was no longer tactically advantageous. "The town was destroyed. There was no place for his troops. There was no food. There was nothing," sources say. The city’s infrastructure had been largely compromised, making it impossible to support the continued presence of his troops.
Sherman’s bold strategy involved marching his army to Savannah, over 300 miles away, with the goal of severing the Confederacy in two. By doing so, he aimed to cut off the southern parts of the Confederacy from General Robert E. Lee's forces, which were stationed in Virginia near Washington, D.C., thus weakening the overall Confederate war effort.
Sherman’s march was not characterized by wanton destruction of civilian property. Instead, the Union Army targeted infrastructure crucial to the Confederate war effort, like "cotton mills, gins, warehouses, factories, anything that would support the Confederate rebellion." Sherman was conscious of the logistical challenges and did not want slaves to follow his army since it would increa ...
Sherman's March to the Sea and Its Strategic Purpose
During the Civil War, General William Tecumseh Sherman's approach to occupying Savannah, Georgia, was notably temperate compared to his usual scorched-earth policy.
Sherman appreciated the beauty and elegance of Savannah, as evident by the intact preservation of its famous mansions. Not a single one of the beautiful homes was destroyed. He chose a mansion owned by a British merchant named Green for his headquarters, a property which today bears a plaque commemorating its historical significance.
Sherman's troops had clear instructions not to overwhelm the historically significant city. They largely camped outside the city limits to minimize the occupation's impact on the residents and the architectural landscape.
The scene in Savannah was almost Christmas-like during the occupation. Churches remained open for worship, contributing to a semblance of peace during wartime, and peopl ...
Sherman's treatment of Savannah and its residents during the occupation
During the Civil War, General William Tecumseh Sherman's capture of Savannah, Georgia, was marked by a unique celebration of Christmas by his Union troops.
Sherman's troops exhibited disciplined behavior during the Christmas season. They paraded through the city, demonstrating a celebratory yet orderly spirit. The holiday atmosphere prevailed as the soldiers maintained a calm presence, ensuring that the city had a peaceful and "Christmas-like" experience even during the occupation.
Despite the circumstances of the war, Sherman and his generals took measures to not overburden the city. The ...
How Sherman and his troops celebrated Christmas in Savannah
The history of Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman reflects a dichotomy in perception that is split sharply along regional lines, with people in the North hailing him as a hero and many in the South reviling him as a villain.
While no direct quote in the provided transcript reflects the North's view of Sherman as a hero, it is a well-documented historical perspective. Sherman's march to the sea is often credited with significantly weakening the Confederacy, helping to pave the way for the Union's ultimate victory. His aggressive tactics and ability to demoralize the Southern fighting spirit through his deep movements into enemy territory are lauded by many historians and military scholars as a turning point in the war.
Many Southerners have long considered Sherman as something of a war criminal due to the vast swath of destruction left behind by his march. The Confederate press played a significant role in spreading tales of Sherman's supposed ruthlessness, often accusing him of burning homes and villages wantonly. Yet, according to mil ...
The legacy and perception of Sherman, both positive and negative
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