What was the main purpose of Sherman's "March to the Sea"?

Sherman's "March to the Sea," conducted during the Civil War, primarily aimed to destroy both military and civilian resources that were crucial to the Confederate war effort. This strategy was known as "total war," which aimed not only to defeat enemy armies but also to undermine the economic and psychological support for the war within the South. By marching through Georgia from Atlanta to Savannah, Sherman and his troops systematically raided and destroyed infrastructure, supply lines, and any resources that could be used to sustain the Confederate army, thereby weakening their capacity to fight.

This approach of targeting both military and civilian elements was intended to hasten the end of the conflict by instilling fear and diminishing the morale of those supporting the Confederacy. The campaign exemplified the harsh realities of war, aiming to break the will of the South to continue fighting, which ultimately played a significant role in the Union's victory.