Sherman's Telegram to Lincoln

Sherman's March to the Sea is widely considered one of the biggest Union victories during the Civil War. The march occurred after Sherman’s capture of Atlanta, which in itself was a major win for Union forces. Even after this substantial blow, Confederate soldiers had maintained their will to fight. However, their will could not be sustained for long as resources and stamina were rapidly diminishing among the soldiers. Despite taking over the Confederacy’s vital transportation hub, Sherman wished to keep proceeding down South. Sherman began his trek to the sea in November, and marched on for 5 weeks, destroying everything in his path. On December 22, 1964, General William T. Sherman sent a telegram to President Lincoln announcing the Union’s capture of the city of Savannah, ending his infamous March to the Sea. The telegram stated "I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about 25,000 bales of cotton." His journey devastated the Confederacy and diminished its hopes of a victory over the Union. In addition to weakening the Confederate militia and costing Georgia millions in damage, it sparked the hope within many of the slaves to gain freedom. Furthermore, this act prompted many slaves to rebel against their owners and escape towards the Union. Some acts of rebellion included breaking tools used for work, setting fire to buildings, faking illness and slowing down work. This march was one of the key factors which greatly accelerated the process to ban slavery.