Ulysses S. Grant and Sherman believed that the war would only end if the Confederacy lost its economy as well as its desire for war. Sherman planned to destroy everything in his path in a style similar to scorched earth warfare.
In order for the plan to work, Sherman and his army could not be tied to traditional supply lines. Instead, he and his men lived off the land by foraging liberally. Sherman was met with little resistance until November 22, when the Battle of Griswoldville took place.
On December 10, Sherman arrived in Savannah but was unable to enter the town due to entrenched men protecting it. In order to take the town, Sherman needed to connect with the Navy and this was completed by the 17th. On that day, Sherman sent a message to the city, demanding surrender. Instead of surrendering, the Confederate soldiers fled and left the town to surrender on its own. Sherman notified President Lincoln via telegram about his Christmas gift of Savannah.
During the march, African American refugees flocked to Sherman, causing him to issue Special Field Orders No. 15, also known as "40 acres and a mule," since he assigned them land. However, after the war, the land given to the African Americans was confiscated and restored to its former owners.
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