“Sherman's March to the Sea”
Description
"Our campfires shone bright on those mountains That frowned on the river below... When a rider came out of the darkness... And shouted... 'Sherman will march to the sea.'" The Atlanta campaign and the March to the Sea are briefly retold
Historical references
- May 13-16, 1864 - William T. Sherman attacks J. E. Johnston's army at Resaca on the way from Tennessee to Atlanta. Sherman failed to move Johnston's army, but forced the Confederates to fall back by threatening their supply line
- June 27, 1864 - Battle of Kenesaw Mountain. For the first (and only) time in the Atlanta campaign, Sherman tried a direct assault on Johnston's lines. It failed bloodily. Sherman then once again levered Johnston out of his lines by maneuver
- (July 17, 1864 - Jefferson Davis relieves Johnston and replaces him with the more aggressive but less competent John Bell Hood. Hood's attacking strategy cost his army severely and by July 25 left him besieged in Atlanta)
- Sept 1, 1864 - Hood evacuates Atlanta
- Nov 15, 1864 - Sherman splits his army into two parts. One, under Thomas, was to defend Atlanta, while Sherman took nearly 60,000 men on the "March to the Sea"
- Dec 10, 1864 - Sherman's forces reach Savannah
- Dec 21, 1864 - Sherman captures Savannah
Cross references
- cf. "Rosin the Beau" (tune) and references there
References
- Scott-BoA, pp. 248-250, "Sherman's March to the Sea" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Hill-CivWar, pp. 206-207, "Sherman's March to the Sea" (1 text)
- DT, SHERMSEA*
- Roud #17738
- BI, SBoA248