The object of destruction during General Sherman's March to the Sea was primarily to break the South's will to fight. This military campaign, which took place in 1864 during the American Civil War, was led by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman. The march involved devastating tactics aimed at destroying the economic and psychological resources of the Confederacy.
1. **Breaking the South's will to fight:** Sherman's main goal was to inflict such severe damage on the South's infrastructure, resources, and morale that it would cripple the Confederacy's ability and willingness to continue the war. By targeting civilian property, railroads, and industrial centers, Sherman aimed to undermine the Southern population's support for the war effort.
2. **Creating psychological impact:** The destruction caused by Sherman's army was meant to demoralize the Southern population and demonstrate the overwhelming power of the Union forces. This psychological impact was intended to weaken the resolve of the Confederate soldiers and civilians, hastening the end of the war.
While finding supplies for the Union army was a practical aspect of the march, the primary objective was strategic in nature, focusing on weakening the Confederacy both militarily and psychologically.
