In May of 1864, Sherman made a plan to capture Atlanta. This capture would be beneficial for the North because it insured Lincoln's reelection and would increase the Northern support for the war. Also, it would mean that they could take destroy all the South's major railroad lines which would make it harder for the South to get supplies. His plan was to burn Atlanta then march all the way from there to Savannah, destroying everything in his path. This march was risky because the soldiers would have little to no supplies and no communication with other Union commanders. Historians look at his method of war as "total war" and very personal, because Sherman and his soldiers would raid people's houses and steal all of their crops and anything worth value, right in front of their faces. This march ended up being very successful and on April 26, 1865, Joseph Johnston surrendered to William Sherman.
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