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In the month of November until December 21, 1864, Union General William T. Sherman led over 60,000 soldiers on a 285- mile march from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia. Also called the "March of the Sea" was to frighten Georgia's civilian population into leaving the Confederacy. Sherman and his soldiers did not destroy any of the towns they passed but stole food and burned houses of the people who tried to fight back.(History.com) The Union Commander was of course William T. Sherman and his objective was to, and I quote, "to make Georgia Howl." This is saying that he wants Georgia to become part of the Union. The Confederate commander was John Bell Hood, who abandoned Atlanta and went to Tennessee with the Confederate army and instead of fighting Sherman, Hood went west to Alabama, abandoning Georgia to Union forces. Hood wanted Sherman to invade Tenessee. Sherman, however sent Major General Georger H.Thomas to Nashville to deal with Hood.(Historynet.com) Sherman divided his 60,000 troops into two roughly equal wings. The right wing was under Oliver O. Howard. Peter J. Osterhaus commanded the 15th Corps, and Francis P. Blair Jr. commanded the 17th corps. The left wing was commanded by Henry W. Slocum. The two wings advanced by seperate routes, generally staying twenty miles to forty miles apart. The right wing headed for Macon, the left wing in the direction of Augusta. Tehy now headed for the state capital at Milledgeville. After the battle, Sherman and his army had won. Sherman's March frightended and appalled most Southerners. Sherman had terrorized the countryside. Much damage for the state of Georgia was recorded.(georgiaencyclopedia.org) This battle is important in the Civil War because it introduces new Commanders and Generals. It also shows that the Union beat the Confederate which was the outcome of the whole Civil War.