William Hardee, commanding the small Confederate force defending Savannah on the Atlantic coast, issues orders for his troops to evacuate the city in the face of overwhelming Federal numbers.
Tag: William Hardee
Savannah is Doomed
William T. Sherman’s Federal armies assume attack positions outside Savannah, hoping to capture this vital port city on the Atlantic coast and complete their march to the sea.
Federals Target Savannah
The capture of Fort McAllister gives William T. Sherman’s Federals an unlimited supply line via the ocean and enables them to shift their focus to the key city of Savannah.
Federals Target Fort McAllister
William T. Sherman’s Federal armies surround Savannah and prepare to attack Fort McAllister, which blocks Sherman to establish communication with the Federal naval fleet.
Federals Close in on Savannah
Main elements of William T. Sherman’s Federal armies arrive on the outskirts of Savannah after cutting a path of destruction through Georgia from Atlanta to the sea. Sherman resolves to lay siege to the city, while Confederates work desperately to fortify defenses.
Confederates Defiant in Georgia
Georgia Governor Joseph E. Brown issues a proclamation urging all able-bodied men between the ages of 16 and 55 to form militias and oppose William T. Sherman’s Federal march through the state.