Atlanta, Georgia, was burned during Sherman’s March to the Sea in the American Civil War.

During Sherman’s March to the Sea in the American Civil War, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman captured and burned the city of Atlanta, Georgia, in November 1864. Atlanta, a key Confederate transportation hub, was targeted for its strategic railroads and industrial resources. Before beginning his infamous march to Savannah, Sherman ordered the destruction of military assets and infrastructure in Atlanta, resulting in widespread fires that devastated much of the city. This act was part of Sherman’s strategy of total war, aiming to demoralize the Confederacy and cripple its ability to sustain the war effort. Atlanta's destruction remains a pivotal moment in Civil War history.