It was 150 years ago today that Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith signed the surrender terms offered by Union negotiators, bringing a formal end to the bloodiest four years in U.S. history.

The war began on April 12, 1861, and more than 600,000 Americans died before it was over.

The war truly hit home for Georgians at the end of 1864. From Nov. 15 to Dec. 21, Union Gen. William T. Sherman led 60,000 soldiers on a 285-mile march from Atlanta to Savannah. The purpose of this "March to the Sea" was to frighten Georgia's civilian population into abandoning the Confederate cause.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Security wait times at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ranged from seven to 15 minutes around 3 p.m. Sunday, July 6, 2025, as travelers returned from the long Fourth of July weekend. (Gray Mollenkamp/AJC)

Credit: Gray Mollenkamp

Featured

University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue said joining neighboring states to form a new accreditation agency will “keep Georgia’s universities among the best in the nation." (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz/AJC