In December 1864, the American Civil War reached a symbolic turning point when Savannah, Georgia, fell to Union forces. After his devastating March to the Sea, General William Tecumseh Sherman secured the city without major resistance. In a famous message to President Abraham Lincoln, Sherman wrote, “I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah.” The capture provided the Union with a crucial port and shattered Confederate morale. Beyond its military value, Savannah’s fall demonstrated the effectiveness of total war and strengthened Northern resolve, helping hasten the conflict’s inevitable conclusion.