Georgia in the American Civil War

Georgia's Civil War history unfolded across numerous battlefields, military fortifications, and garrison towns scattered throughout the state's landscape. Today, visitors can explore multiple preserved sites, some now part of larger park systems with visitor centers and marked trails.

The state joined the Confederacy in 1861 as part of the initial wave of secession and became a major source of soldiers and supplies for the southern war effort. Beginning in 1863, the arrival of northern armies brought sustained combat and extensive damage to its territory.

Communities across the state still mark and remember the Civil War through monuments, ceremonies, and local institutions dedicated to preserving its stories. These places show how the conflict shaped the identity and collective memory of Georgia's people.

Many battlefields and forts are open to the public with modest admission fees, and most offer visitor centers with maps and explanatory displays. Spring and fall provide the most comfortable visiting conditions, with milder weather and fewer crowds at major sites.

General Sherman's military campaign in 1864 brought a large northern army marching through the state and deliberately destroying infrastructure as part of a new strategy. This movement from Atlanta toward the coast fundamentally changed how warfare was conducted in the final years of the conflict.

Part of: history of Georgia

GPS coordinates: 33.00000,-83.50000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:21