What was sherman's march to the sea, and why is it important?

Sherman's March to the Sea was led by Union General William t. Sherman. He led 60,000 soldier from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia to frighten the civilian population into abandoning the Confederate cause. They didn't burn any towns, houses, or barns but instead stole food and livestock. This allows the old and young, rich and the poor to feel the hard hand of war and for them to know the Yankee were not fighting just the hostile armies but the hostile people. When they had arrived in Savannah on December 21, 1864 it was undefended because all of the soldier had already fled farther south. Sherman had presented the town as a Christmas gilf to President Lincoln. They then marched on to Charleston, South Carolina in 1865. Come April, the Confederacy surrendered and the war was over. It's important because it broke southern morale. It allowed for the north swoop in and take their final stands to make the Confederacy back down. In a way it could be considered a minor but important turning point of the war.