William T. Sherman did not specifically want to attack Columbia. Sherman's objective was to conduct his famous "March to the Sea" campaign during the American Civil War. As part of this campaign, his target was the city of Atlanta, which he captured in September 1864. After the fall of Atlanta, Sherman wanted to continue his destructive march through Georgia to the coast, ultimately reaching Savannah. The purpose of this campaign was to destroy Confederate infrastructure, resources, and morale. Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, was on the path toward Savannah, so it became a target for Sherman's army. However, the actual burning and destruction of Columbia was unintended, as it resulted from a combination of factors including Union soldiers' undisciplined behavior, fires set by both sides, and accidents.
