This verdict was soon justified by events.

In January, 1865, Wilmington, North Carolina, was at last captured by a combined sea and land attack.

Grant, though since midsummer, 1864, held in check by Lee before Petersburg, was yet known to be constantly increasing the strength of his army, while his ability to strike when the time came was made evident by the freedom with which his cavalry scoured the country about the Confederate capital, Richmond--in one raid even completely encircling that city.
Steadily Lee's army lost strength by the attrition of the siege, by illness and, what was worse, by desertion since no forces could be spared from the fighting front to recover and punish the deserters.
Grant waited for the approach of spring, when, with the advance northwards of the army at Savannah, the pincers could be applied to Lee, to end, it was hoped, in writing _finis_ to the war.
From December 20, 1864, to February 1, 1865, Sherman remained in Savannah, renewing by sea the strength of his army.

On the latter date he moved north along the coast, meeting at first no resistance and easily overrunning the country.

Columbia, capital of South Carolina, was burned.