Why did William Tecumseh Sherman order Atlanta civilians to evacuate after the city's capture?

After capturing Atlanta in September 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman ordered the evacuation of approximately 3,000 civilians from the city. His primary motivation for this action was to repurpose the vacated homes to serve as living quarters for his soldiers during the Union occupation.1

Sherman’s decision was part of a broader strategic approach to the American Civil War. By securing Atlanta—a vital Confederate railroad, manufacturing, and supply hub—he sought to neutralize the city's utility to the Confederacy. Following the evacuation and his subsequent departure for the March to the Sea, Sherman ordered the destruction of buildings with military or industrial value to further cripple Confederate resources and undermine the morale of the Southern population.123