Yes it was. I wish I knew of a good account of Sherman's march across Georgia. I've got a great book on the Atlanta campaign itself, but a well-researched book on the march would do a lot towards refuting all the southron myths that are spread about that campaign.
You might pick up Memoirs of W.T. Sherman in your local library. Sherman doesn't try to sugarcoat the destruction he wrought on Georgia and South Carolina at all. In his view it had both psychological and military effects. It took away the secessionists ability to feed, clothe and arm their armies as well as crushing their will to continue.
Brilliant strategy in my book. Much smarter than Lee and Grant who continued the idiocy of standing armies throwing human wave attacks at each other as Lee did at Gettysburg and Grant did at the Wilderness and Cold Harbor.
I've got some good links on my home puter regarding Sherman's campaign through Georgia.
I'll post them when I get off work.