Sherman's March to the Sea was a 19th century Earth military campaign that occurred during the American Civil War. The March was led by its namesake, Major General Sherman of the Union Army.
The premise of the March was to destroy the military and civilian infrastructure of the former Southern United States of America. The March began in the summer of 1864 in Atlanta and ended when the Army reached the Atlantic Ocean just before the end of the year.
Among the battles fought, en route, was the Battle of Pine Mountain, which included the 102nd New York Infantry, commanded by Colonel Thaddius "Old Iron Boots" Riker.
Thaddius Riker's descendant, William T. Riker recalled Sherman's March when describing the history behind the image of Thaddius Riker, and an unknown soldier who saved him during the battle. (VOY: "Death Wish")