Why was sherman forced to split his force after taking atlanta?

After capturing Atlanta in September 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman was compelled to split his forces to achieve his strategic objective of waging total war against the Confederacy. He aimed to disrupt Confederate supply lines and infrastructure by conducting a march to the sea, which required a diversion of troops. Splitting his forces allowed him to both secure his supply lines and create diversions, thereby confusing the enemy and reducing the risk of a concentrated counterattack. This strategy ultimately facilitated his successful campaign through Georgia and into the Carolinas.