Battle of Atlanta
The Battle of Atlanta was a pivotal engagement during the American Civil War that took place in July and August of 1864. Led by Union General William T. Sherman, the battle aimed to capture the strategically important city of Atlanta, which was crucial for Confederate supply lines. On July 18, Sherman advanced toward Atlanta, deploying multiple columns to disrupt railroads and directly assault the city. The Confederate commander, General John Bell Hood, attempted to defend Atlanta and engaged Union forces at Peachtree Creek and Bald Hill, but these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
As the battle progressed, Sherman shifted his tactics to encircle and cut off Atlanta's supply routes, engaging in further confrontations, including a notable clash at Ezra Church on July 28. In late August, after prolonged fighting, Sherman began withdrawing from the siege to focus on destroying the city's rail connections. Hood's aggressive response at Jonesboro resulted in significant losses for the Confederate forces, leading to Hood's abandonment of Atlanta on September 1. The fall of Atlanta marked a major turning point in the war, impacting both military strategy and public sentiment in the North.
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Battle of Atlanta
Type of action: Four ground battles around Atlanta in the American Civil War
Date: July 20-September 2, 1864
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Combatants: 100,000 Union vs. 50,000 Confederate forces
Principal commanders:Union, William T. Sherman (1820–1891); Confederate, John Bell Hood (1831–1879)
Result: Atlanta, with its four essential railroads, was lost to the Confederacy
On July 18, William T. Sherman approached Atlanta from the north and sent two of three columns east of the city to destroy railroads and the third and largest column directly toward the city. On July 20 and 22, John Bell Hood, with orders to defend the city and to halt Sherman’s advance, surprised the largest column at Peachtree Creek and one of the smaller ones at Bald Hill.
Although both assaults failed, Sherman realized that Hood would fight and shifted his advance westward and south toward Jonesboro to eliminate the remaining railroads. His methodical advance, which included entrenchment, was halted west of the city at Ezra Church on July 28. There, as he had the previous week, Hood attempted unsuccessfully to cripple the advancing column.
Significance
In late August, Sherman abandoned the siege and withdrew west of Jonesboro, intent on destroying Atlanta’s rail connections with Alabama. Hood ordered the majority of his army to attack Jonesboro on August 29. The two-day battle, involving a small part of Sherman’s army, was devastating to the Confederate forces. On September 1, Hood abandoned the city.
Bibliography
Castel, Albert. Decision in the West. Lawrence: University of Kansas, 1992.
Hoehling, A. A. Last Train from Atlanta. New York: Yoseloff, 1958.
Savas, Theodore, and David Woodbury, eds. The Campaign for Atlanta. 2 vols. Campbell, Calif: Savas-Woodbury, 1992.
Strayer, Larry, and Richard Baumgartner. Echoes of Battle: The Atlanta Campaign. Huntington, W.Va.: Blue Acorn, 1991.