Atlanta, Georgia
July 20-August 31, 1864
In the spring of 1864 Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman had amassed a force of 100,000 men in three groups just below Chattanooga: Gen. George Thomas commanded 61,000 troops in the Army of the Cumberland, Gen. James B. McPherson had 25,000 troops in what had been Sherman's Army of the Tennessee, and Gen. John M. Schofield led about 14,000 men in the Army of the Ohio. With Schofield on the left flank, McPherson on the right flank, and Thomas up the middle, they advanced on Confederate positions in early May. For two months Gen. Joseph E. Johnston skillfully maneuvered his Confederate forces, avoiding an open and sustained battle with Sherman's juggernaut while slowing the advance on Atlanta. Finally on July 9 Johnston withdrew behind Peachtree Creek, a few miles north of the city (see map 1). Fearing that Johnston might take flight and abandon Atlanta, Jefferson Davis relieved him and placed Gen. John Bell Hood in command. Thomas crossed Peachtree Creek on July 20 and Hood was forced back into the Atlanta defenses after suffering heavy casualties (4,800 men compared to 1,700 Federals). Following the battle of Peachtree Creek, Hood decided to attack McPherson’s Army of the Tennessee (see map 2). He withdrew his main army from Atlanta’s outer line to the inner line, enticing Sherman to follow. In the meantime, he sent William J. Hardee with his corps on a 15-mile march to hit the unprotected Union left flank and rear, east of the city. Wheeler’s cavalry was to operate farther out on Sherman’s supply line, and Frank Cheatham’s corps was to attack the Union front. Although Hood had outmaneuvered Sherman for the time being, McPherson sent his reserves to protect his left flank. Two of Hood’s divisions ran into this reserve force and were repulsed. The Rebel attack stalled on the Union rear but began to roll up the left flank. Around the same time, a Confederate soldier shot and killed McPherson when he rode out to observe the fighting. Determined attacks continued, but the Union forces held. About 4:00 p.m., Cheatham’s corps broke through the Union front at the Hurt House, but Sherman massed twenty artillery pieces on a knoll near his headquarters to shell these Confederates and halt their drive. A counterattack restored the Union line and the Federals held, inflicting high casualties on Hood's defensive lines. Rather than drive head-on into the Confederate defenses, Sherman circled around to the south and severed the rails, cutting the city's lifelines. To avoid being trapped, Hood evacuated Atlanta on September 1. In the end, the Confederates lost 8,500 men compared to Federal casualties of 3,640. Sherman occupied the city from September to November and then headed for Savannah with 62,000 hardened troops, cutting a path of destruction through the heart of the Confederacy.
© 2004 David C. Hanson, Virginia Western Community College
