The Atlanta Campaign
-May 1864: 100,000 men led by Sherman headed towards Atlanta (an important
industrial and rail centre).
-Johnson (Confederate opponent), who had 70,000 men, retreated. His plan hinged on
taking a strong defensive position and waiting for the enemy to attack him.
-July 1864: Union forces reached the outskirts of Atlanta.
-Johnson had been replaced with John Bell Hood. He was a brave fighter who had lost an
arm at Gettysburg and a leg at Chickamauga. However, he had little skill as a
commander.
-He was ‘All lion, none of the fox’. A series of attacks on the Union led to the loss of
20,000 Confederates.
-Sherman drew close to the city and planned to capture the city by cutting its railroads
and starving Hood out.
-Union troops had cut the line running east. Cavalry in Alabama had damaged the line to
Montgomery, and as a result, only the Macon and Western Railroad kept Hood’s army
supplied.
-Sherman’s movements west of the city tried to cut that railroad.
-This led to battles at Ezra Church (28th July) and Utoy Creek (5-7th August).
-During August, Hood extended his lines whilst Sherman’s artillery bombaded the city.
-The railroad was never cut, despite multiple attempts.
-25th August: Sherman sent most of his infantry 17 miles south of Atlanta, determined to
cut the railroad.
-31st August: Union troops reached it. Their arrival and victory there effectively cut the
last life line to Atlanta.
-1st September: Hood forced to abandon Atlanta.
-2nd September: The city surrendered to Federal forces.
-The capture was an important boost to Union morale.
-Casualties: 34,500 Union and 35,000 Confederate.
-May 1864: 100,000 men led by Sherman headed towards Atlanta (an important
industrial and rail centre).
-Johnson (Confederate opponent), who had 70,000 men, retreated. His plan hinged on
taking a strong defensive position and waiting for the enemy to attack him.
-July 1864: Union forces reached the outskirts of Atlanta.
-Johnson had been replaced with John Bell Hood. He was a brave fighter who had lost an
arm at Gettysburg and a leg at Chickamauga. However, he had little skill as a
commander.
-He was ‘All lion, none of the fox’. A series of attacks on the Union led to the loss of
20,000 Confederates.
-Sherman drew close to the city and planned to capture the city by cutting its railroads
and starving Hood out.
-Union troops had cut the line running east. Cavalry in Alabama had damaged the line to
Montgomery, and as a result, only the Macon and Western Railroad kept Hood’s army
supplied.
-Sherman’s movements west of the city tried to cut that railroad.
-This led to battles at Ezra Church (28th July) and Utoy Creek (5-7th August).
-During August, Hood extended his lines whilst Sherman’s artillery bombaded the city.
-The railroad was never cut, despite multiple attempts.
-25th August: Sherman sent most of his infantry 17 miles south of Atlanta, determined to
cut the railroad.
-31st August: Union troops reached it. Their arrival and victory there effectively cut the
last life line to Atlanta.
-1st September: Hood forced to abandon Atlanta.
-2nd September: The city surrendered to Federal forces.
-The capture was an important boost to Union morale.
-Casualties: 34,500 Union and 35,000 Confederate.
