The fighting 271
John A. Logan, a former Democratic congressman from
Illinois, proved to be one of the truly exceptional politictan-
generals of the Civil War. An excellent brigade and division
commander, Logan earned the trust and respect of Grant
and Sherman. The XV Corps commander, he filled in as
army commander in the Battle of Atlanta when McPherson
was killed, Logan commanded the XV Corps for the
remainder of the war. (bbrary of Congress)
rode into advancing Confederates and was
shot and killed. Major-General John A.
Logan, probably the best of the political
generals on the Union side, replaced the
fallen leader and repulsed the assault. When
Sherman then swung to the southeast,
stretching for the Macon & Western
Railroad, Hood struck once more at Ezra
Church. The new commander of the Army of
the Tennessee, a pious, one-armed West
Pointer named Oliver Otis Howard, repelled
the attack. In three battles over six days,
Hood had done what Davis had asked him to
do: fight. But in the process, he had suffered
two and a half times as many casualties as
Sherman's army, and he was in a worse
position to hold on to Atlanta.
At the Battle of Atlanta Hood attempted to roll up the
Union flank. Federals observed the wide flanking
movement, but Rebel delays misled Federal troops
into believing that no attack would occur Hardee's
men drove the Union forces back, but Federals
eventually counterattacked and held the line.
Major-General James McPherson was killed while
riding to the sound of gunfire, and Major-General
John A. Logan oversaw the victory. (Ann Ronan
Picture Library)