DK - The American Civil War

SHERMAN’S ADVANCE TO ATLANTA

While the fall of Atlanta led to despair in

the South, it sparked elation in the North.

But Sherman’s campaign in Georgia was

not over. His next goal was the port of

Savannah on the Atlantic coast.

LINCOLN’S RE-ELECTION

Not the news of Farragut’s sealing of Mobile

Bay ❮❮ 286–87, nor that of Sheridan’s

conquest of the Shenandoah Valley

❮❮ 268–69, indeed none of the good tidings for

the North from 1864’s fall of Union victories

eclipsed the news of Sherman’s capture of

Atlanta. It had an electrifying effect on the North,

and though Grant and Lee were still entrenched

before Petersburg ❮❮ 274–75, Lincoln’s

chances for re-election ❮❮ 236–37 soared.

MARCH TO THE SEA

When Sherman occupied Atlanta, he continued

the devastation begun by the Confederates

themselves. Throughout October he built up

supplies, and when he rode out of the city in

November he embarked on a trail of

destruction across Georgia 296–97 ❯❯,

to prove to the Southerners the futility of

further resistance.

GRAND CONFEDERATE PLANS

After evacuating Atlanta, Hood planned to take

the Army of Tennessee north into Tennessee,

cut Sherman’s communications, and either

invade the North or cross the mountains to

reinforce Lee at Petersburg. But his grandiose

plans foundered at the disastrous battles of

Franklin and Nashville 300–301 ❯❯.

engaged in a war of skirmishing. “The
picket firing never ceased, day nor
night,” recalled one soldier.

The final act
In late August, the Union army slipped
out of its trenches at night and
seemingly disappeared. At first baffled,
Hood then discovered that his enemy
had marched around the city and was
approaching the Macon & Western
Railroad at Jonesboro, 15 miles (24km)
to the south. Desperately, Hood sought
to counter the movement, but two days
of fruitless assaults only resulted in
thousands more Confederates being
killed or maimed. The railroad was cut,
and Atlanta was doomed.
Throughout the night of September 1,
1864, as Hood’s army evacuated the city,
the sky glowed red as flames devoured
the supplies and depots they left behind.
Nearly 80 freight cars of ammunition
were burned; the din of their detonation
continued for five hours. Ashes still
drifted over the city when Sherman, on
September 3, wired the president,
“Atlanta is ours, and fairly won!”

AFTER
The Atlanta Campaign
It took the Union armies nearly three months to
fight their way through northern Georgia to the heavily
fortified city of Atlanta, where Sherman’s advance was
temporarily halted. The Union victory at Jonesboro
sealed the city’s fate as its rail links were severed.

“... all the thunders of the

universe seemed to be blazing

and roaring over Atlanta.”

WALLACE PUTNAM REED, NEWSPAPERMAN AND HISTORIAN, 1886

The Battle of Atlanta
Also called the Battle of Decatur, the pivotal July 22, 1864,
engagement outside Atlanta was depicted in the 1880s,
on one of the largest painted cycloramas in the world.

Rough-and-Ready

Dallas

Cartersville

Rome Kingston Cassville

Allatoona

Marietta

Adairsville

Resaca

Palmetta

Atlanta

Jonesboro

Decatur

Kennesaw

Mountain

(^) Peacht
ree Creek
Oo
sto
nau
la^ R
ive
r
Eto
wa
h^ Rive
r
Macon &
Western Railroad
Wes
tern
(^) & (^) A
tla
nti
c
Rail
roa
d
Georgia
Railroad
HOOD
JOHNSTON
THOMAS
THOMAS
McPHERSON
SCHOFIELD
HOWARD
HARDEE
POLK
SHERMAN
SHERMAN
Chattanooga
② May 25–26:
Sherman’s attempt
to outmaneuver
Johnston is thwarted
at New Hope Church
① May 13–15: Battle
of Resaca. Johnston
withdraws after his
position is turned
③ Jun 27: Johnston’s defensive
lines withstand Union attacks, but
Confederates again withdraw
⑤ Jul 20: Hood takes
the offensive at Peachtree
Creek, but the attack is
launched too late
⑨ Aug 31: Hood sends
Hardee to counter Sherman’s
move, but he is defeated
near Jonesboro
④ Jul 17: Jefferson
Davis replaces
Johnston with Hood
⑦ Jul 28:
Howard’s forces,
dug in at Ezra
Church, defeat
Confederate attack
⑧ Aug 25: Sherman sends
most of his troops to cut
remaining rail links to Atlanta
KEY
Union troop movement
Confederate troop movement
Confederate defenses
Union victory
Confederate victory
Inconclusive battle
⑩ Sep 1:
Confederates
abandon
Atlanta
⑥ Jul 22:
Confederates
suffer heavy
losses at Decatur
0 km
0 miles 10 20
10 20
N