The Atlanta Campaign
May 7-September 2, 1864

On the same day (4 May) that the Union's great eastern army (Army of the Potomac) crossed the Rapidan River and plunged into the Virginia Wilderness, the North's other major force, the western armies of MG William Tecumseh Sherman, marched out of Chattanooga, TN bound for the Georgia heartland and the South's vital industrial center and second city - Atlanta. Defending northern Georgia was the Confederate Army of Tennessee (43,000 men soon to be reinforced to 65,000+ men) with its new commander GEN Joseph E. Johnston. GEN Johnston and President Jefferson Davis had been at odds over rank seniority and other military issues since the first year of the War, and it was a reluctant Davis that chose Johnston to replace the discredited GEN Braxton Bragg after his disastrous defeat at Chattanooga in November 1863. Once the Army of Tennessee was broken-up, Grant ordered Sherman to penetrate the southern interior and destroy the Confederacy's war resources. To implement this ambitious plan Sherman directed a massive army group (about 100,000 troops and over 250 cannon) comprised of: the Army of the Cumberland (60,000+ men - MG George H. Thomas, commanding), the Army of the Tennessee (24,000+ men - MG James B. McPherson, commanding), and the Army of the Ohio (13,500+ men - MG John M. Schofield, commanding). Blocking this Federal onslaught would be very difficult. The outnumbered and comparatively ill-equipped Army of Tennessee (augmented by LTG Leonidas Polk's Corps from the Army of Mississippi - 13-14 May) would rely upon the delaying, defensive strategy of its experienced and ever-cautious commander. Indeed, during the early battles on the road to Atlanta, fought over the rocky, mountainous terrain of north Georgia, both commanding generals would wage a resourceful and masterful campaign of maneuver. Beginning with a series of flanking movements, each against the Confederate left after "fixing" or holding the Army of Tennessee's front, Sherman skillfully forced Johnston to withdraw south from defensive positions at Rocky Face Ridge (7-12 May) and Resaca (13-15 May). A well-planned Confederate counterattack, to defeat the pursuing Federal columns "in detail" near Cassville, was foiled by an erroneous report of large Union forces on the southern flank and rear. Late in May, Sherman left the security of his railway supply line, bypassing Johnston's strong defenses at Allatoona Pass, and headed toward the mountains northwest of Marietta. Both armies were now entrenching and constructing extensive breastworks at the end of each day's march, making frontal assaults extremely costly; nevertheless, sharp fighting occurred at New Hope Church, Pickett's Mill, and Dallas (25-29 May) where substantial casualties were incurred on both sides. Throughout much of June the two forces moved gradually eastward, reestablishing contact with their railway supply lines near Marietta, less that 20 miles from Atlanta. Although heavy rains fell during mid-June, the Federals increased the pressure on the Confederates with constant skirmishing and long-range artillery fire. On 14 June corps commander LTG Leonidas Polk, the Confederacy's popular "Bishop-General", was killed at Pine Mountain. By 18 June Johnston had decided to pull-back the Army of Tennessee to very strong entrenchments along the crest of Big and Little Kennesaw Mountains and running south to Olley's Creek. Beyond Kennesaw Mountain flowed the Chattahoochee River, the last natural impediment on Sherman's heretofore methodical drive for Atlanta. On the morning of 27 June the Federal command, departing from tactical flanking movements, ordered a frontal assault against these formidable Confederate earthworks. The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, the largest engagement of the campaign to date, was a sobering defeat for Sherman. But even this costly lesson would not long delay his inexorable march through Georgia. Johnston, remaining fearful of being out-flanked and now aware that additional reinforcements were unlikely, continued to give ground in the face of relentless Federal probing, skirmishing, and turning movements. Soon (8-9 July) the Army of Tennessee abandoned the Chattahoochee River Line for prepared works on the outskirts of Atlanta. Over the course of the last two months Richmond had become increasingly annoyed by Johnston's Fabian tactics. And after a visit to Georgia by GEN Braxton Bragg, Pres. Davis' senior military adviser, the popular and crafty Johnston was relieved (17 July) of command. Aggressive but impulsive John Bell Hood, temporarily promoted to GEN, took over. Hood's immediate assault (20 July) on Thomas' Army of the Cumberland, was repulsed at the Battle of Peachtree Creek (flows into the Chattahoochee near Atlanta), and the Confederates pulled back into the city's inner defenses. Two days later (22 July) Hood ordered Hardee's Corps on a night flanking march to envelop the Union left. Unable to sustain this second surprise counterattack, known as the Battle of Atlanta, Hardee's troops retired to their fortifications. During the battle MG James B. McPherson, commanding general of the Army of the Tennessee, and Sherman's favorite lieutenant, became the sole Federal department commander to fall in combat. MG John A. "Blackjack" Logan, a very capable "political" general, assumed immediate control of the army, but permanent command passed to professional soldier MG Oliver O. Howard on 27 July. For a third time (28 July) Hood mustered an advance. On this occasion it was against Union infantry (Army of the Tennessee) threatening the last open rail line into Atlanta. And for a third time, at the Battle of Ezra Church, 2 miles west of the city, the Confederates were thwarted, but the rail line remained open. In nine days Hood's three futile counterattacks had produced little more than substantial casualties - 15,000 to the Union's 6,000. Now content to open siege operations, the Federal army group began to bombard the city. In late August, Sherman sent the Army of the Tennessee and the Army of the Ohio on a great wheeling movement to the south where they finally cut the last remaining rail line between Atlanta and central Georgia (Battle of Jonesborough or Jonesboro 31 August-1 September). With his communications and supply lines severed, Hood evacuated the city (1 September) in order to save his army. On 2 September the Union armies entered the "Gate City of the South." Sherman telegraphed Washington: "...Atlanta is ours; and fairly won." The triumphant campaign for Atlanta lifted northern morale and considerably helped the Republican cause. In the Presidential Election of 1864 - President Lincoln would defeat Democrat, and former commander of the Army of the Potomac, MG George B. McClellan on 8 November. Estimated Casualties: Union - 31,700; Confederate - 34,900.

Notes:

  1. Numbers in parentheses reflect estimated strength of armies or units.

  2. Estimated casualty figures are totals for killed, wounded, missing in action, and taken prisoner.

  3. Alternative names of battles and campaigns appear in parentheses.

  4. Military and naval rank abbreviations in text: LT - Lieutenant, CPT - Captain, MAJ - Major, LTC - Lieutenant Colonel, CDR - Commander (Navy), COL - Colonel, BG - Brigadier General, MG - Major General, RADM - Rear Admiral (Navy), LTG - Lieutenant General, VADM - Vice Admiral (Navy), and GEN - General.

  5. Army Organization: Although authorized and actual strength and the rank of the commanding officer often varied, the standard military unit during the War was the infantry regiment (1,000 men, COL commanding) which was comprised of 10 companies (100 men each, CPT commanding). 3-4 Regiments = 1 Brigade (3,000-4000 men, BG commanding). 3 (sometimes 4) Brigades = 1 Division (9000-12,000 men, BG or MG commanding). 2-4 (usually 3) Divisions = 1 Corps (18,000-24,000+ men, MG - North and MG or LTG -South commanding). 2 or more Corps = An Army (usually 20,000-100,000+ men - MG, LTG, or GEN commanding). 2 or more Armies = An Army Group (usually 100,000+ men - MG, LTG, or GEN commanding).

Sources:

Photographs courtesy of The Generals of the American Civil War Website.

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