Atlanta was the second largest city in the South(behind New Orleans). It was a major hub or point of intersection for railroads making it important for distribution of supplies,etc. so it was an important military objective.
In late August of 1864, US General William T. Sherman mounted a siege on Atlanta, Georgia. Union artillery shelled the city, and raids were sent west and south of Atlanta in order to cut supply lines from Macon, Georgia. On August 31, Union forces took control of the railway that led to Macon. Confederate troops had evacuated the city and Atlanta surrendered on September 2, 1864. Capturing this major Southern city which had railway links to other parts of the South was important. The city was a large one and losing it was a terrible blow to the Confederacy. The military victory there was more than just that. It had political ramifications as well. Northern attitudes toward continuing the war were shifting away from US President Lincoln. He feared he would lose the November, 1864 presidential election. When news of the fall of Atlanta was heard in the North, many doubters of the president believed that perhaps the end of the war was near. This help to give Lincoln a wide victory over Democrat George B. McClellan in November.
,m
Union General had an army of 100,000 troops on May 7, 1864 as he prepared for his drive to capture Atlanta, Georgia.
The Battle of Atlanta, part of the American Civil War, occurred on July 22, 1864. The result of the battle was a victory for the Union.
General Tecumseh Sherman, was the Union General who ransacked the South, all the way to the sea. He took over the Union Campaign in the west after General Ulysses S. Grant took over command of the Union Army, or the Army of the Potomac.
The main goal of the Union in the capture of Atlanta was to disable its railway network, cut off supplies going to Confederate general Johnston's army, and occupy a major Confederate city. By doing so and occupying Atlanta for over a month, Sherman dealt a psychological blow to the South. The fall of Atlanta, led the way for Sherman to battle on to the port city Savannah, Georgia.
Union General James B. McPherson was killed in battle outside of Atlanta. His death meant that General Sherman would have to find a replacement for the commander of the Army of the Tennessee.
The Union army under William T. Sherman.
George Thomas at Chattanooga. William T. Sherman at Atlanta.
At the Battle of Atlanta, the Union Army had 3,641 causalities and losses. The Confederacy Army had 5,500 casualties and loses at the battle on July 22, 1864.
William T. Sherman.
The Army of Tennessee, commanded by John B. Hood
Union General had an army of 100,000 troops on May 7, 1864 as he prepared for his drive to capture Atlanta, Georgia.
It took over two months
The Union Army won the Battle of Chattanooga. The victory opened the gate for the invasion of Georgia and the campaign for the conquest of Atlanta.
Shiloh Antietam Vicksburg Gettysburg 2nd Chattanooga Atlanta Petersburg
Sherman was the union general in Atlanta.
The Battle of Atlanta, part of the American Civil War, occurred on July 22, 1864. The result of the battle was a victory for the Union.
General Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army advanced from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Atlanta, Georgia. After victory in Atlanta, Sherman ordered the city's evacuation and burning in November 1864.