Why was Atlanta targeted by the Union army?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

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