Battle of Atlanta

The Battle of Atlanta was a battle of the Atlanta Campaign fought on July 22, 1864 and in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia. William T. Sherman was the union forces commander and he wanted to capture the city of Atlanta. Sherman burned most of the buildings in the city and after this tragedy Sherman headed south toward Savannah, which began his March to the Sea.

The Confederate General for the Battle of Atlanta was John Bell Hood, who was appointed by President Jefferson Davis, and he had tried time after time again to get General Sherman away from the outskirts of Atlanta. General Hood commanded his troops to attack the Yankees on Bald Hill, but sadly this attack fail. General Hood’s attacked failed for quite a few reasons. One of the reasons what the difficulty in coordination because of the rugged terrain and the attack did not began when expected. Most importantly, one of Sherman’s armies extended their east line, which was unknown to Hood. Hood’s men were unable to hold their positions at the Union line.

The failed attack caused General Sherman to have his hold on the city of Atlanta strengthen. Sherman then led a lengthy march from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia. Union General William T. Sherman led around 60,00 soldier on a 285 mile march from Atlanta, Georgia to Savannah, Georgia, between November 15 and December 21,1864. General Sherman wanted to frighten the civilians of Georgia so much so that they would abandon the Confederate cause. Unfortunately, Sherman’s men stole food, livestock, wrecked bridges, chopped down trees, and burned the houses and barns of those who tried to fight against him.

General Sherman commanded his soldiers to do this act because, he thought if he destroyed these things that the Confederate war effort would collapse and that civilians would demand an end to the war. About three weeks after Sherman's troops left Atlanta they were in Savannah. In early 1865, Sherman and his soldiers left Savannah and burned their way home through South Carolina to Charleston. Sherman began total war in Georgia and it did not finish until him and his men were in Charleston. The total war was brutal, destructive, and deeply hurt Southern morale.