Battle of Atlanta

Overview

The Battle of Atlanta took place during the Atlanta campaign of the American Civil War on July 22, 1864, just southeast of Atlanta, Georgia. Continuing their summer campaign to seize the important rail and supply hub of Atlanta, Union forces commanded by William T. Sherman overwhelmed and defeated Confederate forces defending the city under John B. Hood. Union Major General James B. McPherson was killed during the battle, the second-highest-ranking Union officer killed in action during the war. Despite the implication of finality in its name, the battle occurred midway through the Atlanta campaign, and the city did not fall until September 2, 1864, after a Union siege and various attempts to seize railroads and supply lines leading to Atlanta. After taking the city, Sherman's troops headed south-southeastward toward Milledgeville, the state capital, and on to Savannah with the March to the Sea.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864, was a Confederate offensive attempt to break Sherman's encircling Union forces southeast of Atlanta during the Atlanta campaign. Despite fielding a larger force, Confederate troops under Hood were overwhelmed and suffered casualties roughly 40 percent higher than the Union forces engaged. The battle did not end the campaign—Atlanta itself did not fall until September 2, 1864, following a Union siege and sustained efforts to sever the railroads and supply lines feeding the city. The engagement is also notable for the death of Union Major General James B. McPherson, the second-highest-ranking Union officer killed in action during the war. Once Atlanta fell, Sherman's army moved south-southeastward through Milledgeville toward Savannah in the March to the Sea, a campaign that would further fracture Confederate logistical capacity and territorial cohesion. The battle thus marked a significant but intermediate step in Union efforts to capture a critical Confederate rail and supply hub.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (4)