CIVIL WAR - BATTLE OF ATLANTA

Civil War - Battle of Atlanta

Civil War - Battle of Atlanta

Introduction

In the Civil War the main National and Confederate armies remained quiet in their camps after their arrival at the Chattahoochee until the middle of July, 1864. Sherman was 8 miles from the city. On the 17th he resumed offensive and active operations, by throwing Thomas's army across the Chattahoochee, close to Schofield's right, with directions to move forward. McPherson moved against the railway east of Decatur, and destroyed (July 18, 1864) 4 miles of the track. Schofield seized Decatur. At the same time Thomas crossed Peachtree Creek, on the 19th, in the face of the Confederate entrenchments, skirmishing heavily at every step. At this juncture, General Rousseau, who had swept through Alabama and northern Georgia, joined Sherman with 2,000 cavalry (Bragg, 2002).

Discussion

The Battle of Atlanta was fought just southeast of Atlanta. Despite the implication of finality in its name, the battle occurred mid-way through the Atlanta Campaign and the city would not fall for another 6 weeks.

It was fought to the Southeast of Atlanta, and involved a battle over supply and rail facilities and important supply areas for the entire Atlanta region.

It was a battle that despite the finality of the name stretched out for almost six weeks, it was a huge battle the was one of the decisive victories for the Union forces in the Civil War.

Union General Sherman commanded the Western Theatre Union Forces, including the Army of the Tennessee that was led by commanding General James McPherson. McPherson was an aggressive and quick commander, known for swift action and decisive moves in military areas.

The battle was fought around an inverted giant ìLî shape, with the Union Army led by General McPherson and ultimately General Phillip Sherman. During the initial stages of the battle, General McPherson who was known for his bravery and can do spirit, was shot while leading the soldiers out in front, and died nearly instantly.

Seeing their Commanding General killed rallied the Army of the Tennessee, and they fought even harder. Fighting was intense, bloody and featured some of the most gruesome hand to hand fighting of the Civil War.

General Sherman massed 20 artillery cannon and different Artillery weapons arranged around his headquarters and used them very effectively to shell the Confederate soldiers, while Commander Logan and his XV Corps regrouped and smashed the Southern Confederate soldiers, pushing them back and repelling them (Dameron, 2004).

Union Army Casualties numbered nearly 3,700 hundred men, but the Confederate Army lost 8,500, and it was a clear and devastating loss for the Confederate Army forces. Despite this action, they still managed to hold on to Atlanta for a few more weeks, until losing the city later.

Before the battle of Peach Tree Creek, Gen. William T. Sherman ordered his men to advance towards Atlanta. Formed in a semi-circle around the north and east of the city, they began to pressure Gen. John B. Hood, new commander of the Army of ...