Overview
The Atlanta Campaign was a Union offensive fought in Northern Georgia from May 7 to September 2, 1864. General William T. Sherman led three Union armies from the area near Chattanooga, Tennessee, against the Confederate Army of Tennessee.
Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston responded by using defensive positions and retreats to slow Sherman’s advance. Sherman avoided costly direct attacks by using flanking movements to force Johnston south from Dalton, Resaca, Adairsville, and Allatoona Pass. After Johnston retreated toward Atlanta, Confederate President Jefferson Davis removed him from command on July 17 and replaced him with General John Bell Hood.
Hood used a more aggressive strategy, attacking Union forces at Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Ezra Church, and Jonesborough. Despite these efforts, Sherman continued to threaten Atlanta’s supply lines.
On August 25, Sherman moved infantry units against the main railroad supplying the city. After Hood failed to protect the line near Jonesborough, he evacuated Atlanta on September 1 and burned military stores and installations.
Sherman occupied Atlanta on September 2, giving the Union a major victory that helped President Abraham Lincoln win reelection and opened the way for Sherman’s March to the Sea.
Essential Facts
- Date: May 7–September 2, 1864.
- Location: Northern Georgia.
- Participants: The United States of America (USA) and the Confederate States of America (CSA).
- USA Commanders: William T. Sherman, James B. McPherson, John M. Schofield, and George H. Thomas.
- CSA Commanders: Joseph E. Johnston and John Bell Hood.
- USA Casualties: About 31,600.
- CSA Casualties: About 35,000.
- Who Won: The United States won the Atlanta Campaign.
- Era:
Statistics
United States of America
- Casualties: About 31,600.
- Forces Engaged: Army of the Tennessee, Army of the Ohio, and Army of the Cumberland.
- Troop Strength: About 98,500 to 112,000.
Confederate States of America
- Casualties: About 35,000.
- Forces Engaged: Army of Tennessee.
- Troop Strength: About 50,000 to 65,000.
Significance
The Atlanta Campaign was important to American History because it gave the Union control of Atlanta, a major Confederate city in Georgia. Although General John Bell Hood’s Confederate forces escaped, the city’s capture was a major Union success. The victory helped President Abraham Lincoln win reelection in November 1864 and opened the way for Sherman’s March to the Sea. Union forces occupied Atlanta for the rest of the Civil War and throughout Reconstruction. The campaign also weakened the Confederacy, which suffered heavy casualties and lost a key city; however, the escape of Hood’s army helped extend the war.
History
In September 1863, Confederate General Braxton Bragg’s Army of Tennessee was attempting to recapture Chattanooga, Tennessee, from Federal forces by besieging the city. Union leaders responded by sending Major General Ulysses S. Grant and reinforcements to Chattanooga with orders to break the siege. After establishing a new supply line into the city, Grant ordered a breakout offensive in late November that successfully drove Bragg’s army back into northern Georgia. With the “Gateway to the South” secured, the Union prepared to launch an offensive aimed at capturing Atlanta.
Grant’s Umbrella Strategy
Following the breakout at Chattanooga, Congress and President Lincoln promoted Grant to the special rank of Lieutenant General and placed him in command of all Union armies. Grant moved his headquarters to Washington, leaving his trusted subordinate, Major General William T. Sherman, in command of federal operations in the Western Theater. Grant’s primary military strategy was a coordinated effort to attack and defeat the two main Confederate armies in the field, Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia in the east, and Joseph E. Johnston’s Army of Tennessee in the west. On May 5, 1864, Grant launched his Overland Campaign against Lee in Virginia. Two days later, Sherman led three armies, the Army of the Tennessee, commanded by Major General James B. McPherson; the Army of the Ohio, commanded by Major General John M. Schofield; and the Army of the Cumberland, commanded by Major General George H. Thomas, out of Tennessee in pursuit of Johnston’s army.
Bragg’s Demise and Johnston’s Retreat
After the Federals broke the Siege of Chattanooga, Bragg retreated into northern Georgia and established a defensive line at Dalton, about thirteen miles south of Sherman. On February 24, 1864, Confederate President Jefferson Davis sacked Bragg, replacing him with General Joseph Johnston. As Sherman approached the entrenched Southern army, he chose to avoid a costly frontal attack. Instead, he sent the Army of the Tennessee through an unprotected gap in the mountains at Snake Creek to disable the Western and Atlantic Railroad behind Johnston’s lines. In danger of being outflanked and having his supply line severed, Johnston pulled back twelve miles to Resaca, Georgia, on the night of May 12-13.
Sherman’s Flanking Strategy
On May 14, the Union armies engaged the Confederates at Resaca, but with little success. On May 15, part of McPherson’s army again outflanked Johnston, crossing the Oostanaula River, forcing the Confederates to retreat south to Adairsville. Johnston planned to engage Sherman’s forces at Adairsville on May 19, but when threatened by Union cavalry, the Confederate leader called off the attack and retreated across the Etowah River on May 23.
Johnston assumed a strong defensive position at Allatoona Pass on the railroad line. Once again, Sherman avoided a frontal assault, sending all three of his armies west and then south, bypassing the Confederates. This time, Johnston expected Sherman’s flanking maneuver and engaged the Union armies at the Battles of New Hope Church on May 25, and Pickett’s Mill on May 27. After suffering heavy losses with little gain, each side entrenched and began probing the other’s defenses.
Federal Frontal Assault
On June 3, Union cavalry secured Allatoona Pass, enabling Sherman to abandon his defensive position and move his forces eastward, back to the railroad. Johnston responded by moving his army south to a strong defensive position around Kennesaw Mountain. Confederate reinforcements and heavy rains, which hampered any further flanking movements, prevented Sherman from making much headway against the Confederates entrenched on Kennesaw Mountain. Hoping to force the Confederates from their position, Sherman ordered a frontal assault on June 27, which the Confederates easily repulsed, resulting in heavy Union losses.
Hood Replaces Johnston
In early July, the heavy rains ended, enabling Sherman to resume his flanking tactics and forcing Johnston to retreat six miles further south to Marietta. The Federals continued to press forward, and Johnston withdrew to the north bank of the Chattahoochee River just two days later. Tired of Johnston’s retreating, Confederate President Jefferson Davis relieved Johnston of his command on July 17, replacing him with General John B. Hood.
Davis chose Hood, in part, because he had proven to be an aggressive leader at the Battles of Gettysburg and Chickamauga. Hood did not take long in meeting Davis’s expectations, attacking the Army of the Cumberland after it crossed Peachtree Creek on July 20. Hood’s forces put forth a determined effort, but the Federals held their ground, forcing the Confederates to retire.
Battle of Atlanta
On July 22, Hood took on the Army of the Tennessee as it pushed closer to Atlanta from the east. During the Battle of Atlanta, his forces inflicted heavy losses on the Federals, including the death of McPherson. By the end of the day, the Federals prevailed, and Hood suffered 5,500 casualties.
Hood Frustrates Sherman
Having been unsuccessful in approaching Atlanta from the north and east, Sherman tried assaults from the south and west. At the Battle of Ezra Church on July 28, Confederate defenders prevented Union forces from cutting the rail line between East Point and Atlanta. To the south, on July 30, Confederate forces repelled a daring Union cavalry raid aimed at severing supply lines into the city.
Hood Evacuates Atlanta
With all approaches apparently blocked, Sherman chose to shell Hood’s army out of Atlanta. On July 20, he ordered his artillery to bombard Hood’s lines and the city, which still harbored about 3,000 civilians. The shelling lasted for five weeks, killing about 20 civilians, but Hood continued to hold on as long as he was receiving supplies.
Toward the end of August, Sherman determined to stop the flow of supplies into Atlanta. In the past, he had used cavalry raids to destroy railroads leading into the city. When the cavalry left, however, Hood repaired the railroad and restored his supply lines. On August 25, Sherman began pulling infantry units out of the line to move against the main supply line coming into Atlanta. Not having enough troops to guard the entire railroad line, Hood ordered an unsuccessful attack near Jonesborough on August 31. With his main supply line now severed, Hood evacuated Atlanta on the night of September 1, burning all military stores and installations. Sherman’s forces occupied the city on September 2, thus ending the Atlanta Campaign.
Outcome
The outcome of the Atlanta Campaign was that Federal troops occupied Atlanta for the rest of the Civil War and throughout Reconstruction. Besides losing the city, the Confederates suffered roughly 32,000 casualties during the Atlanta Campaign. The Union lost about 37,000 soldiers to win their prize. Although Hood’s army escaped, the capture of the Georgia capital helped ensure President Lincoln’s reelection in November. Sherman occupied Atlanta for the next two-and-one-half months before starting out on his march to the sea. Prior to evacuating the city, Sherman ordered “the destruction in Atlanta of all depots, car-houses, shops, factories, foundries.” After stripping the city of all materials that the South could use, the destruction began on November 12. Before the bulk of Sherman’s army evacuated the city on November 15, Union soldiers engaged in unsanctioned arson, torching private residences and much of the downtown. Following Sherman’s departure, Federal troops remained in the city.
Timeline
- 1863, November — Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant lifted the Confederate Siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- Union forces won the Battle of Lookout Mountain (November 24).
- Union forces won the Battle of Missionary Ridge (November 25).
- Confederate forces marched southward to Dalton, Georgia.
- 1864, February 22–27 — Confederate forces won the First Battle of Dalton.
- 1864, February 25 — Union and Confederate forces engaged in the inconclusive Battle of Crow Valley, near Dalton.
- 1864, February 29 — President Abraham Lincoln promoted Grant to the special rank of Lieutenant General and placed him in command of all Union armies.
- 1864, May 5 — Grant launched the Overland Campaign against Robert E. Lee in Virginia.
- 1864, May 7 — William T. Sherman led three Union armies out of Tennessee in pursuit of Joseph E. Johnston’s army in northern Georgia, starting the Atlanta Campaign.
- 1864, May 7–13 — Union forces won the Battle of Buzzard’s Roost and the Battle of Rocky Face Ridge.
- 1864, May 13–15 — Sherman’s forces engaged the Army of Tennessee at the Battle of Resaca near Resaca, Georgia, and won.
- 1864, May 17 — Union forces won the Battle of Adairsville.
- 1864, May 20 — Johnston established new defensive lines at Allatoona Pass, about 30 miles north of Atlanta.
- 1864, May 25 — Confederate forces won the Battle of New Hope Church.
- 1864, May 26
- Confederate and Union forces entrenched near Dallas, Georgia.
- Johnston reinforced the Confederate right flank at Pickett’s Mill with soldiers led by Patrick R. Cleburne.
- 1864, May 27 — Confederate forces won the Battle of Pickett’s Mill.
- 1864, June 9 — Johnston withdrew the Army of Tennessee to a fortified position around Marietta, Georgia.
- 1864, June 14–15 — Union forces won the Battle of Pine Mountain.
- 1864, June 15–16 — Confederate forces won the Battle of Gilgal Church.
- 1864, June 19 — Johnston withdrew the Army of Tennessee to a defensive position near Kennesaw Mountain.
- 1864, June 22 — Union forces won the Battle of Kolb’s Farm.
- 1864, June 27 — Union forces won the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. Johnston withdrew to the Chattahoochee River, ending the Marietta Operations.
- 1864, July 17 — Confederate President Jefferson Davis relieved Johnston of command and replaced him with John Bell Hood.
- 1864, July, 20 — Union forces won the Battle of Peachtree Creek.
- 1864, July, 22 — Union forces won the Battle of Atlanta and initiated a siege.
- 1864, July 25-27 — Sherman moved the Army of the Tennessee to the west side of Atlanta.
- 1864, July 28 — Union forces won the Battle of Ezra Church.
- 1864, July 30 — Confederate forces won the Battle of Brown’s Mill.
- 1864, August 5–7 — The two armies fought the Battle of Utoy Creek, which was inconclusive.
- 1864, August 14–15 — Union forces won the Second Battle of Dalton.
- 1864, August 20 —Confederate forces won the Battle of Lovejoy’s Station.
- 1864, August, 25 — Sherman ordered six of the seven divisions around Atlanta to move south and attack the Macon and Western Railroad near Jonesborough.
- 1864, August, 31 — William J. Hardee attacked two Union corps near Jonesborough, and Union forces repulsed the attack.
- 1864, September, 1 — Sherman’s army overwhelmed Hardee’s remaining corps and drove it toward Lovejoy’s Station.
- 1864, September, 2 — Union troops commanded by Henry W. Slocum entered Atlanta.
- 1864, September, 4 — Sherman declared the end of the Atlanta Campaign by issuing Special Field Order No. 64.
- 1864, November 8 — The capture of Atlanta helped President Abraham Lincoln win the 1864 Presidential Election.
- 1864, November 12 — Union forces started destroying materials in Atlanta that the South could use.
- 1864, November 15 — Most of Sherman’s army evacuated Atlanta after unauthorized fires damaged private homes and much of the downtown area.
AP US History
Definition
Atlanta Campaign (1864) — The Atlanta Campaign was a Union offensive in northern Georgia from May 7 to September 2, 1864. General William T. Sherman led three Union armies against the Confederate Army of Tennessee, first commanded by General Joseph E. Johnston and later by General John Bell Hood. Key events included Sherman’s advance from Chattanooga, Johnston’s retreat from Dalton, the fighting at Kennesaw Mountain and Hood’s evacuation of Atlanta after Sherman cut the city’s main supply line.
Alignment
The Atlanta Campaign is part of the following AP US History sections:
