Overview
The Marietta Operations developed from the larger Union effort to move south from Chattanooga into Northern Georgia. In late November 1863, Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant lifted Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston’s Siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Union victories at the Battle of Lookout Mountain on November 24 and the Battle of Missionary Ridge on November 25 forced Johnston to withdraw 30 miles south near Dalton, Georgia.
After the Union breakout from Chattanooga, President Abraham Lincoln promoted Grant and placed him in command of all Union armies. Grant moved his headquarters to Washington and left General William T. Sherman in charge of Union operations in the Western Theater.
Grant’s larger strategy called for coordinated attacks against the Confederacy’s main armies. In the East, Grant targeted Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. In the West, Sherman targeted Johnston’s Army of Tennessee. Grant also developed a “total war” policy aimed at the Confederate military, transportation systems, and anything else that supported the Confederate war effort.
On May 5, 1864, Grant launched the Overland Campaign against Lee in Virginia. Two days later, Sherman led three Union armies out of Tennessee in pursuit of Johnston’s army in Northern Georgia.
During the summer of 1864, the main Union and Confederate armies in the West fought a series of battles between Dalton and Atlanta. Most of the fighting took place on or near the Western and Atlantic Railroad, which connected Chattanooga and Atlanta. Both sides depended on the railroad for supplies. Sherman often used flanking movements that threatened the railroad behind Johnston’s army. These movements forced Johnston to retreat south to protect his supply lines.
By June 9, Johnston had withdrawn the Army of Tennessee to a fortified position in the Marietta area. Over the next three weeks, Sherman continued to press Johnston at several locations near Marietta. The fighting included the Battle of Pine Mountain on June 14, the Battle of Gilgal Church on June 15, the Battle of Kolb’s Farm on June 22 and the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain on June 27. Sherman gradually forced Johnston to withdraw from the Marietta area by July 3.
Essential Facts
- Also Known As: Battle of Marietta.
- Date: June 9–July 3, 1864.
- Location: Cobb County, around Marietta, Georgia.
- Participants: United States of America (USA), 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.
- Who Won: The United States won the Marietta Operations.
- Campaign: Atlanta Campaign (1864).
- Era: Civil War, 1864, May–August, Civil War.
Statistics
United States of America
- Casualties: Unknown.
- Forces Engaged: Military Division of the Mississippi, Army of the Tennessee, Army of the Ohio, and Army of the Cumberland.
- Troop Strength: Unknown.
Confederate States of America
- Casualties: Unknown.
- Forces Engaged: Army of Tennessee.
- Troop Strength: Unknown.
Significance
The Marietta Operations are important to American History because they formed a major part of William T. Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign in northern Georgia. Union forces used movement and pressure to force Confederate retreat, as Sherman repeatedly threatened the Western and Atlantic Railroad, which both armies needed for supplies. This strategy forced Joseph E. Johnston to move south to protect his supply lines. Near Marietta, Sherman pressed Johnston through several battles, including Pine Mountain, Gilgal Church, Kolb’s Farm and Kennesaw Mountain. By July 3, Sherman had forced Johnston to withdraw from the Marietta area, continuing the Union advance toward Atlanta.
History
Federal Breakout from Chattanooga
In late November 1863, Union forces commanded by Major General Ulysses S. Grant successfully lifted Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston’s siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Union victories at the Battle of Lookout Mountain (November 24) and the Battle of Missionary Ridge (November 25) forced Johnston to withdraw thirty miles south near Dalton, Georgia.
Grant Promoted to Lieutenant General
After the Federal breakout from Chattanooga, President Abraham 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 War Strategy
Upon arriving in Washington, Grant devised a “total war” policy aimed at the Confederate military, transportation systems, and anything else abetting the Confederate cause. 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 in northern Georgia.
Fighting in Georgia
Throughout the summer of 1864, the main Confederate and Union armies in the West engaged in a series of battles between Dalton and Atlanta in northern Georgia. Most of the fighting occurred at places on or near the Western and Atlantic Railroad, which connected Chattanooga and Atlanta. Both sides depended on the railway for supplies throughout the campaign. In a pattern that he often repeated, Sherman used flanking movements that threatened the railway to Johnston’s rear, forcing the Confederate commander to retreat south to protect his supply lines.
Sherman Presses Johnston Near Marietta, Georgia
By June 9, 1864, Johnston had withdrawn the Army of Tennessee to an entrenched position in the Marietta area. Over the next three weeks, Sherman continued to press Johnston, engaging his army at various locations near Marietta, including the Battle of Pine Mountain (June 14), Battle of Gilgal Church (June 15), Battle of Kolb’s Farm (June 22), and the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain (June 27). Gradually, Sherman forced Johnston to withdraw from the area by July 3.
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 — Union forces won the Battle of Pine Mountain.
- 1864, June 15 — Confederate forces won the Battle of Gilgal Church.
- 1864, June 22 — Union forces won the Battle of Kolb’s Farm.
- 1864, June 27 — Confederate forces won the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.
- 1864, July 3 — Sherman forced Johnston to withdraw from the Marietta area.
AP US History
Definition
Marietta Operations (1864) — The Marietta Operations were a series of military movements and battles in Northern Georgia during the Atlanta Campaign. General William T. Sherman led three Union armies against Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston’s Army of Tennessee. Sherman pressed Johnston near Marietta after June 9, 1864. Important events included the Battle of Pine Mountain, the Battle of Gilgal Church, the Battle of Kolb’s Farm and the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. Sherman gradually forced Johnston to withdraw by July 3.
Alignment
The Marietta Operations are part of the following AP US History sections:
