The Battle of Atlanta.

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The Battle of Atlanta/Atlanta Campaign:

The Battle of Atlanta and Atlanta Campaign of 1864 had significance to both the conduct of the civil war and the political results, specifically the federal election of 1864. The importance of the election formed the catalyst fall and the backdrop to the events on the battlefield. Yet the battle itself marked a turning point in the fighting regarding the southern population and economy. For the political leaders; Lincoln (Union) and Davis (Confederate), the Atlanta Campaign created a momentum that impacted on the decision making and ultimate success of their presidencies. The military leaders, Sherman (Union) and Hood (Confederate), found that Atlanta defined their careers.

This report will outline the events before, during and after the battle, significance of the battle to the civil war and profile the role major leaders.

Events leading to, during and after the battle:

In the Presidential Campaign of 1864 between Abraham Lincoln and George B. McClellan, it was what men in uniform did that made the difference. Lincoln needed a victory like the capture of Atlanta; otherwise McClellan would be elected President. The Republican’s (Lincoln) would fight until the end and would only accept a truce when the entire confederate army was wiped out, while the Democrats wanted an armistice to end the war.

General Joseph Johnston (Confed.) believed that the south’s only hope was to hold out until the election and did not plan on fighting unless his chances of victory were good. However, Jefferson Davies, President of the Confederate States believed that the war had to be won on the battlefield and thought that General Johnston fought too cautiously.

Later on July 18th, command of the Confederate Army was taken from Johnson and given to a younger commander, General John Bell Hood. Once in command, Hood wasting no time took the offensive and launched savage attacks at Peachtree Creek and Ezra Church, in an attempt to break through Sherman’s lines. Sherman formed a semi circle round the north and east of Atlanta, and he began to pressure Hood. All of Hood’s attacks failed and withdrew his troops from Atlanta’s outer lines to the inner line, within the city’s fortifications. By this time Hood had already lost more than 13,000 men.

Several weeks followed with Sherman unsuccessfully attempting to siege the city. On the 25th August Sherman ordered part of his army to march south of the city and seize Atlanta’s only remaining railroad. The railroads that came to Atlanta from the north and the east had already been cut and Sherman had only the Macon and Western Railroad in Jonesboro to cut, and Atlanta would be completely enclosed. In one last desperate ploy, Hood sent two corps to counteract the union attack on the rail line. On September 1st, day two of this skirmish the railroad was cut. With communication and supply lines removed, Hood realised he could no longer hold the city of Atlanta and retreated with his remaining army south to Lovejoy station. At this time after almost four months of a mix of siege, battle and trench warfare the total Confederate casualties were estimated at 35,000 and Union loss was around 31,000.

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Before Hood’s evacuation he ordered all public buildings and possible union assets destroyed. The following day, September 3, Sherman entered Atlanta and ordered the civilian population to leave on September 7. Two months later, on the November 11 Sherman ordered the city to be burned to the ground, as observed by a union soldier-“everything of importance was on fire”.

Sherman remained in the city for two months, then on November 15, 1864, General Sherman and 62,000 men left Atlanta on a march “that was to make the finish certain-the wild, cruel, rollicking march from Atlanta to the sea”, ...

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