A pivotal Civil War battle fought on July 22, 1864, where Union forces under General Sherman defeated Confederate troops led by General Hood, leading to the capture of Atlanta and helping secure President Lincoln's reelection.

The Battle of Atlanta stands as one of the most pivotal engagements of the American Civil War occurring on July 22 1864. This crucial conflict pitted Union forces under Major General William T. Sherman against Confederate troops led by General John Bell Hood in a fierce struggle for control of a major Southern transportation hub.

The battle marked a turning point in Sherman's Atlanta Campaign and ultimately influenced the outcome of the Civil War. As Union forces pushed deeper into Confederate territory Atlanta's strategic importance as a vital railroad and supply center made it an irresistible target. The city's capture wouldn't just deliver a devastating blow to Confederate logistics - it would also boost Northern morale and help secure President Abraham Lincoln's reelection during a critical election year.

The Atlanta Campaign emerged as a pivotal military operation in 1864, designed to capture the Confederate stronghold of Atlanta. The campaign represented a strategic push by the Union Army to penetrate deep into Confederate territory.

General William T. Sherman launched his Atlanta Campaign on May 7, 1864, departing from Chattanooga, Tennessee with 100,000 Union troops. The 125-mile advance to Atlanta encountered fierce resistance at key points:

• Engaged Confederate forces at Dalton Georgia (May 7-13)
• Captured Rome Georgia's industrial facilities (May 17)
• Secured Allatoona Pass (June 1)
• Won the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain (June 27)
• Crossed the Chattahoochee River (July 8)

Sherman's forces employed a flanking strategy called "sidling," moving troops around Confederate defensive positions rather than attacking them directly. This approach minimized Union casualties while forcing Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston to repeatedly abandon prepared defenses.

Location	Date	Confederate Losses	Union Losses
Dalton	May 7-13	1,000	2,747
Rome	May 17	250	150
Kennesaw Mountain	June 27	1,000	3,000
Chattahoochee River	July 8	500	400

The march demonstrated Sherman's logistical expertise in maintaining supply lines through hostile territory. His forces maintained a mobile force of 100 wagons per brigade supplemented by railroad supplies connecting to Union-held Tennessee.

The Battle of Atlanta erupted at dawn on July 22, 1864, when Confederate forces launched a surprise offensive against Union positions east of Atlanta. The engagement marked one of the bloodiest days of Sherman's Atlanta Campaign.

The battle pit two distinct military command structures against each other:

Union Command

• Major General William T. Sherman - Overall commander
• Major General James B. McPherson - Army of the Tennessee commander
• Major General John A. Logan - XV Corps commander

Confederate Command

• General John Bell Hood - Army of Tennessee commander
• Major General William J. Hardee - Corps commander
• Major General Benjamin F. Cheatham - Corps commander

Hood's offensive strategy centered on a massive flanking movement led by Hardee's Corps. At 7:30 a.m., Confederate forces struck the Union left flank near Decatur, targeting:

• The Georgia Railroad
• Federal supply lines
• McPherson's Army of the Tennessee position

The initial assault achieved tactical surprise when:

• Confederate troops emerged from dense woods
• Union pickets faced overwhelming forces
• Federal units scrambled to reposition artillery
• Several Union regiments scattered under pressure

Impact	Numbers
Confederate troops engaged	23,000
Initial ground gained	2 miles
Union artillery pieces captured	12
Union supply wagons seized	250

The Battle of Atlanta centered on several strategic locations east of the city where Union and Confederate forces engaged in intense combat. The fighting concentrated primarily around two key positions that proved crucial to the battle's outcome.

Bald Hill served as a critical defensive position overlooking the Georgia Railroad 2 miles east of Atlanta. Union forces under Major General James B. McPherson occupied this elevated ground with artillery batteries commanding views of the surrounding terrain. Confederate troops launched repeated assaults against the Union positions at Bald Hill, resulting in 3,000 casualties in a series of attacks between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM. The strategic railroad line below Bald Hill formed a vital supply route, with Union forces destroying 3 miles of track during the engagement.

The Troup Hurt House marked the epicenter of intense combat during the afternoon phase of the battle. Located near the intersection of modern-day Memorial Drive and Clay Street, this residential structure served as Major General William T. Sherman's observation post. Confederate forces under Major General William J. Hardee attacked the position at 4:00 PM, engaging in close-quarter combat that left 1,500 casualties. Union artillery positioned at the house repelled 5 separate Confederate assaults, firing 2,000 rounds to maintain control of this vital high ground.

Combat Location	Military Significance	Casualties
Bald Hill	Artillery position overlooking railroad	3,000
Georgia Railroad	Supply line target	N/A
Troup Hurt House	Command post & observation point	1,500

The Battle of Atlanta inflicted substantial casualties on both Union and Confederate forces, with total losses exceeding 12,000 soldiers.

The battle produced devastating casualties for both armies:

Union Forces

Category	Number
Killed	3,641
Wounded	2,808
Missing/Captured	1,073
Total Union Losses	7,522

Category	Number
Killed	2,482
Wounded	1,872
Missing/Captured	952
Total Confederate Losses	5,306

Key losses included:

• 17th Corps commander Major General James B. McPherson, the highest-ranking Union casualty
• 3 Union brigade commanders killed in action
• 2 Confederate division commanders severely wounded
• 8 Confederate regimental commanders killed

Material losses encompassed:

• 12 Union artillery pieces captured by Confederates

• 250 Union supply wagons seized

• 4 Confederate battle flags captured by Union forces

• 18 Confederate artillery pieces disabled or abandoned

• Hood's army lost 25% of its attacking force

• Union forces lost 15% of their defensive positions

• The Confederate Army depleted 30% of its artillery ammunition reserves

• Union forces expended 65% of their small arms ammunition stockpile

Atlanta's fall marked a decisive turning point in the Civil War, significantly impacting both military operations and political dynamics in 1864. Its capture demonstrated the Union's ability to strike deep into Confederate territory while controlling crucial transportation networks.

The fall of Atlanta delivered three strategic advantages to the Union war effort:

Military Control

• Disrupted Confederate supply lines connecting Georgia Virginia Tennessee
• Eliminated a major Confederate manufacturing transportation hub
• Provided Union forces with a fortified base for future operations

Economic Impact

• Destroyed 4 major railroad repair facilities

• Captured Confederate munitions valued at $3.2 million

• Seized control of 12 cotton mills producing military supplies

• Boosted Northern morale after 3 years of costly warfare

• Secured Lincoln's reelection with 55% of the popular vote

• Undermined Confederate diplomatic efforts for European recognition

Strategic Asset	Confederate Loss	Union Gain
Railroad Lines	4 major routes	285 miles of track
Industrial Capacity	37 factories	$5.6M in resources
Military Personnel	34,000 troops	Control of 145 sq miles

The capture of Atlanta transformed Sherman's army into a mobile striking force, enabling the subsequent March to the Sea campaign that divided the Confederacy into isolated sections.

The Battle of Atlanta's legacy endures through various monuments, museums and cultural institutions that preserve its historical significance. This pivotal Civil War engagement shaped both the physical landscape and cultural identity of modern Atlanta.

Atlanta emerged from the ashes of the Civil War to become a major transportation and commercial hub. The city's reconstruction began in 1865 with the rebuilding of 40 miles of railroad tracks destroyed during the war. By 1870, Atlanta's population grew to 21,789 residents, triple its pre-war size. The establishment of new industries included 5 cotton mills, 3 foundries and 2 railroad manufacturing facilities between 1865-1875.

Post-War Growth Indicators	1865	1870	1880
Population	3,600	21,789	37,409
Railroad Lines	3	5	7
Manufacturing Plants	7	15	24

Key developments included:

• Construction of the Georgia State Capitol in 1889 at a cost of $1 million
• Opening of the Atlanta Cotton States Exposition in 1895, attracting 800,000 visitors
• Establishment of 12 new banks between 1865-1880
• Creation of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce in 1871 with 250 founding members

Notable reconstruction projects preserved from this period include:

• Oakland Cemetery's Confederate Memorial Grounds (1866)

• The restored Hurt House foundations (1867)

• The Zero Mile Post marking Atlanta's original railroad junction (1870)

• The Grant Park district featuring restored antebellum homes (1883)

• Adoption of the "Resurgens" (Latin for "rising again") motto in 1887

• Installation of 5 commemorative markers along the battle lines in 1890

• Creation of the Atlanta Historical Society in 1926

• Preservation of 4 major battlefield sites as public parks

• The Battle of Atlanta took place on July 22, 1864, as a crucial engagement during the American Civil War between Union forces led by General Sherman and Confederate troops under General Hood
• The battle began with a surprise Confederate offensive at dawn, focusing on a massive flanking movement that initially achieved tactical success but ultimately failed
• Union forces suffered 7,522 casualties while Confederate forces lost 5,306 soldiers, including notable leaders like Union General James B. McPherson
• The battle was strategically significant as Atlanta served as a vital Confederate transportation hub and supply center, making it a prime target for Union forces
• Atlanta's capture helped secure President Lincoln's reelection in 1864 and proved to be a turning point in the Civil War, leading to Sherman's famous March to the Sea
• Following the battle, Atlanta underwent significant reconstruction and growth, transforming from a destroyed city into a major commercial center with triple its pre-war population by 1870

The Battle of Atlanta stands as one of the Civil War's most pivotal engagements. The fierce fighting on July 22 1864 claimed over 12000 lives and forever changed the course of American history. Sherman's eventual victory secured Atlanta for the Union leading to Lincoln's reelection and hastening the Confederate defeat.

Today the battle's legacy lives on through preserved sites monuments and museums that dot the Atlanta landscape. What was once a battlefield has transformed into a thriving metropolis yet continues to honor the sacrifices made by both Union and Confederate forces during this decisive confrontation.