The Day Dixie Died: The Battle of Atlanta

A history of the Battle of Atlanta, fought on July 22, 1864, one of the most important battles of the Civil War. The battle took place southeast of Atlanta between Confederate forces under General John Bell Hood and the Army of the Tennessee led by General James B. McPherson. Hood, who had replaced General Joseph E. Johnston four days earlier, was tasked with halting the Confederate retreat and engaging the Union army directly. The battle lasted eight hours in intense Georgia heat. During the fighting, General McPherson was killed in battle—the only US army commander killed in combat during the war. General John "Black Jack" Logan assumed command and rallied the troops to continue the fight. The battle resulted in approximately ten thousand casualties, or one in six soldiers engaged. Despite the Confederate assault, Union lines held. Following the battle, Union forces besieged Atlanta. The city's fall provided positive publicity for President Abraham Lincoln's reelection campaign, countering a growing Northern peace movement and criticism of his war leadership. The Union victory helped shift momentum in the larger Atlanta Campaign and subsequent March to the Sea, ultimately contributing to the end of the Civil War. Gary Ecelbarger examines the personal and military dimensions of the battle through the experiences of both generals and soldiers.