Sherman Takes Atlanta

Dec 18

2 min read

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Sherman Takes Atlanta

May 1864 - September 2, 1865

In March of 1864, President Lincoln named William Tecumseh Sherman the supreme commander of the Union armies in the West. With the title, Lincoln gave Sherman explicit orders to take Atlanta. Atlanta was an important strategic city for the South. As a manufacturing hub, it supplied the Confederate army with food, clothing, and weapons.

In May, Sherman began his battle for Atlanta. Over 110,000 Union troops faced 69,000 Confederate

soldiers led by General Johnston, the largest army in the South. Instead of attacking directly, Sherman moved his men to separate Johnston from his supply lines. Slowly, the Confederate troops retreated toward Atlanta.

Lee, frustrated at the loss of territory, replaced Johnson with John Hood on July 18, 1864. By this time, the Union army was just five miles outside Atlanta. Again, Sherman did not attack the heavily fortified city. Instead, he cut their supply lines and waited. He would starve Hood out of Atlanta.

On September 2, 1864, Hood marched his troops out of Atlanta, and the city surrendered. After four months, 34,500 Union casualties, and 35,000 Confederate casualties, the Union controlled Atlanta.

Want to learn more about the Civil War? Check out the links below!