Sherman's goal was to destroy the Army of the Tennessee , capture Atlanta and cut off vital Confederate supply lines. While Sherman failed to destroy his enemy, he was able to force the surrender of Atlanta in September 1864,boosting Northern morale and greatly improving President Abraham Lincoln's re-election bid.
Why did Union forces want to control Atlanta?
Battle Of Atlanta Summary: The Battle of Atlanta was fought on July 22, 1864, just southeast of Atlanta, Georgia. Union forces commanded by William T. Sherman, wanting to neutralize the important rail and supply hub , defeated Confederate forces defending the city under John B. Hood.
Why did the union want to capture Atlanta?
Given Atlanta's position south of the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, capturing the city would severely threaten the stability of the Confederacy. If Atlanta fell, Union leadership hoped that it would bring the already bloody war to a swift end .
When did the union take Atlanta?
On August 28, 1864 , Union Army General William Tecumseh Sherman lays siege to Atlanta, Georgia, a critical Confederate hub, shelling civilians and cutting off supply lines. The Confederates retreated, destroying the city's munitions as they went.
Why was the Battle of Atlanta significance?
The Union victory in the largest battle of the Atlanta Campaign led to the capture of that critical Confederate city and opened the door for Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's most famous operation—the March to the Sea and the capture of Savannah.
Where was the first shot of the Civil War fired?
Friday April 12, 1861
A signal mortar shell was fired from Fort Johnson over Fort Sumter . Firing from surrounding batteries soon followed, starting the battle. A Virginia secessionist, Edmund Ruffin, claimed to have fired the “first shot” of the battle and the Civil War.
Who is the man who will lead the charge from Chattanooga to Atlanta?
The victories forced the Confederates back into Georgia, ending the siege of the vital railroad junction of Chattanooga and paving the way for Union General William Tecumseh Sherman's Atlanta campaign and march to Savannah, Georgia, in 1864.
What was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War?
Worst Civil War Battles
Antietam was the bloodiest one-day battle of the Civil War. But there were other battles, lasting more than one day, in which more men fell.
Why do Southerners hate Sherman?
Some Southerners believed that Gen. William T. Sherman was the devil – meaner than Ivan the Terrible, nastier than Genghis Khan. They blame Sherman for burning Atlanta and Columbia, S.C., for destroying the Fayetteville Arsenal and for leaving a path of destruction on his march through the South during the Civil War .
Why did Sherman not burn Charleston?
Some later speculated Sherman had a soft spot in his heart for the city. He spent four years here in the 1840s, stationed at Fort Moultrie, and by most accounts enjoyed his time. Some said he had a girlfriend here , and that's why he spared us the torch. As usual, it was all about Charleston.
How much of Atlanta was burned during the Civil War?
Through October, Sherman built up a massive cache of supplies in Atlanta. He then ordered a systematic destruction of the city to prevent the Confederates from recovering anything once the Yankees had abandoned it. By one estimate, nearly 40 percent of the city was ruined.
Was Atlanta destroyed during the civil war?
On November 15, 1864 , United States forces led by Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman burned nearly all of the captured city of Atlanta, Georgia, United States. This event occurred near the end of the U.S. Civil War during which 11 states in the American South seceded from the rest of the nation.
Why was the Civil War the deadliest war?
The Civil War was the deadliest war in American history. ... The Civil War also marked the first use by Americans of shrapnel, booby traps, and land mines . Outdated strategy also contributed to the high number of casualties. Massive frontal assaults and massed formations resulted in large numbers of deaths.
How big was Atlanta during the Civil War?
In 1860, Atlanta was a relatively small city ranking 99th in the United States in size with a population of 9,554 according to the 1860 United States (U.S.) Census. However, it was the 12th-largest city in what became the Confederate States of America.
What was the biggest battle in Georgia?
The Battle of Chickamauga , the biggest battle ever fought in Georgia, took place on September 18-20, 1863, during the Civil War (1861-65). With 34,000 casualties, it is generally accepted as the second bloodiest engagement of the war; only the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, with 51,000 casualties, was deadlier.
What was the Confederacy most important military victory?
The Battle of Chancellorsville (April 30-May 6, 1863) was a huge victory for the Confederacy and General Robert E. Lee during the Civil War, though it is also famous for being the battle in which Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was mortally wounded.
