War Stories - March to Atlanta Part 1: From Chattanooga to Georgia

In early 1864, the American Civil War entered its fourth year. The Union Army had secured Vicksburg and Chattanooga on the Western front, laying the groundwork to penetrate the Confederacy's core regions. The Union victory at the Battle of Chattanooga in November 1863 was particularly significant, placing a crucial transportation hub in Tennessee under Union control. Using this as a base, General William T. Sherman prepared a large-scale offensive towards Atlanta, Georgia. At the time, Atlanta was a vital transportation and logistics center for the South, with railways connecting in multiple directions, and it was a key city supporting the Confederacy's war-making capabilities. Sherman's objective was to defeat the Confederate Army of Tennessee and advance into Atlanta. The Union mobilized three armies: the Army of the Cumberland under Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, the Army of the Tennessee under Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson, and the Army of the Ohio under Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield. With approximately 100,000 troops departing Chattanooga on May 7, 1864, the Atlanta Campaign began. Following the First and Second Battles of Bull Run, this series covers the March to Atlanta, which made the name Sherman known across the nation!