War Stories - March to Atlanta Part 2: Johnston's Defense Line and Sherman's Envelopment

The Confederate commander who blocked Sherman's advance was General Joseph E. Johnston. Since Johnston had to defend Atlanta with fewer troops than the Union army, he built a defensive line using favorable terrain rather than confronting them head-on over a wide area. In early May, the Union army first clashed with the Confederates at Rocky Face Ridge in Georgia. Instead of a frontal assault, Sherman bypassed part of his forces through Snake Creek Gap, threatening the Confederate rear and railroad. To avoid the risk of being surrounded, Johnston sequentially retreated towards Dalton and Resaca. A battle took place at Resaca on May 14-15, but Johnston retreated south again. Subsequently, the Confederates established strong defensive lines at New Hope Church and Dallas. Sherman repeatedly held the Confederate front while moving his forces in other directions to threaten their flanks and supply lines. In this manner, Sherman continuously pushed Johnston towards Atlanta through maneuver and envelopment rather than large-scale frontal battles.