The Battle of Rocky Face Ridge.  Joe Johnston had taken up a strong defensive position around Dalton, Georgia on the mountainous spine known as Rocky Face Ridge.  Sherman launched diversionary attacks with two of his three armies while he sent James B. McPherson's Army of the Tennessee around Johnston's southern flank towards Resaca, forcing the Confederates to retreat. 

The Battle of Rocky Face Ridge.  Joe Johnston had taken up a strong defensive position around Dalton, Georgia on the mountainous spine known as Rocky Face Ridge.  Sherman launched diversionary attacks with two of his three armies while he sent James B. McPherson's Army of the Tennessee around Johnston's southern flank towards Resaca, forcing the Confederates to retreat. 

The Battle of Rocky Face Ridge.  Joe Johnston had taken up a strong defensive position around Dalton, Georgia on the mountainous spine known as Rocky Face Ridge.  Sherman launched diversionary attacks with two of his three armies while he sent James B. McPherson's Army of the Tennessee around Johnston's southern flank towards Resaca, forcing the Confederates to retreat. 

The destruction of Joe Johnston's army. Ulysses S. Grant recognized that the armies of the Confederacy would have to be destroyed in order to defeat the southern cause.  While Atlanta became a target due to its immense stockpiles of war supplies, the capture of the city was a means to the end of crushing the Confederate army. 

The destruction of Joe Johnston's army. Ulysses S. Grant recognized that the armies of the Confederacy would have to be destroyed in order to defeat the southern cause.  While Atlanta became a target due to its immense stockpiles of war supplies, the capture of the city was a means to the end of crushing the Confederate army. 

The destruction of Joe Johnston's army. Ulysses S. Grant recognized that the armies of the Confederacy would have to be destroyed in order to defeat the southern cause.  While Atlanta became a target due to its immense stockpiles of war supplies, the capture of the city was a means to the end of crushing the Confederate army. 

An advance on Richmond, Virginia and Mobile, Alabama. Upon taking command of all of the Union armies, Grant ordered a grand coordinated assault on the remaining Confederate strongholds.  In doing so, he forced the southern armies in each theater to fight their own desperate battles, thus denying the Confederacy's strength of interior lines that allowed the quick redeployment of reinforcements to threatened theaters. 

An advance on Richmond, Virginia and Mobile, Alabama. Upon taking command of all of the Union armies, Grant ordered a grand coordinated assault on the remaining Confederate strongholds.  In doing so, he forced the southern armies in each theater to fight their own desperate battles, thus denying the Confederacy's strength of interior lines that allowed the quick redeployment of reinforcements to threatened theaters. 

An advance on Richmond, Virginia and Mobile, Alabama. Upon taking command of all of the Union armies, Grant ordered a grand coordinated assault on the remaining Confederate strongholds.  In doing so, he forced the southern armies in each theater to fight their own desperate battles, thus denying the Confederacy's strength of interior lines that allowed the quick redeployment of reinforcements to threatened theaters. 

The Vicksburg Campaign.  Sherman was a corps commander, Johnston commanded the Confederate armies in Mississippi.  At the Battle of Jackson on May 14, 1863, Johnston retreated before Sherman's men.  The experience left an impression on Sherman, and bolstered his confidence heading into the Atlanta Campaign. 

The Vicksburg Campaign.  Sherman was a corps commander, Johnston commanded the Confederate armies in Mississippi.  At the Battle of Jackson on May 14, 1863, Johnston retreated before Sherman's men.  The experience left an impression on Sherman, and bolstered his confidence heading into the Atlanta Campaign. 

The Vicksburg Campaign.  Sherman was a corps commander, Johnston commanded the Confederate armies in Mississippi.  At the Battle of Jackson on May 14, 1863, Johnston retreated before Sherman's men.  The experience left an impression on Sherman, and bolstered his confidence heading into the Atlanta Campaign. 

Overwhelming enemy numbers. Sherman commanded roughly 112,000 men against Johnston's roughly 60,000.  Outnumbered nearly two-to-one, Johnston repeatedly refused Jefferson Davis's pleas to attack towards Tennessee. 

Overwhelming enemy numbers. Sherman commanded roughly 112,000 men against Johnston's roughly 60,000.  Outnumbered nearly two-to-one, Johnston repeatedly refused Jefferson Davis's pleas to attack towards Tennessee. 

Overwhelming enemy numbers. Sherman commanded roughly 112,000 men against Johnston's roughly 60,000.  Outnumbered nearly two-to-one, Johnston repeatedly refused Jefferson Davis's pleas to attack towards Tennessee. 

The excellent defensive terrain of northwest Georgia.  The landscape across which Sherman had to attack was criss-crossed by streams, rivers, ravines, ridges, and dense forests.  He claimed that such ground was a substantial force multiplier for Joe Johnston, an already formidable defensive general.  Johnston insisted that the ground, seen in person, was not as good for defense as Sherman and Jefferson Davis later claimed. 

The excellent defensive terrain of northwest Georgia.  The landscape across which Sherman had to attack was criss-crossed by streams, rivers, ravines, ridges, and dense forests.  He claimed that such ground was a substantial force multiplier for Joe Johnston, an already formidable defensive general.  Johnston insisted that the ground, seen in person, was not as good for defense as Sherman and Jefferson Davis later claimed. 

The excellent defensive terrain of northwest Georgia.  The landscape across which Sherman had to attack was criss-crossed by streams, rivers, ravines, ridges, and dense forests.  He claimed that such ground was a substantial force multiplier for Joe Johnston, an already formidable defensive general.  Johnston insisted that the ground, seen in person, was not as good for defense as Sherman and Jefferson Davis later claimed. 

The Western and Atlantic Railroad.  The Western and Atlantic ran from Chattanooga to Atlanta and supplied both armies during the fighting in 1864.  Railroads were essential to keeping armies fed and armed in the wide battlefields of the western campaigns. 

The Western and Atlantic Railroad.  The Western and Atlantic ran from Chattanooga to Atlanta and supplied both armies during the fighting in 1864.  Railroads were essential to keeping armies fed and armed in the wide battlefields of the western campaigns. 

The Western and Atlantic Railroad.  The Western and Atlantic ran from Chattanooga to Atlanta and supplied both armies during the fighting in 1864.  Railroads were essential to keeping armies fed and armed in the wide battlefields of the western campaigns. 

George Thomas.  Thomas earned his nickname for a valiant rearguard action that prevented a Union disaster at the Battle of Chickamauga.  After victory at Atlanta, he destroyed the remnants of Hood's army in the Franklin-Nashville campaign. 

George Thomas.  Thomas earned his nickname for a valiant rearguard action that prevented a Union disaster at the Battle of Chickamauga.  After victory at Atlanta, he destroyed the remnants of Hood's army in the Franklin-Nashville campaign. 

George Thomas.  Thomas earned his nickname for a valiant rearguard action that prevented a Union disaster at the Battle of Chickamauga.  After victory at Atlanta, he destroyed the remnants of Hood's army in the Franklin-Nashville campaign. 

The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.  The Union army faced strong opposition at Kennesaw Mountain.  An attack on the center of the Confederate line was bloodily repulsed, losing 3,000 men to the Confederates' 1,000. 

The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.  The Union army faced strong opposition at Kennesaw Mountain.  An attack on the center of the Confederate line was bloodily repulsed, losing 3,000 men to the Confederates' 1,000. 

The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.  The Union army faced strong opposition at Kennesaw Mountain.  An attack on the center of the Confederate line was bloodily repulsed, losing 3,000 men to the Confederates' 1,000. 

John Bell Hood. Hood was one of the best small-unit commanders in the Confederate army, if not the very best.  His "Texas Brigade" is one of the most famous Confederate brigades in the Civil War.  He lived up to his aggressive reputation as commander of the Army of Tennessee, but met with defeat after defeat. 

John Bell Hood. Hood was one of the best small-unit commanders in the Confederate army, if not the very best.  His "Texas Brigade" is one of the most famous Confederate brigades in the Civil War.  He lived up to his aggressive reputation as commander of the Army of Tennessee, but met with defeat after defeat. 

John Bell Hood. Hood was one of the best small-unit commanders in the Confederate army, if not the very best.  His "Texas Brigade" is one of the most famous Confederate brigades in the Civil War.  He lived up to his aggressive reputation as commander of the Army of Tennessee, but met with defeat after defeat. 

Gettysburg and Chickamauga.  Hood lost the use of his arm leading Confederate forces against Little Round Top at Gettysburg, and lost his leg attacking the gap in the Union line at Chickamauga.  Some say his subsequent use of laudanum, an opiate-based painkiller, diminished his effectiveness as a commander. 

Gettysburg and Chickamauga.  Hood lost the use of his arm leading Confederate forces against Little Round Top at Gettysburg, and lost his leg attacking the gap in the Union line at Chickamauga.  Some say his subsequent use of laudanum, an opiate-based painkiller, diminished his effectiveness as a commander. 

Gettysburg and Chickamauga.  Hood lost the use of his arm leading Confederate forces against Little Round Top at Gettysburg, and lost his leg attacking the gap in the Union line at Chickamauga.  Some say his subsequent use of laudanum, an opiate-based painkiller, diminished his effectiveness as a commander. 

The Battle of Peachtree Creek.  Hood launched a series a flanking attacks around Atlanta, but did not achieve any strategic success.  At Peachtree Creek the Confederates mistook where the Union flank was, and ended up attacking a heavily entrenched line.  They suffered nearly 5,000 casualties compared to the Union 1,700. 

The Battle of Peachtree Creek.  Hood launched a series a flanking attacks around Atlanta, but did not achieve any strategic success.  At Peachtree Creek the Confederates mistook where the Union flank was, and ended up attacking a heavily entrenched line.  They suffered nearly 5,000 casualties compared to the Union 1,700. 

The Battle of Peachtree Creek.  Hood launched a series a flanking attacks around Atlanta, but did not achieve any strategic success.  At Peachtree Creek the Confederates mistook where the Union flank was, and ended up attacking a heavily entrenched line.  They suffered nearly 5,000 casualties compared to the Union 1,700. 

William T. Sherman.  Sherman believed that shelling the unevacuated city would cow Hood into surrender.  Hood refused.  In the subsequent months the two generals wrote several letters back and forth debating the legality and ethics of Sherman's actions. 

William T. Sherman.  Sherman believed that shelling the unevacuated city would cow Hood into surrender.  Hood refused.  In the subsequent months the two generals wrote several letters back and forth debating the legality and ethics of Sherman's actions. 

William T. Sherman.  Sherman believed that shelling the unevacuated city would cow Hood into surrender.  Hood refused.  In the subsequent months the two generals wrote several letters back and forth debating the legality and ethics of Sherman's actions. 

James B. McPherson.  McPherson and several members of his staff were set upon by Confederate soldiers after riding too far on a scouting expedition.  McPherson made a show of surrendering but tried to break back towards Union lines--he was shot in the attempt.  McPherson Square in Washington, D.C. is named for him. 

James B. McPherson.  McPherson and several members of his staff were set upon by Confederate soldiers after riding too far on a scouting expedition.  McPherson made a show of surrendering but tried to break back towards Union lines--he was shot in the attempt.  McPherson Square in Washington, D.C. is named for him. 

James B. McPherson.  McPherson and several members of his staff were set upon by Confederate soldiers after riding too far on a scouting expedition.  McPherson made a show of surrendering but tried to break back towards Union lines--he was shot in the attempt.  McPherson Square in Washington, D.C. is named for him. 

William T. Sherman.  Both Sherman and Grant praised Joe Johnston's generalship highly after the war was over.  Johnston and Sherman in particular became good friends.  At Sherman's funeral Johnston took of his hat as a show of respect, but some insisted he put it back on to keep off the weather.  Johnston responded that "If I were in his place and he were standing here in mine, he would not put on his hat."

William T. Sherman.  Both Sherman and Grant praised Joe Johnston's generalship highly after the war was over.  Johnston and Sherman in particular became good friends.  At Sherman's funeral Johnston took of his hat as a show of respect, but some insisted he put it back on to keep off the weather.  Johnston responded that "If I were in his place and he were standing here in mine, he would not put on his hat."

William T. Sherman.  Both Sherman and Grant praised Joe Johnston's generalship highly after the war was over.  Johnston and Sherman in particular became good friends.  At Sherman's funeral Johnston took of his hat as a show of respect, but some insisted he put it back on to keep off the weather.  Johnston responded that "If I were in his place and he were standing here in mine, he would not put on his hat."