The fall of Atlanta and Sherman’s march

source : ‘the American civil war story’ BBC history magazine

While Grant was entrenching outside Petersburg, Union forces under the command of general William T Sherman made a momentous breakthrough at Atlanta, which fell to Union forces on 2 september 1864.

Atlanta campaign : final phase (august 1 – september 2 1864)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

On august 10, hoping to take advantage of the virtual destruction of two federal cavalry divisions at the end of july, Hood dispatched the bulk of Wheeler’s cavalry across the Chattahoochee river into northern Georgia.

battles for Atlanta (july 20-28 1864)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

On july 17, confederate president Jefferson Davis, displeased with Johnston’s failure to stop Sherman’s advance and doubting that he would make a determined effort to defend Atlanta, removed Johnston from command and replace him with John B Hood, who had a well-deserved reputation as a bold, aggressive fighter.

Sherman’s Atlanta campaign (may 21 – july 9 1864)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

After crossing the Etowah, Johnston took up another impregnable position at Allatoona.

Sherman’s Atlanta campaign : phase 1 (may 7-20 1864)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

By early may, Sherman had assembled a force of 100.000 men in Chattanooga area.

campaign of Atlanta GA (may 7 – september 1 1864)

fall of Petersburg and Richmond (february 5 – april 2 1865)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

During the winter both combatants remained quiescent in the trenches around Petersburg.

siege of Petersburg june – october 1864

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

As most of the railroads which served Lee’s army and Richmond – the confederate capital – passed through Petersburg, in june 1864 the city became the target for general Grant’s army of the Potomac.

assaults at Petersburg (june 16-18 1864)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

The federal plan for the capture of Petersburg called for general William Smith’s 18th corps to advance from its Bermuda Hundred enclave, and assault the city’s defenses from the east.

the siege of Petersburg 1864-65

source : ‘the American civil war story’ BBC history magazine

The army of the Potomac moved south from Cold Harbor and crossed the James river in another attempt to force Lee out from his trenches by flanking his army and seizing the key railroad junction at Petersburg, Virginia, just south of Richmond.

Cold Harbour to Petersburg (june 4-15 1864)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

Following its repulse at Cold Harbour on june 3, the army of the Potomac entrenched opposite its opponent.

the battles of Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor 1864

source : ‘the American civil war story’ BBC history magazine

Time and again as Grant attacked through rural Virginia, Lee moved his army quickly before establishing powerful defensive lines.

Spotsylvania : phase 2 (may 13-19 1864)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

As Lee improved his new defenses along the base of the ‘mule shoe’ salient, Grant and Meade shifted the bulk of the federal army east to attack Spotsylvania from another angle.

Spotsylvania : phase 1 (may 8-12 1864)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

Determined to press on with their campaign against Lee, Grant and Meade ordered the federal army south to Spotsylvania Court House.

overland campaign map

Chickamauga (september 19-20 1863)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

General Bragg’s plan on september 19 called for his army to complete its crossing of Chickamauga creek and commence a drive south toward Lee and Gordon’s mill, where he believed the left flank of the federal army of the Cumberland was located.

Chickamauga campaign (september 10-18 1863)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

General Rosecrans’s decision to pursue the confederate army of Tennessee into the mountains of northern Georgia was based upon the overt testimony of deserters, and his own intuitive belief that Bragg was beaten.

Chickamauga 1863 – background to battle

source : ‘Chickamauga 1863 – the river of death’ campaign 017, Osprey publishing

In mid-summer 1863 the end appeared near for the Confederate States of America.

Chancellorsville 1863 – origins of the campaign

source : ‘Chickamauga 1863 – Jackson’s lighting strike’ campaign 055, Osprey publishing

Chancellorsville, a lone farmhouse situated at the junction of two roads a few miles west of Fredericksburg, lies fifty miles north of Richmond and twenty-five miles east of Culpeper, south of the Rappahannock river and near the eastern edge of the Spotsylvania wilderness.

Chancellorsville : phase 2 (may 1-6 1863)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

As the federal army converged on Chancellorsville, general Hooker expected Lee to retreat from his forces, which totaled nearly 115.000.

Chancellorsville : phase 1 (april 26 – may 1 1863)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

Morale in the federal army of the Potomac rose with the appointment of Joseph Hooker to command.

battle of Chancellorsville 1863

source : ‘the American civil war story’ BBC history magazine

On 30 april 1863, yet another Union commander, Joseph Hooker, crossed the Rappahannock river and tried to fight his way to Richmond.

siege and capture of Vicksburg (18 may – 4 july 1863)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

The army of the Tennessee crossed the Big Black river on may 17, and closed on Vicksburg.

Grant’s second Vicksburg campaign phase 2 (may 2-17 1863)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

Having secured his beachhead, Grant assessed his options: attacking Vicksburg from the south would capture the city, but Pemberton would escape northeast; Grant could march east and strike the Southern railroads, pivot west, and close on Vicksburg from the east.

Grant’s second Vicksburg campaign phase 1 (january 8 – may 2 1863)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

Grant determined to operate against Vicksburg from a base on the Mississippi, and in the last days of january 1863 he established his headquarters at Milliken’s Bend.