The
Battle of Atlanta was a battle of the
Atlanta Campaign fought during the
American Civil War on July 22, 1864, just southeast of
Atlanta, Georgia. Continuing their summer campaign to seize the important rail and supply center of Atlanta,
Union forces commanded by
William T. Sherman overwhelmed and defeated
Confederate forces defending the city under
John B. Hood. Union
Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson was killed during the battle. Despite the implication of finality in its name, the battle occurred midway through the campaign, and the city did not fall until September 2, 1864, after a Union siege and various attempts to seize railroads and supply lines leading to Atlanta. After taking the city, Sherman's troops headed south-southeastward toward
Milledgeville, the state
capital, and on to
Savannah with the
March to the Sea.