Exploring the most important 55 months in American history
John Bell Hood’s Confederate Army of Tennessee stands poised to cut off the Federal Army of the Ohio at Columbia, Tennessee. But miscommunication leads to missed opportunity for the Confederates in what became one of the greatest controversies of the war.
John Bell Hood leads his Confederate Army of Tennessee north to confront John Schofield’s Army of the Ohio holding the forward Federal line at Pulaski, Tennessee.
Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Confederate cavalry moves south up the Tennessee River on two captured Federal transports to disrupt Federal river traffic en route to Johnsonville, Tennessee.
William T. Sherman’s three Federal armies work their way to the west and south of Atlanta. The Confederates initially misinterpret this maneuver until they realize that Sherman is threatening the key town of Jonesboro on the Macon & Western Railroad.
As William T. Sherman’s Federals continue bombarding Atlanta and maneuvering to cut off the city’s lines of supply, a fight breaks out southwest of Atlanta.
William T. Sherman’s Federals cross the Chattahoochee River in preparation for attacking Atlanta. Learning that the Confederates are now led by John Bell Hood, the stage is set for a significant and decisive battle.