Exploring the most important 55 months in American history
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.
William T. Sherman’s Federals begin a major (and risky) movement to the west and south of Atlanta to cut the supply lines leading into the city and starve the Confederate Army of Tennessee into submission.
Nathan Bedford Forrest leads Confederate cavalry in a daring raid on Memphis, which is designed to relieve Federal pressure on northern Mississippi.
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 dispatches two cavalry forces to ride around opposite sides of Atlanta and cut the last supply line running in and out of the city. This raid becomes one of the biggest cavalry disasters of the war.
John Bell Hood aims to defend Atlanta by isolating and destroying William T. Sherman’s three Federal armies in detail. The fighting that ensues results in the heaviest number of casualties sustained in this campaign.