Question

Give me a summary of the burning of Atlanta.

Answer 1

Despite the defeat at Peach Tree Creek, Confederate Lieut. Gen. John Bell Hood still had hopes of driving Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's Yankees from the outskirts of Atlanta with an offensive blow. On the night of July 21, 1864, Hood ordered Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee's corps to make 15-mile night march and assault the Union left flank east of the city, held by Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson's Army of the Tennessee. Joining the attack with Hardee would be the corps of Maj. Gen. Benjamin Cheatham. Hood attacked McPherson's position from two directions, Hardee from the south and Cheatham from the west. After initial Confederate success on the Union left, the heavy fighting settled into a struggle for Bald Hill in the center and the Troup Hurt home on the Union right. McPherson was killed during the battle, but the Union positions held. Fighting raged up and down the lines until after sunset. As at Peach Tree Creek, despite initial successes, Hood's attacks failed to dislodge the Federals who strengthened their foothold on the doorstep to Atlanta. The ultimate capture of Atlanta in September was extensively covered by Northern newspapers, significantly boosting Northern morale, and Abraham Lincoln was reelected by a significant margin.