Atlanta and the War

by Webb B. Garrison

Focuses on William Tecumseh Sherman's relentless efforts to defeat the Army of Tennessee in northern Georgia as the reason Atlanta was destroyed during the Civil War

Genres: Civil War Western Theater, American Civil War, Atlanta Campaign, History

283 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1995

About the author

Webb Garrison, formerly associate dean of Emory University and president of McKendree College, wrote more than 55 books. Before his death in 2000, Garrison lived in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a good overview of Atlanta's role, and fate, during the War. The majority of the narrative follows Sherman's army as they moved south from Chattanooga in 1864. The battles in and around Atlanta occupy a couple of chapters, and the fate of Atlanta after Union occupation takes most of the last third of the book.
I learned quite a few interesting things from this book. First, I had no idea that Sherman ordered the deportation of the civilians of Atlanta after it fell. The book mentioned that the fate of these families is largely unknown. I also had not heard about Sherman's prior deportation of several hundred women from Roswell to Indiana earlier in the campaign. Finally, it was interesting to read that while the Confederate Army did destroy some of the buildings in the city before evacuating, the Union Army burned and destroyed much of what remained.
This book was a good overview of the campaign for north Georgia and Atlanta. I would have enjoyed more eyewitness accounts of life in the city itself, both during the campaign and after the end of the war. Definitely recommended for anyone interested in Atlanta's history.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Approaching the Chattahoochie River, Sherman referred to it as
"crossing the Rubicon."

"One of the least familiar traits of [Gen. Sherman:] was his firm insistence that he had the gift of 'foreknowledge.' His belief in this power was so strong that he often confided to his wife that he saw the future more clearly than the present. 'I can't help but overlook the present and look ahead,' he confided."

"[Union Brig. Gen. John A. 'Blackjack':] Logan exploited his brief period as commander of the Army of the Tennessee....It provided him with what he considered a strong political base.... He became a candidate for the vice presidency and was widely discussed as a potential occupant of the White House. To boost his fame, [in 1884:] Logan commissioned a group of foreign artists to depict the battle [in which he led the recapture of 20-pounder Parrot guns belonging to the Union:] on a hugh canvas. The work was called 'Logan's Great Battle.' After changing hands several times, it was acquired by the city of Atlanta. Restored and displayed in the Cyclorama, the canvas lauding Logan is perhaps the largest and finest work of art of its sort."

[Jimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personally, I would have preferred to give this book two and a half stars. While it gives a fairly good outline of the campaign, it completely fails to give any but the barest possible information about the individual battles. Often it is nothing more than two or three sentences stating that a battle took place, with no analysis of the specific tactics used in the battle. While the author discussed the decisions made by the high command on both sides, he tended to focus more on the Union side than the Confederates. He also mostly focused on Sherman, Johnston, and Hood, neglecting the Union army commanders (Thomas, Schofield, and McPherson) and the corps commanders on both sides.

[Tom Darrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent coverage of the Atlanta Campaign that is scholarly enough for the Civil War buff but easy enough to read for someone with passing interest. There are a few historical innaccuracies. Also, it takes a bit of a pro-Union focus, being that Sheman's memoirs and letters make up more than half of his sources.