The Battle of Atlanta and the Georgia Campaign

by William Key

Under the title "The Georgia Campaign," a major part of The Battle of Atlanta and The Georgia Campaign first appeared as a serial which was published in The Atlanta Journal and Constitution during the spring of 1957. The narrative attracted such widespread attention that, though the school term was almost over, it was placed on the mandatory reading list of a number of high schools and colleges not only throughout Georgia and the South, but in institutions as far removed as Michigan. The popular clamor for reprints led to its being brought out in book form and more fully than when first published in The Atlanta Journal and Constitution. --- from publishers Note

96 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1981

Reviews

[EJ Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

This slim volumes offers a dramatic and substantive introduction to the Georgia Campaign and the Battle of Atlanta, and while at times it veers into the fanciful it does manage to capture the high drama of an often overlooked campaign during the War Between the States.

William Key was a professional newspaperman and an amateur historian, but his account of the campaign draws extensively from historical resources, albeit infused with a journalist's flair. His take on the battle is traditional, in that he is a partisan for General Joseph E. Johnston, an opponent of Major General John Bell Hood, and none too pleased with Major General William T. Sherman, but on the whole he gives a thoughtful recounting of the battles. His inclusion of anecdotes from the archives of the Atlanta Constitution also provides a unique approach to the topic.

At times, however, Key's partisanship does obscure certain historical realities. The work is also not very deep, and many details are left out in order to not mar the flow of the narrative.

For these reasons, I highly recommend The Battle of Atlanta for those seeking a fun, engaging, and easy to read introduction to the Battle of Atlanta; for more serious students of the battle, Key would perhaps only be useful for the anecdotes he provides, some of which I have not seen reported elsewhere.