Chronological History of the American Civil War

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back with staggering losses. The Federals capture the railway. Fearing an attack on Atlanta, General Hood (CSA) withdraws one corp from Hardee’s force that night to go back and defend the city. At Steelville, Missouri a gang of bushwhackers capture and plunder the town, killing militia men and citizens who tried to obstruct them. In Memphis, Col. Fielding Hurst’s (U.S.) command, the 6th Tennessee Cavalry is told to dismount and are to report as “unassigned.” In Chicago, George McClellan, formerly Major General in the Federal Army is elected as the next nominee for President of the United States, as the The Democratic National Convention comes to an close. Thursday, September 1, 1864 : At Jonesboro, Georgia, Union corps breakthrough General William Hardee’s (CSA) troops and Hardee’s men retreat to Lovejoy’s Station. Confederate losses are now even larger. The Yankees lost 1,149 men, while the Confederates lost about

2,000. Tonight General Hood (CSA) orders the evacuation of Atlanta (pictured). General Hood (CSA) burns the huge munitions and supply depots, creating fires that burn out of control, burning much of the railroad yards, as he leaves the city. The Union forces do succeed in cutting Hood’s supply lines, but fails to destroy Hardee’s command. Friday, September 2, 1864 : Atlanta falls to General Sherman (U.S.) and his Union troops, as General Hood’s only hope was getting away to fight

another day. General Hood (CSA) leaves Atlanta in flames. Sherman sends a message to President Lincoln, “Atlanta is ours, and fairly won.” Sherman now has to contain the city and his men. Both sides fought a hard battle. Casualties for the campaign were roughly equal in absolute numbers: 31,687 Union (4,423 killed, 22,822 wounded, 4,442 missing/captured) and 34,979 Confederate (3,044 killed, 18,952 wounded, 12,983 missing/captured.) But Hood's army will leave the area with approximately 30,000 men, whereas Sherman still has 81,000. General Lee (CSA) suggested that slaves could be used for the laboring tasks done by the Army of Virginia. This would free up non-slave laborers for combat. Fighting continues in Missouri, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi. The war is long from over. Saturday, September 3, 1864 : With the war news from Atlanta, this was so important the taking of Atlanta, that Lincoln orders a day of national rejoicing on September 5, 1864. This Union victory presents President Abraham Lincoln with the key, he needed to reelection in the fall of 1864. Confederate Generals Wheeler, Roddy, and Forrest are between Nashville and Murfreesboro. General Wheeler’s troops burn several miles of the Great Western and the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad. General John Kelly’s division of Wheeler’s Corps skirmishes with a U.S. Cavalry force near Franklin. Kelly is mortally wounded. More skirmishes at and near Union City.