Richard M McMurry

The Road Past Kennesaw: The Atlanta Campaign of 1864 Richard M McMurry

The "turning point" of the Civil War will always be a matter of debate among historians. There is no doubt, however, that William Tecumseh Sherman's capture of Atlanta was a devastating blow to the Confederacy. This little book gives an excellent account of the four-month campaign for the city. You will be able to trace the strategies and tactics of both sides, observe the mistakes and personal feuds of Southern generals, suffer the Georgia heat and mud along with the soldiers, read what soldiers wrote home to their families, and be party to many other rarely publicized aspects of the campaign. There are also highlights of the lives of major participants, including Southerns Johnston and Hood and the Union's Sherman and James Birdseye McPherson. Despite Sherman's reputation, General McPherson was considered "the most dangerous man in the whole Yankee army" by many Confederates. He was killed on July 22, 1864 as he rode to rally his men. The book concludes with photographs of Atlanta under the occupation of Union troops.