Atlanta In the spring of 1864, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman led an army of 75,000 soldiers across the Georgia wilderness from his base at Chattanooga, Tennessee to the gates of the Rebel-held City of Atlanta. 22
This two-month campaign included 17 separate battles and initiated Sherman’s “Total War” strategy. His soldiers destroyed the state’s infrastructure and burned towns as they slogged over the densely forested mountains in this region of Georgia. Sherman was determined to break southern morale and illustrate that they could not resist his determined troops. The campaign ended when Sherman’s soldiers captured, occupied and eventually burned the City of Atlanta, before beginning his famous March to the Sea. Union - 75,000 soldiers Confederate - 50,000 soldiers There were 65,000 casualties between the two sides in this five-month campaign.