The Atlanta Campaign : Volume 2: From the Etowah River to Kennesaw Mountain, May 20 to June 27, 1864

everything he could to prevent Joe Johnston from sending troops to reinforce the Virginia army. Sherman had closed half the distance to Johnstonbase at Atlanta, but the Army of Tennessee had grown in numbers and the odds that were once 2 to 1 in his favor were now nearly even.Sherman opened the second phase of the campaign on May 23 by throwing his army across the Etowah. Instead of moving down the railroad to Allatoona, however, he marched west of Marietta to Dallas. The next five weeks were by some measures the hardest of the entire summer as maneuvering gave way to trench warfare, first along the New Hope Line, then Pine and Lost mountains, along the Mud Creek Line, and finally, atop the imposing slopes of Kennesaw Mountain. The daily grind, punctuated by periodic assaults at New Hope Church, PickettMill, Gilgal Church, Pigeon Hill, and Cheatham Hill took a terrible toll on both armies. The heavy rain through most of June made life in the field a misery, sick lists spiked, and men and horses broke down or

died. Neither side could claim victory as June drew to a close. Sherman remained undaunted. He would return to flanking. And this time Atlanta was a mere dozen miles distant.This multivolume study is based heavily on hundreds of primary accounts (many of which have never been used), 21 original maps, a firm understanding of the terrain, and a keen grasp of military strategy and tactics. Powell s;The Atlanta Campaign is this generationdefinitive treatment of one of the most important and fascinating confrontations of the entire Civil War. And it will stand the test of time. [Publisher's Text]