Today in History: Fall of Atlanta

How Sherman's veterans took Atlanta

Today in History–September 1–the Library of Congress features the fall of Atlanta. On this date in 1864, Confederate General John B. Hood evacuated and left the city in Union hands. The capture of this crucial Confederate supply center by William T. Sherman helped ensure the re-election of President Abraham Lincoln two months later. Find out more about the events preceding and following the fall of Atlanta by visiting the Today in History section, the click the links below to access related resources.

Confederate General John B. Hood leads Army of Tennessee out of Alabama toward Nashville from America’s Library

General John B. Hood image set

General Hood from Lee and His Generals by Capt. Wm. P. Snow 1867

The Fall of Atlanta – An Historical and Military Drama in Five Acts by G.M. Connell 1885

General Sherman & Atlanta images

General Sherman & Atlanta maps

General Sherman & Atlanta sheet music

Timeline & select newspaper articles: Sherman’s March

General Sherman & Atlanta 1864 historical newspaper coverage

The United States Civil War: The Atlanta Campaign Using Chronicling America for Historical Research webinar recording

A woman’s wartime journal; an account of the passage over a Georgia plantation of Sherman’s army on the march to the sea as recorded in the diary of Dolly Sumner Lunt 1918

William T. Sherman primary source collection

Civil War primary source collections & teaching resources