The Atlanta Campaign of 1864 was one of the most important of the Civil War. Though the Confederate army was strong, Union commander William Tecumseh Sherman successfully took Atlanta with few casualties, using his superior numbers to maneuver the Confederates from successive strong positions. Here a retired general fully examines what went into the campaign, taking readers into the mind of General Sherman as events unfolded. Laid out in chapters that follow the format of an "estimate of the situation," the book doesn't attempt a definitive history; rather, it illuminates Sherman's decision process in modern tactical terms.
"The historical study of operational art is an undervalued discipline. As a result, the profession of arms is deprived of perspectives which can inform our current operations. General John Scales provides a welcome addition to the field with this timely book on Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. General Scales offers a helpful construct that illustrates the complexities of battle and walks the reader through many of the factors leaders in war must consider. It is well worth a read."—Peter J. Schoomaker
