Siege of Atlanta:
Union forces under General William T. Sherman began a siege of Atlanta in July 1864, after defeating Confederate forces at the Battle of Peachtree Creek and Battle of Atlanta. Sherman constructed fortifications and trenches around the city, cutting off supplies and communication lines.
Battle of Jonesborough:
On August 31, 1864, Confederate forces under General John B. Hood launched a counterattack against Sherman's forces near Jonesborough, Georgia. The Union army successfully repulsed the Confederate assault, securing their hold on Atlanta.
Evacuation of Atlanta:
Following the defeat at Jonesborough, Confederate General John Bell Hood ordered the evacuation of Atlanta. On September 1, 1864, Hood's army set fire to military installations, warehouses, and factories in the city, destroying much of Atlanta.
Capture of Atlanta:
Union forces entered Atlanta on September 2, 1864, and raised the United States flag over the Georgia state capitol. The fall of Atlanta was a significant victory for the Union, cutting the Confederacy in two and boosting Union morale.
Sherman's March to the Sea:
Following the capture of Atlanta, Sherman initiated his famous "March to the Sea." He led his army on a scorched-earth campaign through Georgia, destroying infrastructure, plantations, and railroads, aiming to disrupt Confederate logistics and break their will to resist.
These events marked a turning point in the American Civil War, as the Union gained significant ground and morale, leading to the eventual defeat of the Confederacy and the end of the war in April 1865.