Guide to the Atlanta Campaign: Rocky Face Ridge to Kennesaw Mountain (U.S. Army War College Guides to Civil War Battles) (Paperback)

by Jay Luvaas (Editor), Harold W. Nelson (Editor)
Key Phrases: visitor center, dead angle, special field orders, Report of Maj, Snake Creek Gap, Second Division (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"These guides bridge the gap between sound military history and battlefield touring literature. They can be enjoyed without ever leaving the easy chair or they can become indispensable companions on tramps over the scenes of the greatest engagements of the Civil War." William C. Davis, author of Jefferson Davis: The Man and His Hour "The most thorough, detailed, and accurate books of their kind. Indeed, they are unique. I have used them to lead guided tours of several battlefields, with great success." James M. McPherson, author of Battle Cry of Freedom"

Product Description
Following William T. Sherman's capture of Chattanooga, the Union Army initiated a series of battles and operations that took it from the Tennessee border to the outskirts of Atlanta--with bloody confrontations at places such as Resaca and New Hope Church. Grant had ordered Sherman to penetrate the enemy's interior and inflict "all the damage you can against their War resources," and from the first major engagement at Rocky Face Ridge to the bitter standoff at Kennesaw Mountain, Sherman proceeded to do just that.

This latest in the Army War College Guides to Civil War Battles offers a concise and easy-to-use introduction to Sherman's route, focusing on this first and most critical phase of the Atlanta campaign. The Guide to the Atlanta Campaign leads visitors to all of the pertinent sites--Dug Gap, Adairsville, Pickett's Mill, and more--to help them relive the experiences of battle-hardened troops on the ground. Authors Luvaas and Nelson show respect for both sides of the fighting, but especially convey Sherman's special genius in mastering the logistical challenges that confronted him, moving reinforcements and supplies, and directing diverse offensive actions over immense--and immensely hostile--territory.

Like previous guides in the series, this volume helps Civil War enthusiasts vividly envision the actual historical setting. It combines official histories and on-the-scene reports, orders, and letters from commanding officers, and it features specially drawn maps that depict the opposing armies and the terrain in which they fought. It also includes easy-to-follow drive-and-stop maps that guide visitors along and just off Interstate 75, with the stops arranged to present the most important phases of the campaign as it developed. And this book supersedes most previous guides by moving beyond battles to more broadly consider the overall campaign.

The guide culminates with the battle of Kennesaw Mountain (urban growth beyond that battlefield precludes a tour), and also provides full coverage of the operational and strategic decisions that led to Sherman's ultimate victory at Atlanta. It will become an essential traveling companion for visitors to these Civil War sites--and an insightful guide for armchair travelers.

This book is part of the U.S. Army War College Guides to Civil War Battles series.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 383 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Kansas; illustrated edition edition (May 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0700615709
• ISBN-13: 978-0700615704
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #375,106 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable Book, June 13, 2008

By	James Durney (Tampa Bay area) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Each year a group of us drives from Tampa to Chickamauga. We always try to include one side trip to a Civil War site coming home. This book is going to be invaluable when planning these trips. The location of and directions to 20 sites associated with Sherman's Atlanta Campaign makes this easier and more fun. Most of cannot afford the personal guide with in-depth knowledge and the ability to explain the action to us. These books are that guide! This one starts in Ringgold and takes us South to Kennesaw Mountain. You will need this book to find a number of sites. It is very easy to get lost on the rural roads of the area and while I75 is the main landmark, it isn't always helpful.
This is an excellent addition to the series and continues the high quality that we expect. Once again, we have an invaluable book that is our personal guide.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Army War College book on the Atlanta Campaign, November 1, 2008

By	Steven A. Peterson (Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL)) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is one in the battlefield guides by the Army War College Guides to Civil War Battles series. The focus? The campaign from Rocky Face to Kennesaw Mountain, as Union General William Tecumseh Sherman and Confederate General Joseph Johnston jousted to outmaneuver and defeat the other. Shortly after this volume ends the narrative, General John Hood was named to replace Johnston, with not altogether salubrious results. . . .

As with others in the series, this begins with a brief Introduction to provide context. It concludes with an essay highlighting some key issues illustrated by the contest between the two armies and presenting the "Order of Battle," in which all units at the regimental level and above are identified, including the commanding officers of brigades, divisions, corps, and the army itself. The purpose of this volume as with others? The authors say that (Page xv): "This guide is designed to help you enjoy this experience with the Atlanta campaign. The stops are arranged to present the most important phases of the campaign as it developed. . . ." So, this is aimed as a guide for people to traverse the key places during the campaign and try to make sense of what they are viewing.

The campaign "officially" began on May 7th, 1864, as George Thomas and his Army of the Cumberland moved to take position in front of Buzzard Roost, a part of the Rocky Face Mountain defensive position that Johnston had developed. It ends with Sherman's flanking moves to drive Johnston from his formidable position at Kennesaw Mountain, from which he had inflicted heavy casualties on Sherman's forces after Sherman (at least in my view) unwisely chose to attack a powerful defensive position head on, with sanguinary results.

The heart of these guides: (a) some maps that outline key places to visit, so that a person can visualize the battlefields and the setting of the campaign; (b) sampling from the official reports of commanding officers after the battles had taken place, providing a firsthand evaluation of the fighting and marching and maneuvering. While some of the reports are doubtless skewed b y officers making sure that they sound good, it is still a fascinating resource to give the reader a glimpse of the commanders' perspectives.

So, all in all, another nice work in this excellent Army War College series. The closing essay is valuable in its own right, as it focuses on Sherman's logistical challenges. For instance, how do you feed a large army hundreds of miles from your support base? The essay concludes that Sherman did an outstanding job with the logistics of a campaign far from one's home base.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Guide to Part of the Atlanta Campaign, July 13, 2008

By	Bryan James Ihrig (Hull, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The authors cover only the Atlanta campaign up to Kennesaw. The battles and sites around Atlanta are not covered. Can we expect another volume in the future?