Atlanta Will Fall - Sherman, Joe Johnston and the Yankee Heavy Battalions

[Nico_Davout]

Atlanta Will Fall - Sherman, Joe Johnston and the Yankee Heavy Battalions is a very interesting book about Atlanta campaign, written by Stephen Davis. Author writes about campaign only from military point of view, You wont find anything about the 1864 elections and connections with Atlanta campaign. However You will find very interesting theory - Atlanta was doomed from the beginning - which author defend nicely.

The title of this book comes from the words of Southern journalist

"Pro-Southern veteran journalist Henry Watterson, writing as "Shadow" for a Mobile, Alabama, newspaper in May 1864, predicted the fall of Atlanta:

'You want to know, I suspect, my candid opinion of the real situation of Atlanta. I will tell you frankly. I do regard the city as in imminent danger....I observe mu own feeling on the subject, and I think Atlanta will fall. But, on the other hand, there is a chance for a battle upon the Chattahoochie, and if we fight there, out show for victory is excellent. We may repel every effort to flank us, and we may win a decesive action. Then we are safe. Still it appears to be very much the other way, when we consider that Sherman has succeeded in a series of flank movements from Dalton down. What, we very naturally inquire, is to prevent a continuance of the same - As yet the matter is undeveloped, and while there is life there is hope. The enemy`s strength is one hundred thousand. They are well handled. I know nothing at all of our strength, but I should estimate it at a lower figure. The next ten days will decide everything.'

- Letter from Atlanta, May 24, 1864

(..)Thus Wateerson identified the three reasones Atlanta would indeed fall: Sherman`s talent, Johnston`s passivity, and the Northerners` numerical strength."

I strongly recommend this book to every fan of western theater of war. Especially to 'fans' of J.E.Johnston .

[Kent Nielsen]

Originally Posted by Nico_Davout

Atlanta Will Fall - Sherman, Joe Johnston and the Yankee Heavy Battalions is a very interesting book about Atlanta campaign, written by Stephen Davis. Author writes about campaign only from military point of view, You wont find anything about the 1864 elections and connections with Atlanta campaign. However You will find very interesting theory - Atlanta was doomed from the beginning - which author defend nicely.

The title of this book comes from the words of Southern journalist

"Pro-Southern veteran journalist Henry Watterson, writing as "Shadow" for a Mobile, Alabama, newspaper in May 1864, predicted the fall of Atlanta:

'You want to know, I suspect, my candid opinion of the real situation of Atlanta. I will tell you frankly. I do regard the city as in imminent danger....I observe mu own feeling on the subject, and I think Atlanta will fall. But, on the other hand, there is a chance for a battle upon the Chattahoochie, and if we fight there, out show for victory is excellent. We may repel every effort to flank us, and we may win a decesive action. Then we are safe. Still it appears to be very much the other way, when we consider that Sherman has succeeded in a series of flank movements from Dalton down. What, we very naturally inquire, is to prevent a continuance of the same - As yet the matter is undeveloped, and while there is life there is hope. The enemy`s strength is one hundred thousand. They are well handled. I know nothing at all of our strength, but I should estimate it at a lower figure. The next ten days will decide everything.'

- Letter from Atlanta, May 24, 1864

(..)Thus Wateerson identified the three reasones Atlanta would indeed fall: Sherman`s talent, Johnston`s passivity, and the Northerners` numerical strength."

I strongly recommend this book to every fan of western theater of war. Especially to 'fans' of J.E.Johnston .

I agree this was an interesting book to read. Although I doubt "Old Joe" admirers would like it.