Battle of Jonesboro - Atlanta Campaign - Civil War - William Sherman

Skirmish of Jonesboro - Atlanta Campaign - Civil War - William Sherman Skirmish of Jonesboro - Conflict Dates: The Battle of Jonesboro was battled August 31-September 1, 1864, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Armed forces Commanders Association Significant General William T. ShermanMajor General Oliver O. HowardMajor General George H. Thomas6 corps Confederates General John Bell HoodLieutenant General William Hardee2 corps Skirmish of Jonesboro - Background: Propelling south from Chattanooga in May 1864, Major General William T. Sherman looked to catch the imperative Confederate rail center point at Atlanta, GA. Contradicted by Confederate powers, he arrived at the city in July after an extended crusade in northern Georgia. Protecting Atlanta, General John Bell Hood took on three conflicts with Sherman late in the month at Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, and Ezra Church, before resigning into the citys fortresses. Reluctant to dispatch frontal ambushes against arranged guards, Shermans powers expected positions west, north, and east of the city and attempted to cut it off from resupply. This apparent inaction, alongside Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Award being slowed down at Petersburg, started to harm Union confidence and drove some to expect that President Abraham Lincoln could be crushed in the November political race. Evaluating the circumstance, Sherman chose to put forth attempts to cut off the sole residual railroad into Atlanta, the Macon Western. Withdrawing the city, the Macon Western Railroad ran south to Eastpoint where the Atlanta West Point Railroad split off while the principle line proceeded to and through Jonesboro (Jonesborough). Skirmish of Jonesboro - The Union Plan: To achieve this objective, Sherman guided most of his powers to pull out of their positions and move around Atlanta toward the west before falling upon the Macon Western south of the city. Just Major General Henry Slocums XX Corps was to stay north of Atlanta with requests to watch the railroad connect over the Chattahoochee River and secure the Union lines of correspondence. The monstrous Union development started on August 25 and saw Major General Oliver O. Howards Army of the Tennessee walk with requests to strike the railroad at Jonesboro (Map). Skirmish of Jonesboro - Hood Responds: As Howards men moved out, Major General George H. Thomas Army of the Cumberland and Major General John Schofields Army of the Ohio were entrusted with cutting the railroad more remote north. On August 26, Hood was shocked to discover most of the Union entrenchments around Atlanta unfilled. After two days, Union soldiers arrived at the Atlanta West Point and started pulling up the tracks. At first accepting this to be a preoccupation, Hood dismissed the Union endeavors until reports started to contact him of a sizable Union power south of the city. As Hood tried to explain the circumstance, Howards men arrived at the Flint River close to Jonesboro. Disregarding a power of Confederate mounted force, they crossed the stream and accepted a solid situation on statures ignoring the Macon Western Railroad. Shocked by the speed of his development, Howard ended his order to merge and permit his men to rest. Accepting reports of the Howards position, Hood promptly requested Lieutenant General William Hardee to take his corps and that of Lieutenant General Stephen D. Lee south to Jonesboro to unstick the Union soldiers and ensure the railroad. Clash of Jonesboro - The Fighting Begins: Showing up during that time of August 31, Union impedance along the railroad forestalled Hardee from being prepared to assault until around 3:30 PM. Restricting the Confederate officer were Major General John Logans XV Corps which confronted east and Major General Thomas Ransoms XVI Corps which calculated back from the Union right. Because of the postponements in the Confederate development, both Union corps had the opportunity to sustain their positions. For the ambush, Hardee guided Lee to assault Logans line while Major General Patrick Cleburne drove his corps against Ransom. Squeezing forward, Cleburnes power progressed on Ransom yet the assault started to slow down when his lead division experienced harsh criticism from Union rangers drove by Brigadier General Judson Kilpatrick. Recapturing some energy, Cleburne had some achievement and caught two Union firearms before being compelled to stop. Toward the north, Lees Corps pushed ahead against Logans earthworks. While a few units assaulted and took overwhelming misfortunes before being spurned, others, knowing the close uselessness of attacking fortresses legitimately, neglected to completely participate in the exertion. Clash of Jonesboro - The Confederate Defeat: Compelled to pull back, Hardees order endured around 2,200 setbacks while Union misfortunes numbered just 172. As Hardee was being spurned at Jonesboro, the Union XXIII, IV, and XIV Corps arrived at the railroad north of Jonesboro and south of Rough and Ready. As they cut off the railroad and transmit wires, Hood understood his lone residual choice was to empty Atlanta. Intending to leave after dull on September 1, Hood requested Lees Corps to come back to the city to shield against a Union assault from the south. Left at Jonesboro, Hardee was to hold out and spread the retreat of the military. Accepting a cautious situation close to the town, Hardees line confronted west while his correct flank bowed back toward the east. On September 1, Sherman guided Major General David Stanley to take IV Corps south along the railroad, join with Major General Jefferson C. Davis XIV Corps, and together guide Logan in squashing Hardee. At first both were to pulverize the railroad as they advanced however after discovering that Lee had withdrawn, Sherman guided them to progress as fast as could reasonably be expected. Showing up on the combat zone, Davis corps accepted as position on Logans left. Coordinating activities, Sherman bossed Davis to assault around 4:00 PM even through Stanleys men were all the while showing up. In spite of the fact that an underlying assault was turned around, ensuing attacks by Davis men opened a penetrate in the Confederate lines. As Sherman didn't organization Howards Army of the Tennessee to assault, Hardee had the option to move troops to seal this hole and keep IV Corps from turning his flank. Frantically holding out until dusk, Hardee pulled back south towards Lovejoys Station. Skirmish of Jonesboro - Aftermath: The Battle of Jonesboro cost Confederate powers around 3,000 setbacks while Union misfortunes numbered around 1,149. As Hood had emptied the city during the night, Slocums XX Corps had the option to enter Atlanta on September 2. Seeking after Hardee south to Lovejoys, Sherman educated of the citys fall the following day. Reluctant to assault the solid position that Hardee had readied, Union soldiers came back to Atlanta. Broadcasting Washington, Sherman expressed, Atlanta is our own, and genuinely won. The fall of Atlanta gave a huge lift to Northern resolve and assumed a key job in guaranteeing the re-appointment of Abraham Lincoln. Beaten, Hood left on a crusade into Tennessee that fall which saw his military viably decimated at the Battles of Franklin and Nashville. Having made sure about Atlanta, Sherman set out upon his March to the Sea which saw him catch Savannah on December 21. Chosen Sources History of War: Battle of JonesboroughCWSAC Battle Summaries: Battle of Jonesborough North Georgia: Battle of Jonesboro