The Battle of Peach Tree Creek: Hood's First Effort to Save Atlanta (Civil War America)

On July 20, 1864, the Civil War struggle for Atlanta reached a pivotal moment. As William T. Sherman's Union forces came ever nearer the city, Confederate President Jefferson Davis replaced the defending Confederate Army of Tennessee's commander, Joseph E. Johnston, and elevated John Bell Hood to replace him. This decision stunned and demoralized Confederate troops just when Hood was compelled to take the offensive against the approaching Federals. Attacking northward from Atlanta's defences, Hood's men struck George H. Thomas's Army of the Cumberland just after it crossed Peach Tree Creek on July 20. Initially taken by surprise, the Federals fought back with spirit and nullified all the advantages the Confederates first enjoyed. As a result, the Federals achieved a remarkable defensive victory. This book offers new and definitive interpretations of the battle's place within the Atlanta campaign. It demonstrated that several Confederate regiments and brigades made a show of advancing but then stopped partway to the objective and took cover for the rest of the afternoon on July 20. Morale played an unusually important role in determining the outcome of the battle at Peach Tree Creek. A soured mood among the Confederates and overwhelming confidence among the Federals spelled disaster for one side and victory for the other. On July 20, 1864, The Civil War Struggle For Atlanta Reached A Pivotal Moment. As William T. Sherman's Union Forces Came Ever Nearer The City, The Defending Confederate Army Of Tennessee Replaced Its Commanding General, Removing Joseph E. Johnston And Elevating John Bell Hood. This Decision Stunned And Demoralized Confederate Troops Just When Hood Was Compelled To Take The Offensive Against The Approaching Federals. Attacking Northward From Atlanta's Defenses, Hood's Men Struck George H. Thomas's Army Of The Cumberland Just After It Crossed Peach Tree Creek On July 20. Initially Taken By Surprise, The Federals Fought Back With Spirit And Nullified All The Advantages The Confederates First Enjoyed. As A Result, The Federals Achieved A Remarkable Defensive Victory. Offering New And Definitive Interpretations Of The Battle's Place Within The Atlanta Campaign, Earl J. Hess Describes How Several Confederate Regiments And Brigades Made A Pretense Of Advancing But Then Stopped Partway To The Objective And Took Cover For The Rest Of The Afternoon On July 20. Hess Shows That Morale Played An Unusually Important Role In Determining The Outcome At Peach Tree Creek - A Soured Mood Among The Confederates And Overwhelming Confidence Among The Federals Spelled Disaster For One Side And Victory For The Other. -- From Dust Jacket. To The Chattahoochee -- Across The Chattahoochee, July 17-18 -- Across Peach Tree Creek, July 19 -- Preparations For Battle, July 20 -- Hardee Versus Newton -- Featherston Versus Ward -- Scott Versus Geary -- O'neal Versus Williams And Reynolds Versus Mccook -- Rest Of Day, July 20 -- Cleaning Up -- July 21-22 -- Conclusion -- Order Of Battle. Earl J. Hess. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Offering new and definitive interpretations of the battle of Peach Tree Creek's place within the Atlanta campaign, Earl J. Hess describes how several Confederate regiments and brigades made a pretense of advancing but then stopped partway to the objective and then took cover. Hess shows that morale played an unusually important role in determining the outcome at Peach Tree Creek.