| America's Civil War Source |
A resource for those interested in the study of America's Civil War
|
Battle of Ezra Church begins
On this day, Confederates under General John Bell Hood make a
third attempt to break General William T. Sherman's hold on
Atlanta . Like the first two, this attack failed, destroying the
Confederate Army of Tennessee's offensive capabilities.
Hood had replaced Joseph Johnston as commander of the Army
of Tennessee on July 18, 1864, because Johnston had failed to
keep Sherman away from Atlanta . Upon assuming command of
the army, Hood quickly scrapped Johnston's defensive strategy
and attacked Sherman, first on July 20 at Peachtree Creek, and
then on July 22 at the Battle of Atlanta. Both failed, but that did
not deter Hood from making another attempt to break the Union
hold on the important Southern city.
When Sherman sent General Oliver O. Howard southeast of
Atlanta to cut the Macon and Western Railroad, one of the
remaining supply lines, Hood sent Stephen D. Lee's corps to
block the move. Lee attacked at Ezra Church , but the battle did
not go as planned for the Confederates. Instead of striking the
Union flank, Lee's corps hit the Union center, where the Yankee
troops were positioned behind barricades made from logs and
pews taken from the church. Throughout the afternoon, Lee made
several attacks on the Union lines. Each was turned back, and
Lee was not able to get around the Union flank.
The battle was costly for an army that was already outnumbered.
Lee lost 3,000 men to the Union 's 630. More important, Hood lost
his offensive capability. For the next month, he could do no more
than sit in trenches around Atlanta and wait for Sherman to deal
him the knockout blow.
On this day, Confederates under General John Bell Hood make a
third attempt to break General William T. Sherman's hold on
Atlanta . Like the first two, this attack failed, destroying the
Confederate Army of Tennessee's offensive capabilities.
Hood had replaced Joseph Johnston as commander of the Army
of Tennessee on July 18, 1864, because Johnston had failed to
keep Sherman away from Atlanta . Upon assuming command of
the army, Hood quickly scrapped Johnston's defensive strategy
and attacked Sherman, first on July 20 at Peachtree Creek, and
then on July 22 at the Battle of Atlanta. Both failed, but that did
not deter Hood from making another attempt to break the Union
hold on the important Southern city.
When Sherman sent General Oliver O. Howard southeast of
Atlanta to cut the Macon and Western Railroad, one of the
remaining supply lines, Hood sent Stephen D. Lee's corps to
block the move. Lee attacked at Ezra Church , but the battle did
not go as planned for the Confederates. Instead of striking the
Union flank, Lee's corps hit the Union center, where the Yankee
troops were positioned behind barricades made from logs and
pews taken from the church. Throughout the afternoon, Lee made
several attacks on the Union lines. Each was turned back, and
Lee was not able to get around the Union flank.
The battle was costly for an army that was already outnumbered.
Lee lost 3,000 men to the Union 's 630. More important, Hood lost
his offensive capability. For the next month, he could do no more
than sit in trenches around Atlanta and wait for Sherman to deal
him the knockout blow.