Who Won the Battle of Atlanta? A Local’s Guide to One of the City’s Defining Moments

If you live in Atlanta, drive along Moreland Avenue, or pass the Inman Park, Edgewood, or East Atlanta neighborhoods, you’re moving through ground shaped by one of the most important events in the city’s history: the Battle of Atlanta.

So, who won the Battle of Atlanta?
In military terms, the Union (United States) forces won the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864, during the American Civil War. The battle was part of Union General William T. Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign and played a major role in the eventual fall of Atlanta and the city’s capture later that year.

But to really understand what that means for Atlanta today, it helps to look at what happened, where it happened, and how you can still see and experience that history around the city.

Quick Answer: Who Won, When, and Why It Mattered

Winner:

• Union (Northern) forces under Major General William T. Sherman and Major General James B. McPherson (who was killed during the battle)

Date:

• July 22, 1864

Location (modern Atlanta):

• Primarily on the east side of the city, in and around what is now:
  • East Atlanta
  • Edgewood
  • Kirkwood
  • Inman Park
  • Areas along Moreland Avenue, I-20, and Dekalb Avenue

Why it mattered:

• The Union victory helped lead to:
  • The eventual capture of Atlanta on September 2, 1864
  • Major destruction of the city’s infrastructure later that year
  • A significant boost to Northern morale, affecting national politics and the course of the war

Here’s a simple summary:

Where the Battle of Atlanta Happened in Today’s City

For Atlantans, one of the most striking things about the Battle of Atlanta is how close it feels. Many of the streets and neighborhoods you may know today sit right on top of the old battlefield.

Key Modern Neighborhoods on the Battlefield

If you live in or visit these areas, you’re very close to where the fighting took place:

• East Atlanta Village – Intense combat happened in and around this area.
• Edgewood & Kirkwood – Federal and Confederate lines shifted across these neighborhoods.
• Inman Park / Little Five Points area – Near some of the Union positions and later troop movements.
• Areas along:
  • Moreland Avenue
  • Dekalb Avenue
  • Memorial Drive
  • I-20 east of downtown

While most visible battlefield features are gone, some landmarks, markers, and interpretive signs still exist, and the street grid roughly follows the old transportation routes that made Atlanta so strategic.

What the Battle of Atlanta Was About

Why Atlanta Was So Important

In 1864, Atlanta was not the giant city it is now, but it was a major railroad and industrial hub. Several key rail lines met in Atlanta, making it critical for moving soldiers, weapons, and supplies for the Confederacy.

Union forces under General Sherman launched the Atlanta Campaign to capture the city, cut off Confederate supply lines, and break Southern resistance.

What Happened on July 22, 1864

On July 22:

• Union troops had moved into positions east of the city, forming a semi-circle around Atlanta.
• Confederate General John Bell Hood, recently placed in command, attempted a surprise attack on the Union’s left and rear.
• The Confederates struck hard, and fighting became fierce and chaotic in the wooded hills and fields east of town.
• Union General James B. McPherson was killed during the battle, one of the highest-ranking Union officers to die in combat.
• Despite heavy casualties on both sides, Union forces held their ground, and the Confederate attacks failed to break them.

By the end of the day, the Union army was bloodied but still in control of its positions, and the Confederate army had lost men it could not easily replace. That is why historians consider the Union the clear winner of the Battle of Atlanta.

Did the Battle of Atlanta End the Fight for the City?

Not immediately.

After the Battle: The City Under Siege

Even though the Confederates lost the Battle of Atlanta:

• They still held the city itself.
• Sherman continued to move his forces around Atlanta, targeting railroads and supply lines.
• More fighting followed in and around the city in late July and August 1864.

Eventually, with supply lines cut and Union pressure increasing:

• Confederate forces evacuated Atlanta.
• Union forces entered and occupied the city on September 2, 1864.

So, the Battle of Atlanta was a major step toward Atlanta’s fall, but not the final step.

How the Battle of Atlanta Is Remembered in Atlanta Today

If you’re in Atlanta and want to understand or experience this history, there are several meaningful local sites and resources.

Historic Sites and Markers

While there’s no single massive battlefield park covering the whole area, you can still find historic markers and references to the battle around the east side of town.

Look for:

• State and local historical markers in neighborhoods like:
  • East Atlanta
  • Edgewood
  • Inman Park
  • Kirkwood

These markers often stand near intersections or parks and briefly describe troop movements or key events that happened on that spot.

The Battle of Atlanta Cyclorama (and What Changed)

For many decades, the Cyclorama painting in Atlanta was one of the most recognizable depictions of the battle.

• The painting shows dramatic scenes from the July 22, 1864 fighting.
• It has been interpreted and reinterpreted over time as the city’s understanding of the Civil War has shifted.

If you’re interested in Civil War imagery and how Atlantans have remembered the conflict, the Cyclorama remains an important part of that story and is often highlighted in local history discussions and museum programming.

Why the Union Victory at the Battle of Atlanta Still Matters to the City

The Union victory at the Battle of Atlanta had major long-term consequences for the city and the country.

Impact on Atlanta

Because the Union eventually took the city:

• Much of Atlanta’s rail and industrial infrastructure was destroyed later in 1864.
• The city endured occupation and hardship, then slowly rebuilt in the late 1800s.
• Atlanta emerged over time as a key center of commerce, transportation, and later civil rights in the South.

The fact that the Union won and the Confederacy lost around Atlanta set the conditions for the city’s rebirth as a transportation and economic hub.

Impact on the Civil War and Beyond

The fall of Atlanta:

• Strengthened Northern public support for continuing the war.
• Weakened Confederate hopes and resources.
• Helped set the stage for the end of the Civil War in 1865 and the broader transformation of the South.

From a local perspective, the Union victory at the Battle of Atlanta is a key turning point that explains why Atlanta grew into the city you see today, rather than remaining a smaller railroad town.

Common Questions Atlantans Ask About the Battle of Atlanta

Was the Battle of Atlanta the same as Sherman’s March to the Sea?

No.

• The Battle of Atlanta (July 22, 1864) was one major battle within the Atlanta Campaign, focused on capturing the city.
• Sherman’s March to the Sea came later in 1864, after Atlanta had been captured and largely evacuated. The march moved from the Atlanta area toward Savannah, cutting a path through Georgia.

Did fighting happen in what is now downtown Atlanta?

Most of the heaviest fighting on July 22 took place east and southeast of the core downtown area, in what are now residential neighborhoods and local business districts. Downtown and the rail hub were strategic targets, but much of the actual combat occurred on the city’s outskirts as they existed at the time.

Can you still see actual battlefield terrain?

Some of the original hills, ridges, and general contours still exist, but they’ve been heavily altered by:

• Roads and highways (like I-20)
• Neighborhood development
• Commercial corridors

Instead of open fields, you’ll see streets, homes, businesses, and parks. To connect those modern views with historical events, markers, maps, and interpretive materials are your best tools.

How to Explore Battle of Atlanta History as a Local or Visitor

If you’re in Atlanta and want to go deeper:

• 🧭 Walk or drive the east side neighborhoods
  Pay attention to historic markers in:

  • East Atlanta
  • Kirkwood
  • Edgewood
  • Inman Park
    Many mention the Battle of Atlanta or the broader Atlanta Campaign.

• 📷 Look for interpretive signs in local parks and along major roads
  Some parks and roadside pull-offs have maps and explanations of troop movements.

• 🗺️ Use neighborhood history guides or printed maps
  Local visitor centers and neighborhood groups sometimes provide walking-tour maps that highlight Civil War sites and markers.

Exploring these areas with the battle in mind can give you a new appreciation for how Atlanta’s past and present overlap in the same streets and neighborhoods.

In summary:
The Union army won the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864. The fighting took place mainly across what is today the east side of Atlanta, and that victory was a crucial step toward the fall of Atlanta, the end of the Civil War, and the city’s eventual rebirth into the modern metropolis Atlantans know today.