Who Led the Union’s Atlanta Campaign? A Local’s Guide to the Generals Behind the Battle for Atlanta

If you live in Atlanta or you’re exploring the city’s Civil War history, one question comes up again and again: “Who was the Union leader of the Atlanta Campaign?”

The short, clear answer:
Major General William Tecumseh Sherman was the overall Union commander of the Atlanta Campaign in 1864.

But if you’re in Atlanta today, it helps to understand not just who Sherman was, but how he led the campaign, which generals worked under him, and where in the modern city you can see reminders of this history.

The Main Union Leader of the Atlanta Campaign: William T. Sherman

The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles in north Georgia in 1864, aimed at capturing Atlanta, which was then a major Confederate railroad hub and industrial center.

Sherman’s Role

• Name: Major General William Tecumseh Sherman
• Side: Union (United States)
• Position: Overall commander of Union forces in the Atlanta Campaign
• Objective: Push south from Tennessee, defeat Confederate armies in north Georgia, and capture Atlanta.

Sherman directed a huge force—often called the Military Division of the Mississippi—which advanced through places that are now part of the greater Atlanta metro and north Georgia region, including areas around Dalton, Kennesaw, Marietta, and Decatur.

From an Atlanta perspective, Sherman is best known for:

• Ordering the siege and capture of Atlanta in the summer of 1864
• Occupying Atlanta in September 1864
• Beginning his later “March to the Sea” from the Atlanta area toward Savannah

If you see references in local museums, markers, or tours to the “Union general who took Atlanta,” they are almost always talking about Sherman.

Other Key Union Leaders Under Sherman Around Atlanta

While Sherman was the Union leader of the Atlanta Campaign, he commanded several major armies. If you’re visiting battlefields or reading markers around metro Atlanta, you’ll see these names often.

Here is a simple overview you can keep in mind when exploring local sites:

If you live in or visit East Atlanta, Decatur, or the I-20 corridor, you are near the main area of the Battle of Atlanta, where McPherson was killed and where Howard later took command.

How the Campaign Reached and Captured Atlanta

Understanding how Sherman’s leadership unfolded helps you connect local sites and neighborhoods to what happened here.

1. Moving Through North Georgia Toward Atlanta

Sherman’s forces advanced from Chattanooga, Tennessee, into north Georgia and gradually pushed Confederate forces south. They moved through:

• Dalton
• Resaca
• New Hope Church
• Kennesaw Mountain

Today, if you drive north of Atlanta on I-75 or visit Cobb County, you are crossing ground where Sherman’s troops maneuvered and fought.

Key site to know:

• Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
  900 Kennesaw Mountain Dr, Kennesaw, GA 30152
  This park preserves major battlefield terrain from Sherman’s approach to Atlanta. You’ll see trails, markers, and views looking toward the city that help you imagine the Union armies advancing.

2. Reaching Metro Atlanta: Battles Around the City

By July 1864, Sherman’s armies were pressing close to Atlanta. Several major battles shaped the final outcome:

• Battle of Peachtree Creek (north of downtown Atlanta)
• Battle of Atlanta (largely in what is now East Atlanta, Kirkwood, and around I-20)
• Battle of Ezra Church (in West Atlanta areas)

These battles were fought between Sherman's Union forces and Confederate forces commanded by Generals Joseph E. Johnston and John Bell Hood on the Confederate side.

When you see historic markers along Peachtree Creek, in neighborhoods such as Buckhead and Brookwood Hills, or in East Atlanta Village, those are pointing to locations where Sherman’s overall plan brought Union forces into direct conflict with Confederate defenders.

3. Siege and Fall of Atlanta

Sherman did not simply storm the city in a single day. Instead, he:

• Encircled Atlanta from several directions
• Cut off rail lines and supply routes, a key part of Atlanta’s importance
• Used artillery and maneuver to force the Confederates to abandon the city

On September 2, 1864, Union forces officially took control of Atlanta. As the Union commander of the Atlanta Campaign, Sherman reported the famous message that Atlanta was captured.

For people in Atlanta today, this moment is often seen as:

• A turning point in the Civil War, boosting Northern morale
• The beginning of a period of destruction but also eventual rebuilding and growth for the city

What Sherman Did in Atlanta Before the March to the Sea

Once Sherman’s forces occupied the city, they used Atlanta as a military base. This period is important if you’re trying to understand why some older neighborhoods and rail corridors look the way they do.

Sherman:

• Evacuated many civilian residents
• Destroyed certain military-related facilities, railroads, and supplies
• Used Atlanta as a staging point before beginning the March to the Sea in November 1864

When people in Atlanta talk about the city being “burned,” they’re usually referring to this phase. Modern Atlanta has few surviving pre-war structures, in part because of the damage during this period under Sherman’s command.

Where to Learn About Sherman and the Atlanta Campaign in Today’s Atlanta

If you want to explore the history of the Union leadership of the Atlanta Campaign up close, Atlanta has several accessible locations and resources.

1. Atlanta History Center

• Atlanta History Center
  130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW
  Atlanta, GA 30305

The Atlanta History Center regularly features exhibits on the Civil War and the Battle of Atlanta, including:

• Maps showing Sherman’s approach to the city
• Artifacts and models tied to the Union and Confederate forces
• Interpretive displays that explain how Sherman’s leadership affected Atlanta’s development

This is a good starting point if you want a big-picture view with strong local context.

2. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

As mentioned above, this park in Cobb County preserves one of the key battles that occurred on the way to Atlanta. From Sherman’s perspective, this battle was part of a strategic effort to force the Confederates out of strong defensive positions.

When you hike or drive up Kennesaw Mountain, you can:

• Look south toward modern Atlanta and visualize Sherman’s armies moving closer
• Walk among earthworks and cannon positions once used by both sides

3. Battle of Atlanta Sites in East and Southeast Atlanta

Several neighborhoods in the city preserve the memory of the Battle of Atlanta, where Sherman’s subordinates fought a major engagement on July 22, 1864.

Areas to look for markers and interpretation:

• East Atlanta Village
• Kirkwood
• Edgewood
• The area near I-20 east of downtown

Local markers often describe actions by Union generals like McPherson and Howard, who were operating under Sherman’s overall command.

4. Oakland Cemetery

• Oakland Cemetery
  248 Oakland Ave SE
  Atlanta, GA 30312

While this site does not feature Sherman himself, it is a powerful place to understand the human cost of the Atlanta Campaign, with:

• Civil War-era graves
• Monuments that reflect how Atlantans remembered both Union and Confederate roles in the fighting

Key Takeaways for Someone in Atlanta

If you’re trying to understand who led the Union during the Atlanta Campaign and how that connects to the modern city, keep these points in mind:

• William Tecumseh Sherman was the overall Union leader of the Atlanta Campaign in 1864.
• He commanded several large Union armies—including the Army of the Cumberland, Army of the Tennessee, and Army of the Ohio—that advanced through north Georgia to capture Atlanta.
• Many modern Atlanta neighborhoods—such as Buckhead, East Atlanta, West Atlanta, Kirkwood, and areas around Peachtree Creek and I-20—sit on or near former battlefields and troop movement routes.
• Local sites like the Atlanta History Center, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, and Battle of Atlanta markers help you see how Sherman’s leadership shaped both the Civil War and Atlanta’s later rebirth.

When you see references around the city to the “Union general who took Atlanta,” they’re talking about General William T. Sherman, the commanding Union leader of the entire Atlanta Campaign.