Welcome everyone to our series on the most important battles of the Civil War.

We are on battled 9 if you're keeping track, but this is a battle that is a series of battles

in this episode and then the next one following it.

We're looking at Atlanta and Sherman's March to the Sea.

Remember in our previous episode, we're looking at the Union Victory following the Battle

of Chattanooga.

Chattanooga is sort of the gateway to the South and its capture opens up that gateway.

But Atlanta is a crucial city.

Today, if you hear of Atlanta, you think of Coca-Cola or Center for Disease Control or Ted

Turner, Jeff Foxworthy or Ludicrous and Little John if you're into hip hop.

But in the period of the Civil War, Atlanta is much smaller than it is now of course,

but it was also an important rail and commercial center.

So it's small in population, but it was a critical point of contention during the Atlanta

campaign of 1864.

Crucial critical things are going to be happening here in these battles that paved the way for

the conclusion of the war.

We've talked about politics a little bit and how they fit into military plans and a good

outcome from Abraham Lincoln basically ensures Union Victory.

But is it assured or is it just one of those narratives of history that are convenient

for high school teachers?

They really don't know much about history, but want to get through that period.

We're going to find all that out and more in this episode in the next one to follow.

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