Accession Number:

ADB006760

Title:

The Atlanta Campaign: Principle of the Objective Revisited

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.

Corporate Author:

ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE FORT LEAVENWORTH KS

Personal Author(s):

• Coombs, John G.

Report Date:

1975-06-06

Pagination or Media Count:

94.0

Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to analyze Union offensive operations during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War with respect to the principle of the objective. This highly successful campaign split the Confederacy. The problem in this study was to determine whether Sherman applied the principle of the objective prior to and subsequent to the capture of Atlanta. Among the more important conclusions of the thesis are 1 The Union commander applied the principle of the objective during the campaign pushing the Confederate forces to a town 20 miles south of Atlanta, and forcing Confederate abandonment of Atlanta. 2 Sherman failed to apply the principle of the objective upon the occupation capture of Atlanta. 3 Sherman cautiously protected his railroad lifeline to Tennessee until sufficient forces were allocated to Major General George H. Thomas, his subordinate, who was defending Tennessee. Only after receiving authority from General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant did Sherman turn away from Hood. Trusting Thomas to protect Tennessee from Hoods army, Sherman concentrated on his new objective of destroying the southern will to fight. Planned destruction of the Souths war making resources began with Shermans subsequent march to the sea.

Descriptors:

• *MILITARY OPERATIONS
• GEORGIA
• MILITARY STRATEGY
• MILITARY TACTICS
• PROTECTION
• RAILROADS
• STRATEGIC MATERIALS
• TENNESSEE
• TERRAIN
• THESES
• VETERANS(MILITARY PERSONNEL)

Subject Categories:

• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE