July 22

The Civil War Battle of Atlanta

by Earl J. Hess

Series: Modern War Studies

Sales Date: January 6, 2023

432 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 in

Hardcover
9780700633968
Published: January 2023

$49.99

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eBook
9780700633975
Published: January 2023

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So remarkable was the fighting to the east of Atlanta on July 22, 1864, that it earned its place as the only engagement of the Civil War to be widely referred to by the date of its occurrence. Also known as the Battle of Atlanta, this was the largest engagement of the four-month-long Atlanta Campaign for control of the city and the region. Although Confederate commander John Bell Hood’s forces flanked William T. Sherman’s line and were able to crush the end of it, they could go no further. On July 22, 1864, the Confederates came closer to achieving a major tactical victory than on any other day of the Atlanta Campaign.

Prolific Civil War historian Earl Hess’s July 22 is a thorough study of all aspects of the most prominent battle of the Civil War’s Atlanta Campaign. Based on exhaustive research in primary sources, Hess has crafted a unique and compelling study of not only the tactics and strategy associated with the engagement but also of the personal experiences of Union and Confederate soldiers and the effects the battle had on them. This book offers fresh insights to the significance that the Battle of July 22 held for the larger Atlanta campaign and the entire Union war effort. Hess also provides a thorough discussion of the death of Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson, the most prominent casualty of the battle, and the effect this loss had on Union soldiers and civilians alike. He concludes with an assessment of the battle’s legacy in American history and culture.

Detailing one of the larger and more vigorously fought battles of the Civil War, Hess’s treatment of the Battle of Atlanta stands out as a strong example of Civil War operational history. The combination of maneuver, unit handling, stout combat by the individual soldier, and combative spirit on both sides make July 22 one of the most fascinating and remarkable battles in American history. There is much for the student of military history to learn on many levels of tactics, the experience of combat, and battlefield leadership.

"As a work of pure operational history, Hess has yet again not only met but further raised the bar. In terms of research comprehensiveness, detailed analysis, general readability, and logical structure of argumentation, this volume ought to be seen as the standard for all book-length treatments of single engagements."—Register of the Kentucky Historical Society
"Hess has crafted an outstanding battle study."—Army History
"Serves as an important addition to the historiography of the Atlanta campaign and the western theater of operations during the American Civil War."—Journal of Southern History
"Taken all together, this book adds considerably to our knowledge of one of the critical campaigns of the Civil War. Novices and experienced students alike will benefit from reading it."—Parameters
"With July 22, Hess, as he has so many times before, gives Civil War enthusiasts plenty of new evidence-based food for thought to challenge their preconceived notions."—Emerging Civil War
"July 22 represents an important addition to the scholarship of the Atlanta Campaign, of Hess’ accustomed master. Well worth reading."—New York Military Affairs Symposium Review
"A pitch-perfect operational history with a level of detail never achieved in previous studies of that pivotal day. Whether you agree or disagree with Hess’s analysis, enjoy this carefully constructed battle narrative written by one of the Civil War's most talented chroniclers."—Civil War Monitor
"An essential addition to Civil War historiography."—Brian Matthew Jordan in Southwestern Historical Quarterly
"Further narrowing remaining gaps in our understanding of the 1864 Atlanta Campaign, this book is another great contribution from one of the masters of Civil War battle history writing."—Civil War Books and Authors
“In the brutal battle fought east of Atlanta on July 22, 1864, the Army of the Tennessee once again demonstrated it was one of the truly great fighting forces in American military history. In this marvelously detailed study of that battle, Earl J. Hess makes yet another valuable contribution to scholarship on the struggle for Atlanta, the commanders who shaped its course, and Civil War military history in general. In addition to providing plenty to satisfy enthusiasts of traditional ‘drums and trumpets’ military history, Hess also offers intriguing discussions of such topics as battlefield commemoration and how both sides dealt with the wounded. Highly recommended.”—Ethan S. Rafuse, editor of Corps Commanders in Blue: Union Major Generals in the Civil War and Guide to the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign
“Earl Hess’s July 22 immerses the reader in this crucial conflict at a level of detail never before achieved in any study of the battle. A tour de force of research and analysis, Hess’s work represents a massive step forward in our knowledge of this long neglected but vital episode of the war.”—Steven E. Woodworth, author of Nothing but Victory: The Army of the Tennessee, 1861–1865