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In 1864, Union troops captured Atlanta, Georgia. This is a photograph of a camp for the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry near the Atlanta City Hall.
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Atlanta's Role in the Civil War
Atlanta played an important role during the Civil War. Do you know what it was?Founded in 1837 as a railway center for northwestern Georgia, Atlanta's original name was "Terminus." By 1852, its population had reached 3,000, including some 500 slaves. Because of its location and commercial importance, Atlanta was used as a center for military operations and as a supply route by the Confederate army during the Civil War. Therefore, it also became a target for the Union army. General William Tecumseh Sherman and his troops captured the city in 1864. In order to weaken the Confederate military organization, Union troops burned Atlanta to the ground before they moved on. Do you think that burning the city was an extreme action? Today, Atlanta is the capital of Georgia. It is known for its robust economy and as the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr.
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