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Civil War

Atlanta Campaign: Cassville

Bartow County, Bartow County, Georgia

Marker Inscription

Atlanta Campaign Cassville. On May 19, 1864, Johnston entrenched on the ridge east of this marker. Planned to give battle but Sherman threatened his flank and his Corps commanders objected to the position. He therefore withdrew to Allatoona Pass. Rather than attack this strong position Sherman moved past it toward New Hope Church. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE UNITED STATES DEPARMTENT OF THE INTERIOR

Erected by National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior

The Story

On May 19, 1864, Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston entrenched on the ridge east of this spot near Cassville, intending to give battle to Sherman's advancing armies. When Sherman threatened his flank and his corps commanders objected to the position, Johnston instead withdrew to the strong defenses at Allatoona Pass. Rather than assault it, Sherman again slipped around, moving toward New Hope Church.

Why it matters

Cassville captures the cat-and-mouse maneuvering that defined the Atlanta Campaign, in which Sherman repeatedly chose flanking movements over costly frontal assaults on his march toward Atlanta.

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Related people

  • · Joseph E. Johnston
  • · William T. Sherman

Related events

  • · Atlanta Campaign
  • · American Civil War

Themes & tags

Civil WarBattlefield

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