ATLANTA
July 22, 1864

In replacing Johnston with Hood, the Confederate High Command expected an aggressive approach to Sherman's advance on Atlanta. In this regard, Hood did not fail to deliver. On July 20th he made a sortie which became known as the Battle of Peachtree Creek. Launched against the rock-steady Thomas, it achieved little but on the following day Wheeler's cavalry reported that McPherson, on the Union left, had neglected to protect his flank. Hood saw an opportunity here for a decisive victory and sent Hardee on a circuitous night-march, with orders to attack the exposed flank at dawn. He withdrew the rest of his troops to Atlanta's inner defences and sent Wheeler to attack Decatur and the Union baggage train.

Things did not go completely according to plan due partly to bad luck and partly to bad management. There were delays in the process of disengagement and it was not until 3 am. that the last of Hardee's corps had left the Atlanta entrenchments. The men were also tired after the heavy fighting on 20th and skirmishing on 21st. It was not until noon, therefore, that Hardee arrived at his objective and launched the attack.
The results were variable. Maney's division went in too far to the left and hit an entrenched position. Cleburne, next in line, was much more successful and made a substantial penetration. On the right, however, Bate and Walker ran into an unexpected defence. An entire Union corps, under Dodge, had spent the morning engaged in destroying the railroad to the north and was marching back as Bate and Walker moved forward. They immediately faced left and the column turned into a long defensive line.
McPherson, one of the North's most able generals, was killed in the battle. He was at headquarters with Sherman when he heard firing and went to investigate. He ran into Cleburne's men and was shot down as he tried to ride away. Sherman sent few re-inforcements across, wanting to give McPherson's veterans a chance for revenge.
His faith in them was warranted. There was hard fighting around Bald Hill, held by Leggett but the gallant corps commander Logan took command of McPherson's army and the critical point held. At the end of the day, Hood had nothing to show for his efforts except for 8,000 casualties to Sherman's 3,700. Unlike Johnston, Hood did not fully appreciate that aggression was not necessarily the better part of valour.