The Battle of Atlanta

Orders, faulty intelligence and missing supplies shape Grenville Mellen Dodge's account of military command during the American Civil War. Published in 1911, this collection brings together campaign narratives, letters and addresses, including an account of Atlanta, recollections of the Army of the Tennessee and discussions of western operations. The opening follows the struggle for Missouri, where Dodge describes his service with the Fourth Iowa Infantry and the difficulties of preparing troops at Rolla.

Dodge writes as a participant who is ready to question other officers' decisions. He weighs scattered forces against concentrated armies and tests reports against his own experience. A later passage examines Colonel Cole's retreat through the Powder River country, with exhausted animals, a snowstorm and shortages of equipment. Readers interested in military logistics and the perspective of a Union commander can find concrete examples of how planning, communication and supply affected operations.