This book The Bonfire: The Siege and Burning of Atlanta, was not very long but it took me about a month to read. Written by Marc Wortman, and published in August of this year The book has a length of 464 pages, which includes many pictures and references.
The story starts with the birth of Atlanta, growing out of the Cherokee nation in Georgia, becoming a center of growth based on being a railroad center and having a business first culture amongst the merchantile class. As the city was becoming established the political Calhoun family took root, related to the Calhoun's of South Carolina and Alabama leaderhip. The Georgia Calhoun's were against secession, but like many southerns, paid allegience to their state.
On the military side, the story focuses on Sherman's vistories in Tennessee at Chatanooga and then down to Atlanta from the northwest. Like Kessesaw Mountain in Marietta, Atlanta was well fortified but undermanned and out generaled. Atlanta was shelled for weeks, the CSA army bounced from corner to corner in the city in an attempt to make their forces appear larger, but Sherman's Army of Tennessee was not going to stop and the CSA finally retreated from the city. On entering the city Sherman made the decision to evacuate all citizens, then as he made preparations for the march to Macon uncontrolled northern soldiers burned many of the buildings to the ground.
This book has many glowing reports in the media. I like they enjoyed the book and recommend for those who enjoy the dryness of historial works. Within were references to families which are still present on Atlanta's west side.
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I'm a ramblin', gamblin', hell of an engineer!
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