"As William T. Sherman's Union troops began their campaign for Atlanta in the spring of 1864, they encountered Confederate forces employing field fortifications located to take advantage of rugged terrain. While the Confederates consistently acted on the defensive, digging eighteen lines of earthworks from May to September, the Federals used fieldworks both defensively and offensively. With 160,000 troops engaged on both sides and hundreds of miles of trenches dug, fortifications became a defining factor in the Atlanta campaign battles. These engagements took place on topography ranging from Appalachian foothills to the clay fields of Georgia's Piedmont. Leading military historian Earl J. Hess examines how commanders adapted their operations to the physical environment, how the environment in turn affected their movements, and how Civil War armies altered the terrain through the science of field fortification"-- Provided by publisher.

Tactics, terrain, and trenches -- Dalton and Resaca -- Cassville -- New Hope Church, Pickett's Mill, and Dallas -- The Mountain Line, the Gilgal Church Line, and the Mud Creek Line -- The Kennesaw Line -- June 27 -- Flanking the Kennesaw Line -- Crossing the Chattahoochee -- Peach Tree Creek, July 22, and Ezra Church -- Utoy Creek and extending south -- Siege -- Jonesboro -- Lovejoy's Station, Palmetto Station, and the federal defenses of Atlanta -- Fortifying during the Atlanta campaign.