September 2, 1864Reputable sourceWell documented
The Fall of Atlanta
On the timeline · around September 2, 1864 ·
What happened
After a months-long campaign across Georgia, Union General William T. Sherman captured Atlanta, a vital Confederate rail and manufacturing center, on September 2, 1864.
Why it matters
The fall of Atlanta was a decisive blow to the Confederacy and a huge boost to Northern morale that helped ensure Lincoln's re-election.