The Battle of Peach Tree Creek, Earl J. Hess
The Battle of Peach Tree Creek, Earl J. Hess
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The Battle of Peach Tree Creek
Hood's First Effort to Save Atlanta

Author: Earl J. Hess

Narrator: Bob Souer

Unabridged: 9 hr 20 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 09/11/2017

Synopsis

On July 20, 1864, the Civil War struggle for Atlanta reached a pivotal moment. As William T. Sherman's Union forces came ever nearer the city, the defending Confederate Army of Tennessee replaced its commanding general, removing Joseph E. Johnston and elevating John Bell Hood. This decision stunned and demoralized Confederate troops just when Hood was compelled to take the offensive against the approaching Federals. Attacking northward from Atlanta's defenses, Hood's men struck George H. Thomas's Army of the Cumberland just after it crossed Peach Tree Creek on July 20. Initially taken by surprise, the Federals fought back with spirit and nullified all the advantages the Confederates first enjoyed. As a result, the Federals achieved a remarkable defensive victory.

Offering new interpretations of the battle's place within the Atlanta campaign, Earl J. Hess describes how several Confederate regiments and brigades made a pretense of advancing but then stopped partway to the objective and took cover for the rest of the afternoon on July 20. Hess shows that morale played an unusually important role in determining the outcome at Peach Tree Creek—a soured mood among the Confederates and overwhelming confidence among the Federals spelled disaster for one side and victory for the other.

About Earl J. Hess

Earl J. Hess is a recognized leader in the field of Civil War history. After terms at the University of Georgia, Texas Tech University, and the University of Arkansas, he settled at Lincoln Memorial University, in Harrogate, Tennessee, in 1989, where he holds the Stewart McClelland Chair. Earl's many books include Civil War Infantry Tactics and Kennesaw Mountain.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Sean

I do sort of hate rating this three stars. However, Hess' prose is stiff, the booked is filled with too many anecdotes (which is a lot coming from me), the battle narrative is not well presented, and the maps are uneven, giving troops positions but little terrain. However, as is often the case, Hess......more

Goodreads review by JerryDeanHalleck

This is an excellent study of a "small battle" in the Civil War. Although Hess gives us the background and the "big Picture" of the Atlanta Campaign, this book focuses in on one battle: Peachtree creek of July 22nd 1864. This was Hood's first attempt to stop Sherman by attacking a portion of his arm......more

Goodreads review by Robert

If you have a burning interest in the Civil War (who else would read this?) you may enjoy this book. However, if you also favor fluid writing, you may want to turn to Wikipedia for your reading pleasure. This is the first book I’ve read by Mr. Hess, who has many distinguished awards. No doubt this b......more

Goodreads review by Francis X DuFour

Hess gives a stellar effort to cover Confederate Gen Hood’s first battle to save Atlanta. His blow-by-blow description of the battle, highlighted by many of the veterans personal recollections, brings a clear understanding of this often forgotten and confusing battle. His analysis of why the battle......more

Goodreads review by William Olenick

Another excellent job done by Earl Hess. This would be the third book he has done on the Atlanta campaign. Enjoyed them all, only draw back is the maps. Rough drawings of unit positions, but lacks an overall maps of positions, i.e. the maps are in sectors so hard to get idea of engagement s that hav......more

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