Gen. William T. Sherman OF Gen. Joseph E. Johnston Sherman’s Union Army had DANCE DEATH Johnston’s Confederates threw a numerical advantage up well-defended trenches, in the Atlanta Campaign, Sherman and Johnston faced each other in a battle of strategy, tactics, and forcing Sherman’s army to making it easier to outflank numbers. Skirmishes, earthworks, and flanking maneuvers marched down the outflank the Confederate line the Confederates. railroad line to Atlanta with the soldiers. to make headway.

SKIRMISHERS VICIOUS CYCLE Skirmishers usually dug widely spaced on the main infantry lines. Skirmishers caused The widespread use of rifled muskets way to the use of earthworks and flanking rifle pits to protect themselves -- about attackers difficulty with reaching the main caused a shift in tactics during the Civil maneuvers. Confederate earthworks and three feet deep and in diameter, located defensive works, especially when used with War. Massed frontal attacks caused Union flanking began a cycle of retreat 60 to 120 yards in front of the main line. felled tree abatis or other obstacles. In the tremendous losses and increasingly gave for the Confederates. Skirmishers monitored enemy movements Atlanta Campaign, soldiers saw constant Skirmishers. and gave early warning of enemy attacks daily skirmishing and sharpshooting. 1 Federals encounter a defensive Confederate line.

CONFEDERATE DEFENSE Usually on the defensive, Confederates Once encountered, assaulting Federal Cheval de Frise and abatis, branches 4 Sherman’s army was 2 were protected by entrenchments with troops had to throw up corresponding from felled trees, protected the skilled at these tactics, General Johnston forced Federals erect opposing parapets and head logs. Skid poles trenches. The opposing lines were usually trenches from advancing troops. This though they would not to order a retreat before his have been possible earthworks. protected soldiers in the trench if fire at least a thousand yards or more from made overtaking the trenches difficult. entire line was enveloped. without their numerical knocked the head logs into the trench. one another, due to the local terrain. advantage.

HEAD LOG SKID POLE TOP OF TRAVERSE CHEVAL DE FRISE TRENCH PARAPET 3 parapet ABATIS Skirmishers deployed, and BOMBPROOF Sherman used superior TRENCH Front Ditch numbers to enable a force to get around, or original ground “outflank,” one end of the Confederate line.