This history details the battles that took place in Paulding County, Georgia, during the last week of May 1864. The action begins when Union general William T. Sherman attacks Atlanta and finds himself engulfed in a patch of dense woods known as the Hell Hole, face to face with Joe Johnston's Army of Tennessee. The series of skirmishes that ensued, which include New Hope Church, Pickett's Mill, and Dallas, comprise a significant phase of the Atlanta Campaign.

Fourteen chapters contain meticulously researched information on the weeklong battle and describe the grim realities of trench warfare. Through letters, soldiers lament on the miserable conditions caused by life in the trenches. The author discusses the strategies employed and introduces the major characters behind each conflict.

In-depth portrayals of General Sherman, “Fighting Joe” Hooker, and Patrick Cleburne, the best general in Johnston's army, accompany candid memoirs and diary entries from soldiers at war. Written in the present tense, the book captures the intensity of war, enabling readers to experience the action.

Russell Blount

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