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The city of Atlanta, Georgia, in Fulton County, was an important rail and commercial center during the American Civil War. Although relatively small in population, the city became a critical point of contention during the Atlanta Campaign in 1864 when a powerful Union army approached from Union-held Tennessee. The fall of Atlanta was a critical point in the Civil War, giving the North more confidence, and (along with the victories at Mobile Bay and Winchester) leading to the re-election of President Abraham Lincoln and the eventual surrender of the Confederacy. The capture of the "Gate City of the South" was especially important for Lincoln as he was in a contentious election campaign against the Democratic opponent George B. McClellan. ==Early war years== The city that would become Atlanta began as the endpoint of the Western and Atlantic Railroad (aptly named Terminus) in 1837.〔() New Georgia Encyclopedia, Atlanta〕〔Cooper, ''Official History of Fulton County'', pp 36-38〕 Atlanta grew quickly with the completion of The Georgia Railway in 1845〔Cooper, ''Official History of Fulton County'', p 597〕 and the Macon & Western in 1846.〔Cooper, ''Official History of Fulton County'', p 592〕 The city was incorporated in 1847 and extended 1 mile in all directions from the zero-mile post.〔Cooper, ''Official History of Fulton County'', p 64〕 In 1860, Atlanta was a relatively small city ranking 99th in the United States in size with a population of 9,554 according to the 1860 United States (U.S.) Census. However, it was the 12th-largest city in what became the Confederate States of America. A large number of machine shops, foundries and other industrial concerns were soon established in Atlanta. The population swelled to nearly 22,000 as workers arrived for these new factories and warehouses. The city was a vital transportation and logistics center, with several major railroads in the area. The Western & Atlantic Railroad connected the city with Chattanooga, Tennessee, 138 miles to the north. The Georgia Railway connected the city with Augusta to the east and the Confederate Powderworks on the Savannah River.〔〔() Internet Archive, ''History of the Confederate powder works''〕 The Macon & Western〔 connected Atlanta to Macon and Savannah to its south. The fourth line, Atlanta and West Point Railroad, completed in 1854, connected Atlanta with West Point, Georgia.〔Cooper, ''Official History of Fulton County'', p 599〕 At West Point the line linked up with the Western Railway of Alabama, thus connecting Atlanta with Montgomery to its west. A series of roads radiated out from the city in all directions, connecting Atlanta with neighboring towns and states. Thought to be relatively safe from Union forces early in the war, Atlanta rapidly became a concentration point for the Confederate quartermasters and logistics experts;〔Cooper, ''Official History of Fulton County'', p 177〕〔Garrett, ''Atlanta and Environs'', p 532〕 warehouses were filled with food, forage, supplies, ammunition, clothing and other materiel critical to the Confederate States of America armies operating in the Western Theater. Some of the major manufacturing facilities supporting the confederate war effort were:〔〔Cooper, ''Official History of Fulton County'', p 144〕 * 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Atlanta in the American Civil War」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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