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Civil War America
The Battle of Ezra Church and the Struggle for Atlanta
Fought on July 28, 1864, the Battle of Ezra Church was a dramatic engagement during the Civil War's Atlanta campaign. Confederate forces under John Bell Hood desperately fought to stop William T. Sherman's advancing armies as they tried to cut the last Confederate supply line into the city. Confederates under General Stephen D. Lee nearly overwhelmed the Union right flank, but Federals under General Oliver O. Howard decisively repelled every attack. After five hours of struggle, 5,000 Confederates lay dead and wounded, while only 632 Federals were lost. The result was another major step in Sherman's long effort to take Atlanta.Hess's compelling study is the first book-length account of the fighting at Ezra Church. Detailing Lee's tactical missteps and Howard's vigilant leadership, he challenges many common misconceptions about the battle. Richly narrated and drawn from an array of unpublished manuscripts and firsthand accounts, Hess's work sheds new light on the complexities and significance of this important engagement, both on and off the battlefield.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2015
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67 people want to read
About the author
Earl J. Hess
51 books28 followersEarl J. Hess is Stewart W. McClelland Chair in History at Lincoln Memorial University and the author of numerous books on the Civil War.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 10, 2023
I decided to read this book concurrently with Hess' take on Ezra Church as each came out close together, giving this obscure but important battle the coverage it deserves. They are a lot alike in their conclusions but it is the little differences that allow one to see where they disagree. Hess as always has a good coverage of tactics, accurately pointing out why Stephen Lee failed. He offers a decent, if at times over-stated defense of Howard. He also discusses actions taken after the battle. Trouble is the maps are inferior to Ecelbarger's and the command analysis seems more muddled and biased but not by too much. Hess' prose is also much stiffer by comparison, although the end with Howard and Lee making amends as old men was a good touch. Ecelbarger wrote the better book, but neither is particularly long so I recommend reading both of them.
One thing neither quite made the point is that Ezra Church worked in a limited way in so far as Sherman's drive on Hood's last railroad was stopped. I do not think this elevates Ezra Church to the status of Pyrrhic Confederate victory, but there was at least an advantage gained here unlike Peachtree Creek and Atlanta.
One thing neither quite made the point is that Ezra Church worked in a limited way in so far as Sherman's drive on Hood's last railroad was stopped. I do not think this elevates Ezra Church to the status of Pyrrhic Confederate victory, but there was at least an advantage gained here unlike Peachtree Creek and Atlanta.
September 3, 2025
More of a micro-history than an actual campaign study, this book still fills a gap in the written history of the Atlanta campaign. The author provides us with many maps as well as a lively narrative pace. The author is well known for studies of the Civil War in the West, and this volume definitely falls under that category. A worthy effort.
May 6, 2024
I enjoyed learning more about the Battle of Ezra Church. I think this was the best of Hess' books on the battles that led up to the Fall of Atlanta. Very interesting and informative.
March 12, 2022
The best account of the battle ever written
Hess again does an amazing job of bringing the final offensive battle by Gen. John B. Hoods troops in the Atlanta campaign to light. His minute by minute accounts of the fighting bring history to life in all its glory and horror. His discussion of many different factors that shaped the battle, ranging from the unit commander’s experience to the rate of fire of opposing forces is amazing. A wonderful book for even the most dedicated Civil War buff.
Hess again does an amazing job of bringing the final offensive battle by Gen. John B. Hoods troops in the Atlanta campaign to light. His minute by minute accounts of the fighting bring history to life in all its glory and horror. His discussion of many different factors that shaped the battle, ranging from the unit commander’s experience to the rate of fire of opposing forces is amazing. A wonderful book for even the most dedicated Civil War buff.
July 10, 2015
The Battle of Ezra Church and the Struggle for Atlanta is another gem in the collection of works written by Earl J. Hess. As he has done in the past, Hess has been able to take a subject or a campaign and give it a whole new light. Just as he had accomplished with field fortifications during the Civil War, he brings the same academia and excellence to this battle in the Atlanta Campaign. Starting with the maneuvers of both armies all the way to the conclusion of the battle, The Battle of Ezra Church is one of the few accounts of the battle which presents the combat in a thrilling fashion.
Earl J. Hess is the Steward W. McClelland Chair in History at Lincoln Memorial University. He has authored many works on the Civil War including Kennesaw Mountain: Sherman, Johnston, and the Atlanta Campaign and The Civil War in the West. He is also the author of the acclaimed fortification series on the war which includes Field Armies and Fortifications in the Civil War, Trench Warfare Under Grant and Lee, and In the Trenches at Petersburg. The Battle of Ezra Church is also part of the Civil War America series printed by The University of North Carolina Press.
As he has done with his previous works, Hess approaches this battle with the same academic excellence he has always done. Not knowing too much about the battle myself, I found the narrative easy to follow through his descriptions of the commanders both North and South. The chapters separate the battle by date and brigade which only added to the understanding of the combat element of the battle. It also gives the narrative a great amount of focus to know that in certain chapters, only certain brigades and dates will be spoken about. The book is also aided by photographs, portraits and maps of the battle giving the reader a better idea of what the area looked like. What amazed me the most was the overall even tempered writing style of the work. Never throughout the narrative did I feel as though Hess took preference of the Union or Confederate forces. Each side was given its due narrative. Hess was also fair in his descriptions sourcing many primary accounts allowing the reader to create their own opinion of the people involved. There have been too many books where the author ends up telling you what you should think about the people involved. Here, Hess writes professionally and leaves the judgment to the reader.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the American Civil War in the East and anyone who loves to read about the Atlanta Campaign. It is meticulously researched and sourced giving the narrative a nice flow. Earl Hess has succeeded in his style of presenting new material in conflicts and areas of the war which many feel no longer need to be covered. I believe I can safely say that The Battle of Ezra Church and the Struggle for Atlanta is the finest work on this engagement yet written.
Matthew Bartlett - Gettysburg Chronicle
Earl J. Hess is the Steward W. McClelland Chair in History at Lincoln Memorial University. He has authored many works on the Civil War including Kennesaw Mountain: Sherman, Johnston, and the Atlanta Campaign and The Civil War in the West. He is also the author of the acclaimed fortification series on the war which includes Field Armies and Fortifications in the Civil War, Trench Warfare Under Grant and Lee, and In the Trenches at Petersburg. The Battle of Ezra Church is also part of the Civil War America series printed by The University of North Carolina Press.
As he has done with his previous works, Hess approaches this battle with the same academic excellence he has always done. Not knowing too much about the battle myself, I found the narrative easy to follow through his descriptions of the commanders both North and South. The chapters separate the battle by date and brigade which only added to the understanding of the combat element of the battle. It also gives the narrative a great amount of focus to know that in certain chapters, only certain brigades and dates will be spoken about. The book is also aided by photographs, portraits and maps of the battle giving the reader a better idea of what the area looked like. What amazed me the most was the overall even tempered writing style of the work. Never throughout the narrative did I feel as though Hess took preference of the Union or Confederate forces. Each side was given its due narrative. Hess was also fair in his descriptions sourcing many primary accounts allowing the reader to create their own opinion of the people involved. There have been too many books where the author ends up telling you what you should think about the people involved. Here, Hess writes professionally and leaves the judgment to the reader.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the American Civil War in the East and anyone who loves to read about the Atlanta Campaign. It is meticulously researched and sourced giving the narrative a nice flow. Earl Hess has succeeded in his style of presenting new material in conflicts and areas of the war which many feel no longer need to be covered. I believe I can safely say that The Battle of Ezra Church and the Struggle for Atlanta is the finest work on this engagement yet written.
Matthew Bartlett - Gettysburg Chronicle
June 9, 2015
A Review of the Audiobook
Published in May of 2015 by Blackstone Audio
Read by Joe Barrett
Duration: 8 hours, 29 minutes
Unabridged
During the Atlanta campaign in the Summer of 1864 Confederate President Jefferson Davis changed the nature of the campaign with the simple stroke of a pen.
Up to that point, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman was slowly forcing his way southward towards Atlanta by way of a series of flanking maneuvers. His opponent, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston, was slowly retreating, hoping to find an opening for a fatal strike against his opponent. Unfortunately for him, Sherman's mistakes were too small to be exploited and eventually Johnston found himself backed up against Atlanta itself.
At this point, President Davis intervened and removed Johnston on July 17, replacing him with John Bell Hood. While Johnston was cautious, Hood was by nature an aggressive general. Also, given the circumstances of Johnston's removal, Hood knew that his president expected offensive action to drive the Union army away from Atlanta.
So, Hood complied. On July 20, 22 and 28 there were attacks to stop the Union advance. All of them were costly to the Confederate army since they were running low on everything, including soldiers.
The Battle of Ezra Church started out as yet another flanking maneuver by the Union army under newly promoted General O.O. Howard. The goal was to reach the railroad line and further cut off Atlanta. Hood knew that the Union army would try for this railroad line and he sent men out stop them. Interestingly, they were also under the command of a new general, Stephen D. Lee.
One of the more interesting story lines of the book is how these two experienced armies dealt with the transplanted officers brought in to lead them (Howard easily gets the nod here). But, there is more than that. It is also a story of Hood vs. Sherman and Hood's style vs. Johnston's style.
The actual details of the battle are well-researched but...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2015/...
Read all of my reviews of books about the Civil War here: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/searc...
Published in May of 2015 by Blackstone Audio
Read by Joe Barrett
Duration: 8 hours, 29 minutes
Unabridged
During the Atlanta campaign in the Summer of 1864 Confederate President Jefferson Davis changed the nature of the campaign with the simple stroke of a pen.
Up to that point, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman was slowly forcing his way southward towards Atlanta by way of a series of flanking maneuvers. His opponent, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston, was slowly retreating, hoping to find an opening for a fatal strike against his opponent. Unfortunately for him, Sherman's mistakes were too small to be exploited and eventually Johnston found himself backed up against Atlanta itself.
At this point, President Davis intervened and removed Johnston on July 17, replacing him with John Bell Hood. While Johnston was cautious, Hood was by nature an aggressive general. Also, given the circumstances of Johnston's removal, Hood knew that his president expected offensive action to drive the Union army away from Atlanta.
So, Hood complied. On July 20, 22 and 28 there were attacks to stop the Union advance. All of them were costly to the Confederate army since they were running low on everything, including soldiers.
The Battle of Ezra Church started out as yet another flanking maneuver by the Union army under newly promoted General O.O. Howard. The goal was to reach the railroad line and further cut off Atlanta. Hood knew that the Union army would try for this railroad line and he sent men out stop them. Interestingly, they were also under the command of a new general, Stephen D. Lee.
One of the more interesting story lines of the book is how these two experienced armies dealt with the transplanted officers brought in to lead them (Howard easily gets the nod here). But, there is more than that. It is also a story of Hood vs. Sherman and Hood's style vs. Johnston's style.
The actual details of the battle are well-researched but...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2015/...
Read all of my reviews of books about the Civil War here: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/searc...
April 28, 2015
The battle of Ezra Church
Earl Hess has written the only detailed history of the Civil War battle of Ezra Church that I know of.
This book is not for those casual readers of Civil war books. It is book for those serious students of the war.
Ezra Church was part of the battle for Atlanta and is usually overlooked as an individual battle.
Mr Hess does a fine job telling the story of Ezra Church.
Earl Hess has written the only detailed history of the Civil War battle of Ezra Church that I know of.
This book is not for those casual readers of Civil war books. It is book for those serious students of the war.
Ezra Church was part of the battle for Atlanta and is usually overlooked as an individual battle.
Mr Hess does a fine job telling the story of Ezra Church.
August 11, 2015
Good book about a battle that doesn't get much attention. Part of a campaign that has not received the attention it deserves. I always enjoy Mr. Hess' written, there were decent maps and all and all a good book.
April 14, 2015
Excellent book
An great book on the Battle of Ezra Church. The detail of the battle and the human side of the story are both together due.
An great book on the Battle of Ezra Church. The detail of the battle and the human side of the story are both together due.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews