The Bonfire: The Siege and Burning of Atlanta

by Marc Wortman

Atlanta’s destruction during the Civil War is an iconic moment in American history. Award-winning journalist Marc Wortman depicts its siege and fall in The Bonfire, and reveals an Atlanta of unexpected paradoxes. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution called it “a tale of divided loyalties, political intrigue, and tremendous human suffering… [an] invaluable history and a gripping read.”

Genres: History, Civil War, Nonfiction, Audiobook, American History, American Civil War, War

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Marc Wortman is an award-winning freelance journalist and independent scholar. His articles and essays on history, science and architecture have appeared in many national magazines. He is the author of The Millionaires’ Unit: The Aristocratic Flyboys Who Fought the Great War and Invented American Air Power, which is in development as a feature motion picture.

Reviews

[Teechbiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a great deal about Atlanta and the famous march.

[Alger Smythe-Hopkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

For all the hype, very underwhelming.

This is a wordy book, and a lengthy book, and it isn't just one book, it's two.

Book one is a biography of James Calhoun, a rags-to-riches scion of the South Carolina Calhouns, that awful family that killed lots of natives, stole their land under dubious circumstances, enslaved thousands of humans, and most of all elevated successionism, nullification, and State's Rights into the national mainstream with a reckless brinksmanship ideology that virtually guaranteed the Civil War. The same war that John C. Calhoun is quoted as predicting on his deathbed. Well, yeah. That evil Sumbish did as much as anyone to make sure regional tensions were at their peak and the legal justification for succession was in place. James' role in all this was to be a staunch Unionist who wanted to keep all his slaves. Pre-war this may have appeared to be a principled stance, but in retrospect he was clearly a morally agnostic ditherer who just wanted to avoid making a decision on the primary issues of the day.

Now to both-sides this, we are also told that Daniel Webster liked the dark ladies and ol'indian fighter W.T. Sherman held racial prejudices, so everybody here is a monster, right?
This kind of fake moral rebalancing just makes me tired, and Wortman is constantly trying to demonstrate the counterintuitive nature of people's opinions re: their side of the war. Oh, isn't it ironic that the Civil War mayor of Atlanta was a slave-holding Unionist? No, it really isn't. Neither is it of great import that the man most directly responsible for knocking Georgia out of the war loved the American South and despised non-white races. What matters is actions in war, not ideals.

Anyway, the biography portion is padded out with minor characters just enough to obfuscate that this is really a biography of James Calhoun and his role in the growth of Atlanta. In Wortman's formulation, James Calhoun is the embodiment of Atlanta in all of his complexities and outlook. Really what we see is a city obsessed with war profiteering and sidestepping the war as much as possible. Just like James Calhoun, who twirled between being pro-Union and Pro-Confederacy like a profit seeking weathervane.

That complete, we begin the second book. At this juncture The Bonfire becomes another rote recitation of the Atlanta campaign, virtually forgetting James Calhoun in favor of battlefields and high-level military politics.
Yawn.

Then comes the winddown where the two titular fires destroy what was left of a city largely bombarded into rubble, and James emerges from the shadows to negotiate surrender and occupation with Sherman. Then the books end.

The first book is the only section new to me, and I don't feel I learned much for knowing James Calhoun's life. He seems to me to be someone utterly unable to rise to the demands of his time. A tepid man and an opportunist who was constantly triangulating his politics, and succeeding where only when every other option was unacceptable. The second book about the campaign leading up to the occupation of Atlanta, the siege, Hood destroying munitions in his retreat, all of this is known information related better in other histories.

Through pure stubborn inertia, I succeeded in finishing the book. So, two-stars for being accurate at least, and not utterly boring. Still, I won't recommend it.

[Jocelyn Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read dozens of books on Civil War Atlanta as I researched and wrote my novel, Yankee in Atlanta. The Bonfire, by Marc Wortman tops them all. This masterful work is distinguished by its spellbinding narrative, comprehensive context, and critical but lesser-known history surrounding the Atlanta home front as well as the military campaign for the city. My copy is underlined, dog-eared, highlighted and bracketed. As a historical novelist, this book was a dream-come-true type of resource. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the Civil War.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book- background concise, biographies full of detail. I have committed to watching Ken Burns Civil War documentary after finishing this book because the Civil War is that darn interesting. Now where am I going to find the eleven hours to watch the series? Working on it.

[Delway Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a native of Atlanta, I have often wondered why my home was different from all other southern cities. It has no natural resources, it is not on a body of water, it had no manufacturing base, yet from its founding in 1841 (the Cherokees and Creeks were expelled 1838), it had grown into the key to a Union victory only 20 years later. The foundations of its personality are in its location (a bit of geographical happenstance) and the people who were attracted for the opportunities it offered. It was a city of the deal. Why did Atlanta become a center of the African-American middle class and education institutions? The Atlanta mayor in 1861 was a relative of John C. Calhoun, yet he, along with many business leaders, was against secession. Have you ever heard of the gunfight between Atlanta's sheriff and his rival on a busy downtown street? Did you now that as a young soldier, William T. Sherman, had spent most of his career in the South? There are dozens of other historical anecdotes and coincidences, and Mr. Wortman does an excellent job of using personal histories and accounts to enliven his story.

The reading can be a bit dry in places, such as the various arguments and factions for and against secession, but it is a must read for any Civil War fan.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This amazing book tells a larger series of stories, starting with biographies of personalities including Civil War Mayor Calhoun, and the settlement and resettlement conflicts with Creek, Cherokee, and Seminole peoples. All is told briefly and winningly. William T. Sherman, as a young man, was part of the Indian removal and survey, and so, at end here, he is again in the American West. Yet, to tell such large arcs of story, much is truncated and elided, though the primary-source quotations are well and thoroughly chosen. For example, in summarizing Cherokee and Creek conflicts, their historic entrance upon the Southeastern scene, for space reasons but leaving an impression of haste, and the Allatoona Pass battle in retrograde, after the Battle of Atlanta, does not appear.
Never mind these cavils; highly recommended.

[Jimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the subtitle, I was expecting the book to focus on the last part of the Atlanta Campaign and the battles near the city. However, less than half the book even covered the Atlanta Campaign, and this section gave almost as much coverage to the civilians' experiences as to the military operations (which I was more interested in). All of the maps were at the start of the book, none of which showed individual battles.

The first half of the book covered the entire pre-war history of Atlanta, from the early frontier settlement of northwest Georgia through the city's role in the first three years of the Civil War. While not badly written, I don't see what it had to do with the military operations around the city during July to September 1864.

[Celia Crotteau · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 90some year old neighbor informed me that her great-great-grandfather and his son, her great-grandfather, both served as Atlanta's mayors (one during the Civil Way, the other during Reconstruction), and both figure prominently in this read. That personal tidbit increased my interest, and I was not disappointed. The nonfiction book reminds me of the runaway bestseller "Is Paris Burning?" which I read with such fascination when it came out many years ago (too many!). "The Bonfire" was written in that style, in which a narrative darts back and forth between individuals as they experience a cataclysmic event. While not as spellbinding as the World War II-based book, this one painted a vivid picture of a hellish time in our nation's history that we'd best not forget. And, no, Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler were not real people! But this account shows how well Margaret Mitchell studied her history before she wrote "Gone with the Wind."

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was really well written. I had ancestors who were in Atlanta during this time. As a matter of fact, there is a historical marker about their plantation in Atlanta. I was hoping that he had some information about them in the book, but he did not. I think it is an obscure piece of history. However, he did have many other points of views in this book. I like how well rounded the history was. Marc discussed the politics of the city, the slaves, the union, the confederate and even the civilians. He wrote in an engaging way that was not dry. If you want a well rounded view of how Atlanta was politically, militarily, and what the civilians endured, then read this book! I will add that it started off slow for me. So give it a chance if you are bored the first few chapters. It does eventually take off.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since my son and his family moved to Atlanta, the topic of the book was intriguing. Most authors skip over the details of the city's destruction and blame Sherman for the fire. There were really two fires and by the second one, most civilian residents had left the city. The city was severely damaged by months of bombardment prior to falling to Sherman's army. The actual source of the second fire isn't really explored probably because it is unknown how it actually started. For those interested in the detail surrounding Atlanta's rise and importance in the war this is a well researched book. Recommended.

[Joan Huehnerhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. I picked up this book before a visit to Atlanta. I wanted to learn more of the history of Atlanta. This book was amazing. It starts when atlanta was just a crossroads in the wilderness to post-civil war. AMAZING. it is history that is readable. there where times when I couldn't put the book down. It was amazing standing in downtown Atlanta, in a high rise hotel, seeing the Chattahoochee river in the distance and imagine the Union army crossing the river. I can't rate this book high enough.

[Mike DiFilippo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal and regional history of Atlanta from it's origins as plundered, sacred Indian lands to it's very rapid growth as the railroad "heart" of the South, through the booming early Civil war years to it's final battles and destruction at the hands of General Sherman. Quite a story from hundreds of personal diaries, newspapers, war records and first hand accounts of civilians, bondsmen and soldiers of both sides. Great read.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an incredible book. While I thought I was going to a summary of the events just before Sherman's march to the sea, I instead received a wonderful and in-depth study of the the politics, civics, and military actions that took place that started the civil war (or as my Southern brethren call it "The War of Northern Aggression). The book is a great read and I have added it to some of my favorite civil war books in my library. I also read this as an audio book and enjoyed it even more!

[Book Grocer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchase The Bonfire here for just $10!

Great book to read if one wants to understand the trials and tribulations suffered by both sides during the civil war. This book takes the reader into the day to day events of Sherman's march to the sea with glaring accuracy. Outstanding read.

Alicia - The Book Grocer

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started out a bit slow for me. I didn't really care for so many pages of Mayor Calhoun's family history, and the pre-war history of the south, but the book did pick up as soon as it got to the Civil War era. Aside from the first 50 pages or so, this was a fantastic, interesting read.

[Steve Dalzell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much more than the siege of Atlanta, a history of the city well past the Civil War. Much more complex than I imagined.

[Tomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is far more than just the story of what happened to Atlanta. It was also disconnected and generally boring.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have traveled through Atlanta historian Franklin M. Garrett’s multi-volume work on the history of Atlanta; but Marc Wortman’s book is much more focused in its scope and is a masterful exploration of the primordial roots to the founding, growth, and destruction of the City of Atlanta.

I have toured many of the regional battlegrounds and historical sites to discover Atlanta’s past and Georgia’s roots. Wortman's writing, however, enlivens the area’s economic, societal, cultural, and political foundations as witnessed through the eyes of several individuals. He knits together upstart business, economic chicanery, and political strife as witnessed through primary characters that include: William Tecumseh Sherman; James Calhoun, cousin to Southern firebrand John C. Calhoun and the long-suffering mayor of Atlanta; Robert Yancey Webster, illegitimate son of Daniel Webster and clever entrepreneur; Samuel P. Richards; Cyena Stone; as well as rendering short reflections on military commanders, a few soldiers, and several scalawags.

What are quite intriguing are the inaugural travails of early settlers within Georgia and the struggles of early immigrants against the numerous Indian uprisings, conflicts and dispersals. Workman portrays the region’s early development that grows very naturally, organically—especially reflected in the maturing national political dissention and separatist fervor—and he paints a very compelling picture for the reader to understand a Civil War match point bursting in one city’s conflagration.

There are plenty of military operations drawn here, although the intention was not to concentrate merely on Sherman’s strategic military achievements. This work shows the underbelly of war as presented through its impact and suffering of civilians and soldiers. The buildup to Atlanta’s burning is considerably extensive but a brief review of the aftermath and the Gate City’s rise from ashes fosters the hopeful portrait of the City that will rise again.

Workman’s two-page “Acknowledgments” section reveals the incredible research that supports this book. He thanks museums, archives, and libraries—both public and private collections—that evidence his efforts. Certainly the 50 pages of copious endnotes for each chapter suggest more extensive and elaborate study of the material.

This is a worthy read for anyone interested in American history, especially concentrating on the War of Northern Aggression, as it has been termed around here. Now I have a keener understanding of why those Civil War re-enactors fired off the cannonade a few Saturdays ago—July 21st marks an anniversary for the Battle of Atlanta.

[Nick Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

initial reaction: vivid, but could have been much more substantial. chapters clocked in at right around 16 pages per, with a dearth of footnotes. occasional drifts into straightaway, undelimited conjecture. full of great new facts and anecdotes, but i'm undereducated in this area and can't evaluate such yet.
----
!!! My various sources of publishing intelligence sure dropped the collective ball here! Acquired upon sight, Amazon, 2009-08-29. The destruction of Atlanta is an iconic moment in American history—it was the centerpiece of Gone with the Wind. But though the epic sieges of Leningrad, Stalingrad, and Berlin have all been explored in bestselling books, the one great American example has been treated only cursorily in more general histories. Marc Wortman remedies that conspicuous absence in grand fashion with The Bonfire, an absorbing narrative history told through the points of view of key participants both Confederate and Union. Atlanta was both the last of the medieval city sieges and the first modern urban devastation. From its ashes, a new South would arise. THAT'S RIGHT WE HOLD IT DOWN FOR THE DIRTY SOUTH! ATL, baby, ATL! excitement!

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great history read. It is a little slow to get going but builds steam (much like the forces of war that eventually roll over Atlanta) into an engaging read. (Give it a few chapters). This book really places the growth of the city in a broader historical context. You'll find it interesting even if you are not a Civil War buff but are interested in the history of one of the largest American cities. And it is a rich history that's unique to other major cities and filled with nuance and details that defy many of the modern stereotypes and common thoughts about Atlanta, the South, and the Civil War. Like all conflicts, things are never as clearly divided as they appear on either side, but what is a clear from this recount is what a tragic and devastating mistake the war was for the country. Yet despite the awful costs, Atlanta, in keeping with American ethos, rebuilt and grew bigger. Ultimately, the story of the burning of Atlanta is an American story - and worth reading for anyone interested in our nation's historical tapestry.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not normally into Civil War stuff, in part because I associate being into the Civil War with being a middle-aged white male racist pining for better times. It was clearly a war over slavery, but there are still a lot of people who like to gloss over that little fact. I like that Marc Wortman isn't one of these people, and this history of Atlanta from its founding through the end of the war does not omit any of the terrible details of slavery or the fact that Atlanta was founded on land stolen from Native Americans. The title is a bit misleading because the siege of Atlanta is only a small part of this book, but I didn't mind. Only 3 stars from me because even if I've learned that not all Civil War books are written for middle-aged white racists, the Civil War still isn't every interesting. It's a good book for what it is, but if you're not particularly interested in the Civil War you won't suddenly start to care about it after reading this.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maintaining a close focus on the city of Atlanta, The Bonfire differs from other Civil War histories. The wider Civil War is excluded from view, and the battles are only mentioned when they directly affect the city.

I quite enjoyed the snapshot of antebellum (and intra-bellum) Southern society, without any cloying admixture of "Lost Cause" or "states rights" rhetoric. Sherman's statements at the end sum it up--paraphrased: "The war had to be fought, because the principles of slavery were incompatible with the freedom that was the foundation of our democracy. Slavery had to be abolished". I'd obviously understood that slavery was racist, but many of the specific cruelties elucidated were new to me.

One also felt sympathy for the citizenry of Atlanta during the wartime siege, but again, Sherman: "War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it."

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of the book is actually about the history (beginning and burning) of Atlanta which is interesting, but makes the title rather misleading...While two chapters are devoted to the bonfire(s) I think we get all of two sentences in each chapter about them...hmmmm...rather disappointing. The most surprising thing (according to Wortman) is that its not as bad as history has portrayed it, and there were actually TWO fires: The first set by Confed. Gen. Hood's forces as they flee, and the second by Sherman after he leaves...both are barely mentioned. Was the burning of Atlanta not the ruthless destruction portrayed by historians for years? And, if that's the case...why title your book "Bonfire"?

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

At this remove from events, and even having lived in north Atlanta suburbs for a time in the 1980s, it is difficult to comprehend the racial climate of 1850s, and subsequent. It was 20 years after I left (1991) that I first heard of the peculiar racial restrictions which were still on the books in Fulton County. While Sherman did a fairly complete rubbing out of the city of Atlanta, one wonders if perhaps the ground ought not have been scraped clean to bedrock before anything was again built. But that seems a step too far in that it punishes the earth for the sins of its inhabitants. The story of the raising up of the city pre-war, the destruction during the war, and the rebuilding post-war make for an engaging narrative.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a relatively new resident of Georgia and I am fascinated by stories of the Civil War. It is interesting to note there is a wide disparity in the Civil War history I learned in Pittsbugh and the stories of the Civil War in the South. So I am on a journey to learn both versions and try to understand the truth of what happened. "Bonfire" is well written. Sometimes I got bogged down by all the battles but appreciated having a Northern and Southern point of view. I knew Sherman marched through Atlanta on his march to the sea but I had no idea that Atlanta was under siege for 44 days. There are personal anecdotes that make the story very interesting.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually listened to this as an audiobook rather than read it. I won't say it was dull, it was just so weighty. It had so much detail and information, especially about the buildup to the war, that I would just get worn out listening to it. Once they got to the actual siege of Atlanta it was really interesting. And I did learn some new information about slavery in the south from the part leading up to it. Although it's probably not something I'd read multiple times the way I read We Band of Angels about nurses in Bataan and Corregidor. Wortman must have really put his time in researching this. He had a tremendous amount of interesting detail and stories from both civilians and combatants.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sub-title is a little misleading. While the book does talk about the siege and burning of Atlanta, that is probably less then 25% of the book. The story begins with the white settlement and Indian clearances in Georgia. Wortman then goes on the describe the short history of Atlanta both before the War and in the early years of the War. Follow the fortunes of the Army of Tennessee and the Army of the Tennessee as the Federals make their way to Georgia. Pretty much anything you could want to know about Civil War Atlanta is at least mentioned here. Definitely worth reading, if a bit slow going in the beginning.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of a city during the Civil War is not often told and certainly overshadowed by books about the battles and campaigns. But, when this book about Atlanta came out I just had to read it first and I was not disappointed at all. There are so many little known aspects of Sherman's approach to handling the city and its residents that amazed me and I thought I had previously read it all. In this one book you can understand why Sherman is so hated by southerners and recognize his true genius at the same time.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an interesting book. I learned much about the Civil War, the burning of Atlanta and about Sherman (did you know he was a racist?). It was fun to read about Atlanta in the early days but scary on how much some things have stayed the same. The book talked much about how Atlanta was unknown, Savannah being the more popular city in Georgia, and became known thanks to the war. There were many people living in Atlanta that were against seccession and the war. Very good read.

[Etsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has a can't miss format of tracking many prominent Atlantans from their rise to power, concurrent with the events of the Civil War years. One of the most prominent men is a slave, who technically is not free, but nonetheless acquires great wealth. Peels back layers of usual history books to see what it was really like at the time. As Atlanta is my home town, it is heartbreaking to read in places.