"Road Past Kennesaw: The Atlanta Campaign Of 1864" by Richard M. McMurry is a comprehensive and well-researched account of one of the most pivotal campaigns during the American Civil War. McMurry expertly chronicles the events leading up to the Battle of Atlanta, providing insight into the strategies and tactics employed by both Union and Confederate forces.

Through meticulous research and analysis, McMurry sheds light on the key players and factors that shaped the outcome of the campaign. His detailed descriptions of the battles at Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, and Atlanta reveal the brutal nature of warfare during this tumultuous time in American history.

One of the strengths of McMurry's book is his ability to convey the human cost of war, highlighting the individual experiences of soldiers on both sides of the conflict. By incorporating firsthand accounts and personal anecdotes, he brings a sense of depth and emotion to the narrative.

Overall, "Road Past Kennesaw" is a must-read for anyone interested in the Civil War or military history. McMurry's thorough research, engaging writing style, and compelling storytelling make this book a valuable addition to the study of this crucial period in American history.

Book Description:
“…there can be little doubt that the Federal drive on Atlanta, launched in May 1864, was the beginning of the end for the Southern Confederacy…. The Atlanta Campaign had an importance reaching beyond the immediate military and political consequences. It was conducted in a manner that helped establish a new mode of warfare. From beginning to end, it was a railroad campaign, in that a major transportation center was the prize for which the contestants vied, and both sides used rail lines to marshal, shift, and sustain their forces…. and one of the most impressive features of Richard McMurry’s account is the insight—much of it gleaned from unpublished letters and diaries—into the motivations, experiences, and reactions of the participants. The officers and men who endured the heat and the mud of what must have been one of the wettest seasons in the history of Georgia and who lived in the shadow of death day after day for 4 months of as arduous campaigning as occurred during the whole conflict, stand out as flesh and blood human beings.” “This campaign resulted in the capture of Atlanta by the Unionists, prepared the way for Sherman’s “March to the Sea,” and, in the opinion of many historians, made inevitable the reelection of Abraham Lincoln and the consequent determination of the North to see the war through to final victory rather than accept a compromise with secession and slavery.” The author, Richard M. McMurry, was associate professor of history at Valdosta State College, Valdosta, Georgia. This is a 1972 U.S. National Park Service publication describing one of the most important battles of the American Civil War. Helpful maps enrich the text. - Summary by Book Foreword and David Wales