General James Birdseye McPherson was one of the most beloved generals of the American Civil War. His death caused “sincere sorrow” to Confederates and Union soldiers alike. One of his colleagues described his death outside modern-day Decatur during the Battle of Atlanta as “a great injustice… to one of the ablest, most gallant and best loved commanders.”

McPherson was born in Ohio and graduated from West Point in 1853, top of his class. He joined General William T. Sherman in his Atlanta Campaign in July of 1864 against Confederate forces under John Bell Hood, an aggressive officer, “classmate [at West Point] and boyhood friend” of McPherson. Eventually, McPherson took charge of roughly 25,000 men of the Army of the Tennessee.

Upon arriving in Atlanta, Sherman was elated to find that Hood had withdrawn. However, McPherson, familiar with his old classmate’s strategies and impulsive style, hesitated to celebrate, anticipating another attack. 

On July 22^nd, Hardee ordered his troops on a 16 mile march to outflank Union forces. When Confederate forces arrived, McPherson set off to notify Sherman. However, upon spotting a gap in the Union lines, he decided to investigate. Unfortunately, this move brought him into a clearing across from a group of Confederate soldiers.

Across the clearing, Confederate Will Fowler could “count the very buttons on [McPherson’s] coat.” The commanding Confederate officer, Richard Beard, claimed that he called for a surrender, but McPherson responded by “raising his hat politely, bowing, and reigning in his horse to the right… hoping to escape.” Fowler’s superiors yelled out an order -“Pick him off!”- and Fowler fired, striking the retreating McPherson in his back.

McPherson’s horse shook the injured officer to the ground. Confederates took his pocketbook that contained important orders from Sherman. Had the confederate messenger carrying the pocketbook not been caught, these plans could have derailed the Union’s strategy for Atlanta. Union soldiers later discover McPherson alive but unable to speak, and the general died soon after.

General James McPherson’s death took a toll on the hearts of soldiers across army lines. The news greatly diminished his troops’ morale and caused even stony General Sherman to weep. General Hood, saddened by the loss of his friend, stated that he could only report his victory with a heavy heart. Despite their conflicting loyalties, Hood explained that his friendship with McPherson “was strengthened by… admiration and gratitude for his conduct toward [the Confederacy]”. So beloved was General McPherson that even General Beard remarked that “his ultimate end was mourned even by the Confederate army for he was universally esteemed as a soldier and a gentleman.”

Credits and Sources:

Researched and written by Vivienne Reed, Kathleen LeBreton, Katie O’Neal, students at the Westminster Schools.

Barnard, George N. Where General McPherson was killed. 1864. Photograph. 3649. Civil War Photography Collection. Library of Congress, Washington D.C.

Foster, R. A., and C. W. Page. R. A. Foster and C. W. Page to Abraham Lincoln, telegram, “Office US Military Telegraph, War Department,” July 29, 1864. Library of Congress, Washington D.C., US.

Fowler, William P. Letter, November 18, 1954. Archives of the Atlanta History Center. Atlanta, Ga.

LeBreton, Kathleen D. Artist’s Interpretation of Sorrow (Street Sign). Photograph. January 20, 2016. JPEG.

McPherson, James B., IMAGE, from Encyclopædia Britannica, accessed January 15, 2016, http://media1.school.eb.com.westminster.idm.oclc.org/eb-media/35/2435-004-F9B116B5.jpg.

Reed, Vivienne B. Almost as Cool as RTH (Cannon). Photograph. January 20, 2016. JPEG.

———Rhapsody in Gray (Monument Description). Photograph. January 20, 2016. JPEG.

Strong, William E. Letter, “The Death of Major General James B. McPherson,” August 25, 1876. Archives of the Atlanta History Center. Atlanta, Ga.

Whaley, Elizabeth J. Forgotten Hero General James B. McPherson. 2nd ed. Fremont, OH: Lesher Printers, 1976.