December 1863 to August 1864

Sherman was a forty-four-year-old Ohio native and as a nine-year-old orphan had been raised by power politician, Thomas Ewing. He was an 1840 graduate of the US Military Academy. He had given up the military in the 1850's to make a fortune in California. He had not accomplished that goal. At the war's beginning, he was superintendent of the Louisiana Military Academy which later became Louisiana State University. "Cump" Sherman had turned down a Confederate commission. Occasionally a bit insane, Grant valued his abilities. He was a hell of a fighter.

Sherman's 97,797 force was divided into three prongs under George Thomas, James B. McPherson and John M. Schofield. Three to two, it was Sherman over Johnston.

===

"Yes, Major, whatever it takes. It must be done," General Wheeler said to his chief-of-staff, Major Stevenson. Wheeler's foot was healed now and his spirit was driven. The actions of 1863 had worn, beaten depleted and nearly demoralized his cavalry of the Army of Tennessee. They had near constant action. There was a new "Pharaoh in Eqypt" and General Wheeler was going to be about responding to his edicts - refit, retrain, restore and re-inspire the outnumbered Confederate army. Wheeler took to his part of making that happen with a sprinter's energy. As he had with the 19th Alabama infantry, he worked tirelessly to get his boys in shape. For usually fourteen hours a day, six days a week the little general in his oversized black hat was all over the Confederate cavalry encampment near Dalton, Georgia. Major Stevenson was with him half the time. The major was the only one who worked longer than the general. He brought the general his coffee in the darkness of before sunrise and finished his duties after the general had gone to a few hours rest near midnight.