There are already several books about the entire Atlanta Campaign during the Civil War, but Russell W. Blount Jr.’s The Battles of New Hope Church zeroes in on a particular trio of battles that occurred in Paulding County, Georgia, in May of 1864: New Hope Church, Pickett’s Mill and Dallas.

Using primary sources like diaries and official reports, Blount tells the story of Union General William T. Sherman finding that his army was fighting Confederate General Joseph Johnston’s entire army - he had instead believed it to be only a small portion of it - in dense thick woods that caused a lot of havoc for both sides. Many soldiers on both sides met their deaths in these woods, which became known as the Hell Hole.

Blount’s well-written and amply researched book is highly recommended to those interested in the Civil War, especially the Atlanta Campaign.