General Hood fights to keep Sherman outside the city and protect the rail line. It is late July, 1864. Confederate General Hood holds Sherman outside Atlanta's fortifications. Union armies approach from the West, intending to cut the railroad and force Hood out. Hood's men counter by attacking Union trenches at Ezra Church, but they suffer a demoralizing defeat. Still, Hood succeeds in keeping the rail line open. Thwarted again, Sherman shells the city with siege artillery.