Major General William T. Sherman commanded three field armies under a single command all having the same operational objective. Modern doctrine states that two to five field armies constitute an army group, therefore, by definition, Sherman was an army group commander. General of the Army Omar N. Bradley's actions in forming the 12th Army Group during World War Two, established modern doctrine for field army groups. Bradley chose British Field Marshall Alexander's army group as his model but could have used an American example of this type of organization by studying Sherman and the Atlanta campaign. Sherman has never been looked at before as an army group commander. This study examines Sherman and the Atlanta campaign focusing on the shaping and management of his army group. Command relationships, both personal and professional are investigated through messages, letters and orders of Sherman and his army commanders.
