1864AfterahugebattleandthebrutalshellingofthepopulationofAtlanta,Federaltroops("Yanks")takecontrolofthecity.TheirplanistouseallofthegoodsremaininginthewarehousedistrictofAtlantatooutfittheirarmyfortheupcomingMarchtotheSea,whichtheyhopewillendtheWarBetweentheStates.Confederatespiesmoveintothewarehousedistrict,disguisedasYanks,totakestockofwhatisstilltherethatmightbeofusetothearmyofthenorth.Theyfindalot.ThewordcomesdownfromConfederatecommandtoburntheentiredistrict,destroyingvastquantitiesofgoodsanduprootinghundredsoffamiliesthathavebeenintheareafordecades."TheBurningofAtlanta"isthestoryofthedestructionofamajorcityneartheendofthewar,andthedesperationandterrorthiscausesinthelivesofthosewhowatchtheirentiresocietycollapsearoundthem