 The fall of Atlanta was especially noteworthy for its political ramifications . In the 1864 election , former Union general George B. McClellan , a Democrat , ran against President Lincoln , on a peace platform calling for a truce with the Confederacy . The capture of Atlanta and Hood 's burning of military facilities as he evacuated were extensively covered by Northern newspapers , significantly boosting Northern morale , and Lincoln was reelected by a large margin . 
