Sherman's advance from Chattanooga against the important rail center of Atlanta, 120 miles to the south, was a cornerstone of Union strategy in 1864. The Atlanta campaign comprised a long sequence of Federal attacks and flanking movements, through difficult terrain, against successive defensive positions prepared by the Confederate general Joseph Johnston. But Sherman's grander strategic designs are only implicitly evident in this regimental report, which is necessarily concerned with matters of a more tactical nature: where the unit was located, and when; engagements with the enemy and other operations; casualties sustained. It may be noted that Bloodgood lists the regiment's strength on 10 July at "365 Effective Men."

Bloodgood assumed command of the 22nd Wisconsin only on 3 July, when (as he says) Col. William L. Utley "was ordered to Chattanooga." A fuller account of this incident is provided in the published letters of Cpl. Harvey Reid, then a clerk at brigade headquarters:

But this is by no means the most important change in commanders that has taken place. Another chapter of the 22d quarrel is "played out" and we hope that is the final one. Nearly two weeks ago Colonel Utley sent in his resignation on the plea of ill health, which was true, for he had hardly been able to keep up during the campaign, but circumstances seem to show this was not the real reason. . . . A few days since, Colonel Bloodgood told one of his friends that Utley had to resign to avoid a Court Martial for incompetency. The story was repeated, and came to [the] ears of one of Utley's spies who immediately reported it to the Colonel. He went to Bloodgood and demanded to know if he had said so. Colonel Bloodgood evaded an answer — one word brought on another until finally in answer to some abusive accusations of the Colonel's Bloodgood called him a liar, and Utley struck him, nearly knocking him down. Bloodgood did not offer to return the blow and there the affair ended. Utley immediately went to General Ward and obtained an order to go to Chattanooga and wait for his resignation papers. This was on the 2d of July, just one year from the day that the officers signed the celebrated petition for Utley to resign. (Frank L. Byrne, ed., Uncommon Soldiers, pp. 167-68).