Final answer:
As General Sherman's Union forces bore down on Atlanta, General Johnston sought to delay him. There was only one real battle fought in this delay: the battle at Kennesaw Mountain. This engagement demonstrated the strategic maneuvers of both sides, ending with Confederate forces retreating and the eventual fall of Atlanta.
Step-by-step explanation:
The only real battle fought by General Johnston’s forces in an effort to delay General Sherman during his campaign toward Atlanta was the battle at Kennesaw Mountain. This was part of the Atlanta Campaign, which occurred from May 7 to September 2, 1864.
The battle of Kennesaw Mountain was a strategic engagement where Johnston utilized strong defensive positions that forced Sherman to conduct flanking maneuvers that ultimately resulted in Johnston falling back towards Atlanta.
However, the Confederate forces were never able to launch a successful counterattack to stop Sherman’s progress completely, although they managed to inflict casualties during the retreat, gradually wearing down Union forces.
Through the summer Sherman's army continued to press the Confederates, with several battles occurring as they approached Atlanta, including the battle at Peachtree Creek, which resulted from President Davis replacing Johnston with the more aggressive General John Bell Hood.
Although Hood launched several attacks, including one that went relatively well at Peachtree Creek, he was unable to drive back the Union forces due to the stretched Confederate defenses.
This eventually led to the fall of Atlanta, a significant event that helped boost morale in the North and further shaped the course of the Civil War.