Battle of Kennesaw Mountain

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Battle of Kennesaw Mountain Part of the American Civil War "Kennesaw's Bombardment, 64", sketch by war correspondent Alfred Waud, digitally restored. Date June 27, 1864 Location Kennesaw, Georgia Result Confederate victory Belligerents United States (Union) CSA (Confederacy) Commanders William T. Sherman Joseph E. Johnston Strength 100,000 Army of the Tennessee Army of the Cumberland Army of the Ohio 50,000 Confederate Army of Tennessee Casualties and losses 3,000[1] 1,000

v • d • e Atlanta Campaign Rocky Face Ridge – Resaca – Adairsville – New Hope Church – Pickett's Mill – Dallas – Kolb's Farm – Kennesaw Mountain – Marietta – Noonday Creek – Pace's Ferry – Peachtree Creek – Atlanta – Ezra Church – Brown's Mill – Utoy Creek – 2nd Dalton – Lovejoy's Station – Jonesborough

The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was fought on June 27, 1864, during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. Despite its name, much of the battle was fought to the southwest of Kennesaw Mountain, near Marietta, Georgia. The main participants in the battle were the Union armies under the command of Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman and the Army of Tennessee under the command of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston.

Background

Confederate troops dragging guns up Kennesaw Mountain, in defense of Atlanta, Georgia.

All throughout north Georgia, Sherman had advanced his army southeast along the railroad from Chattanooga, Tennessee, towards Atlanta, Georgia. Johnston would take up defensive positions, only to retreat whenever Sherman marched his troops around the Confederate army to flank them. At Kennesaw Mountain, Johnston had a massive network of trenches and earthworks prepared to halt the Union advance. This time, when Sherman tried to march his army southwards around Kennesaw, he was met by an attack at Kolb's farm from Confederate troops under the command of Lt. Gen. John B. Hood. Although the Union soldiers turned back Hood's hastily prepared attack, Sherman's army could not flank the Rebel army any further. Muddy roads had become nearly impassable because of a series of June rainstorms. Sherman knew that in these conditions, a march further away from his supply line at the railroad would be too slow. Instead, Sherman believed that Hood's expansion of the southern end of the Confederate line had stretched Johnston's army too thin. The Union general drew up plans for an attack on the middle of the Confederate defenses.

Battle

The Union army began the attack early in the morning with a thunderous artillery barrage on the entrenched Confederates. This was followed up by an infantry attack in three parts: the Army of the Cumberland under the command of Maj. Gen. George Henry Thomas would lead the main attack on Maj. Gen. William J. Hardee's soldiers in the center; to Thomas's left, the Army of the Tennessee under the command of Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson would lead a secondary attack aimed at the slopes of Little Kennesaw Mountain; and to Thomas's right, the Army of the Ohio under the command of Maj. Gen. John Schofield would hold down Hood's corps at the southern end of the line. The fiercest fighting came at a bend near the center of the Confederate line, a place later known as the Dead Angle. Despite repeated attempts to overrun the Confederate defenses, the Union army could not dislodge Johnston's well "dug-in" army.

Battle of Kennesaw Mountain      Confederate      Union

Aftermath

Confederate position at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.

"Federal entrenchments at the foot of Kenesaw Mountain."

Estimated casualties were 3,000 for the Union side, and 1,000 for the Confederates. Among the casualties were Union Brig. Gens. Charles G. Harker and Daniel McCook, Jr., both mortally wounded. Author Ambrose Bierce was wounded in the head.

Following the battle, both sides sat at a stalemate. By July 1, the roads had dried out enough for Sherman to continue his flanking movements. Johnston, with the advantage of lookouts on top of Kennesaw Mountain, observed Sherman's movements and again retreated before the Union army could go around him. The next major battle would be the Battle of Peachtree Creek.

Military historians have claimed that Sherman's attack was a needless waste of lives against a firmly entrenched opponent. Sherman, however, believed that his actions were justifiable, since they showed Johnston that he was not afraid to fight. Whatever the case, Kennesaw Mountain was one of the few victories for the Confederates during the Atlanta Campaign.

The site of the battleground is now part of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, where both Confederate deliberate trenches on top of the mountain and Union hasty rifle-pits are still easily identified by the casual inspection of any visitor.

The first commissioner of Major League Baseball, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, was named for Kennesaw Mountain, but using a variant spelling. His father, a physician, fought on the Union side and reportedly nearly lost his leg in the battle.

References

• Foote, Shelby, The Civil War, A Narrative: Red River to Appomattox, Random House, 1974, ISBN 0-394-74913-8.
• Bengston, Wayne C. "A Needless Waste of Lives: The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain". Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.
• National Park Service battle description

Notes

Coordinates: 33°58′08″N 84°34′53″W / 33.96899°N 84.58134°W / 33.96899; -84.58134