One hundred forty-six years ago today, US Major General William T. Sherman attacked CSA General Joseph E. Johnston’s well entrenched Army of Tennessee at Kennesaw Mountain. This battle came after a long string of flanking maneuvers by Sherman, all aimed to uncover the coveted city of Atlanta. I visited the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in April 2010. The battlefield has excellent examples of field works and is wonderful to visit if you are in the Atlanta area. It is near Marietta, Georgia and is approximately 40 minutes from the airport and 25 minutes from downtown. To see my Kennesaw Mountain photo essay, on my Flickr site, click on the following link.
Mike’s Photo Essay on Kennesaw National Battlefield Park
If you are interested in visiting Atlanta area battlefields, I also recommend visiting the Pickett’s Mill Battlefield State Historic Site. It is also north of Atlanta and is one of the better state park battlefields I’ve visited. I also have a photo essay on this battlefield that can be accessed by clicking in the following link.
Mike’s Photo Essay on Pickett’s Mill Battlefield State Park
The following short narrative on the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain appears on my other website, BattlefieldPortraits.com.
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Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
Location: Kennesaw, Georgia
Dates: June 27, 1864
Union Commander: William T. Sherman, Major General
Confederate Commander: Joseph E. Johnston, General
Battle Summary:
For over six weeks Major General William “Tecumseh” Sherman has been maneuvering his army, attempting to outflank Joseph Johnston’s Army of Tennessee. His goal being Atlanta – the jewel of the south. He has maintained his proximity
to the railroads in an effort to provision his massive army, but had pulled south of the railroad to fight at Dallas, Georgia and at New Hope Church. Now, in late June, he finds his army hungry - and very near Atlanta. He has one problem: an entrenched rebel Army of Tennessee at Kennesaw Mountain, near Marietta, Georgia.
Sherman, known for his aggressiveness, decided to send a portion of his army to the right to attack Johnston’s left flank and another portion to the east to hit his right flank. Meanwhile, the rest of his army would be ready to attack the center when appropriate. Major General John Schofield would be command the right flank and would lead the charge against Major General John Bell Hood’s Rebels. Major General James B. McPherson would feint toward the rebel right, held by generals William Loring and Joe Wheeler. Lastly, Major General George Thomas would command the center, attacking Confederates under generals Patrick Cleburne and Frank Cheatham.
At 8:00 a.m. on the morning of June 27, after an opening cannonade from 200 Federal guns, McPherson’s troops, under the command of generals Francis P. Blair, Grenville Dodge and John Logan moved towards Pigeon Hill and Kennesaw Mountain. They ran into well entrenched rebel troops and suffered direct and enfilade fire. Further south, Thomas’ Corps, under divisional command by generals John Newton, Charles Harker, Daniel McCook and Jefferson C.Davis , crossed a creek to the approach of what is now called Cheatham Hill. There they ran squarely into a blistering fire of musketry from troops under Cleburne and Cheatham. Running a full hour late, Schofield’s divisions, 
commanded by Joseph Hooker, Alpheus Williams and Milo Hascall, assaulted troops under the command of John Bell Hood near Kolb’s Farm.
With the exception of Cheatham Hill, the Federal forces were unable to hold any of the ground they fought so desperately to obtain. The attack ended by 10:45 AM with the Federals retiring to their camps. Federal troops did remain at Cheatham Hill for five days – a place that will forever be known as the “Dead Angle.” These troops were within 30 yards of the rebel works and even attempted to tunnel under them. Today, the Illinois Monument commemorates the struggle of her sons at the “Dead Angle.” The tunnel entrance remains at the famous monument.
Campaign: Atlanta
Outcome: Confederate Victory
Troop Strengths:
Union: 110,000
Confederate: 65,000
Casualties (estimated):
Union: 3,000 (killed, wounded or missing/captured)
Confederate: 1,000 (killed, wounded or missing/captured)
Battle Aftermath:
William T. Sherman learned a hard lesson about attacking an entrenched army on superior ground. His army could not dislodge Joseph Johnston’s much smaller Army of Tennessee. While the Battle of Chickamauga is considered the Army of the Tennessee’s “High Water Mark,” Kennesaw Mountain was a glorious victory that was tarnished by Johnston’s continual retreat towards Atlanta. In the end, the rebels were doomed. Sherman continued his flanking moves knowing he would eventually uncover Atlanta. Johnston would be removed from command, with John Bell Hood acceding to overall command of the unlucky Army of Tennessee. This would be good for the Union cause due to his impetuosity and overly bold moves. Sherman would take Atlanta in the early part of September and start his “March to the Sea.” And as he told Grant, “I intend to make Georgia howl” – and he did just that.
For more information on John Bell Hood’s Atlanta Campaign refer to my essay, “From Atlanta to Spring Hill: John Bell Hood’s 1864 Franklin-Nashville Campaign.”
