Kennesaw Mountain Civil War Battle

Preserved Civil War earthworks in the woods at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Photo: Muhranoff, CC BY-SA 4.0
On the night of June 18-19, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, fearing envelopment, withdrew his army to a new, previously selected position astride Kennesaw Mountain.
Continued Battle Description and Results
This entrenched arc-shaped line, to the north and west of Marietta, protected the Western & Atlantic Railroad, the supply link to Atlanta.

Having defeated General John B. Hood troops at Kolb’s Farm on the 22nd, Sherman was sure that Johnston had stretched his line too thin and, therefore, decided on a frontal attack with some diversions on the flanks.

On the morning of June 27, Sherman sent his troops forward after an artillery bombardment. At first, they made some headway overrunning Confederate pickets south of the Burnt Hickory Road, but attacking an enemy that was dug in was futile. The fighting ended by noon, and Sherman suffered high casualties.

Results: Confederate victory
General Information
BulletLocation: Cobb County
BulletCampaign: Atlanta Campaign (1864)
BulletDates: June 27, 1864
BulletPrincipal Commanders: Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman [US]; Gen. Joseph E. Johnston [CS]
BulletForces Engaged: Military Division of the Mississippi [US]; Army of Tennessee [CS]
BulletEstimated Casualties: 4,000 total (US 3,000; CS 1,000)
Visiting the Site Today
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, run by the National Park Service, preserves the mountain and miles of the original entrenchments today, with hiking trails leading up to the summit earthworks and a visitor center near the base. Despite the costly Union defeat here, Sherman's flanking maneuvers soon forced Johnston to abandon the position anyway.

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