Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (GA)
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Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Welcome to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park...
The visitor center sits beneath the slopes of Kennesaw...
General Sherman's foreboding words greet the visitor upon entering the museum...
As with most Civil War sites, the visitor center museum houses a fairly large and comprehensive collection of battlefield artifacts...
Testament to the fury of the battle here, a large log housed in a display case contains not one but two cannonballs lodged within it...
A closer look at one of the cannonballs lodged within the log on display in the museum...
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Without further adieu, lets retrace the battle...
Battle of Kolb's Farm - June 22, 1864 - 5:00pm
A bloody prelude to the greater battle which would take place in the coming days took place here, at the farm of Peter Kolb, just south of Kennesaw Mountain. General Hood (CSA) was convinced he could, with a bit of pressure, turn Sherman's line and prevent a flanking movement by the Federals around his position at Kennesaw. Unfortunately for the Rebels, inadequate reconnaissance resulted in their coming up against a Union line much stronger than they anticipated and, after a brief but intense struggle, were repulsed after taking over 1,500 casualties. In contrast the Federal forces only lost around 250...
Battle of Kolb's Farm - June 22, 1864 - 5:00pm
A bloody prelude to the greater battle which would take place in the coming days took place here, at the farm of Peter Kolb, just south of Kennesaw Mountain. General Hood (CSA) was convinced he could, with a bit of pressure, turn Sherman's line and prevent a flanking movement by the Federals around his position at Kennesaw. Unfortunately for the Rebels, inadequate reconnaissance resulted in their coming up against a Union line much stronger than they anticipated and, after a brief but intense struggle, were repulsed after taking over 1,500 casualties. In contrast the Federal forces only lost around 250. The bucolic scene which surrounds the old farmhouse today belies the violent events that took place here 150 years ago although if you look close you can see evidence in the tree to the far right. About halfway up, the trunk is noticeably deformed. This was likely caused by battle damage to the tree, possibly a cannonball which took the top off of it...
Battle of Kolb's Farm - June 22, 1864 - 5:00pm
A bloody prelude to the greater battle which would take place in the coming days took place here, at the farm of Peter Kolb, just south of Kennesaw Mountain. General Hood (CSA) was convinced he could, with a bit of pressure, turn Sherman's line and prevent a flanking movement by the Federals around his position at Kennesaw. Unfortunately for the Rebels, inadequate reconnaissance resulted in their coming up against a Union line much stronger than they anticipated and, after a brief but intense struggle, were repulsed after taking over 1,500 casualties. In contrast the Federal forces only lost around 250. The bucolic scene which surrounds the old farmhouse today belies the violent events that took place here 150 years ago...
Battle of Kolb's Farm - June 22, 1864 - 5:00pm
A bloody prelude to the greater battle which would take place in the coming days took place here, at the farm of Peter Kolb, just south of Kennesaw Mountain. General Hood (CSA) was convinced he could, with a bit of pressure, turn Sherman's line and prevent a flanking movement by the Federals around his position at Kennesaw. Unfortunately for the Rebels, inadequate reconnaissance resulted in their coming up against a Union line much stronger than they anticipated and, after a brief but intense struggle, were repulsed after taking over 1,500 casualties. In contrast the Federal forces only lost around 250. The old Kolb Family cemetery sits just behind the farmhouse...
Artillery Duel - June 27, 1864 - 8:00am
The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain opened with a furious artillery bombardment of Kennesaw by the Union. Some 200 guns opened up on the Confederates entrenched atop the ridge and soon the Southern guns returned in kind. To an observer Kennesaw, "smoked and blazed with fire, a volcano as grand as Etna." The bombardment stretched along the entire 8-mile Union line. The field here, adjacent to the visitor center marked the far left of the Union line...
Artillery Duel - June 27, 1864 - 8:00am
The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain opened with a furious artillery bombardment of Kennesaw by the Union. Some 200 guns opened up on the Confederates entrenched atop the ridge and soon the Southern guns returned in kind. To an observer Kennesaw, "smoked and blazed with fire, a volcano as grand as Etna." The bombardment stretched along the entire 8-mile Union line. The field here, adjacent to the visitor center marked the far left of the Union line...
Artillery Duel - June 27, 1864 - 8:00am
The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain opened with a furious artillery bombardment of Kennesaw by the Union. Some 200 guns opened up on the Confederates entrenched atop the ridge and soon the Southern guns returned in kind. To an observer Kennesaw, "smoked and blazed with fire, a volcano as grand as Etna." The bombardment stretched along the entire 8-mile Union line. On this field were situated 4 batteries of 6 guns each. Firing directly ahead at the slopes of Little Kennesaw and Pigeon Hill, the battle of the 27th was only one of a continuous 10 day stretch the batteries saw action here...
Artillery Duel - June 27, 1864 - 8:00am
The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain opened with a furious artillery bombardment of Kennesaw by the Union. Some 200 guns opened up on the Confederates entrenched atop the ridge and soon the Southern guns returned in kind. To an observer Kennesaw, "smoked and blazed with fire, a volcano as grand as Etna." The bombardment stretched along the entire 8-mile Union line. T On this field were situated 4 batteries of 6 guns each. Firing directly ahead at the slopes of Little Kennesaw and Pigeon Hill, the battle of the 27th was only one of a continuous 10 day stretch the batteries saw action here...
Artillery Duel - June 27, 1864 - 8:00am
The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain opened with a furious artillery bombardment of Kennesaw by the Union. Some 200 guns opened up on the Confederates entrenched atop the ridge and soon the Southern guns returned in kind. To an observer Kennesaw, "smoked and blazed with fire, a volcano as grand as Etna." The bombardment stretched along the entire 8-mile Union line. T On this field were situated 4 batteries of 6 guns each. Firing directly ahead at the slopes of Little Kennesaw and Pigeon Hill, the battle of the 27th was only one of a continuous 10 day stretch the batteries saw action here...
Burnt Hickory Road - June 27, 1864
This road, a simple dirt path at the time of the battle, was home to a handful of farming families at the time of the battle. Marking the approximate center of the Union lines, the inhabitants of many of these buildings wisely chose to leave as battle became imminent...
Burnt Hickory Road - Wallis House site - June 27, 1864
The Wallis House sat at this spot along Burnt Hickory Road at the time of the battle. Built in 1857 by a farmer named Josiah Wallis, the house was left abandoned as the threat of battle approached. The home was used first as a Confederate field hospital and then, during the battle of the 27th, as the headquarters for Union General Oliver O. Howard...
Demonstration Against Kennesaw - June 27, 1864 - 8:30am
The attack from the Union left up Big Kennesaw was made by the Corps of Major General James McPherson. They attacked the ridge across these fields, adjacent to today's visitor center, up the highest and steepest slopes of the mountain. Though a fairly severe engagement, this assault was never meant to carry the heights but rather to keep the Confederates atop this portion of the mountain focused and in place so they would not give aid to the more concerted attacks occurring to the south...
Demonstration Against Kennesaw - June 27, 1864 - 8:30am
The attack from the Union left up Big Kennesaw was made by the Corps of Major General James McPherson. They attacked the ridge across these fields, adjacent to today's visitor center, up the highest and steepest slopes of the mountain. Though a fairly severe engagement, this assault was never meant to carry the heights but rather to keep the Confederates atop this portion of the mountain focused and in place so they would not give aid to the more concerted attacks occurring to the south...
Erected in 1963, this monument located a short distance up the road ascending Kennesaw stands in honor of the Georgian troops killed in battle here. The inscription reads, "We sleep here in obedience to law, when duty called, we came. When Country called, we died."
As you might expect, the convenient road leading to the top of Kennesaw didn't exist at the time of the battle giving the modern tourist a much easier time ascending the peak than what faced the soldiers 150 years ago...
The steep, rocky terrain that so frustrated the efforts of the assaulting Union troops is still in plain evidence today. At the time of the battle the foliage would have been in full bloom as well, further impairing the cohesion of the attacking forces...
