Earl J. Hess Kennesaw Mountain

Annotation

While fighting his way toward Atlanta, William T. Shermanencountered his biggest roadblock at Kennesaw Mountain, where Joseph E.Johnston's Army of Tennessee held a heavily fortified position. The opposingarmies confronted each other from June 19 to July 3, 1864, and Shermaninitially tried to outflank the Confederates. His men endured heavy rains,artillery duels, sniping, and a fierce battle at Kolb's Farm before Shermandecided to directly attack Johnston's position on June 27.Kennesaw Mountain tells the story of an important phase of theAtlanta campaign. Historian Earl J. Hess explains how this battle, with itscombination of maneuver and combat, severely tried the patience and enduranceof the common soldier and why Johnston's strategy might have been theConfederates' best chance to halt the Federal drive toward Atlanta. He givesspecial attention to the engagement at Kolb's Farm on June 22 and Sherman'sassault on June 27. A final section explores the Confederate earthworkspreserved within the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.