Social Studies Report

The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain

By Chelsea, 8th grade of Fisher Jr./Sr. High School

Table of Contents
Who was involved?
When did it happen?
Where did it happen?
What happened there?
Why was this battle important?
How was the battle fought?

Who was involved?

Commanding Generals: The commanding generals of this battle were Major General William T. Sherman for the Union and General Joseph E. Johnston for the Confederates.
(http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/ga015.htm).

Name of the armies: The name of the army that fought in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain for the Union was the Military Division of the Mississippi. The name of the army for the Confederates was the Army of Tennessee. (http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/ga015.htm).

Numbers of soldiers involved for each side: The number of Union soldiers involved in just the battle of Kennesaw Mountain was 1600. The number of Confederat4e Soldiers in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was 1800.
(http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/ga015.htm).

Numbers of casualties for each side: There were approximately 4,000 total casualties, about 3000 for the Union and about 1000 for the Confederates. (http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/ga015.htm).

Who won the battle: The Confederates won the battle, but not the campaign. (http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/ga015.htm).

When did it happen?

Month/Day/Year: The battle of Kennesaw Mountain was on June 27, 1864. (http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/ga015.htm).

How long did the battle last? It lasted about four hours, from 8:00 to noon.

Was this battle part of a major campaign? If so, what was it and how long did it last? The Kennesaw Mountain Battle was part of the Atlanta Campaign in 1864, which lasted from May of 1864 to September 1864.

Where did it happen?

Name of the state and other points of reference such as rivers, lakes, mountains, cities, fords, bridges, etc: 20 miles north west of Atlanta in Cobb County, Georgia at Kennesaw Mountain. The ridge of Kennesaw Mountain had rocky slopes about two miles long. Little Kennesaw, a spur called Pigeon Hill and Big Kennesaw make up Kennesaw Mountain.

What happened there?

What types of units were involved? (army, navy, infantry, artillery, cavalry) The only type of militacalry unit that participated in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain that I found was infantry and artillery. I assume that there were not any cavalry because horses would be able to hike up a mountain.

Describe what happened there: The attack was a brief and bloody failure for Sherman. Sherman advanced upon the enemy, uphill, and sent forces to the right and left flanks of the Confederate army, hoping that this would distract the enemy so that he could strike the center of Johnston’s forces. Nothing went as he planned; his army was tired and confused from the heat. Since that Confederate forces were perched at the top of the hill,, they could easily bombard the Union with gunfire. The Union soldiers eventually pulled back against the crest of the hill and retreated.
(http://civilwar.bizsuite.com/battle.html).

Why was this battle important?

What was the significance of this battle? Though General Sherman lost this battle, it placed him closer to the Chattahoochee River crossing than General Johnston. He was able to travel to Atlanta, Georgia and take it for the Union.

How did this battle affect the outcome of the Civil War? Ironically, this battle helped Sherman gain Atlanta and helped the Union win the war.

Why did they fight a battle at this location? The Confederates picked a defensive position of natural strength anchored by Kennesaw Mountain. The ridge, with rocky slopes (two miles long), consisted of Big Kennesaw, Little Kennesaw and a spur called Pigeon Hill (see picture). Confederate engineers had laid out a line of fortification covering every approaching ravine or hollow with cannon and rifle fire. (http://civilwar.bizsuite.com/battle.html).

How was the battle fought?

Describe the chain of events that led up to the battle: General Sherman's plan was to stretch the Confederate forces with diversionary moves, bluffing an attack on the flanks against Kennesaw and the Confederate left while the real blow, a two-pronged assault, hit General Johnston's center. One of Sherman's armies, the Army of the Cumberland, would assault the enemy center. The Army of the Tennessee would attack just South of Kennesaw Mountain and also assault the mountain to move to the top. Sherman thought that Johnstons’ center would be weak enough to penetrate and destroy his army.

This picture shows Little Kennesaw Mountain (left) and Pigeon hill (right) after the battle. As you can see, debris is spread upon the ground (http://ngeorgia.com/history/kennesaw.html).

Who was involved?
	Commanding Generals: The commanding generals of this battle were Major General William T. Sherman for the Union and General Joseph E. Johnston for the Confederates. (http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/ga015.htm).
	Name of the armies: The name of the army that fought in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain for the Union was the Military Division of the Mississippi. The name of the army for the Confederates was the Army of Tennessee. (http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/ga015.htm).
	Numbers of soldiers involved for each side: The number of Union soldiers involved in just the battle of Kennesaw Mountain was 1600. The number of Confederat4e Soldiers in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was 1800. (http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/ga015.htm).
	Numbers of casualties for each side: There were approximately 4,000 total casualties, about 3000 for the Union and about 1000 for the Confederates. (http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/ga015.htm).
	Who won the battle: The Confederates won the battle, but not the campaign. (http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/ga015.htm).

When did it happen?
	Month/Day/Year: The battle of Kennesaw Mountain was on June 27, 1864. (http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/ga015.htm).
	How long did the battle last? It lasted about four hours, from 8:00 to noon.
	Was this battle part of a major campaign? If so, what was it and how long did it last? The Kennesaw Mountain Battle was part of the Atlanta Campaign in 1864, which lasted from May of 1864 to September 1864.

Where did it happen?
	Name of the state and other points of reference such as rivers, lakes, mountains, cities, fords, bridges, etc: 20 miles north west of Atlanta in Cobb County, Georgia at Kennesaw Mountain. The ridge of Kennesaw Mountain had rocky slopes about two miles long. Little Kennesaw, a spur called Pigeon Hill and Big Kennesaw make up Kennesaw Mountain.



What happened there?
	What types of units were involved? (army, navy, infantry, artillery, cavalry) The only type of militacalry unit that participated in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain that I found was infantry and artillery. I assume that there were not any cavalry because horses would be able to hike up a mountain.
	Describe what happened there: The attack was a brief and bloody failure for Sherman. Sherman advanced upon the enemy, uphill, and sent forces to the right and left flanks of the Confederate army, hoping that this would distract the enemy so that he could strike the center of Johnston’s forces. Nothing went as he planned; his army was tired and confused from the heat. Since that Confederate forces were perched at the top of the hill,, they could easily bombard the Union with gunfire. The Union soldiers eventually pulled back against the crest of the hill and retreated. (http://civilwar.bizsuite.com/battle.html).



Why was this battle important?
	What was the significance of this battle? Though General Sherman lost this battle, it placed him closer to the Chattahoochee River crossing than General Johnston. He was able to travel to Atlanta, Georgia and take it for the Union.
	How did this battle affect the outcome of the Civil War? Ironically, this battle helped Sherman gain Atlanta and helped the Union win the war.
	Why did they fight a battle at this location? The Confederates picked a defensive position of natural strength anchored by Kennesaw Mountain. The ridge, with rocky slopes (two miles long), consisted of Big Kennesaw, Little Kennesaw and a spur called Pigeon Hill (see picture). Confederate engineers had laid out a line of fortification covering every approaching ravine or hollow with cannon and rifle fire. (http://civilwar.bizsuite.com/battle.html).

How was the battle fought?
	Describe the chain of events that led up to the battle: General Sherman's plan was to stretch the Confederate forces with diversionary moves, bluffing an attack on the flanks against Kennesaw and the Confederate left while the real blow, a two-pronged assault, hit General Johnston's center. One of Sherman's armies, the Army of the Cumberland, would assault the enemy center. The Army of the Tennessee would attack just South of Kennesaw Mountain and also assault the mountain to move to the top. Sherman thought that Johnstons’ center would be weak enough to penetrate and destroy his army.