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

About the Author
Earl J. Hess is Stewart W. McClelland Chair in history at Lincoln Memorial University, USA and has written many books, including The Civil War in the West: Victory and Defeat from the Appalachians to the Mississippi.


Book Information
ISBN 9781469629889
Author Earl J. Hess
Format Paperback
Page Count 344
Imprint The University of North Carolina Press
Publisher The University of North Carolina Press
Weight(grams) 507g