Kennesaw Mountain

Kennesaw Mountain
Sherman, Johnston and the Atlanta Campaign
Written by Earl J. Hess
Published by the University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill

The book is an academic study of the events leading up to the battle for Atlanta.
The author details, using diary accounts, personal letters, autobiographies, topography and military records, to describe the events starting at the march south through Dalton, up to the stage where Sherman is preparing the siege of Atlanta from the banks of the Chattahoochee River.
Basically the South, under the direction of Johnston, took a defensive line that spanned about ten miles, from Big Kennesaw Mountain on the north to Powder Springs on the southern edge.  Sherman had superior numbers and looked constantly to use his advantage to flank the CSA and force them from their strong position.  Frontal assaults basically led to disproportionate numbers of deaths for the Union Army.  The area south of the Dallas Highway defended by Major General Benjamin Cheatham's division, now called Cheatham's Hill was well fortified and the rebels inflicted many casualties.
Eventually the rebels retreated to Marietta and in a series of planned moved to the river and then over the river into Atlanta. The battle for Kennesaw Mountain is judged to be victory for the south, but in the end really only delayed the inevitable successful siege of Atlanta.
For his apparent success, Johnston was rewarded by being replaced by John Bell Hood.
Many Union soldiers were bitter about Sherman ordering frontal assaults on strong fortifications.
I have enjoyed this book for it took place all around the place I live, locals described exist still today, my sister-in-law's home is a small farm where they still find artifacts from the battle.
Not an easy read, you better  like the subject because the book is pretty dry.

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