Information About the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
General Information:
Location: Kennesaw, Georgia at Kennesaw Mountain
Date: June 27, 1864
Union General: William Tecumseh Sherman
Confederate General: Joseph Eggleston Johnston
Caualities: Union- 3,000 Dead, Wounded, or Missing
Confederate- 4,000 Dead, Wouded, or Missing
Outcome: Confederate Victory
As General William T. Sherman's army marched towards Atlanta, General Johnston brought his army to Kennesaw Mountain to prevent Sherman from reaching his destination. Johnston needed to protect his nearby supply line. At this point in the war, the Confederate army had already suffered major losses. Morale was low. However, the battle that was about to take place would boost Confederate morale extremely, but ultimately lead to the end of the war and the reunion of the United States as a complete nation. Johnston's army used the geography of the mountain to their advantage. The army took positions on the higher ground of the mountain, which is roughly 1800 ft. above sea level. Johnston's men also dug trenches near the ground, which helped provide cover.
On the other hand, General Sherman was extremely confident due to having more men, more supplies, better morale, and the fact that General Johnston was considered a weak general. By June 19, Johnston’s army was set up at Kennesaw Mountain. Sherman attempted to avoid fighting his army by going around the mountain, but his army was attacked at nearby Kolb’s Farm. His choices were to go further south to avoid the mountain or attack Johnston’s army. He chose to attack.
Sherman’s troops attacked Johnston’s on June 27. Sherman’s men were unprepared for the rough terrain. Sherman himself said, “The whole country is one vast fort and Johnston must have at least 50 miles of trenches and finished batteries.” Sherman continuously tried to flank the Confederate army for days without success. The Union army lost around 3,000 men, while the Confederate army lost around 1,000 men. The battle effectively delayed Sherman’s army from reaching Atlanta for two weeks.
Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, was still afraid of Johnston letting Sherman reach Atlanta, so he fired Johnston and replaced him with General John Bell Hood. Hood Hood’s plan was to destroy Union supply lines in Northern Georgia and then march into Tennessee to destroy a large Union supply train, which would cripple the Union army. Hood would then confront Sherman. Hood believed he could reverse the tide of the war. Sherman replaced Tennessee general John Logan with Oliver Howard.
General Hood lacked the soldiers, ammunition, and supplies necessary to take on Howard. Sherman replaced Tennessee general John Logan with Oliver Howard. Howard ended up crippling Hood’s army, and Sherman ended up backtracking Hood’s army from Atlanta and ultimately defeated him. Sherman continued on with his total war strategy, destroying Georgia and the Carolinas, and eventually leading to the South surrendering.
Location: Kennesaw, Georgia at Kennesaw Mountain
Date: June 27, 1864
Union General: William Tecumseh Sherman
Confederate General: Joseph Eggleston Johnston
Caualities: Union- 3,000 Dead, Wounded, or Missing
Confederate- 4,000 Dead, Wouded, or Missing
Outcome: Confederate Victory
As General William T. Sherman's army marched towards Atlanta, General Johnston brought his army to Kennesaw Mountain to prevent Sherman from reaching his destination. Johnston needed to protect his nearby supply line. At this point in the war, the Confederate army had already suffered major losses. Morale was low. However, the battle that was about to take place would boost Confederate morale extremely, but ultimately lead to the end of the war and the reunion of the United States as a complete nation. Johnston's army used the geography of the mountain to their advantage. The army took positions on the higher ground of the mountain, which is roughly 1800 ft. above sea level. Johnston's men also dug trenches near the ground, which helped provide cover.
On the other hand, General Sherman was extremely confident due to having more men, more supplies, better morale, and the fact that General Johnston was considered a weak general. By June 19, Johnston’s army was set up at Kennesaw Mountain. Sherman attempted to avoid fighting his army by going around the mountain, but his army was attacked at nearby Kolb’s Farm. His choices were to go further south to avoid the mountain or attack Johnston’s army. He chose to attack.
Sherman’s troops attacked Johnston’s on June 27. Sherman’s men were unprepared for the rough terrain. Sherman himself said, “The whole country is one vast fort and Johnston must have at least 50 miles of trenches and finished batteries.” Sherman continuously tried to flank the Confederate army for days without success. The Union army lost around 3,000 men, while the Confederate army lost around 1,000 men. The battle effectively delayed Sherman’s army from reaching Atlanta for two weeks.
Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, was still afraid of Johnston letting Sherman reach Atlanta, so he fired Johnston and replaced him with General John Bell Hood. Hood Hood’s plan was to destroy Union supply lines in Northern Georgia and then march into Tennessee to destroy a large Union supply train, which would cripple the Union army. Hood would then confront Sherman. Hood believed he could reverse the tide of the war. Sherman replaced Tennessee general John Logan with Oliver Howard.
General Hood lacked the soldiers, ammunition, and supplies necessary to take on Howard. Sherman replaced Tennessee general John Logan with Oliver Howard. Howard ended up crippling Hood’s army, and Sherman ended up backtracking Hood’s army from Atlanta and ultimately defeated him. Sherman continued on with his total war strategy, destroying Georgia and the Carolinas, and eventually leading to the South surrendering.