Civil War Reenacting – War Was Here

June 27th, 1864

The battle of Kennesaw Mountain was really an extended operation that lasted for several days before and after the 27th. Troops were under small arms and cannon fire daily, the 27th was day of the main Federal Assault at Cheatham’s Hill, also known as the Dead Angle, as well as the area of Pigeon Hill and the remainder of the Federal left. After days of a stalemate, General Sherman was frustrated and ordered a frontal assault on the Confederate Lines. The attack was to begin at 8:00am on the 27th, but was delayed for nearly an hour. Their goal was to break the Confederate line at what they thought was the weakest point. They chose Cheatham’s Hill due the salient in the line. General Sherman ordered General McPherson to use his Army of the Tennessee to attack the right of the Confederate line as a diversion to the main assault. McPherson’s diversionary attack was carried out against Big Kennesaw, Little Kennesaw, and Pigeon Hill. General Schofield, who was still positioned astride the Powder Springs Road near Kolb’s Farm, was ordered to keep extending the Federal right flank in an attempt to reach the end of the Confederate lines and turn their flank. General Thomas and his Army of the Cumberland were positioned in the center of the Federal lines.

The main Federal assault was carried out by elements of Palmer’s XIV Corps and Howard’s IV Corps. They were attacking the salient angle that was manned by Cheatham and Cleburne of Hardee’s Corps. The Confederates were outnumbered, but were behind a strong line of works. The Federal troops took a beating and at one point on the hill, there was a dead spot. The Southern soldiers could not fire upon this spot due to the position of their works and the angle of the hill. The Union troops in this spot began to dig in with their bayonets, tin cups and dinner plates. They were only about 25 to 30 yards from their objective. During the night, shovels and picks were brought up to facilitate easier digging and an attempt to tunnel into the hill and under the Confederate works was made. The plan was to pack it with powder and blow up the works, but the tunnel was abandoned after only making it about half way to the Confederate line.

Federal losses were just over 3,000 and the Confederate losses were about 1000. This was a tactical defeat for the Federal Army, but Schofield eventually made it to the end of the Confederate line and began moving to flank General Johnston. This forced Johnston to withdraw from his lines at Kennesaw Mountain and towards the Chattahoochee. There are many stories of Gallantry, Bravery, and Humanitarian acts during the battle. The stories and accounts from the diaries of the men who fought and died here make for excellent reading and paint an vivid picture of what happened here.

With this battlefield being pretty well preserved I have a significant number of images to share. This post will contain images from the area of Cheatham’s Hill and tomorrow I will post a few images from Pigeon Hill.

_DSC0038.bw — Located close to the Confederate lines at Cheatham’s hill are multiple markers for the fallen.

_DSC0044.bw — The Illinois monument placed here by veterans of the battle to honor their fallen comrades.

_DSC0065.bw — The Left section of Turner’s Battery located along the lines of Cheatham’s Hill.

_DSC0476.bw — Numerous earthworks are located at Cheatham’s Hill, this section is between the parking lot and the Illinois monument.

_DSC0481.bw — There were many accounts of soldiers being wounded and were left untreated on the field for several days during the battle until a truce was reached so that each side could tend the wounded and bury the dead. This soldier laid here wounded for two day before he passed.

_DSC0539.bw — Confederate works along Cheatham’s Hill

_DSC0544.bw — Many Federal officers bravely led charges against the Confederate entrenchments, only to fall short mere feet from their goal.

_DSC0280.bw — Coming from the approach of the Federals as they moved towards the salient in Cheatham’s line called the “Dead Angle” you will see the shallow remnants of hastily dug Federal works. Morgan was a rear element behind McCook and Mitchell.

_DSC0306.bw — Just past Morgan’s position we find the starting point McCook’s assault on the Dead Angle.

_DSC0327.bw — Federal works of either Kimball’s or Hazen’s Brigade. They were positioned next to each other with Hazen on the left and Kimball on the right as they attacked the Confederate line a few hundred yards north of the Dead Angle. They would have been attacking Confederate brigades commanded by Govan, Polk and Granbury.

_DSC0386.bw — McCook, along with Mitchell on his right and Harker on his left attacked straight up to the Dead Angle, now home of the Illinois Monument. Many a man died on this field.

_DSC0261 — June 27th, 2014: 150 years after the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, a luminary for each lost soul was place on the field of battle before the Illinois Monument to honor sacrifice for their country.

_DSC0215 — June 27th, 2014: Reenactors in a Federal impression move among the luminaries like ghost of the men that died on this very ground. After speaking with their unit, I was introduced to a direct descendant of soldier under McCook’s command that died on this very field 150 years ago

I have to say that this was probably the best reenactment I have seen. It is obvious that it was a well planned and extremely well executed event. I was only able to attend on Sunday, but was really happy I made it for at least one day. The action on the field was great. The reenactors were really into their roles and played them out really well. The Confederate charge followed by the Federal counter charge was just awesome. The artillery display was especially good. There so many cannons firing that sometime you could not see the field for all the smoke and I have to think that in many battles throughout the war, that was the case.

Here is a link to the images from the battle: Battle of Atlanta 2014
I also have some images from the camps the I will post in a few days.
Here a few of my favorite images.
The first image has a smoke ring from one cannon and fire form another. If you look close in the center, you will see a bird in the smoke.