Kennesaw Mountain | Big & Little Kennesaw Mountain | June 27, 1864

Taking up his new defensive line on June 19, 1864, Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston had pioneers (construction troops) dig trenches, place guns, and erect fortifications, turning Kennesaw Mountain into a formidable earthen fortress. After fighting at Kolb’s Farm on June 22, Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman was convinced Johnston had stretched his line too thin and decided on a frontal attack on the Confederate bastion for June 27.

Demonstrations on the right and left coincided with the main assaults by Brig. Gens. William Harrow’s and Morgan Smith’s divisions of the XV Corps toward Pigeon Hill, and by Union Brig. Gens. Jefferson C. Davis’ and John Newton’s divisions from the IV and XIV Corps just south of the Dallas Road. An intense artillery bombardment at 8:00 a.m. preceded the infantry assault one hour later. Determined Yankee attacks reached the Confederate trenches, but were unable to break the Southern line. By 11:30 a.m. the attack had failed.