War Stories - March to Atlanta Part 3: The Bloody Battle of Kennesaw Mountain

In mid-June, Sherman's army approached Marietta, northwest of Atlanta. Johnston established a strong defensive line centered on Kennesaw Mountain. The Confederate positions, utilizing the mountainous terrain and trenches, were difficult for the Union forces to attack head-on. Sherman attempted to flank again, but when the Confederate defenses held stronger than expected, he ultimately decided on a frontal assault. On June 27, 1864, after a massive artillery bombardment, the Union army attacked the Confederate positions on Kennesaw Mountain. While Union troops captured some outlying Confederate trenches in certain areas, they could not break through the deeply entrenched Confederate lines. The battle effectively ended around noon, with the Union army suffering significant casualties. Although Sherman's attack on Kennesaw Mountain was a tactical failure, he chose to maneuver again rather than continue the assault. Eventually, the Confederate line was threatened from the flank, and Johnston withdrew from the Marietta area in early July. Sherman's strategy was to approach Atlanta by continuously forcing the Confederates to retreat, rather than seeking a single decisive victory.