Day 19

 We are now about 60 miles north of Atlanta in the Red Top Mountain State Park.  Another impeccably maintained and equipped Georgia State Campground.  

These four joined us for dinner and breakfast.

A pair of blue birds has been entertaining us every morning.  

After a leisurely start to our day we drove south to the Kennesaw National Battlefield Park.

The battle on Kennesaw Mountain took place in late June and early July in 1864...that's one year after Gettysburg.  Sherman who was on his "March to the Sea" was approaching Atlanta.  It was an election year, Lincoln was trailing in the polls, and if the Union Army continued to struggle in the South and didn't gain a strong victory, Lincoln might be forced to negotiate a peace with the Confederacy.  

Recognizing the role Atlanta played via the railroads in supplying their army with supplies and ammunition, the  Confederate leaders knew they had to defend Atlanta at all costs.  So in anticipation of Sherman's approach, the  Confederate army built a lengthy system of earthworks, artillery, and men around Kennesaw Mountain, which is just north of Atlanta.

One of the many cannons perched on top of Kennesaw Mountain.

First of all I didn't know anything about this battle, but after this visit it was very evident that this was a very significant battle for the Union even though by all accounts the Confederates prevailed; suffering only 1000 deaths compared to 3000 deaths for the Union Army.  Despite the Union's casualties, the South ended up retreating from this battle when they were clearly in command.  The common explanation that the South withdrew from this battlefield in order to regroup in preparation for the ultimate assault on Atlanta. 

The insanity of war and the insanity of the battle strategies employed by the Confederate and Union Armies is so evident when you visit these battlefields.  Thousands of soldiers marching in line toward thousands of other soldiers are firing bullets and cannon balls.  It was suicide, and they knew it.  A two hour truce was called at one point during the battle on Cheatum Hill so that each army could bury their dead.  During this truce, soldiers from both sides intermingled, had friendly chats, and even shared water.  Once the true ended they resumed killing each other.

The Confederate soldiers were well entrenched behind the earthworks where this photo was taken, Cheatum Hill.  The Union soldiers charged up the sloped and were slaughtered, but did it again and again and eventually the Confederate troops retreated during the night.

One of the many victims at Cheatum Hill.

The Kolb farmhouse, the only building left standing from the battle that still exists.

Atlanta after Sherman

Destroying rail beds

In the middle of our tour of the Kennesaw Mountain battlefields we took a lunch break at Steak-n-Shake.  

It's not uncommon to find railroads running right through the center of towns, this one was in Marietta, but I don't really mind I love looking at trains of every size.

This "Big Chicken" was a prank by some Georgia Tech students, but it was so popular that it was not removed and has become a famous landmark in Marietta.