August 10, 2014

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, GA

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is a 2,965 acre National Battlefield that preserves a Civil War battleground of the Atlanta Campaign. Opposing forces maneuvered and fought here from June 19, 1864 until July 2, 1864.

The park was a short 15 minute drive from our campground.  We were very surprised to find the parking lot full when we arrived with several cars ahead of us circling looking for a spot.  We ended up driving to the overflow parking area, approximately a half mile away.

Our timing when we walked back to the park was perfect.  There was an interpretive program on loading and firing cannons.

  There are several steps involved. 

 

 I was glad we had been warned to cover our ears as the cannon fired because it was quite loud.

 

After stamping my passport in the Visitor Center,

 

 

 we walked around the gift shop

 

and then the museum

 

 

 

 

 

until it was time for the next viewing of an orientation film detailing the battle of Kennesaw Mountain.

The battle of Kennesaw Mountain, fought here between General Joseph Johnston of the Confederate army and General William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union army, took place between June 18, and July 2, 1864.  Johnston’s army had only 50,000 men and 187 cannon while Sherman’s army consisted of 100,000 men, 254 cannon and 35,000 horses.  Much of the battle took place on a spur of Little Kennesaw Mountain known as Pigeon Hill.  5,350 soldiers were killed during the battle that resulted in a Confederate victory.

Something that really stuck out to me while watching the film was that there was a two hour truce so both sides could bury the dead that had been sitting out putrefying in the intense heat for days.  When the truce ended the firing commenced resulting in more death.

The battle ended when Johnston abandoned his Kennesaw lines during the night. 

When the film concluded we walked the short distance to the shuttle bus.  During the week cars can drive up to the top of the mountain but due to the weekend crowds the mountain road is closed.  There is a $3 fee per person to ride the shuttle but because Monte has the Senior National Parks pass the fee is waived.  I have lost count of the amount of money we have saved on entrance and camping fees with his pass-one of the perks of being a senior.

As we drove up in the shuttle I said I thought I might like to walk down.  Monte wasn’t thrilled with the idea because of the dark clouds forming. 

But, I convinced him. 

It did rain a little while we made our way down the trail but we were protected by the trees and didn’t get wet.

 

 

 

We stopped for a few minutes to watch a fawn munching some leaves.  It didn’t appear to be alarmed by our presence. 

Monte and I were really amazed by the amount of people walking the trails with their dogs.  For the most part the owners took responsibility for their dogs waste but some just left the little, and not so little, packages on the trail. 

On the way home we stopped and took a leisurely stroll around Marietta Square.