Susan and I are both extremely interested in Civil War history, and intend to visit as many of the battlefields as possible. Shiloh, Chickamauga, Pea Ridge, Manassas/Bull Run, Gettysburg and Kennesaw have been checked off my personal list, and this weekend, we re-visited the Kennesaw Civil War Battlefield Park on the 150th anniversary of that deadly clash that led to the invasion and subsequent burning of Atlanta. Like all battlefield parks, Kennesaw is somber, quiet and altogether humbling, especially when you consider the carnage that occurred here over a 3-day period. The thing that struck me as truly amazing was the re-enactment of the battle to take the high ground of Kennesaw Mountain, Little Kennesaw Mountain and Pigeon Hill, where the Confederate forces were dug in and waiting. For 3 days, the Union batteries pounded the Confederate forces, firing round after round from their cannons, and the Confederate batteries fired back, giving as good as they got. On the third day, the Union cannons ceased fire temporarily, while the Union infantry charged up the hill towards the Confederate forces. When I think of the raw courage it must have taken to run headlong into that hellish barrage of cannon fire and musket fire, I honestly am speechless. The Union forces were ultimately able to take back the high ground, and at that point, the war in the South was essentially over. There was no longer any real obstacle to prevent Sherman from sacking Atlanta, and then marching to the sea.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 20:26:20 +0000
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