Kennesaw Mountain (Cobb County, Georgia)

 

Georgia is very rich in history, especially the history of the American Civil War. Towards the end of that year, Union Major General William Tecumseh Sherman lead a campaign to seize one of the richest cites of the Confederacy and my new home, Atlanta. Several skirmishes took place during the campaign, but one of the bloodiest and one of the few victories for the south took place at Kennesaw Mountain just north of the city proper. On June 27, 1864, Union forces made a direct assault on the heavily fortified mountain and after approximately three hours of horrific combat, the fighting ceased and the Union Army dug in across from the Confederates. Nearly three thousand northerners fell in the assault, while only about one thousand of the defenders lost their lives. While the Union's advance had been temporarily halted, a number of flanking maneuvers in the following weeks saw Atlanta captured.

Kennesaw Mountain and the surrounding area has been preserved as Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield and is the site of my first hike of the day. Arriving at a bit before 9:00 AM, I make my way up the foggy trail. A hundred and fifty years ago though, this fog may have been smoke from canon and rifle fire, but luckily there are no bullets shooting past me today. The trail is very well maintained, though a bit steep. Along the way, a number of trenches can be easily identified. These were likely dug by soldiers as an attempt to shield themselves from enemy fire.

As I approach the top of the mountain, a number of civil war-era canons have been staged, much as they might have been placed during the actual battle. Between the armaments and fog, this place has an eerie feel to it. Perhaps those that lost their lives here over a century and a half ago haunt this place.

Continuing up to the summit, a doe and her two fawns run across the trail in front of me. Just past they point where they crossed, a rock outcropping marks the summit of the mountain, which Sherman's forces never saw that day so long ago. In the rocks, someone has carved "Prepare to meet thy god". Perhaps a overzealous Confederate soldiers warning to the advancing forces or maybe just graffiti carved long after the Civil War. After a little research, it seems that here is no answer to that question.

Returning the way I came, a light drizzle begins to fall. Weather reports suggested the rain would hold until this evening, but they were obviously incorrect. I double-time it down the hill and return to my jeep after having hiked about 2.3 miles. Of course, the rain has now stopped and my indecision about heading to my next destination is quickly resolved.