150th Anniversary of the Atlanta Campaign and the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain

Date: March 11, 2014
Contact: Brent Everitt, [phone]

Kennesaw, GA– The National Park Service today announced the details of the upcoming commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park will offer three days of commemorative programs, battlefield tours, and living history demonstrations at sites throughout the park from June 26–29, 2014.

June 27, 2014, marks 150 years since Union Major General William T. Sherman launched his frontal assault at Kennesaw Mountain against the Confederate Army of Tennessee, led by General Joseph E. Johnston. The battle was a tactical defeat for the Union army, and was General Sherman's last frontal assault of the Atlanta Campaign. 

"As we approach the sesquicentennial of the Atlanta Campaign and the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, this is the opportune time to reaffirm our national commitment to the protection of these hallowed grounds and create a lasting legacy of this commemoration, one that will be enjoyed for generations to come," said Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Superintendent Nancy Walther.  

On Thursday June 26 at 7:30 p.m., the commemoration will officially begin with an opening ceremony featuring guest speakers followed by a performance of period music. From June 27-29, at sites around Kennesaw Mountain, re-enactors will present programs including musket and artillery demonstrations. Visitors can also join national park rangers and volunteers for interpretive programs about the battle, walk around a Civil War camp, explore tents and camps interpreting civilian life, Civil War medicine, and activities geared especially for children. Evening programs will be available every night during the commemoration. On Friday June 27 at 7:30 p.m. popular musical historian and composer, Bobby Horton, will open for Claire Lynch, Female Vocalist of the Year from the International Bluegrass Music Association. On Saturday June 28 at 8:30 p.m. the park will rededicate the Illinois Monument at Cheatham Hill; this program will include speakers from Georgia and Illinois, a wreath laying, and 3,400 luminaries representing the lives lost during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. Finally, a closing ceremony will be held on Sunday, June 29 at 5:00 p.m. featuring keynote speaker Rebecca Burns, author and lecturer on Southern and Atlanta history and Dr. Oral Moses and the Georgia Symphony Choir.  

The Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club has partnered with the National Park Service to raise funds and recruit volunteers for the 150th Anniversary Commemoration. The group has also created a special website for the event, where visitors can learn about events leading up to the commemoration, commemoration events, frequently asked questions, and how to support the 150th events. More information on the group's efforts can be found on www.battleofkennesawmountain150.com.   

For more information on the interpretive programs being offered, you can follow us on Facebook or visit the Kennesaw Mountain Sesquicentennial webpage.   

www.nps.gov