The Assault

The hike up Cheatham Hill is peaceful but still steep and somewhat strenuous.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Base of Cheatham Hill in the southern section of the park.

Significance:

Site of a heavy infantry assault during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain

Designation:

National Battlefield Park

Amenities

3 listed

Cellular Signal, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Trailhead

The attack on the Confederate position was designed to be a heavy frontal assault. Two brigades were to charge up this very hill in order to break through the earthworks at the top. The obstacles for the Union soldiers were immense. The earthworks at the crest stood up to 8 feet tall and were topped with head logs that protected the Rebels behind them. In addition to that, the Confederates had placed a series of formidable field fortifications directly in the Union path. Colonel Alan Fahnestock of the 86^th Illinois infantry describes the scene: “They had logs with sharp sticks through the log like hay racks (called Chevalle de Frise), the ends bound together with wire”. These defenses, along with cleverly hidden Confederate artillery, causes the Union assault to falter, and then to stop completely. The fighting at the crest of the hill just ahead became some of the bloodiest and violent of the entire battle. Confederate soldier Sam Watkins of the 1^st Tennessee Infantry writes “Yet still the Yankees came. It seemed impossible to check the onslaught… a solid line of blazing fire right from the muzzles of the Yankee guns being poured right into our very faces, singeing our hair and clothes, the hot blood of our dead and wounded spurting on us, the blinding smoke and stifling atmosphere filling our eyes and mouths, and the awful concussion causing the blood to gush out of our noses and ears, and above all, the roar of battle, made it perfect pandemonium… Hell had broke loose in Georgia sure enough.”