160th Anniversary of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain Lecture SeriesJoin us in the park's Visitor Center each Saturday from May 4th - June 29th to hear subject matter experts discuss various topics relevant to the Civil War and the Atlanta Campaign.
Things to Know:
Keith Bohannon Keith Bohannon On May 23, 1864, Union troops under the command of General William T. Sherman crossed the Etowah River at several points just north of Kennesaw, Georgia and continued marching south. Sherman hoped that his men would face little serious Confederate resistance before reaching the town of Marietta and possibly even the Chattahoochee River. Instead, on the 25th of May, Union soldiers encountered lines of Confederate Infantry positioned along a ridge near New Hope Church east of Dallas. Subsequent Union attacks that day against this Southern line resulted in the battle of New Hope Church, a bloody affair that cost hundreds of Union casualties. This talk will look at the events leading up to the fighting at New Hope Church, the battle itself, and the subsequent movements and engagements that took place during the New Hope-Dallas-Pickett's Mill phase of the 1864 Atlanta Campaign. Keith Bohannon is a professor of history at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia. 
Robert D. Jenkins, Sr. Robert D. Jenkins, Sr. Join area attorney and published author Robert Jenkins for two different programs. The first program will be an overview of the Atlanta Campaign including its key players, campaign objectives, and how Kennesaw became cemented in Civil War history. Later, Jenkins will be discussing his new book, "The Cassville Affairs," which discusses the controversies of failed Confederate strategies during the Atlanta Campaign. 
Joshua Whitfield -- The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History
Brian Steel Willis Brian Steel Wills William T. Sherman faced the daunting task of maneuvering three armies and a determined opponent from North Georgia toward Atlanta in 1864. Although sharp fighting occasionally marked the advance at stages, threatening the flanks of Joseph Johnston’s Army of Tennessee most often compelled the Confederates to give ground steadily. In June, this progress appeared stymied by strong defenses at and around Kennesaw Mountain. Frustrated by the “Red Clay Minuet” and anxious to bring the campaign to a swifter conclusion if possible, Sherman decided to attempt to break the extended Confederate line at Kennesaw. He turned to Virginia-born George Henry Thomas and elements of the Army of the Cumberland, primarily, to achieve this task. “The Rock of Chickamauga” selected the ground for this portion of the assault and the effort added the names “Cheatham Hill” and “Dead Angle” to the lexicon of the Atlanta Campaign. Brian Steel Wills is the Director of the Center for the Study of the Civil War Era and Professor of History at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga. In addition to leading tours, offering lectures, and conducting programs, Dr. Wills is the award-winning author of numerous works relating to the American Civil War, including biographies of Confederate generals Nathan Bedford Forrest and William Dorsey Pender and Union general George Henry Thomas. He has also written about the Civil War in Virginia and in the movies, as well as a volume that focuses on noncombat deaths in the Civil War. His latest work is Running the Race: The ‘Public Face’ of Charlton Heston, published through Savas Beatie. A graduate of the University of Richmond, Va., and the University of Georgia, he spends time on his farm in Virginia when not teaching and working in Kennesaw. 
Michael K. Shaffer Michael K. Shaffer Historian Michael K. Shaffer will provide an overview of daily events from June 1864, and activities leading up to the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. Civil War historian, instructor, lecturer, and author Michael K. Shaffer is a member of the Society of Civil War Historians, Historians of the Civil War Western Theater, and the Georgia Association of Historians. He teaches Civil War courses at Kennesaw State University's Community and Professional Education and at Emory University. Shaffer also frequently speaks to various groups across the country. 
Larry Elliott Larry Elliott In June of 1864, General William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign is in full swing. Not only was winning Atlanta from the Confederacy important to the Union war effort, it was also important politically for Abraham Lincoln. If General Sherman cannot take Atlanta, Lincoln is unlikely to win reelection at a pivotal moment in United States history. What would the world look like today if Atlanta had not been won? Join local historian Larry Elliott as he portrays Abraham Lincoln and uncover the importance of the Atlanta Campaign in the history of the United States. 
Andy Cole Andy Cole With the Confederates controlling the high ground overlooking his supply line, Union commander Major General William T. Sherman falls back on his routine by trying to outflank them and opening a way into the heart of Marietta, Georgia. Standing in his way is an aggressive young Corps Commander named General John Bell Hood -- a man with ambition on his mind. No one could have foreseen the effect their fight would have on the campaign for Atlanta as the two clashed at Kolb's Farm. Join long-time NPS volunteer and local history teacher Andy Cole as he explores the Battle of Kolb's Farm, highlighting the engagement that would leave Sherman desperately trying to break through at Kennesaw Mountain. 
Michael Hitt Michael Hitt In 1864 approximately 600 cotton mill employees from both Roswell and Sweetwater, Georgia were arrested and deported under the authority of General William T. Sherman on charges of treason. The 600 arrested included men, women, and children. For years, the fate of those affected had remained an unsolved mystery...until now. While employed as a Roswell Police Officer, Michael Hitt personally investigated the incident and found the answers. Join Michael as he uncovers the mystery. 
John Hoomes Ranger John Hoomes -- Pickett's Mill Battlefield State Historic Site Join Ranger John Hoomes from Pickett's Mill Battlefield State Historic Site as he discusses the political and physical geography of the Atlanta Campaign leading up to, and ending with, June 27, 1864. |
Last updated: January 28, 2025