View of the battlefield from the Confederate position on Cheatham Hill, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Cheatham Hill is the best preserved section of the battlefield within Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, and it is the one place where visitors can make an emotional connection to the battle. The reason for this is because shortly after the war, Union veterans from Illinois came to Georgia and bought up the land on which the battle took place with the intention of erecting a memorial to their fallen comrades. The monument became a reality in 1914. Today, cannon, monuments, and wayside exhibits tell the story of the fighting that took place at Cheatham Hill.

The first major battle in the Kennesaw Mountain area took place on June 22, 1864, when the Confederates attacked the Union right flank at Kolb’s Farm at the southern end of the battlefield. Afterwards, Union general William T. Sherman was convinced that the Confederate line was spread too thin, for it stretched seven miles from the Kolb Farm all the way to Kennesaw Mountain. He therefore decided to attack the Confederates at the center of their line in two places: at the area between Pigeon Hill and Little Kennesaw Mountain and at Deadman’s Angle, which would become known as Cheatham Hill. It was named after Major General Frank Cheatham, the Confederate officer in charge of the troops on the hill.

On June 27th at 8 AM, the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain began. Eight thousand Union troops were involved in the assault on Cheatham Hill, but they were unsuccessful. With heavy loses at Pigeon Hill as well, Sherman ended the attacks, resorting once again to his flanking maneuvers at the northern and southern ends of the battlefield. This strategy forced the Confederates to retreat, and on July 2^nd, they abandoned Kennesaw Mountain and moved to the east side of the Chattahoochee River to make one more stand.

Cheatham Hill is located at the end of Cheatham Hill Drive, a side road that branches off from Dallas Highway in the central area of the park. There are a few exhibits along the road, including the Texas Memorial Monument, the only Confederate monument at Cheatham Hill. All exhibits are accessible from roadside pullouts.

Texas Monument along Cheatham Hill Drive at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

At one exhibit, cannons partially hidden behind trenches point towards an open field just as they did in 1864. Standing by the cannon, you can imagine Billy Yank hunkered down across the field, and how he and Johnny Reb hurled balls of lead at each other for hours on end. Only here and at the actual Cheatham Hill site can you imagine the battle, for the terrain has not changed much.

Cannon along Cheatham Hill Drive at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

The Illinois Monument Parking Lot is at the end of Cheatham Hill Drive. From there, a 250-yard path leads down to the monument. The path covers fairly level terrain, but once at the monument there are some hills to contend with. Keep in mind that there is a fee to use any of the parking lots at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. If you have not already purchased a pass, there is a credit card-operated pay station at the parking lot. You can also purchase a pass at the Visitor Center or online at Recreation.gov.

Path from the parking lot to the Illinois Monument at Cheatham Hill, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Before arriving at the monument, you will first pass a group of cannon placed behind the remnants of Confederate breastworks built at the top of Cheatham Hill. When originally created, the soldiers dug deep trenches and piled the dirt to make high, defensive walls. The walls provided cover from enemy fire, and to breach the walls, the enemy not only had to scale them, but they first had to climb in and out of the gullies on the front side. Embrasures (slots or holes) were built into the walls so that cannon could fire through them. Over the 150 years since the war, the breastworks have eroded away and now resemble nothing more than shallow gullies and small hills. Wayside exhibits and other markers are needed to point them out. At Cheatham Hill, in addition to where the cannon are positioned, there are remnants of other defensive trenches along most of the trail down to the monument.

Confederate cannon and breastworks at the top of Cheatham Hill, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Remnants of Confederate trenches dug at Cheatham Hill, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Also along the trail is a memorial for Copernicus H. Coffey, a Union sergeant who was killed at Cheatham Hill. There is another monument dedicated to Captain Samuel M. Neighbour near the Illinois Monument. Remember, the land was purchased by Union veterans, which is why there are no Confederate monuments.

Sergeant Copernicus H. Coffey Memorial at Cheatham Hill, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Captain Samuel M. Neighbour Memorial at Cheatham Hill, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

The Illinois Monument is the largest monument at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. It marks the farthest point Union soldiers made it up Cheatham Hill. The monument was dedicated on June 27, 1914, the 50th Anniversary of the battle.

Illinois Monument at Cheatham Hill, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

There is also a grave site of an unknown Union soldier nearby, though no signage points the way. If you are standing on the back side of the Illinois Monument and looking towards the open field below, you will see a trail on the left. The grave site is a tenth of a mile down this trail.

Trail at the rear of the Illinois Monument at Cheatham Hill leads to the grave of an unknown soldier, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

After the war, most of the Union soldiers who were buried on the battlefield were reinterred at Marietta National Cemetery. The soldier now buried at Cheatham Hill wasn’t discovered until 1938, so his body was left in place. There are most likely many others like him still on the battlefield today who may never be discovered.

Grave of an unknown soldier at Cheatham Hill, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Allow 45 minutes to see all the exhibits along the road and at the Cheatham Hill area itself. Park Rangers and local historians conduct tours of Cheatham Hill on select days from spring through fall. For a schedule of upcoming tours, check the National Park Service’s official Calendar web page for Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.

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