Customer Reviews

Kennesaw Mountain June 1864

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Most people probably think of Baseball's first commissioner when they hear "Kennesaw Mountain". However, it was also a significant battle in the US Civil War. As the title suggests, it took place in June, 1864 and was part of Sherman's advance on Atlanta. What makes this book a cut above most of the rest of the many Civil War books is the author's heavy reliance on first-person accounts of the battle. Richard Baumgartner has made extensive use of letters, diaries, journals, memoirs, and the like to essentially let them tell the story. He does a masterful job of weaving them together with just enough of his own writing to keep things going in the right direction. He has editted in some fascinating accounts and personal recollections. They are informative as well as touchingly personal. He also fills us in with some helpful biographical information and follow up information on what later happened to some of his "contributors". In the end we are left with a very up-close look at a battle that shouldn't have happened and an excellent understanding of why.

If I have a criticism of the book it is with the annotation on its' cover, "Illustrated with 175 Wartime Photographs". Well over 90% of these are individual and group portraits with very little of the battlefield itself. As a final, personal note, I bought this book to read more about a battle my great great grandfather was in. It was with great pleasure that I found him quoted along with the many other participants. I mention this because it fits the general feeling I got that reading this book acquaints the reader with a great many "real" people.