Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

ON THIS DAY in 1865, Confederate General Joseph Johnston signs the surrender terms for the Army of Tennessee and all remaining forces in North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The surrender was the largest of the Civil War with troops totaling 90,000 from the Confederate Army. With this surrender, the Confederacy's last hope was no more. These two foes, Sherman and Johnston, had faced off for nearly three months during the Atlanta Campaign had been meeting and negotiating about terms for a week prior. Finally, after deliberation, Sherman and Johnston agreed to terms very similar to that of Grant and Lee at Appomattox just a few weeks before. They would meet at a small farm owned by the Bennett Family and sign the terms. If you would like to find out more information, Visit Bennett Place Historic Site for more information.

The last day of National Park Week is BARK Ranger Day! In honor of this day, we'd like to highlight Kennesaw Mountain's first official BARK Ranger, as well as the program here at the park. Max has been an exemplary BARK Ranger at Kennesaw Mountain for many years now and is definitely an example to follow. If your furry friend shows good manners, helps you clean up after them, and stays on a leash at all times, they too could join Max as a BARK Ranger. Just look for the folks with the straw hats and #FindYourPark! #NationalParkWeek

HAPPY TRANSFORMATION TUESDAY! Volunteers have helped to transform the park. Some help to maintain the park’s beauty. Others help to improve the park’s historical story. Here the Kennesaw Mountain NBP Artillery Crew works to replace a cannon carriage to properly display a historic cannon tube at the visitor center. The park’s artillery crew and local BSA scout group also worked together to place cannons into the 24 Gun Battery. With cannons in both locations, visitors are able to learn about the Union position at this stop on the park’s driving tour (24 Gun Battery) and the different types of cannons (visitor center) used during the American Civil War.

In honor of #NationalParkWeek, we present to you #TransformationTuesday. As many of you may agree, Kennesaw Mountain is a beautiful place with many good and transformative sides. One of the processes that highlight it's natural beauty is the passing of the seasons. Thank you to park volunteer Kara Rae for providing us with pictures from the same spot in the park at the height of each season!

Join Ranger Jake on this virtual hike to the top of Big Kennesaw Mountain. Along the way, you will see historic earthworks, scenic views, and more. See link to video below! Guided hike: https://youtu.be/aeHIKn6xUi0

HAPPY JUNIOR RANGER DAY! Volunteering is open to all generations. Daniel is one of our younger volunteers. He has helped other children learn about the history of Kennesaw Mountain. Other young volunteers have helped with park clean up, planting flowers, portraying children during the Civil War, and much more. It does not matter your age; we depend upon volunteers of all ages!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE! Mr. Paul Henry is one of several Kennesaw Mountain volunteers who have served our country in the military. Mr. Henry served in the US Navy, the US Air Force and continued to serve as a California Highway Patrol officer. He continues to serve the community through volunteering at Kennesaw Mountain by providing park information to our visitors.

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY! Make volunteering a Friend Event! Many of the volunteers come as friends or have built friendships with other volunteers. It is a great way to not only help the park, but to make new friendships. These three young ladies were part of a volunteer program known as Teens, Trails, and Trenches. Now graduates of South Cobb HS, they are a great example of how friends can work together for a common goal and have fun doing it.

Happy #NationalParkWeek! Today is #MilitaryMonday. In addition to preserving vital military history, the National Parks are also privileged to be staffed by members of the military. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is proud to celebrate the veterans on our staff! These fine folks represent a variety of branches to include the Army, National Guard, Navy, Air Force, the Jamaican Defense Force, and civilian contractors. Thank you all for your honor, service, and sacrifice!

NATIONAL PARK WEEK: FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY Foes in war and friends in peace, as the old saying goes. Today we'd like to highlight the relationship between the two commanders that made incredible war on each other during the Atlanta Campaign: William T. Sherman (Union, left) and Joseph E. Johnston (CSA, right). After the Civil War, General Johnston's outspokenness about the faults of the Confederate government saw him becoming alienated by many of the leaders he had fought alongsi...de. Strangely enough, this partially led to a strong bond and friendship with William T. Sherman (his old nemesis) as well as several other Union commanders. It was commonplace when both men lived in Washington D.C. to see them together. The Sherman children would remember fondly how old Joseph Johnston would be seen with their father, poring over maps and reliving the battles that made them famous. This friendship continued after death- When Sherman passed away on February 14th, 1891, Johnston was invited to be a pallbearer at his funeral. It was a chilly winter day. The rain was beginning to fall. Johnston took his hat off out of respect for his old friend. Someone nearby pointed this out, telling the old general that he'd catch a cold if he didn't put his hat back on. "If I were in his place and he were in mine," Johnston would say: "he would not put on his hat." Joseph Johnston would in fact catch a serious illness because of this and on March 21st, 1891, he would pass away.

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER DAY Volunteers are critical in providing support for the National Park Service units across the country and the US territories. Volunteers at Kennesaw Mountain NBP have and continue to play an important role at the park. They have provided administrative support, maintained trails, provided interpretation to park visitors, helped visitors plan their park adventure, and so much more. The park staff could not do it with them. Some are long term volunteers who... have supported the park for years and some volunteers have just helped for a day. Each are important and are appreciated. Just saying Thank You does not seem like enough to demonstrate our gratitude. Here are just a few examples of the volunteers at Kennesaw Mountain. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us at [email protected] or www.nps.gov/kemo/getinvolved/volunteer. Don’t forget to look at our park partners Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club (www.kennesawmountaintrailclub.org) or the Friends of Kennesaw Mountain (www.friendsofkmnbp.org) for additional opportunities. Coming soon! Kennesaw Mountain NBP opportunities on www.volunteer.gov.

Happy #JuniorRangerDay! Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield is proud to present a Junior Ranger Day Scavenger Hunt! This interactive hunt will take you through the battlefield and help you learn all about this important place. Scavenger hunts and maps can be picked up from the Visitor Center or emailed upon request (send requests to [email protected]). #findyourpark #nationalparkweek See link below for video clues for your location! https://youtube.com/playlist

Hello wonderful visitors! The National Park Service is proud to announce the official launch of the NPS mobile app! This app will work to enhance and increase access to your favorite National Park sites (including the one and only Kennesaw Mountain). See picture for more details, or ask one of your friendly rangers/volunteers at the park!

Our first fee free day of 2021 is tomorrow January 18th, in honor of the birthday of one of the most prominent Civil Rights leaders, Martin Luther King, Jr. It is commemorated on the third Monday of January every year. Although Kennesaw Mountain is a Civil War battlefield, it represents the first steps in the Civil Rights movement. During the war, former slaves would be granted their freedom through the Emancipation Proclamation, some would even join the ranks in the army and... navy to fight back. Those steps were tender and took time to gain ground to what we know as the Civil Rights Era. If you would like to learn more about Dr. King, Jr, you can drive south about 30 miles to visit Martin Luther King, Jr National Historic Park, located in Atlanta. Here you’ll find his birth home and the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. Although the buildings are still closed due to the ongoing pandemic, you can walk the grounds that Dr King walked himself. If you would like more information on the park, please visit the park’s official webpage at www.nps.gov/malu.

You are invited to join us on our second Fee Free Day of 2021 (Saturday April 17) to celebrate the healing power of nature on Park Prescription Day and the first day of National Park Week! Every April, during the presidentially proclaimed National Park Week, we join with the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's national parks, to celebrate America's treasures. National Park Week is a time to explore amazing places, discover stories of history and cultu...re, help out, and find your park. Join us in celebrating National Park Week 2021, from April 17 to 25 with a variety of special themes for each day of the week. Reasons to connect with nature on ParkRx Day: *Contact with nature improves your physical, mental, and spiritual health. *Getting outdoors can make getting exercise more fun, can boost your mood and your immunity, and combat obesity. *For children, getting outdoors foster active play, which is associated with physical, cognitive, and social benefits. *For adolescents, getting outdoors improve mental and social health during what is often a challenging time of life. *Getting outdoors is also linked to physical and mental health benefits, overall quality of life among adults, especially older adults. *Nature’s health benefits can be enjoyed by simply viewing a tree from your window. #NationalParkWeek #FeeFreeDay #ParkRx

On the evening of April 14th, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln would attend the play 'Our American Cousin' at Ford's Theater. Later, he would be fatally shot at point blank range by John Wilkes Booth. He would die from his wound the next morning. This was just 5 days after the famous surrender of Robert E. Lee to U.S Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse. This violent action would reverberate throughout the nation and further shape the history of this country. Much has been specu...lated on what would have changed in the years after the war had Lincoln not been assassinated... "There are no accidents in my philosophy. Every effect must have its cause. Every effect must have its cause. The past is the cause of the present, and the present will be the cause of the future." - Abraham Lincoln Learn more at Ford's Theater National Historic Site https://www.nps.gov/foth/index.htm

As he glares over the Union-occupied city of Atlanta, Sherman thought he needed to seal his victory with a new hat. Can't blame him, the flat hat is iconic. #nationalhatday #kennesawmountain #flathatrocks

EAST MEETS WEST! Brigadier General States Rights Gist (CSA 1831-1864) Before the war, States Rights Gist was a leader in the South Carolina Militia and joined his cousin’s governorship as an advisor. Gist was sent by the governor to other states to try to persuade them to secede due to the likely election of Abraham Lincoln. Once South Carolina seceded, Gist was put in charge of mobilizing the military and helped in the efforts of capturing Fort Sumter. His time in the Easter...n Theater was very short lived. Gist was present as an aide to General Barnard Bee who was killed during the battle and took over command of the brigade upon his death. Gist would be promoted to Brigadier General and work on the coastal defenses in South Carolina. Gist would also take part in the battles at Vicksburg as well as Chattanooga. Once Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign was underway, Gist would serve as brigade commander in General William Hardee’s division. At Kennesaw Mountain, Gist’s men would be placed just south of Burnt Hickory Road. His men would see little action except for skirmishing. At the Battle of Atlanta, Gist would be wounded in his hand and his division commander, General William Walker, was killed. Two days later, the division was broken up and his brigade was transferred to Benjamin Cheatham’s division. At the Battle of Jonesborough, Gist’s Brigade probably saved Hardee’s Corps with their pocket-knives. Gist’s Brigade was told to strengthen their line. The soldiers would climb up small treesusing pocket-knives to cut across the trunks, succeeded in a half hour in making a first-rate abatis, described Col. Ellison Capers of the 24th South Carolina. These abatis helped slow down the Union soldiers dramatically. In Hood’s Tennessee Campaign, Gist would conduct his final charge at the Battle of Franklin. Shot in the chest, Gist would be one of six Confederate generals killed that day. States Rights Gist is a good example of how young soldiers were during the Civil War. Gist was 29 at the start of the War and was put in such a vital position to start. He would take over command of a brigade from First Manassas until his death at Franklin, TN. This is a reminder that the soldiers of this time were extremely young. How does one prepare themselves for such a monumental task as that age?

They say the eyes are a window to the soul. For combat veterans, those eyes can a story all on their own. In a new series, we will be sharing photographs of Civil War soldiers from the "Wall of Faces" in our Visitor Center museum- one Confederate and one Union soldier per post, with a line or two of details for context. These are individuals who fought each other in and around Kennesaw Mountain during the battle in June of 1864. A picture is worth a thousand words. What w...ords come to mind when you look on their faces? First up, we have Samuel Adams (CSA), a Colonel in the 33rd Alabama Infantry. He was described as a "perfect specimen of a soldier and gentleman" by his peers. He would be killed on July 21st, 1864, during the fighting at Bald Hill, just east of Atlanta. He fought under Cleburne near Cheatham Hill, here at Kennesaw, where the fighting was at its most intense. We also have John Arbuckle (USA), a private in the 4th Iowa Infantry. His regiment had fought at places like Vicksburg and in the siege of Chattanooga. After the war, he writes: "The most severe and trying experiences of the campaign were those we endured in the trenches in front of Kennesaw." His regiment was entrenched just in front of Pigeon Hill here at Kennesaw Mountain, just south of Burnt Hickory Road.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on January 18, 2021, is the 26th anniversary of the day of service that celebrates the Civil Rights leader's life and legacy. Observed each year on the third Monday in January as "day on, not a day off," Martin Luther King Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Join us as we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2021 virtually. For more virtual programs and ways to give back, please visit: https://www.doi.gov/events

It's Trail Tuesday again! Today we'd like to highlight Axel Soriano and his family for their excellent etiquette and B.A.R.K Ranger worthy behavior. Axel spent his time at the park on a leash, making room on the trail, and being an overall good boy. Thank you guys, and to all others exhibiting their excellent etiquette on the trails!

The infantry is known as the Queen of Battle, capable of unparalleled maneuverability- closing the last 100 yards with the enemy and bringing the fight to them, face- to- face. In this next installment of our museum series, Ranger James Pratt discusses some of the accoutrements of the average Civil War soldier from our collection and briefly touches on the changing face of warfare leading to the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.

Kennesaw Conservation! In this short "talk with a Ranger" video, we speak with Chief of Law Enforcement Anthony Winegar, who will explain how the Rangers of Kennesaw Mountain enforce conservation and preservation principles.

Did you know that Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park has a Youtube channel? There you will find videos from across our social media platforms, with more being added regularly! These videos will cover a broad range of topics from Native American history, nature- based programming and Civil War to Civil Rights discussions. If you get the chance, come on over and check it out!... https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrIPgAIu_EEuOy34fa5nnaA

On our last day of Spring Break Camp-In, we have fun with songs and games. Rangers' James and Jake tell you all about some of the games that Civil War soldiers would plat at camp. After that, join Ms. Susan from @cobbcountylibrary for fun campfire sing-along. See video links below. Soldiers' games: https://youtu.be/HvFS4VzP9as Campfire Sing-Along: https://youtu.be/TrI32boR0Kk

For day three of our Spring Break Camp-In with @cobbcountylibrary, we learn all about staying busy, keeping clean, and making crafts. Rangers' Jake and James tell you about how soldiers mended their clothes and stayed clean, while Ms. Nikki teaches you how to make your own drum at home! See video links below. Keeping Clean at Camp: https://youtu.be/GG30I_3ZHCc Making a Drum with Ms. Nikki: https://youtu.be/__1MRDPLLLU

Tropical Storm winds blew through the area early this morning. There are many trees down in the park and on the way to the park. Be advised if you're traveling to the park you may have to take a different route due to the various road closures. Cheatham Hill Drive is closed at this time and will remain closed the rest of the day. There is a tree blocking one lane on Stilesboro Road with yellow caution tape around it. Mountain Road is also closed until further notice. Please stay safe and make wise decisions about being on the road until debris has been cleared. Our park's awesome maintenance staff are already hard at work clearing debris. We will update whenever possible on current road conditions.

Meet Megarhyssa, or the giant ichneumon wasp. She may look fearsome, but she is actually one of the most docile of the hymenopteran. She can be seen on dead trees and branches, divining the ideal location to deposit her eggs. In this picture, we can see her in the act! In places like Kennesaw Mountain, you never know what you'll see if you take the time to look!

An army needs good maps, lot's of supplies, and rapid communications to be successul. Join Ranger Jake in our newest virtual museum tour on the logistics of the Atlanta Campaign and how they affected both sides tremendously.

You may have noticed some of our new way side signs throughout the park. As part of an ongoing project, the staff at Kennesaw Mountain NBP strive to keep you informed of the history you are hiking through. So next time you seen one, take a second and see what history sleeps there. As Dani the horse is demonstrating, our new signs are indeed captivating!

First rule of Hawk Fight Club; don’t talk about Hawk Fight Club. Although rule one protects the fighters, we’re more concerned with rule two, which is to keep your distance. Yesterday afternoon, the park was treated to a display full of plumage and squawking as what appeared to be two juvenile Red-tail Hawks fighting over a squirrel. Neither bird appeared to be hurt, contrary to initial reports. Rangers were on hand to keep both two and four legged visitors moving so as not t...o draw the attention of the fighters. While we discourage any violence within the park boundaries, these open cage matches are expected when food is involved. One of our brave rangers did manage to take some pictures while maintaining distance for everyone to enjoy. Remember to keep your distance from any wild animal. We know it’s cool to try to get a selfie, but wild animals aren’t the best models. #redtailhawk #birdsofprey #findyourpark See more

From the Photo Contest Vault: The Goodest Boys of Kennesaw Mountain! Who doesn’t love a photo of a dog to brighten up their day?!?!? Here are all the photos of our four-legged best friends that we received for our photo contest. They were all too cute not to share!... As a reminder for the best ways to enjoy the park with your furry friend: 1) Always keep them on a leash of at most 6 feet 2) Make sure you pick up after your dog! Keep waste bags with you and throw them away in the trash can when you are done with your hike.

Join Ranger Amanda as she discusses the use of carding combs and Cobb County history.

Between October 16 and October 18 1859, abolitionist John Brown attempted a raid on the federal armory in Harper’s Ferry, VA. With this short lived, but violent act, Brown hoped to incite a revolution against the institution of slavery. While it did not immediately have the intended result, this ‘tragic prelude’ would be considered by many to be one of the major sparks to ignite the Civil War just two years later. Somewhat prophetically, some of Brown’s last words were I John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood Learn more about this pivotal event in American history and more at the links below, or by visiting the site of Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry National Historic Park. https://www.nps.gov/articles/john-browns-raid.htm. https://www.nps.gov/hafe/index.htm

In Part 4 of our Virtual Museum Tour, Ranger Jake discusses the strategic nature of Atlanta as a southern trasnportation hub and Georgia as a center of industry.

The Cobb Co Neighborhood Safety Commission invites you to: Family Fun & Outdoor Activity Safety Program! Learn ways you, your family and friends can enjoy your outdoor activities - Safely!... Wednesday, October 14 @ 5PM Kennesaw National Battlefield Park Your hosts for this event are: US National Parks Service Cobb Co Police Cobb Co EMA Cobb Co 911 Marietta Police Cobb PARKS This event has been designed to provide participants with up-to-date information and tips to help you to enjoy your activities more and worry less! This outdoor and socially- distanced program is coordinated by the Cobb County Neighborhood Safety Commission and the topics that will be covered are: Outdoor Recreation at-a-glance Outdoor areas & safety Personal Safety: o Hazards caused by humans vs. o Hazards caused by nature Plan your outing: Clothing, equipment, safety Tips: Maintain a posture of safety When to call 911 Introduction to ELM (Emergency Locator Marker) And, meet Patrick Gamman- the new Superintendent of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Please bring your walking shoes and enjoy the park! Each session will be limited to 50 people (first come basis) This is an outdoor event and will be held weather permitting. Please bring your own mask sessions will be held in a socially distanced manner. For additional information and directions please visit Cobb Co NSC

As the fall brings cooler temperatures, the trail's call becomes a little louder. Just remember to recreate responsibly and to respect your fellow visitors and the park itself. How do you #findyourpark? #usinterior #nationalparkservice