On the night of June 18-19, Gen. Joseph E.
Johnston, fearing envelopment, withdrew his army to a new, previously
selected position astride Kennesaw Mountain. This entrenched arc-shaped
line, to the north and west of Marietta, protected the Western &
Atlantic Railroad, the supply link to Atlanta. Having defeated General
John B. Hood troops at Kolb's Farm on the 22nd, Sherman was sure that
Johnston had stretched his line too thin and, therefore, decided on a
frontal attack with some diversions on the flanks. On the morning of
June 27, Sherman sent his troops forward after an artillery bombardment.
At first, they made some headway overrunning Confederate pickets south
of the Burnt Hickory Road, but attacking an enemy that was dug in was
futile. The fighting ended by noon, and Sherman suffered high
casualties.