A Grim and Silent Kennesaw

A Grim and Silent Kennesaw. . "Under the shadow of a grim and silent Kennesaw…there were shadows on all our hearts as well, shadows that stretched beyond us and fell on hearts and hearthstones far away, shadows that rest there still and never will be lifted." , , First Sergeant Walter Clark , 63rd Georgia Infantry, The sergeant who wrote these words was lucky: He survived. Thousands of others were less fortunate. In 14 days of fighting in June of 1864, more than 3,000 Union and 1,000 Confederate soldiers died or were wounded here. Despite their losses, the Union troops pushed ever southward, advancing, outflanking, and advancing again, up and around Kennesaw Mountain., Since 1935 these blood-soaked earthworks and battle sites have been preserved as Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. Now traversed by hiking trails, these peaceful fields and quiet woods still harbor the shadows of fallen soldiers. Their losses still speak to us today, their sacrifices an enduring gift to our indivisible nation., (caption) Private George W. Warner , Co. B, 20th Connecticut Infantry Regiment, (caption) Harvey, the four-legged mascot of the 104th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, also suffered the wounds of war. Both Harvey and his owner, Captain Daniel M. Stearns, survived., (caption) Thousands of Civil War soldiers survived grievous wounds on the battlefield. At the time, medical science had little to offer, except amputation with a hand-powered saw.