Near Marietta in Cobb County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

A Fake Attack

June 27, 1864

— Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park —

A Fake Attack Marker image. Click for full size.

September 26, 2023

1. A Fake Attack Marker

Inscription. How does one army take another by surprise? In the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Union troops tried to attract Confederate attention with a "feint"—a pretend attack—on the face of Big Kennesaw and along this low ridge between the peaks. Meanwhile, the real assaults were more than a mile away at Pigeon Hill and beyond.

But Confederate General Johnson, accustomed to the Union tactic of attacking the sides or edges of his lines, was not fooled. He refused to pull troops from the center to protect this northern flank, as Union General Sherman had hoped.

How Many Men?
"Repeating" rifles—a new idea at the time—were useful tools in a feint. Rapid fire from one Henry or Spencer repeating rifle with 120 rounds could make a single soldier sound like a multitude.

(caption) Rimfire cartridge, .52 caliber, for a Spencer rifle

(caption) A Model 1865 Spencer rifle

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is June 27, 1864.

Location. 33° 58.474′ N, 84° 35.008′ W. Marker is near Marietta, Georgia, in Cobb County. Marker can be reached from Kennesaw Mountain Drive

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, 1.4 miles south of Stilesboro Road, on the left when traveling south. Marker is a wayside exhibit along the Little Kennesaw Mountain Trail, about 200 yards southwest of the trailhead at Kennesaw Mountain Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Marietta GA 30060, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cannon on Little Kennesaw (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); War Comes To Kennesaw (approx. ¼ mile away); Trading Hard Blows (approx. ¼ mile away); The Atlanta Campaign ~ 1864 (approx. ¼ mile away); The Atlanta Campaign (approx. ¼ mile away); Atlanta Falls (approx. ¼ mile away); The Fall of Atlanta (approx. ¼ mile away); Fort McBride (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marietta.

Also see . . . Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. National Park Service (Submitted on March 5, 2024.)

September 26, 2023

2. A Fake Attack Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2024. This page has been viewed 43 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 4, 2024. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.