Description: |
After failing to envelop Hood’s left flank at Ezra Church, Sherman still wanted to extend his right flank
to hit the railroad between East Point and Atlanta. He transferred John M. Schofield’ s Army of the Ohio from his
left to his right flank and sent him to the north bank of Utoy Creek. Although Schofield’s troops were at Utoy Creek
on August 2, they, along with the XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland, did not cross until the 4th. Schofield’s force
began its movement to exploit this situation on the morning of the 5th, which was initially successful. Schofield then
had to regroup his forces, which took the rest of the day. The delay allowed the Rebels to strengthen their defenses
with abatis, which slowed the Union attack when it restarted on the morning of the 6th. The Federals were repulsed
with heavy losses by Bate’s Division and failed in an attempt to break the railroad. On the 7th, the Union troops
moved toward the Confederate main line and entrenched. Here they remained until late August. |