On July 8, 1864, the first passage of the Chattahoochee River by Federal forces was made at the mouth of Soap Creek by Cox’s division, 23d A.C. Cameron’s brigade crossed the creek at the dam and, passing the blackened ruins of the Paper Mills, scaled the high ridge east; wading the river at a fish-dam, Cameron moved south to support a contingent crossing in pontoons at the mouth of the creek. A Confederate cavalry outpost and field-piece were captured. This Federal crossing forced Johnston to abandon his River Line at and below Bolton; he withdrew to the Fulton County side of the Chattahoochee River on July 9.