On July 6, 1864, Schofield’s Federal 23d A.C., shifted northeast from Sandtown Road at Floyd Station, camped at Smyrna. Resuming the march on July 7, it traversed only 2 miles to this point, where it camped. At 4 A.M. on July 8, the march continued to Soap Creek, four miles northeast. This was a strategic maneuver to effect a river crossing at Soap Creek, north of Johnston’s Confederate defense line on the Cobb County side at and south of the State Railroad bridge. The move was designed to render the Confederate line untenable. Being thus outflanked on July 8, Johnston withdrew his army to the Fulton County side on July 9.