After the fall of Atlanta, hoping Sherman would follow, Hood moved his Confederate army north and sent French’s Division to fill the railroad cut at Allatoona and burn the railroad bridge over the Etowah River to hamper Sherman’s movement. French found Corse with 2,000 men entrenched on the ridge guarding military stores, and with his 3,000 men he attacked on October 5, 1864. The fight was costly but indecisive. French lost 799 men and Corse 706. Not risking an all-out attack, French withdrew before aid reached Corse.