On May 23, 1864, Lieutenant General Wm. J. Hardee’s A. C. [CS] marched from Stegall's Station (Emerson) and the Etowah River by way of New Hope Ch., reaching Powder Springs on the afternoon of May 24. The corps made this march in advance of Johnston’s forces [CS] to find the right flank of Sherman’s army [US], which had been ascertained to be approaching Dallas, Paulding County, from the west. Marking time, Hardee moved southeast to Powder Springs for water. At 3 a.m. on May 25, the corps counter-marched toward Dallas to await orders placing it on the embattled Dallas-New Hope Church line.