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.