Joe Johnston's confederates had taken up a position at Allatoona, astride the railroad to Atlanta to attempt to stop Gen. Sherman's Union advance. Sherman however cut loose from the rail line and attempted a wide flanking manoeuvre to Johnston's left aimed at a road junction at Dallas, Georgia. Confederate cavalry spotted the attempt, and the rebels were able to take the inside line and reach there first. Fierce fighting ensued around New Hope Church for several days, before degenerating into weeks of skirmishing as the Confederates slowly moved east to Kenesaw Mountain.