. In mid-September, restrained by a cease-fire to remove civilians from the Atlanta area, Sherman cautiously sent out scouting parties to ascertain the whereabouts of Hood and his army.

Gen. Kilpatrick quickly realized his brigade was covering a front from near Fairburn to near Powder Springs. He was so overextended that even small forces of Confederates presented a threat. He noted strong resistance around Fairburn and reports of the enemy crossing the river about Campbellton. On the 20th, Sherman sent Gen. Thomas' infantry toward Fairburn to shore up Kilpatrick's sagging line. He also sent a scouting party from 2cd Cavalry Division to make a dash to Moore's Bridge to see what was going on. When some of the scouts came to the bridge at Sweet Water Town, they found it fortified: "….estimated by the officer at 150 ….(9-23-64)". This was perhaps the first inkling that the Sweet Water had been blockaded by Hood's Cavalry.

Sherman then sent another scouting party to Moore's Bridge. Capt. Greeno of 1st brigade, later met up with the other scouting party:

…The scout just returned found a detachment of 200 men, under a Captain of the 2cd Cavalry Division, at Alexander's Ford. The Captain in command refused to say where he was going…(9-23-64).**

Captain Loud of Harvey's Confederate Scouts also showed up and later reported:

…One hundred and fifty came down to Ferguson's pickets on the 23rd. We met them at the creek, and had not our courier missed his way, would have given General Ferguson ample time to have entrapped them…(9-23-64).**

As news of other Confederate cavalry at Powder Springs arrived, Gen. Sherman contemplated a mad dash by all cavalry to intercede between Hood and his cavalry. He intended to head straight for Carrollton to meet Hood head on. To achieve this he sent Kilpatrick farther north to Powder Springs and summoned Garrard to move west to the Sweet Water Town bridge. He also noted the intention of Hood, whose army was visited by Jefferson Davis on the 26th, to cross the Chattahoochee in force to cut the railroad north of Marietta.

The Jones Ferry crossing on Sweet Water Creek