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determined to do this by requiring me to proceed with two divisions
as far as Charlottesville to destroy the railroad bridge over the
Rivanna River near that town； the railroad itself from the Rivanna to
Gordonsville； and； if practicable； from Gordonsville back toward
Hanover Junction also。
〃HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC；
〃June 5； 1864。 3。30 P。 M。
〃MAJOR…GENERAL SHERIDAN； Commanding Cavalry Corps。
〃I am directed by the major…general commanding to furnish the
following instructions for your guidance in the execution of the duty
referred to in the order for movements and changes of position to…
night； a copy of which order accompanies this communication。
〃With two divisions of your corps you will move on the morning of the
7th instant to Charlottesville and destroy the railroad bridge over
the Rivanna near that town； you will then thoroughly destroy the
railroad from that point to Gordonsville； and from Gordonsville
toward Hanover Junction； and to the latter point； if practicable。
The chief engineer； Major Duane； will furnish you a canvas pontoon…
train of eight boats。 The chief quartermaster will supply you with
such tools； implements； and materials as you may require for the
destruction of the road。 Upon the completion of this duty you will
rejoin this army。
〃A。 HUMPHREYS；
〃Major…General； Chief…of…Staff。〃
After Meade's instructions reached me they were somewhat modified by
General Grant； who on the same evening had received information that
General Hunter； commanding the troops in West Virginia； had reached
Staunton and engaged with advantage the Confederate commander；
General Jones； near that place。 General Grant informed me orally
that he had directed Hunter to advance as far as Charlottesville；
that he expected me to unite with him there； and that the two
commands； after destroying the James River canal and the Virginia
Central road； were to join the Army of the Potomac in the manner
contemplated in my instructions from General Meade； and that in view
of what was anticipated； it would be well to break up as much of the
railroad as possible on my way westward。 A copy of his letter to
Hunter comprised my written instructions。 A junction with this
general was not contemplated when the expedition was first conceived；
but became an important though not the paramount object after the
reception of the later information。 The diversion of the enemy's
cavalry from the south side of the Chickahominy was its main purpose；
for in the presence of such a force as Lee's contracted lines would
now permit him to concentrate behind the Chickahominy； the
difficulties of crossing that stream would be largely increased if he
also had at hand a strong body of horse； to gain the time necessary
for him to oppose the movement at the different crossings with masses
of his infantry。
The order calling for two divisions for the expedition； I decided to
take Gregg's and Torbert's； leaving Wilson's behind to continue with
the infantry in its march to the James and to receive instructions
directly from； the headquarters of the army。 All my dismounted men
had been sent to the White House some days before； and they were
directed to report to Wilson as they could be provided with mounts。
〃COLD HARBOR； VA。； June 6； 1964。
〃MAJOR…GENERAL D。 HUNTER； Commanding Dept West Virginia。
〃General Sheridan leaves here to…morrow morning with instructions to
proceed to Charlottesville； Va。； and to commence there the
destruction of the Virginia Central railroad； destroying this way as
much as possible。 The complete destruction of this road and of the
canal on James River is of great importance to us。 According to the
instructions I sent to General Halleck for your guidance； you will
proceed to Lynchburg and commence there。 It would be of great value
to us to get possession of Lynchburg for a single day。 But that
point is of so much importance to the enemy； that in attempting to
get it such resistance may be met as to defeat your getting into the
road or canal at all。 I see； in looking over the letter to General
Halleck on the subject of your instructions； that it rather indicates
that your route should be from Staunton via Charlottesville。 If you
have so understood it； you will be doing just what I want。 The
direction I would now give is； that if this letter reaches you in the
valley between Staunton and Lynchburg； you immediately turn east by
the most practicable road until you strike the Lynchburg branch of
the Virginia Central road。 From there move eastward along the line
of the road； destroying it completely and thoroughly； until you join
General Sheridan。 After the work laid out for General Sheridan and
yourself is thoroughly done； proceed to join the Army of the Potomac
by the route laid out in General Sheridan's instructions。 If any
portion of your force； especially your cavalry； is needed back in
your department； you are authorized to send it back。 If on receipt
of this you should be near to Lynchburg and deem it practicable to
reach that point； you will exercise your judgment about going there。
If you should be on the railroad between Charlottesville and
Lynchburg； it may be practicable to detach a cavalry force to destroy
the canal。 Lose no opportunity to destroy the canal。
〃U。 S。 GRANT； Lieutenant…General。〃
Owing to the hard service of the preceding month we had lost many
horses； so the number of dismounted men was large； and my strength
had also been much reduced by killed and wounded during the same
period of activity。 The effective mounted force of my two divisions
was therefore much diminished； they mustering only about six thousand
officers and men when concentrated on June 6 at New Castle ferry。
Here they were provided with three days' rations； intended to last
five days； and with two days' grain for the horses。 The rations and
forty rounds of ammunition per man were to be carried on the persons
of the troopers； the grain on the pommel of the saddle； and the
reserve ammunition in wagons。 One medical wagon and eight ambulances
were also furnished； and one wagon was authorized for each division
and brigade headquarters； enough canvas…covered boats for a small
pontoon…bridge were also provided。
My instructions permitting latitude in the route I should take； I
decided to march along the north bank of the North Anna River； cross
that stream at Carpenter's ford； strike the Virginia Central railroad
at Trevillian Station； destroy it toward Louisa Court House； march
past Gordonsville； strike the railroad again at Cobham's Station； and
destroy it thence to Charlottesville as we proceeded west。 The
success of the last part of this programme would of course depend on
the location of General Hunter when I should arrive in the region
where it would be practicable for us to communicate with each other。
》From my camp at New Castle ferry we crossed the Pamunkey； marched
between Aylett's and Dunkirk on the Mattapony River； and on the 8th
of June encamped at Polecat Station。 The next day we resumed the
march along the North Annaour advance guard skirmishing with a few
mounted men of the enemy； who proved to be irregularsand bivouacked
on Northeast Creek； near Young's Mills。 This day I learned from some
of these irregulars whom we made prisoners that Breckenridge's
division of infantry； en route to the Shenandoah Valley by way of
Gordonsville； was passing slowly up the railroad parallel to me； and
that the enemy's cavalry had left its position on the south side of
the Chickahominy； and was marching on the old Richmond and
Gordonsville road toward Gordonsville； under command of General Wade
Hampton； the information being confirmed by a scouting party sent out
to cut the telegraph wires along the railroad in the night。
Breckenridge had been ordered back to the valley by General Lee as
soon as he heard of Hunter's victory near Staunton； but now that my
expedition had been discovered； the movement of Breckenridge's troops
on the railroad was being timed to correspond with the marches of my
command till Hampton could get more nearly parallel with me。
On the 10th we resumed the march； passing by Twyman's store； crossing
the North Anna at Carpenter's ford and encamping on the road leading
along the south fork of the North Anna to Trevillian Station。 During
the evening and night of the Loth the boldness of the enemy's
scouting parties； with which we had been coming into collision more
or less every day； perceptibly increased； thus indicating the
presence of a large force； and evidencing that his shorter line of
march had enabled him to bring to my front a strong body of cavalry；
although it started from Lee's army nearly two days later than I did
from Grant's。 The arrival of this body also permitted Breckenridge
to pass on to Gordonsville； and from there to interpose between
Gene