“General Gillmore will be ordered to report to you at Fortress Monroe, with all the troops on transports, by the 18th instant, or as soon thereafter as practicable. Should you not receive notice by that time to move, you will make such disposition of them and your other forces as you may deem best calculated to deceive the enemy as to the real move to be made.
“When you are notified to move, take City Point with as much force as possible. Fortify, or rather entrench, at once, and concentrate all your troops for the field there as rapidly as you can. From City Point directions cannot be given at this time for your further movements.
“The fact that has already been stated—that is, that Richmond is to be your objective point, and that there is to be cooperation between your forces and the army of the Potomac—must be your guide. This indicates the necessity of your holding close to the south bank of the James river as you advance. Then, should the enemy be forced into his intrenchments in Richmond, the army of the Potomac would follow, and by means of transports the two armies would become a unit.
“All the minor details of your advance are left entirely at your discretion. If, however, you think it practicable to use your cavalry south of you so as to cut the railroad about Hicks’ Ford about the time of the general advance, it would be of immense advantage.
“You will please forward for my information at the earliest practicable day, all orders, details, and instructions you may give for the execution of this order.
“U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
“Major-General B. F. Butler.”
On the 19th of the same month General Butler was informed that he was expected to move from Fort Monroe on the same day that General Meade moved from Culpepper. The exact time of course could not at that time be designated; but, says General Grant: “It was my intention to fight Lee between Culpepper and Richmond if he would stand. Should he, however, fall back into Richmond, I would follow up and make a junction with his (General Butler’s) army on the James river; that, could I be certain he would be able to invest Richmond on the south side so as to have his left resting on the James, above the city, I would form the junction there; that circumstances might make this course advisable any how; that he should use every exertion to secure a footing as far up the south side of the river as he could, and as soon as possible after the receipt of orders to move; that if he could not carry the city, he should at least detain as large a force as possible.”
The military force under General Butler comprised the Eighteenth corps under General W. F. Smith, and the Tenth corps, under General Q. A. Gillmore. In order to mislead the enemy, these forces, on the 2d of May, were massed at Yorktown and Gloucester as if designed for a movement up the York river. At the same time a brigade under Colonel S. F. Alford, Third New York, landed at West Point, up the York river, and commenced building the wharves, &c. On the 4th of May orders to move were issued, and the troops embarked on board the transports. After dark on the 4th the vessels began to move down the York river, and up the James river, preceded by three army gunboats under command of Brigadier-General Graham; by the double-enders Eutaw, Mackinaw, and Osceola; four monitors, the Tecumseh, Canonicus, Saugus, Onondaga, and the iron-clad Atlanta, and by the smaller gunboats, Commodore Morris, Hunchback, Commodore Jones, Dawn, Delaware, Putnam, and Sheshonee.