Lee’s army will be your objective point.  Wherever Lee goes, there you will go also.  The only point upon which I am now in doubt is, whether it will be better to cross the Rapidan above or below him.  Each plan presents great advantages over the other with corresponding objections.  By crossing above, Lee is cut off from all chance of ignoring Richmond and going north on a raid.  But if we take this route, all we do must be done whilst the rations we start with hold out.  We separate from Butler so that he cannot be directed how to co-operate.  By the other route Brandy Station can be used as a base of supplies until another is secured on the York or James rivers.

These advantages and objections I will talk over with you more fully than I can write them.

Burnside with a force of probably 25,000 men will reinforce you.  Immediately upon his arrival, which will be shortly after the 20th inst., I will give him the defence of the road from Bull Run as far south as we wish to hold it.  This will enable you to collect all your strength about Brandy Station and to the front.

There will be naval co-operation on the James River, and transports and ferries will be provided so that should Lee fall back into his intrenchments at Richmond, Butler’s force and yours will be a unit, or at least can be made to act as such.  What I would direct then, is that you commence at once reducing baggage to the very lowest possible standard.  Two wagons to a regiment of five hundred men is the greatest number that should be allowed, for all baggage, exclusive of subsistence stores and ordnance stores.  One wagon to brigade and one to division headquarters is sufficient and about two to corps headquarters.

Should by Lee’s right flank be our route, you will want to make arrangements for having supplies of all sorts promptly forwarded to White House on the Pamunkey.  Your estimates for this contingency should be made at once.  If not wanted there, there is every probability they will be wanted on the James River or elsewhere.

If Lee’s left is turned, large provision will have to be made for ordnance stores.  I would say not much short of five hundred rounds of infantry ammunition would do.  By the other, half the amount would be sufficient.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

(26) General John A. Logan, upon whom devolved the command of the Army of the Tennessee during this battle, in his report gave our total loss in killed, wounded and missing at 3,521; and estimated that of the enemy to be not less than 10,000:  and General G. M. Dodge, graphically describing to General Sherman the enemy’s attack, the full weight of which fell first upon and was broken by his depleted command, remarks:  “The disparity of forces can be seen from the fact that in the charge made by my two brigades under Fuller and Mersy they took 351 prisoners, representing forty-nine different regiments, eight brigades and three divisions; and brought back eight battle flags from the enemy.”