“The movement of troops from the Army of the James will commence on the night of the 27th instant.  General Ord will leave behind the minimum number of cavalry necessary for picket duty, in the absence of the main army.  A cavalry expedition, from General Ord’s command, will also be started from Suffolk, to leave there on Saturday, the 1st of April, under Colonel Sumner, for the purpose of cutting the railroad about Hicksford.  This, if accomplished, will have to be a surprise, and therefore from three to five hundred men will be sufficient.  They should, however, be supported by all the infantry that can be spared from Norfolk and Portsmouth, as far out as to where the cavalry crosses the Blackwater.  The crossing should probably be at Uniten.  Should Colonel Sumner succeed in reaching the Weldon Road, he will be instructed to do all the damage possible to the triangle of roads between Hicksford, Weldon, and Gaston.  The railroad bridge at Weldon being fitted up for the passage of carriages, it might be practicable to destroy any accumulation of supplies the enemy may have collected south of the Roanoke.  All the troops will move with four days’ rations in haversacks and eight days’ in wagons.  To avoid as much hauling as possible, and to give the Army of the James the same number of days’ supplies with the Army of the Potomac, General Ord will direct his commissary and quartermaster to have sufficient supplies delivered at the terminus of the road to fill up in passing.  Sixty rounds of ammunition per man will be taken in wagons, and as much grain as the transportation on hand will carry, after taking the specified amount of other supplies.  The densely wooded country in which the army has to operate making the use of much artillery impracticable, the amount taken with the army will be reduced to six or eight guns to each division, at the option of the army commanders.

“All necessary preparations for carrying these directions into operation may be commenced at once.  The reserves of the 9th corps should be massed as much as possible.  While I would not now order an unconditional attack on the enemy’s line by them, they should be ready and should make the attack if the enemy weakens his line in their front, without waiting for orders.  In case they carry the line, then the whole of the 9th corps could follow up so as to join or co-operate with the balance of the army.  To prepare for this, the 9th corps will have rations issued to them, same as the balance of the army.  General Weitzel will keep vigilant watch upon his front, and if found at all practicable to break through at any point, he will do so.  A success north of the James should be followed up with great promptness.  An attack will not be feasible unless it is found that the enemy has detached largely.  In that case it may be regarded as evident that the enemy are relying upon their local reserves principally for the defence of Richmond.  Preparations may be made for abandoning all the line north of the James, except inclosed works only to be abandoned, however, after a break is made in the lines of the enemy.