My orders were given through General Meade for an early advance on the morning of the 5th.  Warren was to move to Parker’s store, and Wilson’s cavalry—­then at Parker’s store—­to move on to Craig’s meeting-house.  Sedgwick followed Warren, closing in on his right.  The Army of the Potomac was facing to the west, though our advance was made to the south, except when facing the enemy.  Hancock was to move south-westward to join on the left of Warren, his left to reach to Shady Grove Church.

At six o’clock, before reaching Parker’s store, Warren discovered the enemy.  He sent word back to this effect, and was ordered to halt and prepare to meet and attack him.  Wright, with his division of Sedgwick’s corps, was ordered, by any road he could find, to join on to Warren’s right, and Getty with his division, also of Sedgwick’s corps, was ordered to move rapidly by Warren’s rear and get on his left.  This was the speediest way to reinforce Warren who was confronting the enemy on both the Orange plank and turnpike roads.

Burnside had moved promptly on the 4th, on receiving word that the Army of the Potomac had safely crossed the Rapidan.  By making a night march, although some of his troops had to march forty miles to reach the river, he was crossing with the head of his column early on the morning of the 5th.  Meade moved his headquarters on to Old Wilderness Tavern, four miles south of the river, as soon as it was light enough to see the road.  I remained to hasten Burnside’s crossing and to put him in position.  Burnside at this time was not under Meade’s command, and was his senior in rank.  Getting information of the proximity of the enemy, I informed Meade, and without waiting to see Burnside, at once moved forward my headquarters to where Meade was.

It was my plan then, as it was on all other occasions, to take the initiative whenever the enemy could be drawn from his intrenchments if we were not intrenched ourselves.  Warren had not yet reached the point where he was to halt, when he discovered the enemy near by.  Neither party had any advantage of position.  Warren was, therefore, ordered to attack as soon as he could prepare for it.  At nine o’clock Hancock was ordered to come up to the support of Getty.  He himself arrived at Getty’s front about noon, but his troops were yet far in the rear.  Getty was directed to hold his position at all hazards until relieved.  About this hour Warren was ready, and attacked with favorable though not decisive results.  Getty was somewhat isolated from Warren and was in a precarious condition for a time.  Wilson, with his division of cavalry, was farther south, and was cut off from the rest of the army.  At two o’clock Hancock’s troops began to arrive, and immediately he was ordered to join Getty and attack the enemy.  But the heavy timber and narrow roads prevented him from getting into position for attack as promptly as he generally did when receiving such orders.  At four o’clock he again received his orders to attack, and General Getty received orders from Meade a few minutes later to attack whether Hancock was ready or not.  He met the enemy under Heth within a few hundred yards.