It is now 10.15 P.M.  An hour ago I received your letter of this morning, and a few moments later your despatch of this evening.  The latter gives me considerable uneasiness.  The rain and mud, of course, were to be calculated upon.  Gen. S. is not moving rapidly enough to make the expedition come to anything.  He has now been out three days, two of which were unusually fair weather, and all three without hinderance from the enemy, and yet he is not twenty-five miles from where he started.  To reach his point he still has sixty to go, another river (the Rapidan) to cross; and will he be hindered by the enemy?  By arithmetic, how many days will it take him to do it?  I do not know that any better can be done, but I greatly fear it is another failure already.  Write me often.  I am very anxious.

Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.

On the 28th, Stoneman received the following additional orders:—­

Headquartersarmy of the Potomac,
Morrisville, Va., April 28, 1863. 
Commanding Officer Cavalry Corps.

I am directed by the major-general commanding to inform you that the instructions communicated for your government on the 12th instant, are so far modified as to require you to cross the Rappahannock at such points as you may determine between Kelly’s and Rappahannock Fords, and for a portion of your force to move in the direction of Raccoon Ford and Louisa Court House, while the remainder is engaged carrying into execution that part of your original instructions, which relates to the enemy’s forces and positions on the line of the Alexandria and Orange Railroad, and the line itself; the operations of this column to be considered as masking the column which is directed to move, by forced marches, to strike and destroy the line of the Aquia and Richmond Railroad.

You are further directed to determine on some point for the columns to unite; and it is recommended that it be on the Pamunkey, or near that line, as you will then be in position with your full force to cut off the retreat of the enemy by his shortest line.  In all other respects your instructions, as before referred to, will remain the same.

You will direct all your force to cross to-night, or, if that shall not be practicable, to be brought to the river, and have it all thrown over before eight o’clock to-morrow morning.  If the fords should be too deep for your pack-animals and artillery, they will be crossed over the bridge at Kelly’s Ford.

You will please furnish the officers in command of these two columns with a copy of this, and of your original instructions.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Wm. L. Candler,
Captain and Aide-de-Camp.

These two orders would appear to be specific enough.  The first is not modified by the second to any great extent; and the primary object of both is unmistakably to interrupt, by a bold stroke, Lee’s main communications with Richmond by the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad.