U. S. Grant.

About this time word was received (through the Richmond papers of the 11th) that Crook and Averell had united and were moving east.  This, with the news of Hunter’s successful engagement near Staunton, was no doubt known to Lee before it was to me.  Then Sheridan leaving with two divisions of cavalry, looked indeed threatening, both to Lee’s communications and supplies.  Much of his cavalry was sent after Sheridan, and Early with Ewell’s entire corps was sent to the Valley.  Supplies were growing scarce in Richmond, and the sources from which to draw them were in our hands.  People from outside began to pour into Richmond to help eat up the little on hand.  Consternation reigned there.

On the 12th Smith was ordered to move at night to White House, not to stop until he reached there, and to take boats at once for City Point, leaving his trains and artillery to move by land.

Soon after dark some of the cavalry at Long Bridge effected a crossing by wading and floundering through the water and mud, leaving their horses behind, and drove away the cavalry pickets.  A pontoon bridge was speedily thrown across, over which the remainder of the army soon passed and pushed out for a mile or two to watch and detain any advance that might be made from the other side.  Warren followed the cavalry, and by the morning of the 13th had his whole corps over.  Hancock followed Warren.  Burnside took the road to Jones’s Bridge, followed by Wright.  Ferrero’s division, with the wagon train, moved farther east, by Window Shades and Cole’s Ferry, our rear being covered by cavalry.

It was known that the enemy had some gunboats at Richmond.  These might run down at night and inflict great damage upon us before they could be sunk or captured by our navy.  General Butler had, in advance, loaded some vessels with stone ready to be sunk so as to obstruct the channel in an emergency.  On the 13th I sent orders to have these sunk as high up the river as we could guard them, and prevent their removal by the enemy.

As soon as Warren’s corps was over the Chickahominy it marched out and joined the cavalry in holding the roads from Richmond while the army passed.  No attempt was made by the enemy to impede our march, however, but Warren and Wilson reported the enemy strongly fortified in their front.  By the evening of the 13th Hancock’s corps was at Charles City Court House on the James River.  Burnside’s and Wright’s corps were on the Chickahominy, and crossed during the night, Warren’s corps and the cavalry still covering the army.  The material for a pontoon bridge was already at hand and the work of laying it was commenced immediately, under the superintendence of Brigadier-General Benham, commanding the engineer brigade.  On the evening of the 14th the crossing commenced, Hancock in advance, using both the bridge and boats.