I concluded, then, a few days later, to do something in the way of offensive movement myself, having in view something of the same object that Lee had had.  Wright’s and Emory’s corps were in Washington, and with this reduction of my force Lee might very readily have spared some troops from the defences to send West.  I had other objects in view, however, besides keeping Lee where he was.  The mine was constructed and ready to be exploded, and I wanted to take that occasion to carry Petersburg if I could.  It was the object, therefore, to get as many of Lee’s troops away from the south side of the James River as possible.  Accordingly, on the 26th, we commenced a movement with Hancock’s corps and Sheridan’s cavalry to the north side by the way of Deep Bottom, where Butler had a pontoon bridge laid.  The plan, in the main, was to let the cavalry cut loose and, joining with Kautz’s cavalry of the Army of the James, get by Lee’s lines and destroy as much as they could of the Virginia Central Railroad, while, in the mean time, the infantry was to move out so as to protect their rear and cover their retreat back when they should have got through with their work.  We were successful in drawing the enemy’s troops to the north side of the James as I expected.  The mine was ordered to be charged, and the morning of the 30th of July was the time fixed for its explosion.  I gave Meade minute orders (38) on the 24th directing how I wanted the assault conducted, which orders he amplified into general instructions for the guidance of the troops that were to be engaged.

Meade’s instructions, which I, of course, approved most heartily, were all that I can see now was necessary.  The only further precaution which he could have taken, and which he could not foresee, would have been to have different men to execute them.

The gallery to the mine was over five hundred feet long from where it entered the ground to the point where it was under the enemy’s works, and with a cross gallery of something over eighty feet running under their lines.  Eight chambers had been left, requiring a ton of powder each to charge them.  All was ready by the time I had prescribed; and on the 29th Hancock and Sheridan were brought back near the James River with their troops.  Under cover of night they started to recross the bridge at Deep Bottom, and to march directly for that part of our lines in front of the mine.

Warren was to hold his line of intrenchments with a sufficient number of men and concentrate the balance on the right next to Burnside’s corps, while Ord, now commanding the 18th corps, temporarily under Meade, was to form in the rear of Burnside to support him when he went in.  All were to clear off the parapets and the abatis in their front so as to leave the space as open as possible, and be able to charge the moment the mine had been sprung and Burnside had taken possession.  Burnside’s corps was not to stop in the crater at all but push on to the top of the hill, supported on the right and left by Ord’s and Warren’s corps.