Upon the completion of this duty you will rejoin this army.
"A.

HUMPHREYS, "Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." After Meade's instructions reached me they were somewhat modified by General Grant, who on the same evening had received information that General Hunter, commanding the troops in West Virginia, had reached Staunton and engaged with advantage the Confederate commander, General Jones, near that place.

General Grant informed me orally that he had directed Hunter to advance as far as Charlottesville, that he expected me to unite with him there, and that the two commands, after destroying the James River canal and the Virginia Central road, were to join the Army of the Potomac in the manner contemplated in my instructions from General Meade; and that in view of what was anticipated, it would be well to break up as much of the railroad as possible on my way westward.

A copy of his letter to Hunter comprised my written instructions.

A junction with this general was not contemplated when the expedition was first conceived, but became an important though not the paramount object after the reception of the later information.