I began the duty imposed on me on the morning of the 23d, totally in the dark as to what was expected of Wilson, though it seems, from some correspondence between Generals Grant and Meade, which I never saw till after the war, that Grant thought Wilson could rely on Hampton's absence from his field of operations throughout the expedition.
"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, "June 21, 1864.

9:20 A.M.
"BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILSON, "Commanding Third Division Cavalry Corps.
"The major-general commanding directs that you move your command at 2 A.M.

to-morrow, the 22d instant, in execution of the duty assigned you of destroying certain railroads.

Despatches received from the White House state that Hampton's cavalry was before that place yesterday evening, and that General Sheridan had also reached there, hence it is desirable that you should march at the earliest moment.
In passing Petersburg you will endeavor to avoid the observation of the enemy, and then move by the shortest routes to the intersection of the Petersburg and Lynchburg, and the Richmond and Danville railroads, and destroy both these roads to the greatest extent possible, continuing their destruction until driven from it by such attacks of the enemy as you can no longer resist.

The destruction of those roads to such an extent that they cannot be used by the enemy in connection with Richmond during the remainder of the campaign is an important part of the plan of campaign.