By reconnoitring they were enabled to locate the roads in the vicinity of each army corps.
Our course was south, and we took all roads leading in that direction which would not separate the army too widely.
Hancock who had the lead had marched easterly to Guiney's Station, on the Fredericksburg Railroad, thence southerly to Bowling Green and Milford.

He was at Milford by the night of the 21st.

Here he met a detachment of Pickett's division coming from Richmond to reinforce Lee.
They were speedily driven away, and several hundred captured.

Warren followed on the morning of the 21st, and reached Guiney's Station that night without molestation.

Burnside and Wright were retained at Spottsylvania to keep up the appearance of an intended assault, and to hold Lee, if possible, while Hancock and Warren should get start enough to interpose between him and Richmond.
Lee had now a superb opportunity to take the initiative either by attacking Wright and Burnside alone, or by following by the Telegraph Road and striking Hancock's and Warren's corps, or even Hancock's alone, before reinforcements could come up.