I also informed General Meade that I had ordered rations from Bermuda Hundred for Hancock's corps, and desired him to issue them speedily, and to lose no more time than was absolutely necessary.

The rations did not reach him, however, and Hancock, while he got all his corps over during the night, remained until half-past ten in the hope of receiving them.

He then moved without them, and on the road received a note from General W.F.Smith, asking him to come on.
This seems to be the first information that General Hancock had received of the fact that he was to go to Petersburg, or that anything particular was expected of him.

Otherwise he would have been there by four o'clock in the afternoon.
Smith arrived in front of the enemy's lines early in the forenoon of the 15th, and spent the day until after seven o'clock in the evening in reconnoitering what appeared to be empty works.

The enemy's line consisted of redans occupying commanding positions, with rifle-pits connecting them.