Meanwhile Richmond was to be protected by General Magruder with his twenty-five thousand men, on the south bank; if McClellan fell back down the Peninsula, this force was to cross and unite with the rest; thus the Federal army would be driven from all its positions, and the fate of the whole campaign against Richmond would be decided.
Lee's general order directing the movement of the troops is here given.

It possesses interest as a clear and detailed statement of his intended operations; and it will be seen that what was resolved on by the commander in his tent, his able subordinates translated detail by detail, with unimportant modifications, into action, under his eyes in the field: HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, _June_ 24, 1862.
GENERAL ORDERS No.

75.
I.General Jackson's command will proceed to-morrow from Ashland toward the Slash Church, and encamp at some convenient point west of the Central Railroad.

Branch's brigade, of A.P.

Hill's division, will also, to-morrow evening, take position on the Chickahominy, near Half Sink.