We had not gone far, however, when Colonel C.B.Comstock, of my staff, with the instinct of the engineer, suspecting that we were on a road that would lead us into the lines of the enemy, if he, too, should be moving, dashed by at a rapid gallop and all alone.

In a few minutes he returned and reported that Lee was moving, and that the road we were on would bring us into his lines in a short distance.

We returned to the forks of the road, left a man to indicate the right road to the head of Warren's column when it should come up, and continued our journey to Todd's Tavern, where we arrived after midnight.
My object in moving to Spottsylvania was two-fold: first, I did not want Lee to get back to Richmond in time to attempt to crush Butler before I could get there; second, I wanted to get between his army and Richmond if possible; and, if not, to draw him into the open field.

But Lee, by accident, beat us to Spottsylvania.

Our wagon trains had been ordered easterly of the roads the troops were to march upon before the movement commenced.