We could not abandon any territory north of the line held by the enemy because it would lay the Northern States open to invasion.

But as the Army of the Potomac was the principal garrison for the protection of Washington even while it was moving on Lee, so all the forces to the west, and the Army of the James, guarded their special trusts when advancing from them as well as when remaining at them.

Better indeed, for they forced the enemy to guard his own lines and resources at a greater distance from ours, and with a greater force.

Little expeditions could not so well be sent out to destroy a bridge or tear up a few miles of railroad track, burn a storehouse, or inflict other little annoyances.

Accordingly I arranged for a simultaneous movement all along the line.