Please advance your pickets for purposes of observation as far as may be safe, in order to obtain timely information of their approach.
(Signed) JAMES H.VAN ALLEN, _Brigadier-General and Aide-de-camp_.
For what subsequently occurred Hooker was doubtless highly censurable, but it was not unreasonable for him to suppose, after giving these orders to a corps commander, that they would be carried out, and that minor combats far out on the roads would precede and give ample notice of Jackson's approach in time to reinforce that part of the line.
When the enemy were observed, Sickles went out with Clark's battery and an infantry support to shell their train.

This had the effect of driving them off of that road on to another which led in the same direction, but was less exposed, as it went through the woods.
A second reconnoissance was sent to see if the movement continued.
Sickles then obtained Hooker's consent to start out with two divisions to attack Jackson's corps in flank and cut if off from the main body.
Sickles started on this mission at 1 P.M.with Birney's division, preceded by Randolph's battery.

As Jackson might turn on him with his whole force, Whipple's division of his own corps reinforced his left, and Barlow's brigade of the Eleventh Corps his right.
He was greatly delayed by the swamps and the necessity of building bridges, but finally crossed Lewis Creek and reached the road upon which Jackson was marching.

He soon after, by the efforts of Berdan's sharpshooters, surrounded and captured the 23d Georgia regiment, which had been left to watch the approaches from our lines.

Information obtained from prisoners showed the Jackson could not be retreating, and that his object was to strike a blow somewhere.
Birney's advance, and the capture of the 23d Georgia were met by corresponding movements on the part of the enemy.