being my desire to put my command south of that stream if possible,

where it could procure forage before it should be compelled to fight.

The corps moved at a walk, three divisions on the same road, making a

column nearly thirteen miles in length, and marched around the right

flank of the enemy unsuspected until my rear guard , had passed

Massaponax Church. Although the column was very long, I preferred to

move it all on one road rather than to attempt combinations for

carrying the divisions to any given point by different routes.

(Editor：law)