``While seeking to establish as soon as possible a communication between your left wing and the right wing of General McClellan, you will hold yourself always in such position as to cover the capital of the nation against a sudden dash of any large body of the rebel forces.
``General McClellan will be furnished with a copy of these instructions, and will be directed to hold himself in readiness to establish communication with your left wing and to prevent the main body of the enemy's army from leaving Richmond and throwing itself upon your column before a junction of the two armies is effected.
``A copy of his instructions in regard to the employment of your force is annexed.'' (OR, I, XI, I, 28).
The order which Stanton issued to McClellan, as indicated by Meigs' note accompanying Lincoln's autograph addition to the instructions to McDowell, was prepared at the same consolation, but may have been issued a day later. In the Official Records it is dated as follows:
``Washington, May 18 [17]---2 P.M.
``General: Your dispatch to the President asking re-enforcements has been received and carefully considered.
``The President is not willing to uncover the capital entirely, and it is believed that even if this were prudent, it would require more time to effect a junction between your army and that of the Rappahannock by the way of the Potomac and York rivers than by a land march. In order, therefore, to increase the strength of the attack upon Richmond at the earliest moment General McDowell has been ordered to march upon that city by the shortest route. He is ordered---keeping himself always in position to save the capital from all possible attack---so to operate as to put his left wing in communication with your right wing, and you are instructed to co-operate, so as to establish this communication as soon as possible, by extending your right wing to the north of Richmond. It is believed that this communication can be safely established either north or south of the Pamunkey River. In any event you will be able to prevent the main body of the enemy's forces from leaving Richmond and falling in overwhelming force upon General McDowell. He will move with between 35,000 and 40,000 men.
``A copy of the instructions to General McDowell are with this. The specific task assigned to his command has been to provide against any danger to the capital of the nation.
``At your earnest call for re-enforcements he is sent forward to co-operated in the reduction of Richmond, but charged, in attempting this, not to uncover the city of Washington; and you will give no order, either before or after your junction, which can put him out of position to cover this city. You and he will communicate with each other by telegraph or otherwise as frequently as may be necessary for efficient co-operation. When General McDowell is in position on your right his supplies must be drawn from West Point, and you will instruct your staff officers to be prepared to supply him by that route.
``The President desires that General McDowell retain the command of the Department of the Rappahannock and of the forces with which he moves forward.''(Ibid., p. 27).