Annotation
[1] ADfS, DLC-RTL; LS, IHi. General Meade telegraphed Halleck at 3 P.M. on July 28:
``I am making every effort to prepare this army for an advance. . . . I am in hopes to commence the movement to-morrow, when I shall first throw over a cavalry force to feel for the enemy, and cross the infantry as fast as possible. . . .
``No reliable intelligence of the position of the enemy has been obtained. He pickets the Rappahannock from Fredericksburg to Rappahannock Station. These pickets, however, seem to be mere `lookouts,' to warn him of my approach.
``Contradictory reports . . . place the main body, some at Gordonsville, others say at Staunton and Charlottesville, and some assert the retreat has been extended to Richmond. My own expectation is that he will be found behind the line of the Rapidan. . . .
``P.S. 4 p.m.---A scout just returned . . . reports the enemy have repaired the railroad bridge across the Rapidan, and are using the road to Culpeper Court-House; that Lee has been re-enforced by D. H. Hill, reported with 10,000 men, and that he intends to make a stand at Culpeper or in its vicinity.'' (OR, I, XXVII, I, 103-104).
At 10 A.M., Halleck communicated Lincoln's note to Meade (ibid., p. 105).