George G. Meade to Henry W. Halleck, September 15, 1863

If I did not misunderstand General Meade’s last dispatch, he posts you on facts as well as he can, and desires your views and those of the Government as to what he shall do. My opinion is that he should move upon Lee at once in manner of general attack, leaving to developments whether he will make it areal attack. I think this would develop Lee’s real condition and purposes better than the cavalry alone can do. Of course, my opinion is not to control you and General Meade.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, September 15, 1863—12 p. m. Major-General HALLEcK, General-in-Chief : GENERAL: Your letter of this date, per Captain Wager, has been received, read, and destroyed. In accordance with the views therein expressed, I have ordered the army to cross the Rappahannock, and shall take up a position to-morrow with my left at Stevensburg and right at Stone-House Mountain. I will then picket the Rapidan with infantry, and thus relieve the cavalry, and will endeavor, by means of the latter, to obtain more information. ;

I have no doubt Longstreet’s corps has gone south through Richmond. I have heard of no troops passing through Lynchburg from Gordonsville, but he can take the road from Petersburg. He has undoubtedly gone to re-enforce Bragg. Iam satisfied Lee has still Ewell and Hill with him; not less than 40,000 or 45,000 infantry and. over’5,000 cavalry. I hardly think he will cross the Rapidan to meet me at Culpeper, unless he is ignorant of my actual force. If he does not, it will be a difficult problem to attack him or comel him to fall back, as he has such advantages in the line of the

apidan, enabling him, by means of artillery and rifle-pits, to hold it with much less force than is required to force the passage. I will not make the attempt unless I can see my way clear, and I do not. much expect any greater success than requiring him to fall still farther back.

I am a little concerned about my line of communications, which. will be lengthened by this movement some 20 miles, and I would be: glad if the cavalry now in Washington belonging to this army could be sent out, and this arm increased by re-enforcements. I will advise you further by telegraph.

Respectfully, yours,