Philip H. Sheridan to Ulysses S. Grant, March 23, 1865

Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant, Commanding Armies of the United States :

GENERAL: Your communication of the 21st instant, by hands of Major Ord, was received last night. I will certainly move from here on Saturday morning, the 25th instant. I intended to go via Jones’ Bridge and Charles City Court-House and sent a communication to you yesterday by Captain Sheridan to that effect. The road via Jones’ Bridge and Charles City Court-House is good, and the difference in distance will only be about four miles, so that it will take about the same length of time to make the trip. If you wish me to go via Long Bridge telegraph me at Yorktown. By going via Jones’ Bridge I can make two crossings and you need not move any troops or send any pontoon trains. The horses are being shod night and day. No transportation has been detained here; the boats have been loaded day and night and notification has been sent to General Ingalls of the boats leaving. I think they may have been detained by the storm, and General Ingalls did not get the telegrams on account of the wires being down.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,