reiterated; and on the 19th, Butler was directed to begin his movement when Meade should move with the Army of the Potomac from Culpepper. Grant further informed him that if he could succeed in so investing Richmond as to make his left flank rest upon the James River above the city, he would join him there, if he succeeded in driving Lee back. In any case, Butler must so operate as to keep a large force in Richmond, or south of it, and away from Lee's army. Besides the written instructions, Grant had a personal interview and long conference with Butler; and both Butler and Meade distinctly understood that, in last resort, Grant's purpose was to move across the James, and take position on the south, the Vicksburg tactics slightly modified. Butler was also informed of the great-if secondary-importance of occupying Petersburg, while Richmond was his principal objective. SIGEL'S INSTRUCTIONS. General Sigel had command of our forces in Western Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, and in defence of the frontiers of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Grant directed him to organize for two co-operating expeditions southward, one from Beverly and the other from Charleston, to be commanded respectively by Generals Ord and Crook. But just at this juncture General Ord was relieved at his own request, and the expedition from Beverly was abandoned. Two columns were substituted;-one, ten thousand strong, to move under Crook, on the Kanawha; and the other, seven thousand strong, under Sigel in person, up the Shenandoah. The former was directed to take Lewisburg, and move down the Tennessee Railroad, destroying the New River Bridge, and the saltworks at Saltsville, which were of incalculable value to the enemy. We shall recur to all these projects where they take their places as distinct movements in the chronological order. Pending the manoeuvres of the principal armies under Grant against Lee and Richmond, and under Sherman against Johnston, all other organizations were actively employed in protecting our extended lines, and communication between the loyal States and the armies. CHAPTER XXVI. PREPARATIONS FOR THE FINAL CAMPAIGN. GRANT'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE ARMIES. AT WASHINGTON.-THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.-GENERAL MEADE. -THE ARMY REORGANIZED.-FIFTH CORPS-SECOND -SIXTH.-THE NINTH CORPS.-THE CHARACTER OF THE ARMY.-GRANT'S STAFF. -MEADE'S CHIEF, AND ADJUTANT-GENERAL. GRANT had left Washington shortly after receiving the appointment of Lieutenant-General, and was at Nashville at the time that Mr. Lincoln's order was issued promoting him to the supreme command. He immediately announced it to the armies, by embodying it in the following order: HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, In pursuance of the following order of the President: "EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, March 10, 1864. "Under the authority of the act of Congress to appoint to the grade of lieutenant-general in the army, of March 1, 1864, Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant, United States Army, is appointed to the command of the armies of the United States. ABRAHAM LINCOLN." I assume command of the armies of the United States. Headquarters will be in the field, and, until further orders, will be with the Army of the Potomac. There will be an office-headquarters in Washington, to which all official communications will be sent, except those from the army where the headquarters are at the date of their address. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. The following is the General Order of the War Department: GENERAL ORDERS, No. 98. WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, The President of the United States orders as follows: First. Major-General Halleck is, at his own request, relieved from duty as general-in-chief of the army, and Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant is assigned to the command of the armies of the United States. The headquarters of the army will be in Washington, and also with Lieutenant-General Grant in the field. Second. Major-General Halleck is assigned to duty in Washington, as chief of staff of the army, under the direction of the Secretary of War and the Lieutenant-General commanding. His orders will be obeyed and respected accordingly. Third. Major-General W. T. Sherman is assigned to the command of the Military Division of the Mississippi, composed of the Departments of the Ohio, the Cumberland, the Tennessee, and the Arkansas. Fourth. Major-General J. B. McPherson is assigned to the command of the Department and Army of the Tennessee. Fifth. In relieving Major-General Halleck from duty as general-in-chie", the President desires to express his approbation and thanks for the zealous manner in which the arduous and responsible duties of that position have been performed By order of the Secretary of War. D. E. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. On the 23d of March, six days afterwards, he arrived in Washington, accompanied by Mrs. Grant and his eldest son. Of his military family, only General Rawlins and three of his staff were with him. The eyes of the whole nation were upon him, and their hopes strong that he would not dictate the movements from Washington. It was, therefore, with the greatest satisfaction that both eyes and hopes followed him immediately to his new headquarters in the field. Loyal men drew a long breath when they found he was going to conduct the campaign against Lee in person. The spirits of all were raised, and the confidence of all was reposed in this one man whom God had raised up to deliver us. His movable headquarters were at once fixed with the Army of the Potomac, at |