Invested with this authority

the plan of General Grant was to destroy Lee’s army. Washington was to be covered from raid through the Shenandoah, by General Sigel. General Butler was to menace Richmond from the S. Sherman in Georgia was to pre his campaign in that department with all vigor, that no reinforcements might be sent to the aid of Lee. General Grant with Meade’s army of 150,000 N. of the Rapid an, was to draw Lee’s army out of their intrenchments, and either destroy them, or compel them to rush from the menacing of Washington to the protection of their own capital. On the night of Tuesday, May 3, General Grant cro ed the Rapid an and entered what is called The Wilderne . By a flank movement Grant was getting into the rear of his foe.