On coming in contact with the enemy General
Humphreys immediately made dispositions for
attack, and pressed a heavy skirmish line close
up to develop his position. He found General
Lee's whole army on the crest of a long slope of
ground, intrenched sufficiently for cover, and
with artillery in place. General Fitz Lee's cav-
alry command covered the rear toward Farmville,
supported by General Heth's infantry. General




JETERSVILLE TO APPOMATTOX, 261

* Humphreys ordered General Barlow up from
his position opposite Farmville, and informed
General Meade of the fact that he had come up
with and was confronting General Lee's whole
remaining force ; and suggested that a corps
should attack from the direction of Farmville at
the same time that h3 attacked from the oppo-
site direction. General Meade sent directions
to General Gibbon with the Twenty - fourth
Corps, and General Wright with the Sixth Corps,
both of which were at or near Farmville, to
cross the river there and attack jointly with
the Second Corps. Neither General Meade nor
General Humphreys were aware that the river
at Farmville was impassable.
General Badeau places General Grant in per-
sonal command at Farmville at this juncture,
and says : " He at once ordered Crook to ford
the river and proceed to the support of Hum-
phreys, and the cavalry waded belly-deep across
the Appomattox. Next a re-assuring message was
sent to Humphreys : * Your note of 1.20 p. m.
to Major General Meade is just seen. Mott's
[Barlow's] division of your corps and Crook's
cavalry are both across the river at this point.
The Sixth and Twenty-fourth corps are here.
