The orders from Gen. Grant were largely discretionary: they were to destroy the Virginia Central Railroad and the James River Canal, capture Lynchburg if practicable, then either join William T. Sherman in North Carolina or return to Winchester.
Ordrerne fra general Grant var omfattende: De skulle ødelægge Virginia Central Railroad og James River and Kanawha Canal, om muligt erobre Lynchburg, og derefter enten slutte sig til William T. Sherman i North Carolina eller vende tilbage til Winchester.