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At midnight on May 3d Grant began to cross the Rapidan at Ely's and Germanna fords, some distance below Lee's right, but at the very points Lee had predicted, a few days before, in a conference with his officers.
The Army of the Potomac was now consolidated into four corps-Second, Fifth, and Sixth-commanded by Hancock, Warren, and Sedgwick, and the Ninth under Burnside.
(Under the consolidation the First and Third Corps disappeared.) When the sun sank to rest on the 4th, Grant had crossed his whole army, and on the morning of the 5th confidently started across the Wilderness in a southerly direction to force Lee to accept battle.
Crossing the river without opposition relieved his mind from serious apprehensions; but it was no part of Lee's plan to resist him there.
Indeed, he generally gave plenty of room on his side of a stream for his opponent to form, hoping to make it as difficult for him to get back as it was easy for him to get over.
It is safe to say he would never have formed his troops at the water edge of the Bull Run fords as Beauregard did at the first Manassas, but upon commanding positions back, with only sufficient force to delay and give notice of the crossing.
Had Beauregard done this, he would not have had his left turned, for the opportune arrival of Johnston alone gave him the battle.
Grant's move did not, as he expected, compel Lee to fall back toward Richmond and fight a defensive battle; but hardly had he filled the Wilderness with men as thick as “raging locusts” than Lee marched to meet and attack him.
Early on the morning of May 4th he bade adieu to the three or four tents near Orange Court House which had been the winter home of himself and personal staff, and with Ewell's corps, two detached brigades, and two divisions of Hill's corps, with artillery and cavalry, marched by the most direct course for Grant's army.
Longstreet, who was near Gordonsville then with two divisions (Pickett's was south of James River), was directed to follow, as well as Anderson's division of Hill's corps which was on Rapidan Heights.
On the 5th, in two columns, Lee advanced by the old turnpike and plank roads, which, leading east from Orange Court
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