Sept. 22, 2 P.M.
He took the paper from the outstretched hand of the aide , read it over slowly and with great care , wrote a word of explanation upon the margin , and then extended it to me . `` Commit that , word by word , to your memory ; we must run no possible risk of its ever falling into the enemy 's hands . '' I can see it now , that coarse yellow paper , -- the clear , upright penmanship , the words here and there misused and corrected , the sentence scratched out , the heavy underlining of a command , and his own strangely delicate signature at the bottom . _ `` Headquarters , Army Northern Virginia , `` In the field , near Custer House , `` Sept. 22 , 2 P.M. `` Lieut.-Gen ' l Longstreet , `` Commanding Left Wing . `` Sir : You will advance your entire force by the Connelton and Sheffield pikes , so as to reach Castle Rock with your full infantry command by daybreak , September 26th . Let this supersede all other orders . I propose to attack in force in the neighborhood of Sailor 's Ford , and shall expect you to advance promptly at the first sound of our artillery .