The division of George Pickett started for the capital in mid-February, was followed by John Hood's, and then Longstreet himself was told to take command of the detached divisions and the Departments of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
George Pickett tog af sted mod hovedstaden i midten af februar, derefter fulgte John Hoods division, og til sidst blev Longstreet selv beordret til at tage kommandoen over de to divisioner og militærdistrikterne i North Carolina og det sydlige Virginia.