Hooker's initial plan was to seize Richmond instead, but Lincoln immediately vetoed that idea, so the Army of the Potomac began to march north, attempting to locate Lee's Army of Northern Virginia as it slipped down the Shenandoah Valley into Pennsylvania.
Hookers oprindelige plan var at erobre Richmond i stedet, men Lincoln afviste straks den ide, så Army of the Potomac begyndte at marchere mod nord og forsøgte at lokalisere Lees Army of Northern Virginia, da den gik gennem Shenandoah dalen ind i Pennsylvania.