His goal was to reach the major Northern states of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and cut off the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad line that supplied Washington, D.C. His movements would threaten Washington and Baltimore, so as to "annoy and harass the enemy."
Hans mål var at trænge ind i de vigtige Nordstater Maryland og Pennsylvania og afskære Baltimore and Ohio Railroad jernbanen, som forsynede Washington, D.C. Hans manøvrer ville udgøre en trussel mod Washington og Baltimore og herved "irritere og genere fjenden."