Howard was warned by Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, now commanding the Army of the Potomac, that his flank was "in the air", not anchored by a natural obstacle, such as a river, and that Confederate forces might be on the move in his direction.
Howard var blevet advaret af generalmajor Joseph Hooker, som nu var leder af Potomac-hæren, om, at hans flanke ”hang i luften” uden at være forankret i en naturlig forhindring såsom en flod, og at Sydstaternes styrker kunne være på vej i hans retning.