Although McClellan had already planned to shift his supply base to the James River, his defeat unnerved him and he precipitously decided to abandon his advance on Richmond and begin the retreat of his entire army to the James.
Selv om McClellan allerede havde planlagt at skifte forsyningsbase til James River, gjorde nederlaget ham endnu mere nervøs, og han besluttede at opgive sit fremstød mod Richmond og begynde at trække hele sin hær tilbage til James floden.