Based on his experience fighting McClellan in the Seven Days, Robert E. Lee perceived that McClellan was no further threat to him on the Virginia Peninsula, so he felt no compulsion to keep all of his forces in direct defense of Richmond.
Baseret på sine erfaringer med McClellan i Syv dages slaget fornemmede Robert E. Lee, at McClellan ikke længere var en trussel for ham på Virginia halvøen, så han følte ikke noget behov for at bruge alle sine styrker i et direkte forsvar af Richmond.