Lee, who had developed a reputation for caution early in the war, knew he had no numerical superiority over McClellan, but he planned an offensive campaign that was the first indication of the aggressive nature he would display for the remainder of the war.
Lee, som i begyndelsen af krigen havde fået ry for forsigtighed, vidst,e at han ikke havde en talmæssig overlegenhed over McClellan, men han planlagde en offensiv kampagne, som viste den aggressive natur, som skulle kendetegne ham i resten af krigen.