Don't Bring On a General Engagement

The war had been going on since 1861. Even though Lee won significant battles with the Union, not one inch of ground was put into the Confederate inventory. Also becoming clear was that the Confederates could not support a long war. They didn’t have the manpower that the north had. Lee thought that by invading the north he could prolong the war, capture the capital of Washington City and force the Union to sue for place.