during the summer of 1862, the hopes of the union that the rebellion could be easily crushed were quickly fading. in july, major general george b. mcclellan failed in his attempt to capture the southern capital at richmond, virginia. near the end of august, the second battle of bull run was another defeat for the union. shortly after the battle, lee made his plans to invade the north. lee led his army of northern virginia into maryland on september 4, 1862. lee thought that if he took the civil war to the union states, a major victory might convince great britain and france to support the south. he also thought it would make the north sue for peace. this would insure the confederate states of america could remain an independent country.