after a series of victories in the west, the union army of the potomac launched a major offensive on the virginia peninsula. their goal was to take richmond, the confederate states' capital. the union was expecting a similar victory that could quickly end the war. in virginia, the union army now controlled the western part of the state. they established armies in fredericksburg and in the lower shenandoah valley. while the shenandoah valley was important to both sides, it was far more important to the confederacy. its geography provided a natural corridor which confederate armies could use to attack the north. it also provided a safe refuge when the same armies needed to move south again. the shenandoah valley was most important because its crops fed the confederate armies.