Why did General Robert E. Lee raid Maryland in 1862?

Answer 1

General Lee hoped to swing Maryland from its Boarder State status to seceding, and to put pressure on Washington, possibly frightening Congress into suing for peace. If Maryland joined the Confederacy, Washington DC would be surrounded. Lincoln would then be forces to move the US capital north, possible to Philadelphia. He also believed this would aid in the Confederate goal of having Great Britain and France to mediate a peace settlement between the Union and the Confederacy.

Answer 2

To try to invade Pennsylvania in order to impress the British and gain recognition and military aid.

NEW RESPONDENT

The reason why Lee wanted to invade Maryland was clearly and in detail explained in his letter adressed to Jefferson Davis on Sept.3, 1862, as follows:

QUOTE

Headquarters Alexandria & Leesburg Road

Near Dranesville, Virginia

September 3, 1862

Mr. President:

The present seems the most propitious time since the commencement of the war for the Confederate Army to enter Maryland. The two grand armies of the United States that have been operating in Virginia, though now united, are much weakened and demoralized. Their new levies, of which I understand sixty thousand men have already been posted in Washington, are not yet organized, and will take some time to prepare for the field. If it is ever desired to give material aid to Maryland and afford her an opportunity of throwing off the oppression to which she is now subject, this would seem the most favorable. After the enemy had disappeared from the vicinity of Fairfax Court House and taken the road to Alexandria & Washington, I did not think it would be advantageous to follow him farther. I had no intention of attacking him in his fortifications, and am not prepared to invest them. If I had possessed the necessary munitions, I should be unable to supply provisions for the troops. I therefore determined while threatening the approaches to Washington, to draw the troops into Loudon, where forage and some provisions can be obtained, menace their possession of the Shenandoah Valley, and if I found practicable, to cross into Maryland.

The purpose, if discovered, will have the effect of carrying the enemy north of the Potomac, and if prevented, will not result in much evil. The army is not properly equipped for an invasion of an enemy's territory. It lacks much of the material of war, is feeble in transportation, the animals being much reduced, and the men are poorly provided with clothes, and in thousands of instances are destitute of shoes. Still we cannot afford to be idle, and though weaker than our opponents in men and military equipments, must endeavor to harass, if we cannot destroy them. I am aware that the movement is attended with much risk, yet I do not consider success impossible, and shall endeavor to guard it from loss. As long as the army of the enemy are employed on this frontier I have no fears for the safety of Richmond, yet I earnestly recommend defence, by land and water, in the most perfect condition. A respectable force can be collected to defend its approaches by land, and the steamer Richmond I hope is now ready to clear the river of hostile vessels. Should Genl [Braxton] Bragg find it impracticable to operate to advantage on his present frontier, his army, after leaving sufficient garrisons, could be advantageously employed in opposing the overwhelming numbers which it seems to be the intention of the enemy now to concentrate in Virginia. I have already been told by prisoners that some of [General Don Carlos] Buell's cavalry have been joined to Genl Pope's army, and have reason to believe that the whole of McClellan's, the larger portions of Burnside's & Cox's and a portion of [General David] Hunter's, are united to it. What occasions me most concern is the fear of getting out of ammunition. I beg you will instruct the Ordnance Department to spare no pains in manufacturing a sufficient amount of the best kind, & to be particular in preparing that for the artillery, to provide three times as much of the long range ammunition as of that for smooth bore or short range guns.

The points to which I desire the ammunition to be forwarded will be made known to the Department in time. If the Quartermaster Department can furnish any shoes, it would be the greatest relief.

We have entered upon September, and the nights are becoming cool.

I have the honor to be with high respect, your ob't servant

R. E. Lee

UNQUOTE

Answer 3

Robert E. Lee's plans were to establish a position in Maryland whereby he would occupy a flank position threatening the flank and rear of any Union advance towards Richmond. He informed Confederate President Jefferson Davis that by crossing east of the Blue Ridge mountains both Baltimore and Washington DC would be threatened. This, he believed would ensure the withdrawal of Union troops north of the Potomac River. Even if he was forced back into Virginia, Lee intended to occupy a position that would either place him on the flank of the Union army should it move on Richmond. With that said, Lee's intention or his plans were to remain in Maryland in the Fall of 1862 and only be driven away by a frontal assault on his army. He would, however, negate any attack with his favorable defensive position that he would himself choose.

Answer 4

General Robert E. Lee led the Army of Northern Virginia into the raid of Maryland in 1862 for several reasons. He hoped that a successful battle there would bring pro-Southern recruits into the Confederate army and even perhaps turn the state into a Confederate one. He also had hopes that either England or France might officially recognize the South as an independent nation and create a movement to have them propose a peace agreement with the Union that favored the South. And, if Maryland should secede, Washington DC would be surrounded by slave states and forced to abandon the city. Also, his raid was part of a two pronged Souther assault on the North, as Southern troops had launched an attack on Kentucky with the same motives.

Answer 5

To convince the British that the Confederates were capable of winning the war, and that they were worth supporting.