Overture. "The most propitious time": fate in Lee's hands, September 3, 1862 -- 1. "He who makes the assault": Confederate strategy from Sumter to seven pines, April 1861-May 1862 -- Confederate war aims -- Confederate military policy -- Confederate grand strategy -- The first phase of the war, April-October 1861 -- The second phase of the war, November 1861-April/May 1862 -- The start of phase three, April-May 1862 -- 2. "It would change the character of the war": the ascent of Lee, to June 1, 1862 -- Lee's running start -- Every victory should bring us nearer -- Easy fighting and heavy victories -- They ought always to be turned -- 3. "How do we get at those people?" Lee's strategy in the seven days campaign, June 1-July 2, 1862 -- Lee plans to turn McClellan, June 1-16 -- Lee concentrates his army -- Lee wrestles with grand tactics, June 4-24 -- The seven days, June 25-July 2 -- 4. "The enemy is congregating about us": Lee in strategic stalemate, July 2-August 9, 1862 -- Lee loses the initiative, July 2-5 -- Concentration and estrays -- Threat from the North: strategy, July 6-13 -- Lee marches in place, July 14-August 4 -- The crisis crests, August 5-9 -- 5. "Richmond was never so safe": Lee evolves a border strategy, August 9-26, 1862 -- The Longstreet Gamble, August 9-14 -- The Rapidan Stall, August 15-20 -- The Rappahannock waltz, August 21-24 -- Lee plots a wider turn, August 24 -- The turning movement launched, August 25-26 -- 6. "If we expect to reap advantage": Lee pursues total victory, August 27-31, 1862 -- Jackson the Raider, August 26-27 -- Jackson the aggressor, August 28 -- Lee hesitates, August 29 -- Combat finds Lee, August 30 -- Lee returns to maneuver to finish, August 31 -- Intermezzo. "The war was thus transferred from interior to frontier": The Chantilly fumble, September 1, 1862.