General Robert E. Lee's movement north shifted the war out of the central counties of the Old Dominion into the Shenandoah Valley, across the Potomac, and beyond. The first installment carried the armies through the defining clash at Battle of Brandy Station, after which Lee pushed his corps into the Shenandoah Valley and achieved victory at Second Winchester. Major General Joseph Hooker used his cavalry to probe the mountain gaps, triggering a series of consequential mounted actions. The current volume completes the march to Gettysburg and details the actions and whereabout of each of the armies.

The maneuvering prompted General Hooker to move his Army of the Potomac north after his opponent and eventually above the Potomac, where he loses command to Major General George G. Meade. Jeb Stuart begins his consequential ride that strips away the eyes and ears of the Virginia army. Civilians and soldiers alike struggle with the reality of a mobile campaign and the logistical needs of the armies.

Untold numbers of reports, editorials, news articles, letters, and diaries describe the passage of the long martial columns, the thunderous galloping of hooves, and the looting, fighting, suffering, and dying. Mingus and Wittenberg mined hundreds of primary accounts, newspapers, and other sources to produce this powerful and gripping saga.