 With around 55 @,@ 000 soldiers , the Army of Northern Virginia was about evenly matched with the Federals , and with Lee at the helm , notably more aggressive . He wanted a final , decisive attack that would effectively scatter the Federals . Several pieces of evidence — abandoned commissary stores , wagons and arms , and the hundreds of Union stragglers and deserters his units had happened upon and captured — led Lee to conclude that the Army of the Potomac was demoralized and retreating . In all the battles up to Malvern Hill , Lee 's plans to destroy the Federal army had failed for one reason or another . Though he was undeterred , his chances for decisive victory were diminishing quickly . 
