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Nobody in the South thought they could beat, conquer, ruin or occupy the North. That is silly. The North was so much stronger industrially speaking and also had three times the citizenry. Do you think the Lee, Davis and Confederate Congress weren't aware of those dismal facts?

The only hope for the South was stalemate. You've been smoking something.

central_va: "The only hope for the South was stalemate. You've been smoking something."

When Lee invaded Union Maryland in 1862 he was seeking victory, not "stalemate".
When Lee invaded Union Pennsylvania in 1863 he was seeking victory, not "stalemate".
When Confederates under Sibley invaded Union New Mexico Territory in 1861 they were seeking victory, not "stalemate".
When Confederates fought with Indians in Union Oklahoma Territory they were seeking victory, not "stalemate".
Confederate armies in Union Missouri and Union Kentucky were seeking victory, not "stalemate".
When RE Lee commanded Confederate forces in Union West Virginia in 1861 he was seeking victory, not "stalemate".
When Jefferson Davis prepared to invade Union Illinois in 1862 he was seeking victory, not "stalemate".
As late as 1864, when John Bell Hood's Confederate army attacked Union forces in Tennessee, they were still seeking decisive victory, not "stalemate".

Point is: nobody fights for "stalemate".
Especially early-on Confederates hoped to win enough battles to call any peace settlement a decisive victory.
That's simply indisputable.