Armies

Army of the Potomac (Union)

On July 25, 1861, the Department of Washington and the Department of Northeastern Virginia were consolidated into the Military District of the Potomac and placed under the command of Maj. Gen. George Brinton McClellan.   On August 15, 1861, the Army (and Department) of the Potomac was created from it.   Maj. Gen. McClellan assumed command of it on August 20, 1861.   The Army orginally had 14 brigades composed of regular and volunteer troops, mostly from the Department of Northeastern Virginia under Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell.   McClellan commanded the Army of the Potomac until November 9, 1862.   It was commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Everett Burnside to January 26, 1863, Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker to June 28, 1863, and Maj. Gen. Geoge Gordon Meade until it was discontinued on June 28, 1865, except for a short period in January, 1865, when it was commanded by Maj. Gen. John Grubb Parke. ^{Miller 166,168}

The Army of the Potomac was the primary fighting force in the Eastern Theater. [To be continued.]

Army of the Potomac & Army of Northern Virginia (Confederate)

The Army of the Potomac was created on March 31, 1861 under the command of Brig. Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard from the troops in northern Virginia facing Washington.   It later will become the First Corps, Army of the Potomac.   It consisted of 6 brigades, unattached troops and artillery at the July 21 battle of Bull Run (Manassas).   The Army of the Shenandoah under Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston joined this force on July 20, when Johnston assumed command.   The Department Army of Northern Virginia was created from these forces on Oct. 22, 1861 under the command of Johnston.   Some of the troops from the Army of the Northwest joined this army in Feb. 1861 to bring its strength to 82,000.   On Mar. 14, 1862, the Army of the Potomac became the Army of Northern Virginia with a strength of 55,000. ^{Miller 244}

Army of the Shenandoah

Virginia state militia under Maj. Gen. Kenton Harper commanded about 2,000 Virginia volunteers at Harpers Ferry by Apr. 21, 1861.   He was replaced by Col. Thomas Jonathan Jackson on Apr. 28. as mustering in of troops continued.   On May 24, Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston superseded Jackson and by June 30, there were 10,654 troops present for duy under his command, organized as 4 brigades and cavalry.   This is the force that opposed Maj. Gen. Robert Patterson in the valley before the battle of Bull Run.   It was known then as the Army of the Shenandoah.   This army was strengthened with 8 southern regiments as it started for Bull Run (Manassas) on July 18 to take part in this famous battle, after which it became part of the Army of the Potomac. ^{Miller 240}

Army of the Northwest

Troops assigned to northwestern Virginia, who were placed under the command of Brig. Gen. R. S. Garnett on June 8, 1861, were subsequently known as the Army of the Northwest.   This army opposed Maj. Gen. George McClellan and William Rosecrans at Rich Mountain and elsewhere in the area.   After Garnett was killed on July 13, Brig. Gen. Henry Rootes Jackson assumed command, superseded a week later by Brig. Gen. W. W. Loring.   On Feb. 9, 1862, the army was divided, some regiments going to Knoxville, TN, other to Aquia District, and the remainder to the Army of the Potomac.   The forces under Brig. Gen. Edward Johnson were stationed at Camp Allegheny, near Cheat Mt. and sometimes called the Army of the Allegheny, but largely known as the Army of the Northwest.   Its strength in March, 1862 was about 4,000.   It finally came under Brig. Gen. T. J. Jackson in his Valley District of the Army of Northern Virginia. ^{Miller 242}