Army of Northern Virginia - wikipedia Army of Northern Virginia This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( May 2012 ) Army of Northern Virginia The flag of the Army of Northern Virginia during the command of Robert E. Lee or `` Robert E. Lee Headquarters Flag '' Active October 22, 1861 -- Most units deactivated January -- April 1862 ; army dissolved April 12, 1865 Country Confederate States Branch Confederate Army Role Primary Confederate Army in Eastern Theater Garrison / HQ Richmond, Virginia Engagements American Civil War Commanders Notable commanders P.G.T. Beauregard Joseph E. Johnston Gustavus Woodson Smith Robert E. Lee The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was also the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac. Contents 1 Origin 2 Command under Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard 3 Command under General J.E. Johnston 3.1 Corps organization under Johnston 1861 3.2 Wing organization under Johnston 1862 4 Temporary command under Major General G.W. Smith 5 Command under General R.E. Lee 5.1 Corps organization under Lee 6 Campaigns and battles 7 Organization of the Army 7.1 Department of Northern Virginia, October 22, 1861 7.2 Organization April 30, 1862 7.3 Organization at the setout of the Northern Virginia Campaign 7.4 Organization at the beginning of the Maryland Campaign 7.5 Organization from May 30, 1863 until April 9, 1865 8 See also 9 Notes 10 References 11 Further reading 12 External links Origin Army of Northern Virginia Battle Flag, designed by William Porcher Miles The name Army of Northern Virginia referred to its primary area of operation, as did most Confederate States Army names. The Army originated as the ( Confederate ) Army of the Potomac, which was organized on June 20, 1861, from all operational forces in northern Virginia. On July 20 and July 21, the Army of the Shenandoah and forces from the District of Harpers Ferry were added. Units from the Army of the Northwest were merged into the Army of the Potomac between March 14 and May 17, 1862. The Army of the Potomac was renamed Army of Northern Virginia on March 14. The Army of the Peninsula was merged into it on April 12, 1862. Robert E. Lee 's biographer, Douglas p. Freeman, asserts that the army received its final name from Lee when he issued orders assuming command on June 1, 1862. However, Freeman does admit that Lee corresponded with Joseph E. Johnston, his predecessor in army command, prior to that date and referred to Johnston 's command as the Army of Northern Virginia. Part of the confusion results from the fact that Johnston commanded the Department of Northern Virginia ( as of October 22, 1861 ) and the name Army of Northern Virginia can be seen as an informal consequence of its parent department 's name. Jefferson Davis and Johnston did not adopt the name, but it is clear that the organization of units as of March 14 was the same organization that Lee received on June 1, and thus it is generally referred to today as the Army of Northern Virginia, even if that is correct only in retrospect. In addition to Virginians, it included regiments from all over the Confederacy, some from as far away as Georgia, Texas and Arkansas. One of the most well known was the Texas Brigade, made up of the 1st, 4th, and 5th Texas, and the 3rd Arkansas, which distinguished themselves in numerous battles, such as during their fight for the Devil 's Den at the Battle of Gettysburg. Command under brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard The first commander of the Army of Northern Virginia was General P.G.T. Beauregard ( under its previous name, the Confederate Army of the Potomac ) from June 20 to July 20, 1861. His forces consisted of six brigades, with various militia and artillery from the former Department of Alexandria. During his command, Gen. Beauregard is noted for creating the battle flag of the army, which came to be the primary battle flag for all corps and forces under the Army of Northern Virginia. The flag was designed due to confusion during battle between the Confederate `` Stars and Bars '' flag and the flag of the United States. Beauregard continued commanding these troops as the new First Corps under Gen. J.E. Johnston as it was joined by the Army of the Shenandoah on July 20, 1861, when command was relinquished to General J.E. Johnston. The following day this army fought its first major engagement in the First Battle of Manassas. Command under General J.E. Johnston Gen. J.E. Johnston With the merging of the Army of the Shenandoah, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston took command from July 20, 1861, until May 31, 1862. Corps organization under Johnston 1861 First Corps -- commanded by General P.G.T. Beauregard Second Corps -- commanded by Maj. Gen. G.W. Smith Wing organization under Johnston 1862 Left Wing -- commanded by Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill Center Wing -- commanded by Maj. Gen. James Longstreet Right Wing -- commanded by Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder Reserve -- commanded by Maj. Gen. G.W. Smith Under the command of Johnston, the Army immediately entered into the First Battle of Manassas. On October 22, 1861, the Department of Northern Virginia was officially created, officially ending the Army of the Potomac. The Department comprised three districts : Aquia District, Potomac District, and the Valley District. In April 1862, the Department was expanded to include the Departments of Norfolk and the Peninsula ( of Virginia ). Gen. Johnston was eventually forced into maneuvering the Army southward to the defenses of Richmond during the opening of the Peninsula Campaign, where it conducted delay and defend tactics until Johnston was severely wounded at the Battle of Seven Pines. During the months after the First Battle of Bull Run, Johnson organized his Shenandoah Army and Beauregard 's Potomac Army into two divisions under a unified command with Gustavus Smith and James Longstreet as division commanders. Beauregard quarreled with Johnson and was transferred to the Western theater over the winter months. Jackson was sent to the Shenandoah Valley in October 1861, initially with his own old Stonewall Brigade and later with two other brigades from Western Virginia. Several newly arrived brigades were added to Johnson 's army in late 1861 - early 1862. When the Peninsula Campaign began, Johnson took his army down to the Richmond environs where it was merged with several smaller Confederate commands, including a division led by D.H. Hill as well as Benjamin Huger 's Department of Norfolk, John Magruder 's Army of the Peninsula, and miscellaneous brigades and regiments pulled from various Southern states. Richard Ewell was elevated to division command in the spring of 1862 and sent to join Jackson in the Valley. On May 27, an additional new division was created and led by A.P. Hill consisting of several new brigades from the Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia, soon augmented with James Archer 's brigade from Smith 's division. Temporary command under major General G.W. Smith Maj. Gen. Gustavus Woodson Smith commanded the ANV on May 31, 1862, following the wounding of Gen. J.E. Johnston during the Battle of Seven Pines. With Smith seemingly having a nervous breakdown, President Jefferson Davis drafted orders to place Gen. Robert E. Lee in command the following day. Command under General R.E. Lee General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia On June 1, 1862, its most famous and final leader, General Robert E. Lee, took command after Johnston was wounded, and Smith suffered what may have been a nervous breakdown, at the Battle of Seven Pines. During the Seven Days Battles, Lee had eleven separate divisions under his command, aside from the original core army that had been led by Joe Johnson, there were assorted other commands from the Richmond area and North Carolina as well as Jackson 's Valley Army. The inexperience and poor coordination of the army led to the failure of Lee 's plans to destroy the Army of the Potomac. As soon as the Seven Days Battles were over, Lee reorganized his army into two corps commanded by Longstreet and Jackson. He removed several generals who had turned in a less - than - inspiring performance in the Seven Days Battles, including John Magruder and Benjamin Huger. In the Northern Virginia Campaign and Second Bull Run, Lee had eight divisions between the two corps of Longstreet and Jackson -- the former had the divisions of John Hood, Richard Anderson, Cadmus Wilcox, James Kemper, and David R. Jones and the latter had the divisions of A.P. Hill, Richard Ewell, and Charles Winder. Some divisions, including D.H. Hill 's, were left on the Peninsula and did not participate in this campaign. The army was also joined for the Northern Virginia and Maryland Campaigns by Nathan G. Evans 's independent South Carolina brigade. During the Maryland Campaign, D.H. Hill rejoined the main army along with Lafayette McLaws, commanding part of John Magruder 's old command. In addition, Robert Ransom commanded two brigades from the Department of North Carolina. At Antietam, Longstreet commanded the divisions of Anderson, McLaws, Jones, Hood, and Ransom while Jackson had the divisions of John R. Jones, Alexander Lawton, A.P. Hill, and D.H. Hill. During the Fredericksburg Campaign, Longstreet had the divisions of Anderson, Hood, McLaws, Ransom, and George Pickett, who had just returned to action after months of convalescence from a wound sustained during the Seven Days Battles. Jackson had the divisions of D.H. Hill, A.P. Hill, Jubal Early, and Elisha Paxton. Robert Ransom 's division returned to North Carolina after Fredericksburg. D.H. Hill also departed after quarreling with Lee. In the Chancellorsville Campaign, Longstreet was sent with Pickett and Hood to the Richmond area. His other two divisions remained with the main army ; they were directly commanded by Lee during this time. Robert Rodes took over D.H. Hill 's division. `` Stonewall '' Jackson was mortally wounded during the Battle of Chancellorsville. Afterwards, Lee divided the army into three corps with three divisions each. Longstreet got the divisions of Pickett, McLaws, and Hood, A.P. Hill got the divisions of Harry Heth, William D. Pender, and Richard Anderson, and Richard Ewell ( returning to action after almost a year of recovering from the loss of a leg at Second Bull Run ) got the divisions of Robert Rodes, Jubal Early, and Edward `` Allegheny '' Johnson. In the first year of his command, Lee had two principal subordinate commanders. The right wing of the army was under the command of Lt. Gen. James Longstreet and the left wing under Lt. Gen. Thomas J. `` Stonewall '' Jackson. These wings were redesignated as the First Corps ( Longstreet ) and Second Corps ( Jackson ) on November 6, 1862. Following Jackson 's death after the Battle of Chancellorsville, Lee reorganized the army into three corps on May 30, 1863, under Longstreet, Lt. Gen. Richard p. Ewell, and Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill. A Fourth Corps, under Lt. Gen. Richard H. Anderson, was organized on October 19, 1864 ; on April 8, 1865, it was merged into the Second Corps. The commanders of the first three corps changed frequently in 1864 and 1865. The cavalry, organized into a division on August 17, 1862, and into a corps on September 9, 1863, was commanded by Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart until May 11, 1864 ( the day he was mortally wounded ). The cavalry corps was then temporarily split into divisions, but was merged again on August 11, 1864 under command of Lt. Gen. Wade Hampton III. The Reserve Artillery was commanded by Brig. Gen. William N. Pendleton for most of the war. After taking over command in mid-1862, Lee began preparing to lead the Army of Northern Virginia for the first time. However, his aggressiveness to attack the Union led to the loss of many troops especially at the Battle of Antietam, which ended up being a turning point in the war for the Union. After the costly victories during the Seven Days Battles and at Second Manassas in August 1862, Lee had now lost a total of 30,000 of his approximately 92,000 troops within three months of becoming the Confederate 's top general. Lee then planned to take his troops north into Maryland to destroy a critical railroad bridge across the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg in a letter written to President Davis. Lee even questioned his own plan, as he wrote, `` I am aware that the movement is attended with much risk, yet I do not consider success impossible... '' In addition, historians question Lee 's aggressiveness to move his army to Maryland. `` There can be no sort of doubt that Lee underestimated the exhaustion of his army after Second Manassas. That is, in reality, the major criticism of the Maryland operation : he carried worn - out men across the Potomac. '' His men were also underarmed and underfed, so the journey to Maryland added to the overall exhaustion. Once Lee arrived in Maryland and was preparing for Antietam, he made another controversial decision. Against the advice from General Longstreet and Jackson, Lee split his troops into four parts to attack the Union from different fronts. Clearly outnumbered and opposed to Lee 's plan, Longstreet stated, `` General, I wish we could stand still and let the damned Yankees come to us ! '' As the fighting played out on September 17, 1862, known as the bloodiest single - day battle in American history, the battles at Dunker Church and Burnside 's Bridge proved to be too much for Lee and his Confederate army. Luckily for Lee, the arrival of A.P. Hill 's troops and the mixture of McClellan 's and Burnside 's sluggishness, saved Lee 's Army of Northern Virginia and allowed them to barely hold off the Union in Maryland. Corps organization under Lee Although the Army of Northern Virginia swelled and shrank over time, its units of organization consisted primarily of corps, earlier referred to as `` wings '' or `` commands '' : First Corps ( Longstreet 's Corps ) Second Corps ( Jackson 's Corps in 1862 / 1863 ) Third Corps ( A.P. Hill 's Corps ) Fourth Corps, ( Anderson 's Corps ) Cavalry Corps Campaigns and Battles The Army fought in a number of campaigns and battles, including : Campaign Year Army strength at the beginning of campaign Major Battles Peninsula Campaign 1862 55,633 Seven Pines ( Fair Oaks ) Seven Days Battles 1862 approx. 92,000 Gaines ' Mill, Malvern Hill Northern Virginia Campaign 1862 approx. 54,000 Second Bull Run ( Second Manassas ) Maryland Campaign 1862 approx. 60,000 Antietam ( Sharpsburg ) Fredericksburg Campaign 1862 approx. 75,000 Fredericksburg Chancellorsville Campaign 1863 approx. 75,000 Chancellorsville Gettysburg Campaign 1863 75,054 Gettysburg Bristoe Campaign 1863 55,221 Mine Run Campaign 1863 approx. 50,000 Overland Campaign 1864 62,230 Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor Richmond -- Petersburg Campaign 1864 -- 1865 82,633 Siege of Petersburg, including the Battle of the Crater Appomattox Campaign 1865 around 50,000 Five Forks, Battle of Appomattox Court House On April 9, 1865, the Army of Northern Virginia surrendered to the Army of the Potomac at Appomattox Court House, effectively ending the Civil War, with General Lee signing the papers of surrender to General Ulysses p. Grant. The day after his surrender, Lee issued his Farewell Address to the Army of Northern Virginia. Organization of the Army Department of Northern Virginia, October 22, 1861 Battleflag made out of silk from November 1861 The Military Department of Northern Virginia was embattled on October 22, 1861. The department initially consisted of three districts under the overall command of General Joseph E. Johnston. Defence district Division Brigade Commander / Officers in charge Potomac General P.G.T. Beauregard 1. Division Major General Earl Van Dorn 2. Division Major General Gustavus W. Smith 3. Division Major General James Longstreet 4. Division Major General Edmund Kirby Smith Aquia Major General Theophilus H. Holmes French 's Brigade Brigadier General Samuel Gibbs French 2. Brigade Brigadier General John G. Walker Valley Major General Thomas J. Jackson Garnett 's Brigade Brigadier General Richard B. Garnett Ashby 's Cavalry Colonel Turner Ashby On February 28, 1862, there were 47,617 soldiers present for duty to the military district. The Cavalry Brigade was provided from the Potomac 's Military District and under direct control from the Defense District. The artillery formed an Artillery Corps with 109 cannons. Organization April 30, 1862 Battleflag made of wool, 1862 The Army of Northern Virginia was established on March 14, 1862, again under Johnston. Though the military department stayed existent its role changed into an administrative division for most of the war. Wing of the Army Division Brigade Commander / Officers in charge Left wing Major General John B. Magruder McLaws ' Division Brigade General Lafayette McLaws Toombs ' Division Brigadier General Robert A. Toombs Ewell 's Brigade Colonel B. p. Ewell Center Major General James Longstreet A.P. Hill 's Brigade Brigadier General Ambrose P. Hill Anderson 's Brigade Brigadier General Richard H. Anderson Colston 's Brigade Brigadier General Raleigh E. Colston Pickett 's Brigade Brigadier General George E. Pickett Wilcox 's Brigade Brigadier General Cadmus M. Wilcox Pryor 's Brigade Colonel G.A. Winston Left Emplacement Major General Daniel H. Hill Early 's Division Brigadier General Jubal A. Early Early 's Brigade Brigadier General Jubal A. Early Rodes ' Brigade Brigadier General Robert E. Rodes Rains ' Division Brigadier General Gabriel J. Rains Rains ' Brigade Brigadier General Gabriel J. Rains Featherston 's Brigade Brigadier General Winfield p. Featherston Gloucester Point Colonel Crump Reserve Major General Gustavus W. Smith Whiting 's Brigade Brigadier General W.H.C. Whiting Hood 's Brigade Brigadier General John B. Hood Colston 's Brigade Brigadier General Raleigh E. Colston Hampton 's Brigade Colonel Wade Hampton Anderson 's Brigade Brigadier General Samuel R. Anderson Pettigrew 's Brigade Brigadier General James J. Pettigrew Cavalry Brigade Brigadier General J.E.B. Stuart At the outset of the Peninsula Campaign the Army of Northern Virginia had more than 55,633 soldiers. The cannon was assigned to the brigades, as well as the Reserve 's artillery. Nominally, Jackson 's Corps in the Shenandoah Valley, was subordinate to the Army. Since Jackson led his own campaign at the time of the Peninsula Campaign and was not under Lee 's direct command this overview does not include his three divisions. The Army 's organization soon proved inept in the course of the Peninsula Campaign. The corps - like structure was rearranged before the Seven Days Battle to converge with the requirements of actual command. In the course of this battle the Army featured two Corps ; Jackson 's and Magruder 's, with four and three divisions respectively, and three actual divisions with five to six brigades. Also the Defense District of North Carolina answered directly to the Army as well as the Reserve Artillery with six battalions and the cavalry with six regiments. The army 's complete strength was about 90,000 soldiers. The exact strength can not be determined, because only a few notes for actual provisionings survived. The estimated strength results, if not explicitly noted, from in - battle dispatches. Organization at the setout of the Northern Virginia Campaign The Seven Days Battle showed the Army still suffered from insufficient organization in army command. General Lee subdivided the army again, but this time only with single commands. He introduced a corps - like structure of command, and as an intermediate army management he named the left and right wing. The Army was organized on August 28, 1862 as follows. Wing of the Army / Army troops Division Brigade / Combat support Commander / Officers in charge Right Wing 3 Artillery Battalions Major General James Longstreet Anderson 's Division 3 Brigades Major General Richard H. Anderson Jones 's Division 3 Brigades Brigadier General David Rumph Jones Wilcox 's Division 3 Brigades / 2 Artillery Batteries Brigadier General Cadmus M. Wilcox Hood 's Division 2 Brigades / 1 Artillery Battalion Brigadier General John B. Hood Kemper 's Division 3 Brigades Brigadier General James L. Kemper Evan 's Brigade / 1 Artillery Battery Brigadier General Nathan George Evans Left Wing Major General Thomas J. Jackson Jackson 's Division 4 Brigades / 1 Artillery Regiment Brigadier General William B. Taliaferro Hill 's Light Division 6 Brigades / 1 Artillery Regiment Major General Ambrose P. Hill Ewell 's Division 4 Brigades / 1 Artillery Regiment Major General Richard p. Ewell Cavalry Division 3 Brigades / 1 Artillery Battery Major General J.E.B. Stuart The Army 's Reserve Artillery consisted of one regiment and two battalions. They stayed in the area of Richmond in the course of the whole Northern Virginia Campaign and only returned on September 3, 1862 to the Army. Major General Hill 's Division also remained in the eastern parts of Richmond with the order to bind McClellan 's attention as long as possible. As it became predictable that the Army of the Potomac would soon be transferred to support Pope, Lee ordered the Division north. Hill never entered battle in the campaign. A total of about 54,000 soldiers saw action throughout the campaign. Organization at the beginning of the Maryland Campaign The Army 's losses before and following the Battle of Second Manassas needed to be replaced before the Maryland Campaign could commence. While fundamental changes in the Army 's command structure were not necessary, General Lee exchanged divisions and brigades or added additional strength to some. The wings of the Army were now officially called ' Corps '. In the Maryland Campaign the Army was subdivided as follows. Corps / Army group Division Brigade / Combat support Commander / Officers in charge Longstreet 's Corps 2 Artillery Battalions Major General James Longstreet Anderson 's Division 6 Brigades / 1 Artillery Battalion Major General Richard H. Anderson Jones 's Division 6 Brigades / 4 Artillery Batteries Brigadier General David Rumph Jones McLaws 's Division 4 Brigades / 1 Artillery Battalion Major General Lafayette McLaws Hood 's Division 2 Brigades / 1 Artillery Battalion Brigadier General John B. Hood Walker 's Division 2 Brigades / 2 Batteries Brigadier General John G. Walker Evans 's Brigade / 1 Artillery Battery Brigadier General Nathan George Evans Jackson 's Corps Major General Thomas J. Jackson Jackson 's Division 4 Brigades / 1 Artillery Regiment Brigadier General John R. Jones Hill 's Light Division 6 Brigades / 1 Artillery Regiment Major General Ambrose P. Hill Hill 's Division 5 Brigades / 1 Artillery Battalion Major General Daniel H. Hill Ewell 's Division 4 Brigades / 1 Artillery Regiment Brigadier General Alexander R. Lawton Cavalry Division 3 Brigades / 3 Artillery Batteries Major General J.E.B. Stuart Reserve Artillery 4 Battalions / 5 Batteries Brigadier General William N. Pendleton Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia at the time of the Battle of Fredericksburg ( December 1862 ) While organization of the corps was found to be generally reliable, the corps ' subdivision into four or five divisions hampered overall ease of command. General Lee had already considered before the Battle of Antietam to slim down the overall structure, but intended there be no changes in leadership. The Confederate Congress authorized the establishment of the Corps, and President Davis affirmed the assignment of the commanders and promoted Major Generals Longstreet and Jackson to Lieutenant Generals. General Lee announced this in Special Order 234 on November 6, 1862. About 60,000 soldiers served at the Maryland Campaign. Battleflag made from wool, 1863 Organization from May 30, 1863 until April 9, 1865 Lee took Jackson 's death as an opportunity to subdivide the North Virginia Corps again. President Jefferson Davis agreed to the subdivision and ordered Lee in his Special Order Nr. 146 to reorganize the Army. Corps / Army group Division Brigade / Combat support Commander / Officers in charge I Corps Lieutenant General James Longstreet Pickett 's Division 3 Brigades / 1 Artillery Battalion Major General George E. Pickett McLaws 's Division 4 Brigades / 1 Artillery Battalion Major General Lafayette McLaws Hood 's Division 4 Brigades / 1 Artillery Battalion Major General John B. Hood II Corps Lieutenant General Richard p. Ewell Early 's Division 4 Brigades / 1 Artillery Battalion Major General Jubal A. Early Johnson 's Division 4 Brigades / 1 Artillery Battalion Major General Edward Johnson Rodes 's Division 5 Brigades / 1 Artillery Battalion Major General Robert E. Rodes III Corps Lieutenant General A.P. Hill Anderson 's Division 5 Brigades / 1 Artillery Battalion Major General Richard H. Anderson Heth 's Division 4 Brigades / 1 Artillery Battalion Major General Henry Heth Pender 's Division 4 Brigades / 1 Artillery Battalion Major General W. Dorsey Pender Cavalry Division 6 Brigades / 1 Artillery Battalion Major General J.E.B. Stuart Reserve Artillery 6 Battalions Brig. General William N. Pendleton Imboden 's Command gem. Brigade / 1 Artillery Battery Brigadier General John D. Imboden Lee ordered the artillery battalions of the Reserve Artillery to serve directly with the Corps for the duration of the Gettysburg Campaign. The Army of Northern Virginia now comprised a total of 75,054 soldiers at the Battle of Gettysburg. The army fielded more than 241 cannons following the Battle of Gettysburg. The artillery battalions were merged into the Artillery Reserve again following the end of the campaign. On September 9, General Lee had to dispatch the First Corps to Braxton Bragg 's Army of Tennessee. Following this the army was resubordinated again. Changes were not significant ; only the cavalry saw important reorganization. Corps / Army group Division Brigade / Combat support Commander / Officers in charge II Corps 5 Artillery Battalions Lieutenant General Richard p. Ewell Early 's Division 4 Brigades Major General Jubal A. Early Johnson 's Division 4 Brigades Major General Edward Johnson Rodes 's Division 5 Brigades Major General Robert E. Rodes III Corps 5 Artillery Battalions Lieutenant General A.P. Hill Anderson 's Division 5 Brigades Major General Richard H. Anderson Heth 's Division 4 Brigades Major General Henry Heth Wilcox 's Division 4 Brigades Major General Cadmus M. Wilcox Cavalry Corps 1 Artillery Battalion Major General J.E.B. Stuart Hampton 's Division 2 Brigades Major General Wade Hampton Lee 's Division 3 Brigades Major General Fitzhugh Lee Reserve Artillery 2 Battalions Major General William N. Pendleton Defense District of Shenandoah Valley gem. Brigade / 1 Artillery Battery Brigadier General John D. Imboden Cooke 's Brigade Brigadier General John R. Cooke The Army 's strength was then 55,221 soldiers. The changes in command until December 31, 1863 were only minor. Cooke 's Brigade was assigned to serve with Heth 's Division, Hampton 's Division grew by a cavalry brigade and the Third Corps gained an additional artillery battalion. Imboden 's Command remained at Shenandoah Valley and was taken over by Major General Early as the Defense District of Shenandoah Valley. The strength of the army was 54,715 men on December 31. The organization of the Army of Northern Virginia did not change until the end of the war. The Army featured several corps, the corps featured several divisions, and the artillery was divided between the corps. The strength of the Army grew in the first six months from about 46,380 to 62,230 soldiers. The army was assigned in July to the Defense District of North Carolina and Richmond. In the course of the Richmond - Petersburg Campaign the number of soldiers temporarily grew to 82,633 while parts of the Army were under the command by Lieutenant General Early in Shenandoah Valley. Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia at the time of the Battle of the Wilderness ( May 5 -- 7, 1864 ) In 1864 the Army of Northern Virginia fought against the more than twice as strong Potomac -, James - and Shenandoah Army in Grant 's Overland Campaign, Early 's Raid against the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the Richmond - Petersburg Campaign, and Shenandoah Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. The Army 's organization for January 31, 1865 because 69,659 soldiers were fit for battle, but a minimum of 4,500 had no rifles. Corps / Army group Division Brigade / Combat support Commander / Officers in charge I Corps 6 Artillery Battalions Lieutenant General James Longstreet Pickett 's Division 4 Brigades Major General George E. Pickett Field 's Division 5 Brigades Major General Charles W. Field Kershaw 's Division 4 Brigades Major General Joseph B. Kershaw II Corps 4 Artillery Battalions Major General John B. Gordon Early 's Division 3 Brigades Brigadier General John Pegram Gordon 's Division 3 Brigades Brigadier General Clement A. Evans Rodes 's Division 4 Brigades Brigadier General Bryan Grimes III Corps 7 Artillery Battalions Lieutenant General A.P. Hill Mahone 's Division 5 Brigades Major General William Mahone Heth 's Division 4 Brigades Major General Henry Heth Wilcox 's Division 4 Brigades Major General Cadmus M. Wilcox Anderson 's Corps 4 Artillery Battalions Lieutenant General Richard H. Anderson Johnson 's Division 4 Brigades Major General Bushrod Rust Johnson Defense District of Shenandoah Valley 6 Artillery Battalions Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early Wharton 's Division 3 Infantry / 1 Cavalry Brigades Brigadier General John A. Wharton Cavalry Corps 3 Artillery Battalions Major General Wade Hampton Lee 's Division 3 Brig Major general William H.F. Lee Following Lieutenant General A.P. Hill 's death on April 2, 1865 the Third Corps was dissolved and assigned to the First Corps. On April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered. One day later he thanked his men and his officers for their bravery and sturdiness and announced the dismissal of all troops on their word of honor in General Order No. 9. The listings of the Army of Northern Virginia say that 28,231 soldiers were dismissed on their word of honor on April 10, 1865. See also Confederate States Army Notes ^ Jump up to : Eicher, pp. 889 -- 90. Jump up ^ Freeman, Vol. II, p. 78 and footnote 6. Jump up ^ Lee to Jefferson Davis, September 3, 1862, Dowdey and Manarin, Papers. Jump up ^ Freeman, Douglas p. ( 1934 ). R.E. Lee, A Biography. Charles Scribner 's Sons. Jump up ^ Wert, Jeffery D. General James Longstreet : The Confederacy 's Most Controversial Soldier -- A Biography. New York : Simon & Schuster, 1993. Jump up ^ Bonekemper, Edward H. How Robert E. Lee Lost the Civil War. Fredericksburg, VA : Sergeant Kirkland 's Press, 1997. Jump up ^ The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. V, p. 913f : General Orders No. 15 Jump up ^ The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. V, p. 1086 : Army 's day - service strength Jump up ^ The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. XI, Part II, p. 483ff : Disposition at the beginning of the Seven Days Battle Jump up ^ The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. XII, Part II, p. 546ff : Disposition on the setout of the Northern Virginia Campaign Jump up ^ The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. XII, Part II, p. 176 : Hill 's order Jump up ^ The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. XII, Part II, p. 553 : Hill 's stay Jump up ^ The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. XIX, Part I, p. 803ff : Disposition on the setout of the Maryland Campaign Jump up ^ The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. XIX, Part II, p. 698f : Nomination of Commanding Generals Jump up ^ The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. XXV, Part II, p. 840 : Special Orders No. 146 Jump up ^ National Park Service : Army 's day - service strength Jump up ^ The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. XXV, Part II, p. 355ff : Artillery in the armory following the Battle of Gettysburg Jump up ^ The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. XXIX, Part I, p. 398ff : Disposition on September, 30 1863 Jump up ^ The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. XLVI, Part II, p. 1170ff : Disposition on January, 31 1865 Jump up ^ The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. XLVI, Part I, p. 384ff : Army 's strength on January 31, 1865 Jump up ^ The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. XLVI, Part I, p. 1267 : Dismissal Jump up ^ The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. XLVI, Part I, p. 1277ff : Discharge on word of honor References Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0 - 8047 - 3641 - 3. Douglas p. Freeman Freeman, Douglas S., R.E. Lee, A Biography ( 4 volumes ), Scribners, 1934. Freeman, Douglas p. R.E. Lee. A Biography. 4. Bde., Charles Scribner 's Sons, New York und London 1934f. online here Freeman, Douglas p. Lee 's Lieutenants. A Study in Command. 3 Bde., Scribners, New York 1942 -- 1944. Katcher, Philip R.N. & Youens, Michael : The Army of Northern Virginia - Osprey Verlag 1975 Men at Arms Series Book Nr. 37 - ISBN 0 - 85045 - 210 - 4 Katcher, Philip R.N. & Volstad Ron : American Civil War Armies 1 - Confederate Troops - Osprey Verlag 1986 Men at Arms Series Book Nr. 170 - ISBN 0 - 85045 - 679 - 7 Katcher, Philip R.N. & Volstad Ron : American Civil War Armies 3 - Specialist Troops - Osprey Verlag 1987 Men at Arms Series Book Nr. 179 - ISBN 0 - 85045 - 722 - X United States. War Dept. : The War of the Rebellion : a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Govt. Print. Off., Washington 1880 -- 1901, online here. Further reading `` A Small but Spartan Vol. : The Florida Brigade in Lee 's Army of Northern Virginia, by Zack C. Waters and James C. Edmonds, 2010, published by the University of Alabama Press Young, III, Alfred C. Lee 's Army During the Overland Campaign : A Numerical Study ( Louisiana State University Press ; 2013 ) 400 pages ; argues that Lee 's Army was far larger in strength and suffered much higher casualties than previously believed. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Army of Northern Virginia. Army of Northern Virginia memorial volume ( 1880 ) on the Internet Archive The long arm of Lee, or, The history of the artillery of the Army of Northern Virginia ( Volume 1 ) : with a brief account of the Confederate Bureau of Ordnance ( 1915 ) on the Internet Archive The long arm of Lee, or, The history of the artillery of the Army of Northern Virginia ( Volume 2 ) : with a brief account of the Confederate Bureau of Ordnance ( 1915 ) on the Internet Archive Army of Northern Virginia Corps First Corps Second Corps Third Corps Fourth Corps Cavalry Corps Battle flag of the US Confederacy. svg Armies of the Confederacy Central Kentucky Kanawha Kentucky Mississippi Missouri New Mexico Northern Virginia Northwest Peninsula Potomac Shenandoah Tennessee Trans - Mississippi Valley West West Tennessee Western Louisiana Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Army_of_Northern_Virginia&oldid=809415558 '' Categories : Armies of the Confederate States of America Virginia in the American Civil War Maryland in the American Civil War Pennsylvania in the American Civil War Northern Virginia 1861 establishments in the Confederate States of America 1865 disestablishments in the Confederate States of America Military units and formations established in 1861 Military units and formations disestablished in 1865 Robert E. 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Question: who designed the flag of the army of northern virginia
Answer: General P.G.T. Beauregard