Generals and Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia

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Confederate Army of Northern Virginia

The famous battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia.

April 16, 1861 – April 9, 1865

Commanders:

General P.G.T. Beauregard (April 16 – July 20, 1861)

General P.G.T. Beauregard.

General Joseph E. Johnston (July 20, 1861 – May 31, 1862)

General Joseph E. Johnston.

Major General Gustavus Woodson Smith (May 31 – June 1, 1862)

Major General Gustavus Woodson Smith who only commanded for 1 day.

General Robert E. Lee (June 1, 1862 – April 9, 1865)

General Robert E. Lee the most famous commander of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Campaigns/Battles Fought:

Manassas Campaign

  • Battle of Fairfax Court House
  • Battle of Vienna
  • Battle of Hoke’s Run
  • Battle of Blackburn’s Ford
  • 1st Battle of Bull Run (or 1st Battle of Manassas)

Peninsula Campaign

  • Siege of Yorktown
  • Battle of Williamsburg
  • Battle of Eltham’s Landing
  • Battle of Hanover Court House
  • Battle of Seven Pines

Seven Days’ Battles

  • Battle of Oak Grove
  • Battle of Beaver Dam Mill
  • Battle of Gaines’ Mill
  • Battle of Garnett’s & Golding’s Farm
  • Battle of Savage’s Station
  • Battle of White Oak Swamp
  • Battle of Glendale
  • Battle of Malvern Hill

Northern Virginia Campaign

  • Battle of Cedar Mountain
  • 1st Battle of Rappahannock Station
  • Battle of Manassas Station
  • Battle of Thoroughfare Gap
  • 2nd Battle of Bull Run (or 2nd Battle of Manassas)
  • Battle of Chantilly

Maryland Campaign

  • Battle of Mile Hill
  • Battle of Harpers Ferry
  • Battle of Crampton’s Gap
  • Battle of South Mountain
  • Battle of Antietam (or Battle of Sharpsburg)
  • Battle of Shepherdstown
  • Raid on Chambersburg
  • Battle of Unison

Fredericksburg Campaign

  • Battle of Fredericksburg

Chancellorsville Campaign

  • Battle of Chancellorsville
  • 2nd Battle of Fredericksburg
  • Battle of Salem Church
  • Stoneman’s Raid

Gettysburg Campaign

  • Battle of Franklin’s Crossing
  • Battle of Brandy Station
  • Battle of Aldie
  • Battle of Middleburg
  • Battle of Upperville
  • Battle of Fairfax Court House (1863)
  • Battle of Hanover
  • Battle of Sporting Hill
  • Battle of Carlisle
  • Battle of Gettysburg
  • Battle of Fairfield
  • Battle of Monterey Pass
  • Battle of Williamsport
  • Battle of Boonsboro
  • Battle of Funkstown
  • Battle of Manassas Gap

Bristoe Campaign

  • 1st Battle of Auburn
  • 2nd Battle of Auburn
  • Battle of Bristoe Station
  • Battle of Buckland Mills
  • 2nd Battle of Rappahannock Station

Mine Run Campaign

  • Battle of Mine Run

Overland Campaign

  • Battle of the Wilderness
  • Battle of Todd’s Tavern
  • Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
  • Battle of Yellow Tavern
  • Battle of Meadow Bridge
  • Battle of North Anna
  • Battle of Wilson’s Wharf
  • Battle of Haw’s Shop
  • Battle of Totopotomoy Creek
  • Battle of Old Church
  • Battle of Cold Harbor
  • Battle of Trevillian Station
  • Battle of Saint Mary’s Church

Richmond-Petersburg Campaign

  • 1st Battle of Petersburg
  • 2nd Battle of Petersburg
  • Battle of Jersusalem Plank Road
  • Wilson-Kautz Raid
  • Battle of Staunton River Bridge
  • Battle of Sappony Church
  • 1st Battle of Ream’s Station
  • 1st Battle of Deep Bottom
  • Battle of the Crater
  • 2nd Battle of Deep Bottom
  • Battle of Globe Tavern
  • 2nd Battle of Ream’s Station
  • Beefsteak Raid
  • Battle of Chaffin’s Farm
  • Battle of Peeble’s Farm
  • Battle of Vaughan’s Road
  • Battle of Darbytown and New Market Roads
  • Battle of Darbytown Road
  • Battle of Fair Oaks & Darbytown Roads
  • Battle of Boydton Plank Road
  • Battle of Hatcher’s Run
  • Battle of Fort Stedman

Appomattox Campaign

  • Battle of Lewis’s Farm
  • Battle of White Oak Road
  • Battle of Dinwiddie Court House
  • Battle of Five Forks
  • 3rd Battle of Petersburg
  • Battle of Sutherland’s Station
  • Battle of Namozine Church
  • Battle of Amelia Springs
  • Battle of Sailor’s Creek
  • Battle of High Bridge
  • Battle of Cumberland Church
  • Battle of Appomattox Station
  • Battle of Appomattox Court House

Wing Formation

Confederate and Union armies during the Northern Virginia Campaign (August 7-28, 1862). Left Wing of Major General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson and Center Wing of Major General James Longstreet.

(used from March 14, 1862 – September 3, 1862)

(Before March 14, 1862 there was no formation used.)

The wing formation was used in the Peninsula Campaign, Seven Days’ Battles, and Northern Virginia Campaign.

Left Wing: Major General John Magruder (March 14 – August 27) and Major General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson (August 27 – September 3)

  • 1st Division: Brigadier General Lafayette McLaws (March 14 – August 27) and Brigadier General William Taliaferro (August 27 – September 3)
  • 2nd Division: Brigadier General Robert Toombs (March 14 – August 27) and Major General A.P. Hill (August 27 – September 3)
  • 3rd Division: Major General Richard Ewell (August 27 – September 3)

Right/Center Wing: Major General James Longstreet

  • 1st Division: Major General Richard H. Anderson (August 27- September 3)
  • 2nd Division: Brigadier General David Rumph Jones (August 27 – September 3)
  • 3rd Division: Brigadier General Cadmus Wilcox (August 27 – September 3)
  • 4th Division: Brigadier General John Bell Hood (August 27 – September 3)
  • 5th Division: Brigadier General James Kemper (August 27 – September 3)

Left Emplacement: Major General D.H. Hill

  • 1st Division: Brigadier General Jubal Early
  • 2nd Division: Brigadier General Gabriel Rains

Reserve: Major General Gustavus Woodson Smith

Cavalry Division: Major General J.E.B. Stuart

Corps Formation

The flag of the Army of Northern Virginia during the command of Robert E. Lee. Known as the “Lee’s Headquarters Flag.”

(used from September 3, 1862 – April 9, 1865)

The corps formation was used in the Maryland Campaign, Fredericksburg Campaign, Chancellorsville Campaign, Gettysburg Campaign, Bristoe Campaign, Mine Run Campaign, Overland Campaign, Richmond-Petersburg Campaign, and Appomattox Campaign.

I Corps: Major General/Lieutenant General James Longstreet

Lieutenant General James Longstreet, who commanded the I Corps for the entirety of the war.
  • 1st Division: Major General Richard H. Anderson (September 3, 1862 – May 29, 1863) and Major General George Pickett (May 30, 1863 – April 9, 1865)
  • 2nd Division: Major General Lafayette McLaws (September 3, 1862 – December 31, 1863) and Major General Charles Field (January 1, 1864 – April 9, 1865)
  • 3rd Division: Major General John Bell Hood (September 3, 1862 – September 9, 1863) and Major General Joseph Kershaw (September 10, 1863 – April 9, 1865)
  • 4th Division: Brigadier General/Major General David Rumph Jones (September 3 – October 10, 1862)
  • 5th Division: Brigadier General John G. Walker (September 3 – November 1, 1862)

II Corps: Major General/Lieutenant General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson (September 3, 1862 – May 2, 1863), Lieutenant General A.P. Hill (May 2 – 30 1863), Lieutenant General Richard Ewell (May 30, 1863 – May 29, 1864), Lieutenant General Jubal Early (May 29 – December 20, 1864), and Major General John Gordon (December 20, 1864 – April 9, 1865)

Lieutenant General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson who commanded the II Corps during the Maryland Campaign, Fredericksburg Campaign, and Chancellorsivlle Campaign until he died of his wounds at the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 10, 1863.
  • 1st Division: Brigadier General John R. Jones (September 3 – December 11 1862), Major General Jubal Early (December 11, 1862 – May 29, 1864), Brigadier General John Pegram (May 29, 1864 – February 5, 1865), and Brigadier General James Walker (February 5 – April 9 1865)
  • 2nd Division: Major General A.P. Hill (September 3, 1862 – May 24, 1863), Major General Edward “Allegheny” Johnson (May 24, 1863 – May 12, 1864), Major General John Gordon (May 13 – December 20, 1864), and Brigadier General Clement A. Evans (December 20, 1864 – April 9, 1865)
  • 3rd Division: Major General D.H. Hill (September 3, 1862 – February 1863), Major General Robert Rodes (February 1863 – September 19, 1864), and Brigadier General/Major General Bryan Grimes (September 19, 1864 – April 9, 1865)
  • 4th Division: Brigadier General Alexander Lawton (September 3 – 17, 1862), Brigadier General William Taliaferro (September 17, 1862 – February 1863), and Brigadier General Raleigh Colston (February – May 20, 1863)

III Corps (created May 30, 1863): Lieutenant General A.P. Hill (May 30, 1863 – April 2, 1865) and Major General Henry Heth (April 2 – 9, 1865)

Lieutenant General A.P. Hill, who commanded the III Corps he was killed at the Third Battle of Petersburg on April 2, 1865. He was succeeded by Major General Henry Heth who only commanded the III Corps for 5 days until the surrender at Appomattox Court House.
  • 1st Division: Major General/Lieutenant General Richard H. Anderson (May 30, 1863 – October 19, 1864) and Major General William Mahome (October 19, 1864 – April 9, 1865)
  • 2nd Division: Major General Henry Heth (May 30, 1863 – April 2, 1866) and Brigadier General John Cooke (April 2 – 9, 1865)
  • 3rd Division: Major General William Dorsey Pender (May 30 – July 18, 1863) and Cadmus Wilcox (July 18, 1863 – April 9, 1865)

IV Corps (created October 19, 1864) : Lieutenant General Richard H. Anderson

Lieutenant General Richard H. Anderson.
  • 1st Division: Major General Bushrod Johnson
  • 2nd Division: Major General Robert Hoke (October 19 – December, 1864)

Cavalry Corps (created September 9, 1863; before that it was the Cavalry Division commanded by Major General J.E.B. Stuart): Major General J.E.B. Stuart (September 9, 1863 – May 11, 1864), Major General/Lieutenant General Wade Hampton (May 11, 1864 – January 1865) Major General Fitzhugh Lee (January 1865 – April 9, 1865)

Major General J.E.B. Stuart. The most famous Confederate Cavalry commander during the war, he commanded all cavalry forces in the Eastern Theater until he was killed in action at the Battle of Yellow Tavern on May 12, 1864.
  • 1st Division: Major General Wade Hampton (September 9, 1863 – August 11, 1864) and Brigadier General Thomas Rosser (August 11, 1864 – April 9, 1865)
  • 2nd Division: Major General Fitzhugh Lee (September 9, 1863 – September 19, 1864), Brigadier General Matthew Butler (Septmeber 19, 1864 – January 1865), and Colonel/Brigadier General Thomas Munford (January – April 9, 1865)
  • 3rd Division: Major General W.H.F. “Rooney” Lee

One thought on “Generals and Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia”

  1. Gabe, So much research! This must have taken you a lot of time. Well, it is definitely worth the time and effort.
    Still wondering if my family, the Baughan Family, is related to A.P.Hill. Some of his features are so similar to my father’s. My grandmother was a Hill. Guess we’ll never know ????
    Thank you for sharing this with me and Papa.
    Love, Gramsey

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