The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

McDowell's Army

The complete Orders of battle for McDowell's Army commanded by Brigadier General I McDowell, United States Army.

Brigadier General Irvin McDowell was assigned to command the McDowell's Army on 28 May, 1861

Brigadier General Irvin McDowell, McDowell's Army

Brevet Major & Assistant Adjutant GeneralI McDowell, United States Army, was appointed brigadier general, United States Army, by General Orders No.64, Paragraph I, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., on 22 August, 1861, dated 14 May, 1861, and was assigned to command the Department of Northeastern Virginia, at Arlington House/ Lee-Custis Mansion, Alexandria County, Virginia, by General Orders No.26, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., on 27 May, 1861. McDowell's Army was organised by General Orders No.13, Headquarters, Department of Northeastern Virginia, Arlington, Alexandria County, Virginia, on 8 July, 1861.

Department of Washington, 9 April-25 July, 1861

Brevet Colonel & Lieutenant Colonel C F Smith, 10th United States Infantry, was assigned to command the Department of Washington, taken from the Department of the East, consisting of the State of Maryland, and the District of Columbia according to its original boundary at Washington, D. C., by General Orders No.9, Paragraph I, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., on 9 April, 1861, and Inspector General & Colonel J K F Mansfield, United States Army, was assigned to command the Department of Washington, including the District of Columbia, according to its original boundary, Fort Washington and the county adjacent, and the State of Maryland, as far as Bladensburg, inclusive, at Washington D. C., by General Orders No.12, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., on 27 April, 1861 (See the Department of Washington).

Departments Of Annapolis & Maryland, 27 April-25 July, 1861

Brigadier General B F Butler, Third Brigade, Second Division, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, was assigned to command the Department of Annapolis, at that Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, including the country for 20 miles on each side of the railroad from Annapolis to the city of Washington, as far south as Bladensburg, Prince George's County, Maryland, by General Orders No.12, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., on 27 April, 1861, and Major General J A Dix, United States Volunteers, was assigned to command the Department of Maryland, at Baltimore City, Maryland, by General Orders No.46, Paragraph II, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., on 19 July, 1861 (See the Departments of Annapolis and Maryland).

Departments of Pennsylvania & Shenandoah, 27 April-17 August, 1861

Major General R Patterson, Pennsylvania Volunteers, was assigned to command the Department of Pennsylvania, including that State and the State of Delaware and all of Maryland not embraced in the Department of Washington and the Department of Annapolis, Headquarters at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, or any other point temporarily occupied by General Orders No.12, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., on 27 April, 1861 (See the Army of Pennsylvania).

Major General R Patterson, Pennsylvania Volunteers, was discharged by General Orders No.46, Paragraph I, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., on 19 July, 1861, dated 27 July, 1861, and Major General N P Banks, United States Volunteers, was assigned to command the Army of Pennsylvania and the Department of the Shenandoah, in the field by General Orders No.46, Paragraph II, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., on 19 July, 1861.

The counties of Washington and Allegheny in Maryland, and such other parts of Virginia that were covered by the Army in its operations were added to the Department of the Shenandoah by General Orders No.47, Paragraph I, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., on 25 July, 1861, and the counties of Prince George, Montgomery, and Frederick were added to the Department of Washington and the remainder of Maryland and all Pennsylvania and Delaware constituted the Department of Pennsylvania, at Baltimore City, Maryland, by General Orders No.47, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., on 25 July, 1861.

Department of the Potomac, 25 July-15 August, 1861

The counties of Prince George, Montgomery, and Frederick were added to the Department of Washington and the Department of Washington and the Department of Northeastern Virginia constituted a geographical Division, under the command of Major General G B McClellan, United States Army, by General Orders No.47, Paragraph I, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., on 25 July, 1861, and he was assigned to command the Army of the Potomac on 20 August, 1861 (See the Department of Washington).

If you have information regarding brigade or company assignments and/or organisation please contact Jonathan Soffe at info@firstbullrun.co.uk.