Army of Northeastern Virginia
The complete Orders of Battle for troops of the Army of Northeastern Virginia, commanded by Brigadier General I McDowell.
Brigadier General Irvin McDowell commanding the troops of the Department of Northeastern Virginia
On 27 May the Department of Northeastern Virginia was created to embrace part of Virginia east of the Allegheny Mountains and north of the James River, except an area 60 miles around Fortress Monroe. Brigadier General I McDowell assumed command of the troops of the Department of Northeastern Virginia on 28 May, 1861, which were formed into five divisions with the Fourth Division acting as a reserve to guard the federal lines of communication along the Potomac river.
McCunn's Brigade
A brigade under the command of Acting Brigadier General J H McCunn was quickly organised prior to 21 July, 1861, to act as support to the Amry of Northeastern Virginia. The regiments assigned to McCunn's Brigade were the Fifteenth New York Infantry, Twenty-fifth New York Infantry, Twenty-six New York Infantry and Thirty-seventh New York Infantry.
United States Regular Army
The majority of the men were raw recruits sent by their respective states to Washington where the army was camped. A small detachment of four companies, mainly recruits, from the United States Marines Corps, several companies of infantry, cavalry and artillery from various regiments of the United States Regular Army, were distributed to the First, Second, Third and Fifth Divisions, under the command of Brigadier General I McDowell.
Three Month Volunteers
Company I, Eighth New York State Militia (Varian's) Battery Light Artillery and the Fourth Pennsylvania Infantry were both three month volunteers and when their terms of service expired on 20 July, 1861 they returned home to be mustered out. The six pieces belonging to Company I, Eighth New York State Militia (Varian's) Battery Light Artillery, were left at camp and manned by detachments from the Eighth New York Infantry and the Twenty-ninth New York Infantry under the command of Captain C Bookwood, Company H, Twenty-ninth New York Infantry.
Brethschneider's Battalion Infantry
A battalion of light infantry was provisionally organised on 21 July, 1861, with 40 men from each of the four regiments of the Fourth Brigade, First Division, 160 in total, commanded by Captain R Brethschneider, Company E, Second Michigan Infantry.
United States Corps Engineers
The United States Engineer Corps was commanded by Major J B Barnard with provisionally organised detachments assigned to the following divisions: company of pioneers and axemen under Captain B S Alexander assigned to the First Division; working party of Sappers and Miners under Second Lieutenant C E Cross to the Second Division; Captain D P Woodbury, First Lieutenant G W Snyder and Second Lieutenant F U Farquhar assigned to the staff of the Third Division; First Lieutenant F E Prime assigned to the staff of the Fifth Division.
The Army of the Potomac
After the first battle of Bull Run, Manassas, the Depatment of Northeastern Virginia, commanded by Brigadier General I McDowell, the Department of Washington, commanded by Brigadier General J K Mansfield, the Department of the Maryland (formerly Annapolis), commanded by Major General J A Dix and the Department of Pennsylvania, commanded by Major General R Patterson, were consolidated into the Department of the Potomac (Army of the Potomac), commanded by Major General G B McClellan, on 25 July, 1861.
If you have information regarding brigade or company assignments and/or organisation please contact Jonathan Soffe at info@firstbullrun.co.uk.
Orders of Battle
The above painting, 'New York's Bravest', is by Don Troiani, modern America's finest historial artist.