The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

Army of The Potomac

The complete Orders of Battle for troops of the Army of the Potomac commanded by Brigadier General P G T Beauregard.

Brigadier General Irvin McDowell

Brigadier General P G T Beauregard commanding the Army of the Potomac

The Armies of the Potomac and the Shenandoah were united at Bull Run (Manassas), on 20 July with General J E Johnston appointed as overall commander but with lesser knowledge of the ground and dispositions, field command of troops was deferred to Brigadier General P G T Beauregard on 21 July, 1861.

On 24 April the Department of Alexandria was establised embracing the Alexandria, Virginia and troops in the vicinity under the command of Brigadier General P St. G Cocke, Virginia State Militia. On 21 May, Brigadier General M L Bonham assumed command and on 24 May Federal troops occupied Alexandria. On 31 May the department was renamed the Department of the Potomac and Brigadier General P G T Beauregard assumed command on 2 June and was extended to include Prince William, Fairfax and Loudoun counties.

The Army of the Potomac was organised on 20 June, 1861, embracing troops previously of the Department of Alexandria. The army was formed into eight brigades with the Seventh (Demi) Brigade, under the command of Colonel N G Evans, temporarily organised and attached to the Fifth Brigade under the command of Colonel P St G Cocke.

Schaeffer's Battalion Infantry

Schaeffer's Battalion Infantry, assigned to the Fifth Brigade, Army of the Potomac, was a provisional field organisation composed of two Virginia companies, the Beauregard Rifles and the New Market Guards and a Louisiana volunteer company, the Crescent Blues, Company B. Documentation on the battalion is limited but reference material includes a rare book, Mapping the Civil War, featuring Rare Maps from the Library of Congress, the Forty-ninth Virginia Infantry company assignments and the Official Report of Colonel P St. George Cocke, C S Army, commanding the Fifth Brigade, Army of the Potomac.

Reserves Arriving too late to Participate

There were several regiments and artillery companies that arrived between the evening of 21 July and 25 July, too late to participate in the first battle of Bull Run, that were subsequently assigned to the reorganised Army of the Potomac.

Seven companies of the 13th North Carolina Infantry, redesignated the 23rd North Carolina State Troops, arrived at Manassas Junction during Sunday night as companies C, D and H had a prevalence of measles and remained at 'Camp of Instruction', Garysburg, under the command of Major D H Christie, rejoining the regiment at 'Camp Wigfall', Manassas, in August, 1861. The regiment was assigned to the Sixth Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Colonel J A Early.

The 6th South Carolina Infantry and 9th South Carolina Infantry left Richmond, Virginia, on 20 July, and arrived at Manassas battlefield on the evening of 21 July, too late in the day to be engaged. The two regiments were assigned to the Third Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Brigadier General D R Jones.

The 1st Texas Battalion Infantry with eight companies, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel L T Wigfall, reached Manassas Junction during the morning of 22 July, 1861, and helped collect the battlefield debris discarded by the retreating Army of Northeastern Virginia. After two or three days the the battalion was ordered to Evansport on the Potomac River and remained in camp until March 1862.

The 9th Louisiana Infantry arrived at Manassas Junction from Richmond at dusk on 21 July and bivouacked by the railroad. The regiment was assigned to the Eighth Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the temporary command of Colonel I G Seymour, 6th Louisiana Infantry.

The Sumter Flying Artillery was ordered to report to Manassas, Virginia, arriving on 22 July, 1861, encamping near the Stone Bridge and was assigned to the reserve artillery commanded by Colonel W N Pendleton.

On 4 July, 1861, Company A (the Sumter Battery or Calhoun Flying Artillery), 1st South Carolina Battalion Artillery, under the command of Captain W R Calhoun, left Fort Sumter for Charleston, South Carolina. It was converted to a six-gun light artillery battery and left for Virginia on 30 July. The company was attached to the 4th South Carolina Infantry, Third Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, from August to December 1861, under the command of Brigadier General D R Jones. During the time Company A spent in Virginia, a two-gun detachment known as the Star Battery served with the 5th South Carolina Infantry. Company A was never actively engaged in Virginia and returned to Charleston, South Carolina, on 1 Januray, 1862.

The Army of Northern Virginia

After the first battle of Bull Run, Manassas, on 25 September, 1861, the Army of the Potomac became the First Corps under the command of Brigadier General P G T Beauregard with a Second Corps under the command of Major General G W Smith. On 22 October, 1861, the Army of the Potomac was officially ended with the formation of the Department of Northern Virginia, which comprised three districts, Aquia District, Potomac District and the Valley District and was later renamed the Army of Northern Virginia on 14 March, 1862, under General J E Johnston.

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