The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

Army of The Shenandoah

The complete Orders of Battle for troops of the Army of the Shenandoah commanded by General J E Johnston.

General J E Johnston

General J E Johnston commanding the combined armies of the Potomac and Shenandoah on 21 July, 1861

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

On 17 April, 1861, Governor J Letcher ordered the various captains of the Virginia State militia, under the command of Major General K Harper, to proceed to Harpers Ferry, Virginia, and capture firearms and ammunition stored at the Federal arsenal (See the Harpers Ferry in 1861). On 3 May, 1861, Colonel T J Jackson was assigned to command the post at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, and was relieved by General J E Johnston on 24 May, 1861. Brigadier General J E Johnston was promoted to general by President J Davis in August, 1861, but his commission was backdated to 4 July, 1861.

At 1 AM on 18 July, 1861, the War Department at Richmond, Virginia, ordered General J E Johnston to proceed with the Army of the Shenandoah to Manassas Junction and join the Army of the Potomac, under the command of Brigadier General P G T Beauregard.

Thomas Artillery

The Fifth Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah, under the command of Brigadier General E K Smith, was organised with the 9th Alabama Infantry, the 10th Alabama Infantry, the 11th Alabama Infantry, the 19th Mississippi Infantry, the 38th Virginia Infantry and Thomas Artillery at Winchester, Virginia, on 15 July, 1861 (See the Fifth Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah). The Thomas Artillery arrived at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, at 2 PM on 20 July, 1861, and was under the command Colonel W N Pendleton, chief of artillery, Army of the Shenandoah (See the Thomas Artillery). Colonel J H Forney, as senior colonel, assumed command of the remaining troops of the brigade at Piedmont station, Virginia, and arrived at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, at 9 AM on 22 July, 1861, too late to participate in the first battle of Manassas. Brigadier General E K Smith accompanied Colonel A Elzey and the Fourth Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah, to Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, and assumed command until he was wounded on 21 July 1861.

Piedmont Station

The following troops of the Army of the Shenandoah were delayed at Piedmont station, Virginia, by a railroad collision and arrived too late to participate in the first battle of Manassas: the 9th Georgia Infantry, the 11th Georgia Infantry, and the Kentucky Battalion Infantry (See the Second Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah); the 11th Mississippi Infantry, Companies B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I, and the 1st Tennessee Infantry (See the Third Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah); the 9th Alabama Infantry, the 10th Alabama Infantry, the 11th Alabama Infantry, the 19th Mississippi Infantry and the 38th Virginia Infantry (See the Fifth Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah).

The Army of Northern Virginia

On 25 September, 1861, the Army of the Shenandoah was officially known as the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Major General G W Smith, and the Army of the Potomac was known as the First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Brigadier General P G T Beauregard. On 22 October, 1861, the Army of the Potomac was officially ended with the organisation of the Department of Northern Virginia, which comprised the Aquia District, the Potomac District and the Valley District and was renamed the Army of Northern Virginia, under the command of General J E Johnston, on 14 March, 1862.

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