Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theatre of the American Civil War.
History
This Army was created in 1861, but was only the size of a corps (relatively speaking). It began as the Army of Northeastern Virginia, then reverted back to the recognized name, the Army of the Potomac. Many people believe that Pope's Army of Virginia was another name for this army; however, during the time that that army existed, the Army of the Potomac was still active, albeit very reduced, on the Peninsula, and General McClellan still had command of it. It had many commanders and many structural changes. It was eventually disbanded in 1865, after the war was over.
Commanders
- Brigadier General Irvin McDowell: Commander of the Army and Department of Northeastern Virginia (May 27 - July 25, 1861)
- Major General George B. McClellan: Commander of the Military Division of the Potomac, and later, the Army and Department of the Potomac (July 26, 1861 - November 9, 1862)
- Major General Ambrose E. Burnside: Commander of the Army of the Potomac (November 9, 1862 - January 26, 1863)
- Major General Joseph Hooker: Commander of the Army and Department of the Potomac (January 26 - June 28, 1863)
- Major General George G. Meade: Commander of the Army of the Potomac (June 28, 1863 - June 27, 1865)
Major Battles and Campaigns
- 1st Bull Run Campaign (McDowell) (1st Manassas)
- Peninsular Campaign (McClellan) (Seven Days' Battle)
- Antietam Campaign (McClellan) (Sharpsburg)
- Fredericksburg Campaign (Burnside)
- Chancellorsville Campaign (Hooker)
- Gettysburg Campaign (Meade)
- Mine Run Campaign (Meade)
- Wilderness Campaign (Meade)
- Spotsylvania Courthouse Campaign (Meade) (including the Battles of Spotsylvania C.H. and Cold Harbor)
- Petersburg Campaign (Meade) (including the Crater fiasco)
- Richmond Campaign (Meade)
- Appomattox Campaign (Meade) (including the surrender at Appomattox C.H.)
The Army of the Potomac was also the name given to General P.G.T. Beauregard's army during the early stages of the war (namely, the Battle of 1st Bull Run. However, the name was eventually changed to the Army of Northern Virginia, which became famous under General Robert E. Lee.
Referenced By
1861 | 1864 | 26 July | 26th July | 2 May | 2nd May | 7 May | 7th May | 9 November | 9th November | American Civil War | Battle of Atlanta | Battle of Chancellorsville | Battle of Chantilly | Battle of Fredericksburg | Battle of Gettysburg | Battle of Spotsylvania Court House | Battle of the Crater | Civil War (US) | Custer | Don Carlos Buell | General George Armstrong Custer | George A. Custer | George Armstrong Custer | George B. McClellan | George Brinton McClellan | George Brinton McClellan Jr. | George Custer | George G. Meade | George Gordon Meade | George McClellan | George Meade | Historical anniversaries/May 2 | Historical anniversaries/November 9 | How Few Remain | Irvin McDowell | John F. Reynolds | Joseph Hooker | Joshua Chamberlain | Joshua L. Chamberlain | Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain | July 26 | July 26th | May 2 | May 2nd | May 7 | May 7th | National Rifle Association | November 9 | November 9th | Philip Kearny | Richard S. Ewell | Seven Days Battle | Seven Days Campaign | The Seven Days | U.S. Civil War | U.S. Grant | U.S. I Corps | U. S. Grant | US I Corps | Ulyses S. Grant | Ulysess Grant | Ulysses Grant | Ulysses S. Grant | Ulysses S. Grant/First Inaugural Address | Ulysses S. Grant/Second Inaugural Address | Ulysses Simpson Grant | United States Civil War | Valley Campaign | War Between the States | William Rosecrans | William S. Rosecrans | William Starke Rosecrans | Winfield Hancock | Winfield S. Hancock | Winfield Scott Hancock | Yorktown, Virginia
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