ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
(Unit composition as of Sept. 1st, 1862)
General Robert E. Lee
The Confederate organizational structure
was quite simple when compared to the Union army. During the battles of August 28 -
September 1, 1862, General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia consisted of two large Corps or
Wings commanded by Maj. Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson (Left Wing) and Maj. Gen. James
Longstreet (Right Wing). Lee also had a independent cavalry division, led by Maj. Gen.
J.E.B. Stuart, which he used as a mobile strike force and for scouting.
Jackson's
Corps numbered about 15,000 troops and Stuart's cavalry, who was under Jackson's
operational control, added an additional 5,000. Altogether, this gave Lee about 20,000
troops to use for his flanking movement. The order of battle below does not include
Longstreet's Right Wing since he arrived too late to be a factor in the battle.
Longstreet's only loss was an ordnance officer, who was captured when he wandered into
enemy lines.
Civil War regiments on both sides could contain as many as 800 - 1000 men, however
most combat regiments would average about 400. To make it easier to understand how the
battle developed, Confederate units are shown on the maps by brigade. Each brigade would
normally have 4 to 7 regiments of infantry with division artillery in support.
To further clarify the names of the armies... Pope's Union army was named
"Army of Virginia" since it's operations were based in that Confederate state,
not because it represented Virginia. Lee's army was named "Army of Northern
Virginia" because it's operations were also based in Virginia, but unlike Pope, he
did represent the state. In fact, Virginia contributed no less than 5 infantry brigades in
Jackson's Corps, 2 of the 3 cavalry brigades in Stuart's Cavalry and the majority of the
army's artillery. [Editor's Note: I try to be unbiased, but for the record I'm a Virginian
:-). ]
For our international visitors who have had difficulty understanding which states
were Union and Confederate, I hope this order of battle helps. I do appreciate the input.
SECOND CORPS, A. N. VA.,
LEFT WING, OR JACKSON'S CORPS.
Unit composition as of Sept. 1st, 1862
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artifacts may not be used without explicit permission from ESPD®,
This also includes the Intellectual property and history
derived from the only archeological survey ever conducted of the
Ox Hill Battlefield (Chantilly).