Part of the confusion results from the fact that Johnston commanded the Department of Northern Virginia (as of October 22, 1861) and the name Army of Northern Virginia can be seen as an informal consequence of its parent department's name.
En del af forvirringen skyldes at Johnston havde kommandoen over Department of Northern Virginia (fra den 22. oktober 1861) og navnet kan ses som en uformel konsekvens af dens ophav i form af militærområdet.