Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell, and it was the army that fought (and lost) the war's first major battle, the First Battle of Bull Run.
Kernen i hæren blev kaldt Army of Northeastern Virginia, under brigadegeneral Irvin McDowell, og det var den hær, som kæmpede og tabte krigens første store slag, det første slag ved Bull Run.