It should not be confused with its principal opponent, the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by Robert E. Lee.

Maj. Gen. John Pope commanded the new organization, which was divided into three corps of over 50,000 men.

Three corps of Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac later were added for combat operations.

Radical Republicans in Congress and the Cabinet saw the Army of Virginia as taking the lead in widening the goals of the war.

[1] Banks's corps of the Army of Virginia fought against Stonewall Jackson at the Battle of Cedar Mountain, gaining initial advantage, but was defeated by a Confederate counterattack led by A.P.