<P> The first commander of the Army of Northern Virginia was General P.G.T. Beauregard ( under its previous name , the Confederate Army of the Potomac ) from June 20 to July 20 , 1861 . His forces consisted of six brigades , with various militia and artillery from the former Department of Alexandria . During his command , Gen. Beauregard is noted for creating the battle flag of the army , which came to be the primary battle flag for all corps and forces under the Army of Northern Virginia . The flag was designed due to confusion during battle between the Confederate `` Stars and Bars '' flag and the flag of the United States . Beauregard continued commanding these troops as the new First Corps under Gen. J.E. Johnston as it was joined by the Army of the Shenandoah on July 20 , 1861 , when command was relinquished to General J.E. Johnston . The following day this army fought its first major engagement in the First Battle of Manassas . </P>
<P> The first commander of the Army of Northern Virginia was General P.G.T. Beauregard ( under its previous name , the Confederate Army of the Potomac ) from June 20 to July 20 , 1861 . His forces consisted of six brigades , with various militia and artillery from the former Department of Alexandria . During his command , Gen. Beauregard is noted for creating the battle flag of the army , which came to be the primary battle flag for all corps and forces under the Army of Northern Virginia . The flag was designed due to confusion during battle between the Confederate `` Stars and Bars '' flag and the flag of the United States . Beauregard continued commanding these troops as the new First Corps under Gen. J.E. Johnston as it was joined by the Army of the Shenandoah on July 20 , 1861 , when command was relinquished to General J.E. Johnston . The following day this army fought its first major engagement in the First Battle of Manassas . </P>
who designed the flag of the army of northern virginia
who designed the flag of the army of northern virginia
General P.G.T. Beauregard
General P.G.T. Beauregard