The
federal army in the
American Civil War attached to the Department of the Potomac. The army waged war around
Washington, D.C. and Northern
Virginia from August 17,
1861 until June 5,
1865.
The mission of the army was to defend Washington and the northeastern United States, and to capture
Richmond, Virginia. It was involved in numerous battles, including:
The army was commanded by:
The Army of the Potomac was the largest federal army. In the early part of the war, the best that can be said of the Army of the Potomac is that it prevented the war from being completely lost in the east. Ultimately, with its victory at Appomattox, it won the war.