Video: Army of Virginia organized (at 33:17)

(Thursday June 26, 1862, during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln today consolidated four separate commands of Generals Fremont, Banks, McDowell and Sturgis into The Army of Virginia, appointing Major-General John Pope to command it.

The purpose of the new army was to protect Washington, and act in conjunction with General George B. McClellan’s assault on Richmond.