<P> Robert E. Lee's biographer, Douglas p . Freeman, asserts that the army received its final name from Lee when he issued orders assuming command on June 1, 1862 . However, Freeman does admit that Lee corresponded with Joseph E. Johnston, his predecessor in army command, prior to that date and referred to Johnston's command as the Army of Northern Virginia . Part of the confusion results from the fact that Johnston commanded the Department of Northern Virginia (as of October 22, 1861) and the name Army of Northern Virginia can be seen as an informal consequence of its parent department's name . Jefferson Davis and Johnston did not adopt the name, but it is clear that the organization of units as of March 14 was the same organization that Lee received on June 1, and thus it is generally referred to today as the Army of Northern Virginia, even if that is correct only in retrospect . </P> <P> In addition to Virginians, it included regiments from all over the Confederacy, some from as far away as Georgia, Texas and Arkansas . One of the most well known was the Texas Brigade, made up of the 1st, 4th, and 5th Texas, and the 3rd Arkansas, which distinguished themselves in numerous battles, such as during their fight for the Devil's Den at the Battle of Gettysburg . </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> <P> With the merging of the Army of the Shenandoah, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston took command from July 20, 1861, until May 31, 1862 . </P>

Who designed the flag of the army of northern virginia