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Commanded by Major General Gustavus Smith
The Department of Richmond was established on August 30, 1862. General Smith was the ranking major general of the Army of Northern Virginia and had briefly taken command when General Johnston was wounded. But he broke down under the strain and President Davis gave Robert E. Lee the command of the army. By early August Smith was recovered from his breakdown and on August 10 was given command of the troops Lee was leaving behind to cover Richmond while he marched north to deal with Pope. On August 30 Smith was formally given command of the “defenses of Richmond and its approaches.”