Battle of Winchester - July 1861
The Army of Northern Virginia was quick on its step, where President Abraham Lincoln urged Lee to attack the disheveled Confederate Armies, and try to push them back over the mountains into North Carolina. This all would have worked perfectly if General Lee had not mistaken the Shenandoah Valley as a natural defense. The Army of Northern Virginia moved into Central Virginia, in a measure to try and destroy the Army of Eastern Tennessee and the Army of North Carolina.
Unknown to General Lee, General Thomas Jackson rode up the Shenandoah Valley, swung around Washington, and slammed into Lee's rear flank, encircling the old General. The Army of Northern Virginia was sandwiched between the Army of Southern Virginia and the Army of North Carolina, with reinforcements unavailable, and attacks coming in on all sides, the Army of Northern Virginia unconditionally surrendered to the Army of Southern Virginia in August of 1861. The former Army of Northern Virginia was paroled and sent south to Andersonville, and Robert Lee was imprisoned in Richmond.
The Confederate States of America celebrated this as a great victory, with President Davis openly talking about the prospects of peace.[Army of Northern Virginia removed from service. United States loses General Robert Lee. -15,000 Regulars, -40,000 Conscripts from USA. +2 Stability for the CSA]