Jump to content

Department of Virginia and North Carolina

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

TheDepartment of Virginia and North Carolinawas aUnited States MilitarydepartmentencompassingUnion-occupied territory in theConfederate Statesduring theCivil War.In 1863 it was formed by the merging of two previously existing departments: theDepartment of Virginiaand theDepartment of North Carolina.In 1865 the two departments were once again separated.

Department of Virginia[edit]

1861[edit]

The Department of Virginia was created on May 22, 1861, to include any areas within a 60-mile radius ofFort Monroeand any sections of North Carolina and South Carolina occupied by the Union Army.[1]Major GeneralBenjamin F. Butlerwas appointed its first commander. Early battles undertaken by troops from this department under General Butler included actions atBig BethelandHatteras Inlent.Early on the department was also known as theDepartment of Southeastern Virginia.

On January 7, 1862, the areas of North Carolina were detached to form theDepartment of North Carolina.On June 1, 1862, the area south of theRappahannock Riverand east of the Fredericksburg-Richmond-Petersburg-Weldon Railroad were added to the department. From June 26, 1862, to September 12, 1862,John Pope'sArmy of Virginiaoperated within the department. On July 15, 1863, the Dept. of Virginia was merged with the Dept. of North Carolina.

1865[edit]

On January 18, 1865, the Department of Virginia was re-created to consist of the area within 60 miles of Fort Monroe, the areas south of theRappahannock Riverand east of the Fredericksburg-Richmond-Petersburg-Weldon Railroad. On April 19, 1865, much of the rest of Virginia was added, excluding theShenandoah Valley.From January 18, 1865, to August 1, 1865, theArmy of the Jamesconsisted of troops from this department which were the first to enter the fallen capital city ofRichmond.

Commanders[edit]

1861
Benjamin F. Butler (May 22, 1861 – August 9, 1861)
John E. Wool(August 9, 1861 – June 2, 1862)
George B. McClellan(appointed June 1, 1862 – never assumed command)
John Adams Dix(June 2, 1862 – April 6, 1863)
Erasmus D. Keyes(April 6, 1863 – April 14, 1863)
John Adams Dix(April 14, 1863 – July 15, 1863)
1865
E.O.C. Ord(January 18, 1865 – June 14, 1865)
Henry W. Halleck(appointed April 16, 1865, but revoked April 19, 1865)
Alfred H. Terry(June 14, 1865 – August 6, 1866)

Posts in the Department of Virginia[edit]

Department of North Carolina[edit]

1862[edit]

The Department of North Carolina was created on January 7, 1862, to include the areas of North Carolina occupied by Union forces. These areas were formerly part of the Department of Virginia.[2]Brigadier GeneralAmbrose E. Burnsidewas the department's first commander. Early territories captured by Burnside's Expeditionary Force includedRoanoke Island,New Bern,Morehead City,BeaufortandFort Macon.On December 24, 1862,XVIII Corpswas created, composed of the five divisions stationed in North Carolina. On July 15, 1863, the department was merged with the Department of Virginia. The Department of North Carolina was headquartered at theSlover-Bradham HouseinNew Bern, North Carolina.[3]

1865[edit]

On January 31, 1865, the department was re-created to include Union-occupied areas of North Carolina excluding those occupied by the armies ofWilliam T. Sherman.General John M. Schofield was hand picked by Ulysses Grant to head the department. Schofield assembled troops within the department into the Wilmington Expeditionary Force which he personally led in thecapture of Wilmington.Significant territories included in the department were those captured by Ambrose Burnside in 1862 along with recently capturedFort FisherandWilmington.In March 1865, The troops of the Department of North Carolina formed the "revived"X Corps,under the command ofAlfred Terry.On May 19, 1866, it was merged into theDepartment of the Carolinas.

Commanders[edit]

1862
Ambrose Burnside (January 7, 1862 – July 6, 1862)
John G. Foster(July 6, 1862 – March 29, 1863)
Innis N. Palmer(March 29, 1863 – April 16, 1863)
John G. Foster(April 16 – July 15, 1863)
1865
John M. Schofield(January 31, 1865 – June 20, 1865)
Jacob D. Cox(June 20, 1865 – June 28, 1865)
Thomas H. Ruger(June 28, 1865 – May 19, 1866)

Posts in Department of North Carolina[edit]

Department of Virginia & North Carolina[edit]

The Department of Virginia & North Carolina was created on July 15, 1863, composed of all the territories formerly part of the Department of Virginia and Department of North Carolina. From December 21, 1863, to June 27, 1864St. Mary's County, Marylandwas also part of the department. On January 18, 1865, the department was again separated into the Dept. of Virginia and Dept. of North Carolina.[4]

From August 12, 1863, to April 25, 1864, theArmy of North Carolinaconsisted of troops from the District of North Carolina within the Department of Virginia & North Carolina.[5]The Army and District of North Carolina were commanded byJohn J. Peck.

From April 28, 1864, to January 18, 1865, theArmy of the Jameswas composed of troops within the Dept. of Virginia & North Carolina. It primarily served in Virginia during theBermuda Hundred Campaignand during thesiege of Petersburgconducting operations against the city of Richmond north of theJames River.

Commanders[edit]

George W. Getty(July 15, 1863 – July 18, 1863)
John G. Foster(July 18, 1863 – August 28, 1863)
Benjamin F. Butler(August 28, 1863 – August 27, 1864)
E.O.C. Ord(August 27, 1864 – September 5, 1864)
David B. Birney(September 5, 1864 – September 7, 1864)
Benjamin F. Butler (September 7, 1864 – December 14, 1864)
E.O.C. Ord (December 14, 1864 – December 24, 1864)
Benjamin F. Butler (December 24, 1864 – January 7, 1865)
E.O.C. Ord (January 7, 1865 – January 18, 1865)

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Eicher p.849
  2. ^Eicher p.837
  3. ^Survey Planning Unit Staff (May 1972)."Slover-Bradham House"(pdf).National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory.North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office.RetrievedAugust 1,2014.
  4. ^Eicher p.850
  5. ^Eicher p.856
  • Eicher, John H., & Eicher, David J.,Civil War High Commands,Stanford University Press, 2001,ISBN0-8047-3641-3.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Department_of_Virginia_and_North_Carolina&oldid=1052118623#Department_of_North_Carolina"