First Corps, Army of Tennessee
| First Corps, Army of Tennessee | |
|---|---|
 The Polk patternbattle flag | |
| Active | 1862 – 1865 |
| Disbanded | April 26, 1865 |
| Country |  Confederate States |
| Branch |  Confederate States Army |
| Role | Headquarters |
| Size | Corps |
| Part of | Army of Tennessee |
| Nickname(s) |
|
| Engagements | American Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Commanding officers |
|
TheFirst Corps, Army of Tennessee,commonly known asPolk's Corps,Cheatham's Corps,orHardee's Corps,was acorpsof theArmy of Tennessee.
Formation[edit]
Units of the First Corps, Army of Tennessee, were drawn from the organization of Department No. 2 (or the Western Department) of theConfederate army,which held responsibility for defending the area between theTennesseeandMississippi.It also incorporated troops transferred from theArmy of Mississippi.
History[edit]
Lieutenant-GeneralLeonidas Polkcommanded the corps from November 26, 1862, and held it with minor interruptions until his relief on September 29, 1863, and subsequent arrest on October 23, 1863.[1]It participated in the Tennessee Campaign (June to October 1863) under GeneralBraxton Bragg.Major engagements under General Polk includedStones River(from December 1862 until January 1863) andChickamauga(in September 1863).
Major-GeneralBenjamin F. Cheathamcommanded the corps four times; during the periods September 29 to October 23, 1863, from December 2 to 27, 1863, then August 31 to September 2, 1864, and lastly from September 28, 1864 to February 23, 1865. This last posting was the only period which he was not in "temporary" command.[1]Major-GeneralPatrick Cleburnewas also in temporary command the corps from August 31 to September 1, 1864.
Lieutenant-GeneralWilliam J. Hardeecommanded the corps four times; during the periods October 23 to December 2, 1863, again from December 27 to August 31, 1864, a third time from September 2 to 28, 1864, and lastly from February 23 to April 26, 1865. On that date the corps, along with the rest of the Army of Tennessee, were surrendered by Gen.Joseph E. Johnston.[2]
Structure[edit]
- On October 31, 1863, part ofThird Corpswas added.
- On November 4, 1863, the "Reserve Corps" of the army was added.
- On April 10, 1865, all remaining forces in the state of Georgia were added.[3]
Commanding officers[edit]
-
Lieut. Gen.Leonidas Polk -
Maj. Gen.Benjamin F. Cheatham -
-
Lieut. Gen.William J. Hardee
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- Eicher, John H., andEicher, David J.,Civil War High Commands,Stanford Univ. Press, 2001,ISBN0-8047-3641-3.