Confederate Organisations – Departments
The Military Division proved to be an impractical level of command for the Confederacy, so the highest level of effective territorial command throughout the war was the Department. Departments reported directly to the President, to the War Department, and then theoretically from early in 1865, to the General-in-Chief. Some Departments were subdivided into one or more Districts and Sub-Districts.
Departments were originally created to oversee threatened regions of the Confederate States at the outbreak of the war but eventually extended across the entire Confederacy by the end of the war. As the advancing Union army occupied Confederate territory, many Departments were discontinued or operated with a shadow of the influence their title implied.
The size and borders of Departments and their Districts and Sub-Districts evolved in response to local circumstances and to changing command priorities. Some territorial commands were aligned with state borders, but the majority reflected territories appropriate to military operations, regardless of state and territorial borders.
The nomenclature of territorial command could be inconsistent, and anomalies occasionally arose over the geographical extent and authority of some Departments.
Alphabetical Index
Department of Alabama and West Florida 7 October 1861-29 June 1862
Department of Alabama and East Mississippi 28 January 1864-15 August 1864
Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana 15 August 1864-4 May 1865
Department of Alexandria, Virginia 24 April 1861-31 May 1861
Department of Middle and Eastern Florida #1 20 August 1861-5 November 1861
Department of Middle and Eastern Florida #2 13 March 1862-7 October 1862
Department of West Florida 7 March 1861-7 October 1861
Department of Fredericksburg, Virginia 5 June 1861-22 October 1861
Department of Georgia 26 October 1861-5 November 1861
Department of Henrico, Virginia 21 October 1861-5 March 1864
Department of the Indian Territory 22 November 1861-26 May 1862
Department of Kentucky 25 March 1865-4 May 1865
Department of Western Kentucky 6 September 1864-25 March 1865
Department of Louisiana #1 22 February 1861-17 April 1861
Department of Louisiana #2 (Department No 1) 27 May 1861-25 June 1862
Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana 1 October 1862-28 January 1864
Department of Norfolk, Virginia 23 May 1861-12 April 1862
Department of North Carolina #1 22 April 1861-19 September 1862
Department of North Carolina #2 26 February 1863-28 May 1863
Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia #1 19 September 1862-26 February 1863
Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia #2 28 May 1863-26 April 1865
Department of the Peninsula 26 May 1861-12 April 1862
Department of the Potomac 31 May 1861-22 October 1861
Department of Richmond, Virginia 30 August 1862-6 April 1865
Department of South Carolina 3 March 1861-5 November 1861
Department of South Carolina and Georgia 13 March 1862-7 October 1862
Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida 7 October 1862-26 April 1865
Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida 5 November 1861-13 March 1862
Department of Tennessee 25 July 1863-15 August 1864
Department of Tennessee and Georgia 15 August 1864-26 April 1865
Department of East Tennessee 26 February 1862-25 July 1863
Department of East Tennessee and West Virginia 28 September 1864-19 April 1865
Department of Texas 11 April 1861-26 May 1862
Trans-Allegheny Department 25 November 1862-27 September 1864
Trans-Mississippi Department 26 May 1862-26 May 1865
Department of Northern Virginia 22 October 1861-9 April 1865
Department of Southern Virginia 26 February 1863-28 May 1863
Department of Southwestern Virginia 8 May 1861-16 December 1864
Western Department (Department No 2) 25 June-1861-25 July 1863
Index – Chronological in Order of Establishment
Department of Louisiana #1
22 February 1861-17 April 1861
Braxton Bragg 22 February 1861-22 March 1861
David Emanuel Twiggs 22 March 1861-16 April 1861
Paul Octave Hébert 16 April 1861-17 April 1861
22 February 1861: The unofficial “Department of Louisiana” was established. The Forces in New Orleans or “Army of Louisiana” was established in the “Department of Louisiana”.
17 April 1861: The Forces in New Orleans transferred from the “Department of Louisiana” to the District of Louisiana.
17 April 1861: The “Department of Louisiana” was discontinued, and its territory was transferred to the District of Louisiana.
Department of South Carolina
3 March 1861-5 November 1861
Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard 3 March 1861-27 May 1861
Daniel Harvey Hill 27 May 1861-20 August 1861
Roswell Sabine Ripley 20 August 1861-5 November 1861
3 March 1861: The Department of South Carolina was established. Forces in Charleston was established in the Department of South Carolina.
27 May 1861: Forces in Charleston was discontinued, and its forces were transferred to the Department of South Carolina.~5 November 1861: The Department of South Carolina was discontinued, and was renamed the District of South Carolina in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida.
Department of West Florida
7 March 1861-7 October 1861
Braxton Bragg 7 March 1861-7 October 1861
7 March 1861: The Department of West Florida was established. Forces in Pensacola was established in the Department of West Florida.
7 October 1861: The Forces in Pensacola were discontinued, and the field forces were incorporated into the Department of Alabama and West Florida. The Department of West Florida was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated in the Department of Alabama and West Florida.
Department of Texas
11 April 1861-26 May 1862
Earl Van Dorn 11 April 1861-14 August 1861 interim 4 September 1861
Henry Eustace McCullough temporary 4 September 1861-18 September 1861
Paul Octave Hébert 14 August 1861-26 May 1862
11 April 1861: The Department of Texas was established.
25 June 1861: The Defences of Galveston was established in the Department of Texas.
2 October 1861: The Defences of Galveston was discontinued, and its territory transferred to the District of Galveston. The District of Galveston was established in the Department of Texas.
26 October 1861: The Defences of Pass Cavallo was established in the Department of Texas.
3 December 1861: The Western District of Texas was established in the Department of Texas.
3 January 1862: The District of Houston was established in the Department of Texas.
10 February 1862: The Eastern District of Texas “District of Eastern Texas” was established in the Department of Texas.
25 February 1862: The District of Galveston was discontinued and renamed the Sub-District of Galveston in the Department of Texas, comprising the former District of Galveston. The District of Houston was discontinued and renamed the Sub-District of Houston. The Sub-District of the Rio Grande was established in the Department of Texas.
26 May 1862: The Department of Texas was discontinued and its territory was incorporated into the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Sub-District of Houston transferred interim from the Department of Texas to the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Sub-District of Galveston transferred interim from the Department of Texas to the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Sub-District of the Rio Grande transferred interim from the Department of Texas to the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Defences of Pass Cavallo transferred interim from the Department of Texas to the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Eastern District of Texas transferred from the Department of Texas to the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Western District of Texas transferred from the Department of Texas to the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Army of New Mexico was discontinued, and its field forces were incorporated into the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Trans-Mississippi District transferred from the Western Department to the Trans-Mississippi Department. The District of Indian Territory was established in the Department of Trans-Mississippi from the Department of the Indian Territory. The Forces in Arkansas transferred interim with the Trans-Mississippi District to the Trans-Mississippi Department.
Department of North Carolina #1
22 April 1861-19 September 1862
Theophilus Hunter Holmes 22 April 1861-19 August 1861 interim 20 August 1861
Richard Caswell Gatlin 19 August 1861-15 March 1862 interim 19 March 1862
Joseph Reid Anderson 15 March 1862-24 March 1862 interim 24 March 1862
Theophilus Hunter Holmes 24 March 1862-2 June 1862
James Green Martin 2 June 1862-17 July 1862
Daniel Harvey Hill 17 July 1862-19 September 1862
22 April 1861: The Department of North Carolina was established, comprising the state of North Carolina. The Defences of North Carolina was established in the Department of North Carolina.
29 September 1861: The District of Pamlico was established in the Department of North Carolina.
1 October 1861: The Defences of North Carolina was discontinued and renamed as the District of Cape Fear in the Department of North Carolina.
22 January 1862: The District of Roanoke Island was established in the Department of North Carolina. Roanoke Island transferred from the District of Pamlico to the District of Roanoke Island.
12 April 1862: The Department of Norfolk was discontinued, and part of its territory was incorporated into the Department of North Carolina.
3 June 1862: The Department of East Tennessee was extended to include North Carolina west of the Blue Ridge, transferred from the Department of North Carolina.
21 June 1862: The Department of North Carolina was extended to include the south bank of the James River in Virginia, including Drewry’s Bluff.
18 August 1862: The District of North Carolina was established in the Department of North Carolina, comprising the right bank of the Roanoke River to the border of South Carolina. The District of Pamlico was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the District of North Carolina. The District of Roanoke Island was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the District of North Carolina. The District of Cape Fear was discontinued and renamed the Sub-District of Cape Fear in the District of North Carolina.
24 August 1862: The Department of East Tennessee was extended to include North Carolina west of the Blue Ridge.
19 September 1862: The District of North Carolina was discontinued, and incorporated into the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia. The Sub-District of Cape Fear transferred from the District of North Carolina to the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
19 September 1862: The Department of North Carolina was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
Department of Alexandria, Virginia
24 April 1861-31 May 1861
Philip St George Cocke 24 April 1861-21 May 1861
24 April 1861: The Department of Alexandria was established, comprising the environs of Alexandria, Virginia. The Forces in Alexandria was established in the Department of Alexandria.
24 May 1861: The Alexandria Line was discontinued. The Army of the Potomac was established in the Department of Alexandria from the Forces in Alexandria.
31 May 1861: The Army of the Potomac transferred from the Department of Alexandria to the Department of the Potomac.
31 May 1861: The Department of Alexandria was discontinued, and incorporated into the Department of the Potomac.
Department of Southwestern Virginia
8 May 1861-16 December 1864
William Wing Loring 8 May 1861-16 October 1862
John Echols 16 October 1862-10 November 1862 interim 19 November 1862
John Stuart Williams temporary 10 November 1862-25 November 1862
8 May 1861: The Department of Southwestern Virginia was established, comprising the mountainous regions of southwest Virginia.
28 January 1862: The District of Lewisburg was established in the Department of Southwestern Virginia.
2 May 1862: The District of Abingdon was established in the Department of Southwestern Virginia.
8 May 1862: The District of Lewisburg was discontinued.
25 November 1862: The District of Abingdon transferred from the Department of Southwestern Virginia to the Trans-Allegheny Department, comprising the counties of Lee, Buchanan, Wise, Scott, Russell, and Washington in Virginia. The Department of Southwestern Virginia was discontinued and renamed the Trans-Allegheny Department.
Department of Norfolk, Virginia
23 May 1861-12 April 1862
Jones Mitchell Withers temporary 23 May 1861-26 May 1861
Benjamin Huger 23 May 1861-12 April 1862
23 May 1861: The Department of Norfolk was established, comprising the former Forces in Norfolk.
21 December 1861: The District of Albemarle was established in the Department of Norfolk.
5 February 1862: The Department of Norfolk was extended to include Martin, Bertie, Halifax, Hertford, and Northampton counties of Virginia.
23 February 1862: The District of Albemarle was discontinued.
12 April 1862: The Department of Norfolk was discontinued. Most of its territory was incorporated into the Department of Northern Virginia and the other part was incorporated into the Department of North Carolina.
Department of the Peninsula
26 May 1861-12 April 1862
John Bankhead Magruder 26 May 1861-31 May 1861
Daniel Harvey Hill temporary 31 May 1861-17 June 1861
John Bankhead Magruder 17 June 1861-12 April 1862
26 May 1861: The Department of the Peninsula was established with headquarters at Yorktown, comprising the territory occupied by the field forces of the former Hampton Line. The Army of the Peninsula was established in the Department of the Peninsula.
14 June 1861: The Department of the Peninsula was extended to include Gloucester Point, Virginia.
28 June 1861: The Department of the Peninsula was extended to include James Island and West Point, Virginia.
26 August 1861: The Department of the Peninsula was extended to include Gloucester, Matthews, and Middlesex counties of Virginia.
12 April 1862: The Army of the Peninsula was discontinued, and incorporated into the Army of Northern Virginia. The Department of the Peninsula was discontinued, and incorporated into the Department of Northern Virginia.
Department of Louisiana #2 (Department No 1)
27 May 1861-25 June 1862
David Emanuel Twiggs 17 May 1861-7 October 1861 interim 18 October 1861
Mansfield Lovell 7 October 1861-20 June 1862
Earl Van Dorn 20 June 1862-25 June 1862
27 May 1861: Department No 1 was established comprising the state of Louisiana except along the Mississippi River north of the 31st parallel, and also included southern Mississippi and southern Alabama including Mobile. Headquarters were in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Forces in New Orleans transferred from the District of Louisiana to Department No 1.
14 August 1861: Forces in New Orleans were discontinued.
12 September 1861: The District of Alabama was established in Department No 1.
14 October 1861: The District of Alabama transferred from Department No 1 to the Department of Alabama and West Florida.
28 May 1862: Western Louisiana transferred from Department No 1 to the District of Eastern Texas and Western Louisiana in the Trans-Mississippi Department.
25 June 1862: Department No 1 was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the Western Department.
Department of the Potomac
31 May 1861-22 October 1861
Milledge Luke Bonham 21 May 1861-31 May 1861, interim 31 May 1861-2 June 1861
Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard 31 May 1861-20 July 1861
Joseph Eggleston Johnston 20 July 1861-22 October 1861
31 May 1861: The Department of the Potomac was established, comprising the territory of the former Department of Alexandria.
31 May 1861: The Army of the Potomac transferred from the Department of Alexandria to the Department of the Potomac.
10 June 1861: The Department of the Potomac was extended to include Prince William, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties of Virginia.
20 July 1861: The District of Harper’s Ferry was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the Department of the Potomac. The Army of the Kanawha was subordinated to the Department of the Potomac.
22 August 1861: The Army of the Valley was established in the Department of the Potomac.
25 September 1861: The Army of the Kanawha was discontinued.
22 October 1861: The Army of the Valley transferred from the Department of the Potomac to the Valley District. The Department of the Potomac was discontinued, and incorporated into the Department of Northern Virginia.
Department of Fredericksburg, Virginia
5 June 1861-22 October 1861
Vacant 5 June 1861
Theophilus Hunter Holmes 6 June 1861-17 July 1861
Daniel Harvey Hill 17 July 1861-22 October 1861
5 June 1861: The Department of Fredericksburg was established, comprising the field forces of the Potomac Line.
18 July 1861: The District of Aquia was established in the Department of Fredericksburg.
22 October 1861: The District of Aquia transferred from the Department of Fredericksburg to the Department of Northern Virginia. The Department of Fredericksburg was discontinued, and incorporated into the Department of Northern Virginia.
Western Department (Department No 2)
25 June-1861-25 July 1863
Leonidas Polk 25 June 1861-10 September 1861
Albert Sidney Johnston 10 September 1861-6 April 1862
Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard 6 April 1862-20 June 1862 interim 27 June 1862
Braxton Bragg 20 June 1862-24 October 1862
Leonidas Polk temporary |24 October 1862-3 November 1862
Braxton Bragg 3 November 1862-25 July 1863
25 June 1861: The Western Department or Department No 2 was established comprising the territory north of the 31st parallel on the Mississippi River and bounded on the east by the Tennessee River. The District of Upper Arkansas was established in the Western Department.
2 July 1861: The Forces in Missouri was established in the Western Department.
4 July 1861: The Western Department was extended to include Alabama north of the Tennessee River beginning at Waterloo and running east to Decatur; Alabama north of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad from Decatur to Stevenson, with that portion of Tennessee west and south of the Tennessee River; the Mississippi River counties of Arkansas and Mississippi including Corinth and extending to Eastport; it also included the river parishes of Louisiana north and east of the White and Black Rivers.
4 August 1861: The Forces in Missouri was discontinued and incorporated into the Western Army. The “Western Army” was established unofficially in the Western Department.
1 September 1861: The Army of Liberation was discontinued and incorporated into the field forces of the Western Department.
2 September 1861: The Western Department was extended to include Mississippi west of New Orleans, Jackson, and the Great Northern and Central Railroads.
2 September 1861: The First Geographical Division was established in the Western Department.
10 September 1861: The Western Department was extended to include Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and the Indian Territory.
10 September 1861: The District of the Indian Territory was established in the Western Department.
18 September 1861: The Army of Central Kentucky or, Central Army of Kentucky was established in the Western Department
1 November 1861: The Army of Eastern Kentucky was established in the Western Department.
22 November 1861: The District of the Indian Territory was discontinued, and renamed the Department of the Indian Territory.
10 January 1862: The District of Upper Arkansas was discontinued, and its territory transferred from The Western Department to the Trans-Mississippi District. The Trans-Mississippi District was established in the Western Department.
19 January 1862: The “Western Army” was discontinued, and incorporated into the Army of the West.
22 February 1862: The District of North Alabama was established in the Western Department.
25 February 1862: The District of East Tennessee was discontinued, and its territory was transferred to the Department of East Tennessee.
5 March 1862: The Army of Mississippi was established in the Western Department. The First Geographical Division was discontinued.
21 March 1862: The Department of East Tennessee was extended southwards to include Chattanooga.
29 March 1862: The Army of Central Kentucky was discontinued, and incorporated into the Army of Mississippi.
26 May 1862: The Trans-Mississippi District transferred from the Western Department to the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Western Department was extended southwards to the 33rd parallel east of the Mississippi River and extending to the eastern border of Alabama. Forces in Arkansas transferred interim with the Trans-Mississippi District to the Trans-Mississippi Department. The District of Southern Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana was established in the Western Department.
25 June 1862: Department No 1 was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the Western Department.
25 June 1862: The eastern border of The Western Department was redefined as the line of the railroad from Chattanooga via Atlanta and West Point and then following the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola Rivers to the Gulf. The eastern border of the Western Department was redefined as the line of the railroad from Chattanooga via Atlanta and West Point and then following the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola Rivers to the Gulf of Mexico.
27 June 1862: The District of North Alabama was discontinued, and incorporated into the Western Department.
29 June 1862: The Department of Alabama and West Florida was discontinued, and incorporated into the Western Department.
2 July 1862: The Gulf District was established in the Western Department, comprising the area from the Pearl River to the Apalachicola River and northward to latitude 32 degrees north. The District of the Mississippi was established in the Western Department. Southern Mississippi was detached from the District of Southern Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana to become part of the District of Mississippi.
18 July 1862: The Department of East Tennessee was extended by adding the parts of Georgia north of Atlanta and West Point.
21 July 1862: The District of the Tennessee was established in the Western Department.
12 September 1862: The Department of East Tennessee was extended by adding the area east of the Hiwassee River. The area west of the Hiwassee River was added to the Western Department.
27 September 1862: The District of Middle Tennessee was established in the Western Department.
28 September 1862: The Army of the West was discontinued, and incorporated into the unofficial “Army of West Tennessee”. The unofficial “Army of West Tennessee” was established in the Western Department, incorporating the discontinued Army of the West.
1 October 1862: The District of Southern Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana was discontinued, and incorporated into the Department of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana. The District of the Mississippi was discontinued, and incorporated into the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. The First Sub-District of Southern Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana was discontinued. The Second Sub-District of Southern Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana was discontinued. The Third Sub-District of Southern Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana was discontinued.
20 October 1862: The Department of East Tennessee was extended with more territory north of Chattanooga, which was detached from The Western Department.
28 October 1862: The Army of Middle Tennessee was established from forces taken from Reserve Corps Mississippi.
3 November 1862: The Gulf District was extended northwards to latitude 33 degrees north.
4 November 1862: The Western Department transferred from the War Department to the Military Division of the West.
20 November 1862: The District of Middle Tennessee was discontinued. The Army of Mississippi was discontinued and renamed the Army of Tennessee. The Army of Tennessee was established in the Western Department, incorporating the Army of Mississippi and the Army of Kentucky. The Army of Middle Tennessee was discontinued, and its forces were incorporated into II Corps Tennessee.
24 November 1862: The “Army of West Tennessee”, which had continued in official existence since 16 October 1862, was ruled to be improper in name and function and discontinued, but the force remained in existence and continued to use the name unofficially.
29 November 1862: The Western Department was extended to include northern Georgia and Atlanta.
7 December 1862: The Department of East Tennessee transferred from the Military Division of the West to the Western Department.
23 December 1862: The Department of East Tennessee transferred from the Western Department to the War Department.
19 January 1863: Atlanta and the surrounding area in Georgia were added to the Western Department.
22 July 1863: The Western Department transferred from the Military Division of the West to the War Department.
25 July 1863: The District of the Tennessee was discontinued. The Western Department was discontinued, and its territory was transferred to the Department of Tennessee.
Department of Middle and Eastern Florida #1
20 August 1861-5 November 1861
John Breckinridge Grayson 20 August 1861-10 October 1861 interim 20 October 1861
Vacant 21 October 1861
James Heyward Trapier 22 October 1861-5 November 1861
21 August 1861: The Department of Middle and Eastern Florida was established, comprising the state of Florida apart from the western panhandle territory.
5 November 1861: The Department of Middle and Eastern Florida was discontinued, and incorporated as the District of Middle and East Florida in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida.
Department of Richmond, Virginia
30 August 1861-6 April 1865
Charles Dimmock 30 August 1861-2 July 1862
Gustavus Woodson Smith 2 July 1862-12 December 1862
Arnold Elzey 12 December 1862-1 July 1863
Daniel Harvey Hill temporary 1 July 1863-13 July 1863
Robert Ransom temporary 13 July 1863-23 September 1863
Arnold Elzey 23 September 1863-26 February 1864
James Longstreet temporary 26 February 1864-24 April 1864
Robert Ransom 24 April 1864-13 June 1864
Richard Stoddert Ewell 13 June 1864-5 April 1865
30 August 1861: The Department of Richmond was established to include all field forces and prisons in and around Richmond, Virginia, and incorporated the Forces in Richmond and the field forces of the Department of Henrico. Forces in Richmond was discontinued, and incorporated into the Department of Richmond.
23 April 1863: The Department of Richmond was extended to include Manchester and Drewry’s Bluff.
5 March 1864: The Department of Henrico was discontinued, and incorporated into the Department of Richmond.
6 April 1865: The Department of Richmond surrendered, and its field forces were incorporated into II Corps Northern Virginia.
Department of Alabama and West Florida
7 October 1861-29 June 1862
Braxton Bragg 7 October 1861-2 April 1862
Samuel Jones 2 April 1862-28 April 1862
Samuel Jones 2 April 1862-28 April 1862
John Horace Forney temporary 28 April 1862-29 June 1862
7 October 1861: The Department of Alabama and West Florida was established and formally recognised on 14 October 1861, comprising the territory of the former Forces in Pensacola, and extended to include the Gulf coast of Alabama and the panhandle territory of Florida.
14 October 1861: The District of Alabama transferred from Department No 1 to the Department of Alabama and West Florida. The Army of Pensacola was established in the Department of Alabama and West Florida.
12 December 1861: The Department of Alabama and West Florida was extended to include Pascagoula Bay and Mississippi east of the Pascagoula River.
27 January 1862: The District of Alabama was discontinued. The Army of Mobile was established in the Department of Alabama and Western Florida, comprising the field forces of the former District of Alabama.
12 March 1862: The Army of Pensacola was discontinued, and its forces were transferred to the Army of Mississippi and the Army of Mobile.
29 June 1862: The Department of Alabama and West Florida was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the Gulf District of the Western Department.
Department of Henrico, Virginia
21 October 1861-5 March 1864
John Henry Winder 21 October 1861-5 March 1864
21 October 1861: The Department of Henrico was established, comprising Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. It assumed jurisdiction over garrison troops, city guards, militia, police, hospitals, prisons, warehouses, training camps, and government administration buildings.
25 March 1862: The Department of Henrico was extended to include Petersburg and its vicinity.
30 August 1862: The field forces of the Department of Henrico were transferred to the Department of Richmond. The Department of Henrico retained responsibility for administrative, garrison, and guard duties around Richmond, Virginia.
5 March 1864: The Department of Henrico was discontinued, and incorporated into the Department of Richmond.
Department of Northern Virginia
22 October 1861-9 April 1865
Joseph Eggleston Johnston 22 October 1861-31 May 1862
Gustavus Woodson Smith temporary 31 May 1862-1 June 1862
Robert Edward Lee June 11 862-9 April 1865
22 October 1861: The Department of Northern Virginia was established, comprising the areas formerly in the Department of Fredericksburg and the Department of the Potomac. The District of Aquia transferred from the Department of Fredericksburg to the Department of Northern Virginia. The District of the Potomac was established in the Department of Northern Virginia. The Valley District was established in the Department of Northern Virginia. The Department of Fredericksburg was discontinued, and incorporated into the Department of Northern Virginia. The Army of the Potomac transferred from the Department of the Potomac to the Department of Northern Virginia. The Army of the Valley transferred from the Department of the Potomac to the Valley District in the Department of Northern Virginia.
4 November 1861: The Army of the Northwest transferred to the Valley District in the Department of Northern Virginia.
29 January 1862: The District of the Potomac was discontinued.
10 February 1862: The Army of the Northwest was discontinued.
13 March 1862: The Army of the Potomac was renamed the Army of Northern Virginia.
24 March 1862: The District of Aquia was extended to include all territory in Virginia and North Carolina south of the operational territory of the Army of Northern Virginia.
12 April 1862: The Department of Norfolk was discontinued, and most of its territory was incorporated into the Department of Northern Virginia. The Department of the Peninsula was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the Department of Northern Virginia.
21 June 1862: The south bank of the James River in Virginia, including Drewry’s Bluff, transferred from the Department of Northern Virginia to the Department of North Carolina.
6 September 1862: The District of Aquia was discontinued.
2 April 1863: The Department of Northern Virginia was extended to include western Virginia.
9 April 1865: The Valley District was discontinued, and its field forces were transferred to the Department of East Tennessee and West Virginia. The Army of Northern Virginia surrendered. The Department of Northern Virginia surrendered.
Department of Georgia
26 October 1861-5 November 1861
Alexander Robert Lawton 26 October 1861-28 December 1862
26 October 1861: The Department of Georgia was established, comprising Savannah and the coast region of Georgia. The Defences of Savannah was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the Department of Georgia.
5 November 1861: The Department of Georgia was discontinued, and transferred as the District of Georgia to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida.
Department of the Indian Territory
22 November 1861-26 May 1862
Albert Pike 22 November 1861-20 January 1862, de facto 20 January 1862-12 July 1862
Douglas Hancock Cooper 20 January 1862-26 May 1862
22 November 1861: The Department of the Indian Territory was established, comprising the territory of the discontinued District of the Indian Territory.
26 May 1862: The Department of the Indian Territory was discontinued, and renamed as the District of the Indian Territory in the Trans-Mississippi Department.
Department of East Tennessee
26 February 1862-25 July 1863
Edmund Kirby Smith 26 February 1862-24 August 1862 interim 1 September 1862
John Porter McCown 24 August 1862-19 September 1862 interim 23 September 1862
Samuel Jones 19 September 1862-27 September 1862-20 October 1862
Edmund Kirby Smith 20 October 1862-11 November 1862
Henry Heth 11 November 1862-23 December 1862
Edmund Kirby Smith 23 December 1862-17 January 1863
William George Mackey Davis temporary 17 January 1863-4 February 1863
Daniel Smith Donelson 17 January 1863-15 February 1863 interim 17 April 1863
Vacant 17 April 1863-25 April 1863
Dabney Herndon Maury 15 February 1863-27 April 1863 interim 12 May 1863
Simon Bolivar Buckner 27 April 1863-26 June 1863
William Preston temporary 26 June 1863-25 July 1863
26 February 1862: The Department of East Tennessee was established comprising the parts of Tennessee east of Chattanooga and the territory of the former District of East Tennessee, with headquarters at Knoxville.
9 March 1862: The Army of East Tennessee was established in the Department of Eastern Tennessee.
21 March 1862: The Department of East Tennessee was extended southwards to include Chattanooga.
3 June 1862: The Department of East Tennessee was extended to include North Carolina west of the Blue Ridge, with territory taken from the Department of North Carolina.
18 July 1862: The Department of East Tennessee was extended by adding the parts of Georgia north of Atlanta and West Point.
16 August 1862: The Army of East Tennessee was discontinued. The Army of Kentucky was established in the Department of East Tennessee, comprising forces in Kentucky and eastern Tennessee from the Army of East Tennessee.
24 August 1862: The Department of East Tennessee was extended to include North Carolina west of the Blue Ridge.~12 September 1862: The Department of East Tennessee was extended by adding the area east of the Hiwassee River. The area west of the Hiwassee River was added to the Western Department.
20 October 1862: The Department of East Tennessee was extended with more territory north of Chattanooga, which was detached from the Western Department.
4 November 1862: The Department of East Tennessee transferred from the Western Department to the Military Division of the West.
7 December 1862: The Department of East Tennessee transferred from the Military Division of the West to the Western Department.
23 December 1862: The Department of East Tennessee transferred from the Western Department to the War Department.
17 January 1863: The District of Abingdon transferred from the Trans-Allegheny Department to the Department of East Tennessee.
27 April 1863: The Department of East Tennessee was extended in Tennessee and the southwestern tip of Virginia was also added.
8 June 1863: The Department of East Tennessee was reorganised with the western limit defined as the Little Tennessee River to Kingston, along the Clinch River to Emery Creek, and along the Cumberland Mountains to Cumberland Gap.
23 July 1863: The District of Abingdon transferred from the Department of East Tennessee to the District of East Tennessee. III Corps Tennessee was established in the Army of Tennessee, comprising the field forces formerly in the Department of East Tennessee and the former Army of East Tennessee.
25 July 1863: The Department of East Tennessee was discontinued, and renamed the District of East Tennessee.
Department of South Carolina and Georgia
13 March 1862-7 October 1862
John Clifford Pemberton 13 March 1862-29 August 1862 interim 24 September 1862
Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard 29 August 1862-7 October 1862
13 March 1862: The Department of South Carolina and Georgia was established, comprising parts of the former Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
13 March 1862: The District of South Carolina transferred from the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida to the Department of South Carolina and Georgia.
7 October 1862: The District of South Carolina transferred from the Department of South Carolina and Georgia to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The Department of South Carolina and Georgia was discontinued.
Department of Middle and Eastern Florida #2
13 March 1862-7 October 1862
James Heyward Trapier 13 March 1862-19 March 1862 interim 1 April 1862
William Scott Dilworth temporary 19 March 1862-8 April 1862 interim 18 April 1862
Joseph Finegan 8 April 1862-7 October 1862
13 March 1862: The Department of Middle and Eastern Florida was established, comprising the former District of Middle and East Florida.
7 October 1862: The Department of Middle and Eastern Florida was discontinued.
Trans-Mississippi Department
26 May 1862-26 May 1865
Paul Octave Hébert 26 May 1862, interim 30 July 1862
Theophilus Hunter Holmes 18 July 1862-14 January 1863 interim 17 January 1863
Edmund Kirby Smith 14 January 1863-19 April 1865
Simon Bolivar Buckner temporary 19 April 1865-22 April 1865
Edmund Kirby Smith 22 April 1865-26 May 1865
26 May 1862: The Trans-Mississippi Department was established to comprise Texas, the Indian Territory, Arkansas, Missouri, and Louisiana west of the Mississippi.
28 May 1862: Western Louisiana transferred from Department No 1 to the District of Eastern Texas and Western Louisiana in the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Eastern District of Texas was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the District of Eastern Texas and Western Louisiana, in the Trans-Mississippi Department. The District of Eastern Texas and Western Louisiana was established in the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Sub-District of Houston transferred from the Eastern District of Texas to the District of Eastern Texas and Western Louisiana. The Western District of Texas transferred formally from the Department of Texas to the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Sub-District of Galveston was discontinued, and its territory was transferred to the Western District of Texas. The Sub-District of the Rio Grande transferred from the Trans-Mississippi Department to the Western District of Texas. The Eastern Sub-District of Western Texas was established in the Western District of Texas. The District of Arkansas was established in the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Forces in Arkansas were discontinued and incorporated into the District of Arkansas.
20 August 1862: The District of Eastern Texas and Western Louisiana was discontinued, and divided into the District of Texas and the District of West Louisiana. The District of Texas was established in the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Trans-Mississippi District was discontinued, and its territory was divided between the District of Missouri and the District of West Louisiana. The District of West Louisiana was established in the Trans-Mississippi Department, comprising Louisiana west of the Mississippi River. The District of Missouri was established in the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Sub-District of Houston transferred from the District of Eastern Texas and Western Louisiana to the District of Texas.
28 September 1862: The Southwest Army was established in the District of Texas. The District of Missouri was discontinued, and its field forces were incorporated into I Corps Trans Mississippi. I Corps Trans-Mississippi was established to operate in north-western Arkansas, south-western Missouri, and the Indian Territory.
29 November 1862: The District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona was established in the Trans-Mississippi Department by extending the authority of the District of Texas over the District of Arizona and the New Mexico Territory. The First Sub-District of Texas was discontinued. The District of Arizona was discontinued, and incorporated into the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The District of Texas was discontinued, and incorporated into the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The Western District of Texas was discontinued and renamed the Western Sub-District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The Eastern Sub-District of Western Texas was discontinued and renamed the Eastern Sub-District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The Sub-District of the Rio Grande transferred from the Western District of Texas to the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The Southwest Army transferred from the District of Texas to the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
30 January 1863: I Corps Trans-Mississippi was discontinued, and forces were assigned partly to the Southwest Army and partly to the Defences of Vicksburg.
9 February 1863: The Southwest Army was discontinued, and renamed the Trans-Mississippi Army. The Trans-Mississippi Army was established in the Trans-Mississippi Department, comprising all field forces west of the Mississippi.
18 March 1863: The District of Arkansas was extended to include Missouri and the Indian Territory.
8 September 1864: The Army of Missouri was established in the Trans-Mississippi Department, primarily from forces in Cavalry Corps Trans-Mississippi Army.
1 February 1865: The District of Arkansas transferred to the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
19 April 1865: The District of Arkansas was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the District of Arkansas and West Louisiana. The District of Western Louisiana was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the District of Arkansas and West Louisiana. The District of Arkansas and West Louisiana was established in the Trans-Mississippi Department. It comprised the former District of Arkansas and the District of West Louisiana.
26 May 1865: The District of Arkansas and West Louisiana surrendered. The District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona surrendered. The District of Indian Territory surrendered. The Eastern Sub-District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona surrendered. The Western Sub-District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona surrendered. The Northern Sub-District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona surrendered. The Sub-District of Houston surrendered. The Sub-District of the Rio Grande surrendered. The Trans-Mississippi Army surrendered. Reserve Corps Trans-Mississippi surrendered. The Trans-Mississippi Department surrendered.
Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia #1
19 September 1862-26 February 1863
Gustavus Woodson Smith 19 September 1862-17 February 1863
Daniel Harvey Hill temporary 14 January 1863-17 February 1863
Samuel Gibbs French temporary 17 February 1863-23 February 1863
Daniel Harvey Hill temporary 23 February 1863-26 February 1863
19 September 1862: The Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia was established, comprising the territory formerly in the Department of North Carolina and adjacent operational territory of the Army of Northern Virginia.
26 February 1863: The Sub-District of Cape Fear transferred from the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia to the Department of North Carolina.
26 February 1863: The Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia was discontinued, and divided into the Department of North Carolina and the Department of Southern Virginia.
Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana
1 October 1862-28 January 1864
Earl Van Dorn interim 12 October 1862-14 October 1862
John Clifford Pemberton 1 October 1862-4 July 1863
Joseph Eggleston Johnston 4 July 1863-August 21 interim 24 August 1863
William Joseph Hardee 21 August 1863-2 December 1863
Joseph Eggleston Johnston temporary 2 December 1863-16 December 1863, temporary 16 December 1863-22 December 1863 interim 23 December 1863
Leonidas Polk 22 December 1863-28 January 1864
1 October 1862: The Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana was established comprising the areas of the former District of the Mississippi and the District of Southern Mississippi and East Louisiana. Headquarters were at Jackson, Mississippi. The states of Mississippi and eastern Louisiana were transferred from the Western Department to the Department of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana.
21 October 1862: District One of Mississippi and East Louisiana was established. District Two of Mississippi and East Louisiana was established. District Three Port Hudson District of Mississippi and East Louisiana was established.
4 November 1862: The Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana transferred from War Department to the Military Division of the West.
7 December 1862: The Army of Mississippi was established in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, comprising the former “Army of West Tennessee”. I Corps Mississippi was established in the Army of Mississippi. II Corps Mississippi was established in the Army of Mississippi.
28 December 1862: The Defences of Vicksburg was established in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana.
30 January 1863: I Corps Trans-Mississippi was discontinued and its forces were assigned to the Southwest Army and to the Defences of Vicksburg.
28 February 1863; II Corps Mississippi was discontinued.
9 March 1863: District Five of Mississippi and East Louisiana was established.
1 April 1863: District Four of Mississippi and East Louisiana was established.
20 May 1863: The Army of Mississippi was effectively discontinued, although the term remained in use unofficially to describe the forces that continued to operate in Mississippi outside Vicksburg.
4 July 1863: The Defences of Vicksburg surrendered. The Army of Mississippi was discontinued.
9 July 1863: District Three Port Hudson District of Mississippi and East Louisiana was discontinued.
25 July 1863: The Gulf District transferred from the Western Department to the Department of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana.
30 July 1863: The Army of Mississippi was established in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana.
2 September 1863: District One of Mississippi and East Louisiana was discontinued. District Two of Mississippi and East Louisiana was discontinued. District Four of Mississippi and East Louisiana was discontinued. District Five of Mississippi and East Louisiana was discontinued.
16 December 1863: The Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana transferred from the Military Division of the West to the War Department.
27 December 1863: The Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana was named unofficially by Lieutenant-General Leonidas Polk as the “Department of the Southwest”.
28 January 1864: The Army of Mississippi transferred from the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana to the Department of Alabama and East Mississippi. The Gulf District transferred from the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana to the Department of Alabama and Eastern Mississippi. The Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana was discontinued and reorganised as the Department of Alabama and Eastern Mississippi.
Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida
7 October 1862-26 April 1865
Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard 7 October 1862-20 April 1864
Samuel Jones 20 April 1864-28 September 1864 interim 2 October 1864
William Joseph Hardee 28 September 1864-22 February 1865 interim 25 February 1865
Joseph Eggleston Johnston 22 February 1865-26 April 1865
7 October 1862: The Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida was established, comprising the territory of the former Department of South Carolina and Georgia and the Department of Middle and Eastern Florida. The District of Middle and East Florida was established in the Department of South Carolina. The District of West Florida was established in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
4 November 1862: The Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida extended its authority in Florida to include the Choctawatchee River and Bay, forty miles west of the Chattahoochee River. The District of Middle and East Florida was discontinued, and its territory was divided between the District of East Florida and the District of Middle Florida. The District of East Florida was established in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The District of Middle Florida was established in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
28 December 1862: The District of Georgia was extended to include all of Georgia except for the defences of the Apalachicola River.
19 January 1863: Atlanta and the surrounding territory in Georgia were transferred to the Western Department.
31 August 1863: The Defences of Savannah was established in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
23 February 1864: The District of Florida was established in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The District of East Florida was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the District of Florida. The District of Middle Florida was discontinued and its territory was incorporated into the District of Florida. The District of West Florida was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the District of Florida.
1 May 1864: The Department of Tennessee was extended to include eastern Alabama and a portion of West Florida, while part of northeast Georgia was excluded.
17 December 1864: The Defences of Savannah was discontinued.
20 January 1865: The Sub-District of Northern Georgia was established in the District of Georgia.
22 February 1865: The Department of Tennessee and Georgia was extended to include all of Georgia west of a line through Augusta and Macon, Georgia, to Jacksonville and Cedar Keys, Florida. Eastern Florida as far as the Chattahoochee River was also included.
22 February 1865: The “Army of the South” was named unofficially to describe all commands united under the direction of General Joseph Eggleston Johnston, in the Department of Tennessee and Georgia and the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
26 April 1865: The District of South Carolina surrendered. The District of Florida surrendered. The Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida surrendered.
Trans-Allegheny Department
25 November 1862-27 September 1864
John Stuart Williams interim 25 November 1862-10 December 1862
Samuel Jones 25 November 1862-26 February 1864
John Hunt Morgan interim 26 February 1864-March 1864, de facto 5 March 1864
John Cabell Breckinridge 26 February 1864-23 May 1864 interim 25 May 1864
William Edmondson Jones 23 May 1864-31 May 1864
George Bibb Crittenden temporary 31 May 1864-22 June 1864
John Hunt Morgan temporary 22 June 1864-22 August 1864
John Echols temporary 22 August 1864-17 September 1864 interim 22 September 1864
John Cabell Breckinridge 17 September 1864-27 September 1864
25 November 1862: The Trans-Allegheny Department was established, comprising the former Department of Southwestern Virginia, and extended to the eastern boundary of Kentucky.
25 November 1862: The District of Abingdon transferred from the Department of Southwestern Virginia to the Trans-Allegheny Department.
17 January 1863: The District of Abingdon transferred from the Trans-Allegheny Department to the Department of East Tennessee.
2 April 1863: The Department of Northern Virginia was extended to include western Virginia.
5 September 1863: The Trans-Allegheny Department was extended to include the portion of southwestern Virginia formerly belonging to the Department of East Tennessee and the forces east of Knoxville.
19 March 1864: The Trans-Allegheny Department was extended to include Saltville, Virginia.
23 April 1864: The Trans-Allegheny Department took control of the territory of the District of East Tennessee.
2 May 1864: The District of East Tennessee was discontinued, and its territory was transferred to the Trans-Allegheny Department.
27 September 1864: The Trans-Allegheny Department was discontinued and incorporated into the Department of East Tennessee and West Virginia.
Department of Southern Virginia
26 February 1863-28 May 1863
James Longstreet 26 February 1863-1 April 1863
Samuel Gibbs French 1 April 1863-28 May 1863
26 February 1863: The Department of Southern Virginia was established.
23 April 1863: The Department of Richmond was extended to include Manchester and Drewry’s Bluff.
28 May 1863: The Department of Southern Virginia was discontinued, and its territory was transferred to the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
Department of North Carolina #2
26 February 1863-28 May 1863
James Longstreet 26 February 1863-28 May 1863
26 February 1863: The Department of North Carolina was established. I Corps Northern Virginia was assigned temporarily from the Army of Northern Virginia to the Department of Southern Virginia as I Corps Southern Virginia.
6 May 1863: I Corps Southern Virginia returned to the Army of Northern Virginia from the Department of Southern Virginia.
28 May 1863: The Sub-District of Cape Fear transferred from the Department of North Carolina to the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia. The Department of North Carolina was discontinued, and its territory was transferred to the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia #2
28 May 1863-26 April 1865
Daniel Harvey Hill 28 May 1863-1 July 1863
Samuel Gibbs French temporary July 1 863-14 July 1863
William Henry Chase Whiting 14 July 1863-23 September 1863 interim 24 September 1863
George Edward Pickett 23 September 1863-18 April 1864 interim 10 May 1864
Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard 18 April 1864-14 May 1864
William Henry Chase Whiting temporary 14 May 1864-20 May 1864
Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard 20 May 1864-27 September 1864
William Henry Chase Whiting 27 September 1864-11 November 1864 interim 17 November 1864
Braxton Bragg 11 November 1864-6 March 1865
Joseph Eggleston Johnston 6 March 1865-26 April 1865
28 May 1863: The Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia was established, comprising the territory of the former Department of North Carolina and Department of Southern Virginia, including the Appomattox River and Petersburg, Virginia. The Sub-District of Cape Fear transferred from the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia to the Department of North Carolina.
26 September 1863: The District of the Cape Fear River and the Defences of Wilmington was established in the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
18 April 1864: The District of the Cape Fear River and the Defences of Wilmington was discontinued, and its territory was transferred to the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia. The Reserve Forces of North Carolina was activated.
10 May 1864: The First District of the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia was established.
20 May 1864: The Third District of North Carolina and Southern Virginia was established.
25 May 1864: The Second District of North Carolina and Southern Virginia was established.
27 September 1864: The Defences of Petersburg was established in the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
1 October 1864: The Defences of Petersburg was discontinued.
15 January 1865: The Third District of the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia was discontinued.
6 March 1865: The field forces of the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia were transferred to the Army of the South.
9 April 1865: The First District of North Carolina and Southern Virginia was discontinued.
26 April 1865: The Second District of the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia surrendered. The Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia surrendered.
Department of Tennessee
25 July 1863-15 August 1864
Braxton Bragg 25 July 1863-16 December 1863 interim 22 December 1863
Leonidas Polk interim 22 December 1863-27 December 1863
Joseph Eggleston Johnston 16 December 1863-18 July 1864
John Bell Hood 18 July 1864-16 December 1864-15 August 1864
25 July 1863: The Department of Tennessee was established from the Western Department, comprising central Tennessee, the part of Tennessee east of the Tennessee River, northern Alabama bounded by the Tennessee River, Georgia north of the West Point-Atlanta-Augusta Railroad including Atlanta itself, and the western portions of South Carolina, and of North Carolina and Virginia as far north as the Kentucky border. The areas of Georgia and South Carolina were detached from the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The Army of Tennessee transferred from the Western Department to the Department of Tennessee. The Gulf District transferred from the Western Department to the Department of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana.
18 September 1863: The District of Western North Carolina was established in the Department of Tennessee.
13 February 1864: The Department of Tennessee was redefined to be bounded on the north and east by the Tennessee and Clinch Rivers, Emery’s Creek, and a line south of the source of the Little Tennessee River to Greensboro, Georgia; it was bounded on the south and west by the Georgia Railroad to Atlanta, the Montgomery & West Point Railroad to West Point, the country west of the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola Rivers, and the Alabama-Georgia state line as far as the south-eastern corner of Calhoun county, Alabama, then along the southern borders of Calhoun, St Clair, Blount, Morgan, Lawrence and Franklin counties; then along the Alabama-Mississippi state line to the Tennessee River and along the Tennessee River to its confluence with the Ohio River.
25 March 1864: The Department of Tennessee was redefined to extend from Gunter’s Landing on the Tennessee River in a direct line to Gadsden on the Coosa River; then down the Coosa to its junction with the Tallapoosa River; then in a direct line to the Florida state line on the Chattahoochee River, and down that river to the Gulf. The Department of Tennessee lay east of this line and the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana to the west of it.
1 May 1864: The Department of Tennessee was extended to include eastern Alabama and a portion of West Florida, while part of northeast Georgia was excluded.
8 May 1864: The Department of Alabama and East Mississippi was redefined to extend from the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers, along the Tennessee River to Gunter’s Landing, then in a line to Gadsden on the Coosa River then downstream to the Tallapoosa River, then in a line to the juncture of Florida with the Choctawhatchee River, and down the river to the Gulf, east to the Mississippi River, north to the Ohio River and along the Ohio River to the Tennessee River.
15 August 1864: The Department of Tennessee was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the Department of Tennessee and Georgia.
Department of Alabama and East Mississippi
28 January 1864-15 August 1864
Leonidas Polk 28 January 1864-4 May 1864, interim 9 May 1864
Stephen Dill Lee 4 May 1864-26 July 1864
Dabney Herndon Maury 26 July 1864-15 August 1864
28 January 1864: The Department of Alabama and East Mississippi was established comprising the former Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. It comprised Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana east of the Mississippi River. The Army of Mississippi transferred from the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana to the Department of Alabama and East Mississippi. The District of West Tennessee transferred from the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana to the Department of Alabama and East Mississippi. The Gulf District transferred from the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana to the Department of Alabama and Eastern Mississippi.
6 February 1864: The District of Northern Alabama was established in the Department of Alabama and East Mississippi.
7 February 1864: The Gulf District was redefined to extend from the mouth of the Pearl River northwards to the 32nd parallel, then east to the Georgia State line and southwards to the Gulf.
5 March 1864: The District of Mississippi and East Louisiana was established in the Department of Alabama and East Mississippi.
25 March 1864: The Department of Tennessee was redefined to extend from Gunter’s Landing on the Tennessee River in a direct line to Gadsden on the Coosa River; then down the Coosa to its junction with the Tallapoosa River; then in a direct line to the Florida state line on the Chattahoochee River, and down that river to the Gulf. The Department of Tennessee lay east of this line and the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana to the west of it.
1 May 1864: The Department of Tennessee was extended to include eastern Alabama and a portion of West Florida, while part of northeast Georgia was excluded.
4 May 1864: The “Army of Mississippi” was discontinued.
8 May 1864: The Department of Alabama and East Mississippi was redefined to extend from the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers, along the Tennessee River to Gunter’s Landing, then in a line to Gadsden on the Coosa River then downstream to the Tallapoosa River, then in a line to the juncture of Florida with the Choctawhatchee River, and down the river to the Gulf, east to the Mississippi River, north to the Ohio River and along the Ohio to the Tennessee River. The Gulf District was redefined to have a north-eastern limit at the intersection of the 32nd parallel with a line drawn from the junction of the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers to the intersection of the northern boundary of Florida and the Choctawhatchee River, then and along the Choctawhatchee to the Gulf.
27 July 1864: The District of Northern Alabama was reorganised to add the territory of Alabama north of Opelika, Montgomery, Selma, and Demopolis along with the railroad connecting them.
15 August 1864: The District of Mississippi and East Louisiana transferred from the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana to the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana. The Department of Alabama and East Mississippi was discontinued and renamed the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana.
Department of Tennessee and Georgia
15 August 1864-26 April 1865
John Bell Hood 15 August 1864-16 December 1864-23 January 1865
Richard Taylor temporary 23 January 1865-22 February 1865 interim 25 February 1865
Joseph Eggleston Johnston 22 February 1865-27 March 1865
Howell Cobb 27 March 1865-20 April 1865
Vacant 20 April 1865-26 April 1865
15 August 1864: The Department of Tennessee and Georgia was established extending from the southwestern boundary of Georgia and Florida on the Apalachicola River, then northward on the Chattahoochee River to the border of Alabama and Georgia, then north on that line to the Tennessee River. The District of Western North Carolina transferred from the Department of Tennessee to the Department of Tennessee and Georgia. The Army of Tennessee transferred from the Department of Tennessee to the Department of Tennessee and Georgia.
3 October 1864: The Department of Tennessee and Georgia transferred from the War Department to the Military Division of the West.
16 December 1864: The Department of Tennessee and Georgia transferred from the Military Division of the West to the War Department.
22 February 1865: The Department of Tennessee and Georgia was extended to include all of Georgia west of a line through Augusta and Macon, Georgia, to Jacksonville and Cedar Keys, Florida. Eastern Florida as far as the Chattahoochee River was also included. The “Army of the South” was named unofficially to describe all commands united under the direction of General Joseph Eggleston Johnston, in the Department of Tennessee and Georgia and the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The Army of Tennessee transferred to the Army of the South.
19 April 1865: The Department of East Tennessee and West Virginia was discontinued, and its territory was transferred to the Department of Tennessee and Georgia.
26 April 1865: The District of Western North Carolina surrendered. The Department of Tennessee and Georgia surrendered.
Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana
15 August 1864-4 May 1865
Dabney Herndon Maury interim 15 August 1864-6 September 1864
Richard Taylor 15 August 1864-4 May 1865
15 August 1864: The Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana was established comprising all territory west of the line extending from the southwestern boundary of Georgia and Florida on the Apalachicola River, then northward on the Chattahoochee River to the border of Alabama and Georgia, then north on that line to the Tennessee River. It included the state of Georgia northwest of the line from Augusta, along the Savannah and Augusta Railroad to Millen, then along the western boundary of Bullock and Tattnall counties, then along the Ocmulgee River to the northeast corner of Irwin county, and then south to the Florida state line, and then along the state line to the Apalachicola River. It comprised the territory of the former Department of Alabama and East Mississippi. The Gulf District transferred from the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana to the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana. The District of West Tennessee transferred from the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana to the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana. The District of Northern Alabama transferred from the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana to the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana. The District of Mississippi and East Louisiana transferred from the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana to the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana.
24 September 1864: The District of Central Alabama was established in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana. The Sub-District of Southwest Mississippi was established in the District of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana.
3 October 1864: The Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana transferred from the War Department to the Military Division of the West.
6 November 1864: The Sub-District of Northern Mississippi was established in the District of Mississippi and East Louisiana.
16 December 1864: The Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana transferred from the Military Division of the West to the War Department.
15 January 1865: The District of West Tennessee was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the District of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana.
24 January 1865: The District of Mississippi and East Louisiana was discontinued, and renamed the District of Mississippi, East Louisiana, and West Tennessee. The District of Mississippi, East Louisiana, and West Tennessee was established in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana.
3 February 1865: The District of Mississippi, East Louisiana, and West Tennessee was discontinued, and reorganised into the District of North Mississippi and West Tennessee, and the District of South Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana. The Sub-District of Northern Mississippi was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the District of North Mississippi and West Tennessee. The District of North Mississippi and West Tennessee was established in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana. The District of Southern Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana was established in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana. The District of Northern Alabama was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the District of Alabama. The District of Alabama was established in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana.
11 March 1865: The District of Central Alabama was discontinued, and its territory was incorporated into the District of Alabama.
25 March 1865: The Department of Kentucky was established in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana.
2 May 1865: The Gulf District surrendered.
4 May 1865: The Department of Kentucky surrendered. The District of Alabama surrendered. The District of North Mississippi and West Tennessee surrendered. The District of Southern Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana surrendered. The Sub-District of Southwest Mississippi surrendered. The Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana surrendered.
Department of Western Kentucky
6 September 1864-25 March 1865
Adam Rankin Johnson 6 September 1864-26 September 1864
Hylan Benton Lyon 26 September 1864-25 March 1865
6 September 1864: The Department of Western Kentucky was established.
3 October 1864: The Department of Western Kentucky transferred from the War Department to the Military Division of the West.
16 December 1864: The Department of Western Kentucky transferred from the Military Division of the West to the War Department.
25 March 1865: The Department of Western Kentucky was discontinued, and incorporated into the Department of Kentucky.
Department of East Tennessee and West Virginia
28 September 1864-19 April 1865
John Cabell Breckinridge 28 September 1864-20 February 1865
Jubal Anderson Early 20 February 1865-27 March 1865
Vacant 28 March 1865
John Echols 29 March 1865-19 April 1865
28 September 1864: The Department of East Tennessee and West Virginia was established from the former Trans-Allegheny Department.
9 April 1865: The Valley District was discontinued, and its field forces were transferred to the Department of East Tennessee and West Virginia.
19 April 1865: The Department of East Tennessee and West Virginia was discontinued, and its territory was transferred to the Department of Tennessee and Georgia.
Department of Kentucky
25 March 1865-4 May 1865
Hylan Benton Lyon 25 March 1865-4 May 1865
25 March 1865: The Department of Kentucky was established in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana.
4 May 1865: The Department of Kentucky surrendered.
American Civil War High Command 