Army of the Gulf
Encyclopedia
The Army of the Gulf was a Union
army that served in the general area of the Gulf
states controlled by Union forces. It mainly saw action in Louisiana
and Alabama
.
David G. Farragut captured New Orleans in 1862. The commander of the Union occupation forces, Benjamin F. Butler
was placed in command of the department. In March, Butler assumed command of the department and the Army of the Gulf was created from the troops now designated to the Department of the Gulf.
The army saw little action the rest of 1862 and Butler was replaced by Major General Nathaniel P. Banks on December 17. Banks assumed command of the Department of the Gulf, the Army of the Gulf, and the XIX Corps
, which were essentially different names for the same force. Banks led the army in several engagements in lower Louisiana that eventually led to the Siege of Port Hudson
, the army's first major engagement. The army endured the siege and the post was finally surrendered on July 9, 1863. The next year the XIII Corps
and two divisions of the XVI Corps
were added to the department, increasing the army to over three corps. Banks retained command of the army and department while Gen. William H. Emory
assumed command of the XIX Corps.
In March 1864, Banks began his disastrous Red River Campaign
. After it failed, he resigned from the army and was replaced by Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut
. The XIX Corps was sent to the Shenandoah Valley
and the forces that remained in the army participated in the land attack at the Battle of Mobile Bay
.
Late in the war, Maj. Gen. Edward Canby
's Military Division of West Mississippi was given the army's two remaining corps, the XIII and the XVI, for a planned offensive to capture the city of Mobile
. During this operation, Canby renamed the force the Army of West Mississippi
after the military division that he commanded. Although now under a different title, the force was virtually the same army and it took part in the Battle of Spanish Fort
and the Battle of Fort Blakely
. Canby was appointed command of the Department of the Gulf at the closing of the war and the forces once again became the Army of the Gulf.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
army that served in the general area of the Gulf
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
states controlled by Union forces. It mainly saw action in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
History
The Department of the Gulf was created when AdmiralAdmiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
David G. Farragut captured New Orleans in 1862. The commander of the Union occupation forces, Benjamin F. Butler
Benjamin Franklin Butler (politician)
Benjamin Franklin Butler was an American lawyer and politician who represented Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives and later served as the 33rd Governor of Massachusetts....
was placed in command of the department. In March, Butler assumed command of the department and the Army of the Gulf was created from the troops now designated to the Department of the Gulf.
The army saw little action the rest of 1862 and Butler was replaced by Major General Nathaniel P. Banks on December 17. Banks assumed command of the Department of the Gulf, the Army of the Gulf, and the XIX Corps
XIX Corps (ACW)
XIX Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It spent most of its service in Louisiana and the Gulf, though several units fought in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley....
, which were essentially different names for the same force. Banks led the army in several engagements in lower Louisiana that eventually led to the Siege of Port Hudson
Siege of Port Hudson
The Siege of Port Hudson occurred from May 22 to July 9, 1863, when Union Army troops assaulted and then surrounded the Mississippi River town of Port Hudson, Louisiana, during the American Civil War....
, the army's first major engagement. The army endured the siege and the post was finally surrendered on July 9, 1863. The next year the XIII Corps
XII Corps (ACW)
The XII Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War.The corps was formed by U.S. War Department General Order of March 13, 1862, under which the corps organization of the Army of the Potomac was first created. By that order, five different corps were constituted: one of...
and two divisions of the XVI Corps
XVI Corps (ACW)
The XVI Army Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. The corps rarely fought as one unified unit, as its divisions were often scattered across the country.-Creation and Vicksburg:...
were added to the department, increasing the army to over three corps. Banks retained command of the army and department while Gen. William H. Emory
William H. Emory
William Hemsley Emory was an United States Army officer and surveyor of Texas.-Early life and career:...
assumed command of the XIX Corps.
In March 1864, Banks began his disastrous Red River Campaign
Red River Campaign
The Red River Campaign or Red River Expedition consisted of a series of battles fought along the Red River in Louisiana during the American Civil War from March 10 to May 22, 1864. The campaign was a Union initiative, fought between approximately 30,000 Union troops under the command of Maj. Gen....
. After it failed, he resigned from the army and was replaced by Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut
Stephen A. Hurlbut
Stephen Augustus Hurlbut , was a politician, diplomat, and commander of the U.S. Army of the Gulf in the American Civil War.-Biography:...
. The XIX Corps was sent to the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
and the forces that remained in the army participated in the land attack at the Battle of Mobile Bay
Battle of Mobile Bay
The Battle of Mobile Bay of August 5, 1864, was an engagement of the American Civil War in which a Federal fleet commanded by Rear Adm. David G. Farragut, assisted by a contingent of soldiers, attacked a smaller Confederate fleet led by Adm...
.
Late in the war, Maj. Gen. Edward Canby
Edward Canby
Edward Richard Sprigg Canby was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War, Reconstruction era, and the Indian Wars...
's Military Division of West Mississippi was given the army's two remaining corps, the XIII and the XVI, for a planned offensive to capture the city of Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
. During this operation, Canby renamed the force the Army of West Mississippi
Army of West Mississippi
The Army of West Mississippi was a Union army that served in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. It was virtually the same force as the Army of the Gulf, but was renamed when it became a part of the Military Division of West Mississippi, in the Department of the Gulf commanded by Maj....
after the military division that he commanded. Although now under a different title, the force was virtually the same army and it took part in the Battle of Spanish Fort
Battle of Spanish Fort
The Battle of Spanish Fort took place from March 27 to April 8, 1865 in Baldwin County, Alabama, as part of the Mobile Campaign of the Western Theater of the American Civil War....
and the Battle of Fort Blakely
Battle of Fort Blakely
-Sources:**-External links:*...
. Canby was appointed command of the Department of the Gulf at the closing of the war and the forces once again became the Army of the Gulf.
Command history
- Major General Benjamin F. ButlerBenjamin Franklin Butler (politician)Benjamin Franklin Butler was an American lawyer and politician who represented Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives and later served as the 33rd Governor of Massachusetts....
(February 23 – December 15, 1862) - Major General Nathaniel P. Banks (December 15, 1862 – September 23, 1864)
- Major General Stephen A. HurlbutStephen A. HurlbutStephen Augustus Hurlbut , was a politician, diplomat, and commander of the U.S. Army of the Gulf in the American Civil War.-Biography:...
(September 23, 1864 – April 22, 1865) as Dept of the Gulf - Major General Nathaniel P. Banks (April 23, 1865 – June 3, 1865)
- Major General Edward CanbyEdward CanbyEdward Richard Sprigg Canby was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War, Reconstruction era, and the Indian Wars...
(June 3, 1865 – June 27, 1865)
Major battles and campaigns
- Battle of Irish BendBattle of Irish BendThe Battle of Irish Bend, also known as Nerson's Woods or Franklin, was fought between Union Major General Nathaniel Prentice Banks against Confederate Major General Richard Taylor during Banks's operations against the Bayou Teche region near Franklin, the seat of St...
(Banks) - Battle of Fort BislandBattle of Fort Bisland-Sources:* Ayres, Thomas, Dark and Bloody Ground : The Battle of Mansfield and the Forgotten Civil War in Louisiana, Cooper Square Press, 2001.* Parrish, T. Michael, Richard Taylor, Soldier Prince of Dixie, University of North Carolina Press, 1992....
(Banks) - Siege of Port HudsonSiege of Port HudsonThe Siege of Port Hudson occurred from May 22 to July 9, 1863, when Union Army troops assaulted and then surrounded the Mississippi River town of Port Hudson, Louisiana, during the American Civil War....
(Banks) - Red River CampaignRed River CampaignThe Red River Campaign or Red River Expedition consisted of a series of battles fought along the Red River in Louisiana during the American Civil War from March 10 to May 22, 1864. The campaign was a Union initiative, fought between approximately 30,000 Union troops under the command of Maj. Gen....
(Banks) - Battle of Spanish FortBattle of Spanish FortThe Battle of Spanish Fort took place from March 27 to April 8, 1865 in Baldwin County, Alabama, as part of the Mobile Campaign of the Western Theater of the American Civil War....
(Canby) as Army of West Mississippi - Battle of Fort BlakelyBattle of Fort Blakely-Sources:**-External links:*...
(Canby) as Army of West Mississippi