Department of the Columbia
Encyclopedia
The Department of the Columbia was a major command (Department
) of the United States Army
during the 19th century.
Henry W. Halleck, replacing the Department of the Pacific
, consisting of the Department of the Columbia (replacing the District of Oregon
) that now consisted of the State of Oregon and the Territories of Washington and Idaho and the expanded Department of California
.
On March 18, 1868, the Army established the Department of Alaska
under the Division of the Pacific. The Department of Alaska was discontinued on July 1, 1870, and Alaska
was absorbed by the Department of the Columbia.
In June 1875, the part of the Territory of Idaho that lay east of the extension of the western boundary of Utah
, and including Fort Hall
, was detached from the Department of Columbia and added to the Department of the Platte
.
When the Military Division of the Pacific was discontinued on July 3, 1891. Each of its three subordinate departments including the Department of the Columbia, then reported directly to the War Department
.
Department (United States Army)
Department, is a term used, by the U.S. Army, mostly prior to World War I. In 1920, most of the departments were redesignated as corps areas. However, the Hawaiian, Panama Canal, and Philippine Departments retained their old names...
) of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the 19th century.
Formation
On July 27, 1865 the Military Division of the Pacific was created under Major GeneralMajor General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Henry W. Halleck, replacing the Department of the Pacific
Department of the Pacific
The Department of the Pacific was a major command of the United States Army during the 19th century.-Formation:The Department of the Pacific was first organized on October 31, 1853, at San Francisco, California, taking over from the previous Pacific Division. The department reported directly to...
, consisting of the Department of the Columbia (replacing the District of Oregon
District of Oregon (military)
The District of Oregon was a Union Army command department formed during the American Civil War. The district was part of the independent Department of the Pacific reconstituted by consolidating the Departments of California and Oregon, which was created on January 15, 1861 when the Army was...
) that now consisted of the State of Oregon and the Territories of Washington and Idaho and the expanded Department of California
Department of California
The Department of California was one of two Army Departments created September 13, 1858, replacing the original Department of the Pacific and was composed of the territory of the United States lying west of the Rocky Mountains and south of Oregon and Washington territories, except the Rogue River...
.
On March 18, 1868, the Army established the Department of Alaska
Department of Alaska
The Department of Alaska was the designation for the government of Alaska from its purchase by the United States of America in 1867 until its organization as the District of Alaska in 1884. During the department era, Alaska was variously under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army , the United States...
under the Division of the Pacific. The Department of Alaska was discontinued on July 1, 1870, and Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
was absorbed by the Department of the Columbia.
In June 1875, the part of the Territory of Idaho that lay east of the extension of the western boundary of Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, and including Fort Hall
Fort Hall
Fort Hall, sitting athwart the end of the common stretch shared by the three far west emigrant trails was a 19th century outpost in the eastern Oregon Country, which eventually became part of the present-day United States, and is located in southeastern Idaho near Fort Hall, Idaho...
, was detached from the Department of Columbia and added to the Department of the Platte
Department of the Platte
The Department of the Platte was a military administrative district established by the U.S. Army on March 5, 1866, with boundaries encompassing Iowa, Nebraska, Dakota Territory, Utah Territory and a small portion of Idaho...
.
When the Military Division of the Pacific was discontinued on July 3, 1891. Each of its three subordinate departments including the Department of the Columbia, then reported directly to the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
.
Commanders of the Military Department of Columbia
- Brigadier General George WrightGeorge Wright (general)George Wright was an American soldier who served in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
, July 27, 1865 – July 30, 1865 - Colonel George Byron CurreyGeorge Byron CurreyGeorge Byron Currey was a pioneer, lawyer, soldier, farmer, and editor in the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of Indiana, he served as commander of the District of Oregon at the end of the American Civil War.-Early life:...
, July 27, 1865 – November 20, 1865 - Lt. Colonel John M. DrakeJohn M. DrakeJohn Miller Drake was a Union Army officer in the 1st Oregon Cavalry and the 1st Oregon Infantry regiments during the American Civil War. He eventually reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He led one of the first campaigns to respond to the threat Chief Paulina posed to settlers and rival...
, November 20, 1865 – December 22, 1865 - Major General Frederick SteeleFrederick SteeleFrederick Steele was a career military officer in the United States Army, serving as a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was most noted for his successful campaign to retake much of secessionist Arkansas for the Union cause.-Early life:Steele was born in Delhi, New...
, December 21, 1865 – December 11, 1866 - Brigadier General George CrookGeorge CrookGeorge R. Crook was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Early life:...
, December 11, 1866 – 1869 - Major General Edward Richard Sprigg Canby, 1869 – 1873
- Colonel Alvan Cullem GillemAlvan Cullem GillemAlvan Cullem Gillem was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Although Southern-born, he remained loyal to the Federal government and fought in several battles in the Western Theater before commanding occupation troops in Mississippi and Arkansas during Reconstruction...
, 1873 – 1873 - Colonel Jefferson Columbus Davis, 1873 – 1874
- Brigadier General Oliver Otis Howard, 1874 – 1880
- Brigadier General Nelson A. MilesNelson A. MilesNelson Appleton Miles was a United States soldier who served in the American Civil War, Indian Wars, and the Spanish-American War.-Early life:Miles was born in Westminster, Massachusetts, on his family's farm...
, 1880 – 1884 - Brigadier General John GibbonJohn GibbonJohn Gibbon was a career United States Army officer who fought in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Early life:...
, 1885 – 1891