District of Utah
Encyclopedia
During the American Civil War
, the District of Utah was a subordinate district of the Army's Department of the Pacific
.
On August 6, 1862, the Department of the Pacific absorbed the District of Utah, the territory of the former Department of Utah which had been discontinued on July 3, 1861; the remaining troops had marched out August 9. The District of Utah was composed of the Territory of Nevada and the Territory of Utah. General Connor established its headquarters at Fort Ruby
on August 6, 1862. After a visit to Salt Lake City he returned and on October 20, moved his headquarters to Camp Douglas
, about three miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah
where his forces could overlook and intimidate the Morman
leadership who he regarded as traitors to the Union. On August 20, 1863 the area of Soda Springs
, Idaho Territory
was added to the district. His District also provided a garrison for Fort Bridger
. The Territory of Nevada became the State of Nevada
and was admitted to the Union on October 31, 1864.
On February 17, 1865 the District of Utah was transferred from the Department of the Pacific into the Department of the Missouri
. On March 28, 1865, the district was merged into the Department of the Plains. On June 27, 1865, the State of Nevada and Territory of Utah became part of the expanded Department of California
that also consisted of the State of California
and the Territory of New Mexico and Territory of Arizona.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the District of Utah was a subordinate district of the Army's 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...
.
On August 6, 1862, the Department of the Pacific absorbed the District of Utah, the territory of the former Department of Utah which had been discontinued on July 3, 1861; the remaining troops had marched out August 9. The District of Utah was composed of the Territory of Nevada and the Territory of Utah. General Connor established its headquarters at Fort Ruby
Fort Ruby
Fort Ruby, also known as Camp Ruby, was built in 1862, during the American Civil War, in the "wilderness of eastern Nevada." It protected the overland mail coaches and Pony Express, which linked California to the Union...
on August 6, 1862. After a visit to Salt Lake City he returned and on October 20, moved his headquarters to Camp Douglas
Fort Douglas, Utah
Camp Douglas was established in October 1862 as a small military garrison about three miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah, for the purpose of protecting the overland mail route and telegraph lines along the Central Overland Route. In 1878, the post was renamed Fort Douglas. The fort was officially...
, about three miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
where his forces could overlook and intimidate the Morman
Morman
Morman was a Breton chieftain who was declared King after the death of the Bretons' Frankish overlord Charlemagne in 814. He is the first personage known by name to be described as a Breton "king" and he probably ruled a warband with members drawn from throughout Brittany...
leadership who he regarded as traitors to the Union. On August 20, 1863 the area of Soda Springs
Soda Springs, Idaho
Soda Springs is a city in Caribou County, Idaho, United States. The population was 3,381 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Caribou County....
, Idaho Territory
Idaho Territory
The Territory of Idaho was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 4, 1863, until July 3, 1890, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Idaho.-1860s:...
was added to the district. His District also provided a garrison for Fort Bridger
Fort Bridger
Fort Bridger was originally a 19th century fur trading outpost established in 1842 on Blacks Fork of the Green River and later a vital resupply point for wagon trains on the Oregon Trail, California Trail and Mormon Trail. The Army established a military post here in 1858 during the Utah War until...
. The Territory of Nevada became the State of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
and was admitted to the Union on October 31, 1864.
District of Utah Commanders
- ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Patrick Edward ConnorPatrick Edward ConnorPatrick Edward Connor was a Union General during the American Civil War. He was most famous for his campaigns against Native Americans in the American Old West.-Early life and career:...
August 6, 1862 - February 17, 1865 (Department of the Pacific) - Brigadier GeneralBrigadier GeneralBrigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Patrick Edward Connor February 17, 1865 - March 28, 1865 (Department of the Missouri)
On February 17, 1865 the District of Utah was transferred from the Department of the Pacific into the Department of the Missouri
Department of the Missouri
Department of the Missouri was a division of the United States Army that functioned through the American Civil War and the Indian Wars afterwards.-Civil War:...
. On March 28, 1865, the district was merged into the Department of the Plains. On June 27, 1865, the State of Nevada and Territory of Utah became part of 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...
that also consisted of the State of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and the Territory of New Mexico and Territory of Arizona.
Posts in the District of Utah
- Mormon StationMormon Station State Historic ParkMormon Station Historic State Park is a state park interpreting the site of first permanent nonnative settlement in Nevada, USA. The park is located in downtown Genoa....
, Nevada 1849–1910 - Camp FloydCamp FloydCamp Floyd was a short-lived U.S. Army post near Fairfield, Utah, United States. The site is now a Utah state park known as Camp Floyd / Stagecoach Inn State Park and Museum.-Camp Floyd:...
, Utah, 1858–1861; Fort Crittenden, 1861–1862 - Fort ChurchillFort Churchill State Historic ParkFort Churchill State Historic Park is a Nevada state park in Lyon County, Nevada, in the United States. Located south of the town of Silver Springs, it is in the Central Nevada Region of Nevada State Parks, and is one of seven National Historic Landmarks in the state of Nevada. The site is one...
, Nevada 1860–1869 - Camp SchellFort SchellbourneFort Schelbourne, formerly Camp Schell, in Ely, Nevada, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Its boundaries were increased in 1977.-References:...
, Nevada, 1860–1862- Fort SchellbourneFort SchellbourneFort Schelbourne, formerly Camp Schell, in Ely, Nevada, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Its boundaries were increased in 1977.-References:...
, Nevada, 1862–1869
- Fort Schellbourne
- Camp Nye, Nevada 1861–1865
- Camp DouglasFort Douglas, UtahCamp Douglas was established in October 1862 as a small military garrison about three miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah, for the purpose of protecting the overland mail route and telegraph lines along the Central Overland Route. In 1878, the post was renamed Fort Douglas. The fort was officially...
, Utah 1862–1878 - Fort RubyFort RubyFort Ruby, also known as Camp Ruby, was built in 1862, during the American Civil War, in the "wilderness of eastern Nevada." It protected the overland mail coaches and Pony Express, which linked California to the Union...
, Nevada 1862–1869 - Camp Smoke Creek, Nevada, 1862–1864
- Camp Cedar Swamps, Utah, 1863
- Camp ConnorCamp ConnorCamp Connor was a Union Army outpost established May 23, 1863 by Captain David Black, 3rd Regiment California Volunteer Infantry, by order of Brigadier General Patrick Edward Connor commander of the District of Utah, Department of the Pacific for whom the post was named.Camp Conner was located east...
, Idaho Territory, 1863–1865 - Camp Dun Glen(1863, 1865-1866)
- Fort Trinity, Nevada, 1863 - 1864
- Antelope Station, Nevada, 1864
- Fort BakerOld Las Vegas Mormon State Historic ParkOld Las Vegas Mormon State Historic Park is a state park of Nevada, USA, containing the Old Mormon Fort, the first structure built by people of European blood in what would become Las Vegas fifty years later....
, Nevada 1864 - Camp Bingham Creek, Utah, 1864
- Camp Relief, Utah, 1864
- Deep Creek Station, Nevada, 1864
- Quinn River Camp 1865
- Fort McDermitt, Nevada 1865–1889
- Fort McGrary, Nevada 1865–1868
- Camp McKee, Nevada 1865–1866
- Camp Overend, Nevada, 1865
- Salt Lake City Post, Utah, 1865–1866
See also
- California in the American Civil War
- Nevada in the American Civil WarNevada in the American Civil WarDuring the American Civil War, Nevadas entry into statehood in the United States was expedited by Union sympathizers in order to ensure Nevada's participation in the 1864 presidential election in support of President Abraham Lincoln....
- Utah in the American Civil WarUtah in the American Civil WarThe Utah Territory during the American Civil War was far from the main operational theaters of war, but still played a role in the disposition of the United States Army, drawing manpower away from the volunteer forces and providing its share of administrative headaches for the Lincoln Administration...