First Corps, Army of Tennessee
Encyclopedia
The First Corps, Army of Tennessee was a military unit that defended the Confederate States of America
during the American Civil War
. It was an army corps
within the Army of Tennessee
, officially created in November 1862 and continued in existence until its surrender in April 1865 in North Carolina. It was also variously known as Polk's Corps, Hardee's Corps, and Cheatham's Corps.
and the Mississippi River
. It contained soldiers previously from the Army of Mississippi
, the predecessor of the Army of Tennessee.
Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk
commanded the First Corps from November 20, 1862 – September 29, 1863. He assumed command on November 26, 1863, and held it (with minor interruptions) until his relief on September 29, 1863, and subsequent arrest on October 23. The First Corps participated in the Tennessee Campaign from June–October 1863 under Gen. Braxton Bragg
.
Major engagements under Lt. Gen. Polk:
Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham
commanded the First Corps four times, during the periods September 29 – October 23, 1863, from December 2–27, 1863, then August 31 – September 2, 1864, and lastly from September 28, 1864 – February 23, 1865. This last posting was the only period which he was not in "temporary" command of the corps.
Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee
commanded the First Corps four times, during the periods October 23 – December 2, 1863, again from December 27 – August 31, 1863, a third time from September 2–28, 1864, and lastly from February 23 – April 26, 1865. On that date the corps, along with the rest of the Army of Tennessee, were surrendered by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston
.
Maj. Gen. Patrick Cleburne
commanded the First Corps temporarily from August 31–September 1, 1864.
Units added:
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
during the American Civil War
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...
. It was an army corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
within the Army of Tennessee
Army of Tennessee
The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. It was formed in late 1862 and fought until the end of the war in 1865, participating in most of the significant battles in the Western Theater...
, officially created in November 1862 and continued in existence until its surrender in April 1865 in North Carolina. It was also variously known as Polk's Corps, Hardee's Corps, and Cheatham's Corps.
Background
The units comprising the First Corps were drawn from the organization of Department No. 2 (or the Western Department) of the Confederate States, which held responsibility for defending the area between the Tennessee RiverTennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
and the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. It contained soldiers previously from the Army of Mississippi
Army of Mississippi
There were three organizations known as the Army of Mississippi in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. -Army of Mississippi :This army, at times known by the names Army of the West or Army of the...
, the predecessor of the Army of Tennessee.
Command under Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk
Leonidas Polk
Leonidas Polk was a Confederate general in the American Civil War who was once a planter in Maury County, Tennessee, and a second cousin of President James K. Polk...
commanded the First Corps from November 20, 1862 – September 29, 1863. He assumed command on November 26, 1863, and held it (with minor interruptions) until his relief on September 29, 1863, and subsequent arrest on October 23. The First Corps participated in the Tennessee Campaign from June–October 1863 under Gen. Braxton Bragg
Braxton Bragg
Braxton Bragg was a career United States Army officer, and then a general in the Confederate States Army—a principal commander in the Western Theater of the American Civil War and later the military adviser to Confederate President Jefferson Davis.Bragg, a native of North Carolina, was...
.
Major engagements under Lt. Gen. Polk:
- Battle of Stones RiverBattle of Stones RiverThe Battle of Stones River or Second Battle of Murfreesboro , was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War...
December 1862–January 1863 - Battle of ChickamaugaBattle of ChickamaugaThe Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
September 1863
Command under Maj. Gen. B. J. Cheatham
Benjamin F. Cheatham
Benjamin Franklin Cheatham , known also as Frank, was a Tennessee aristocrat, California gold miner, and a General in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, serving in many battles of the Western Theater.-Early years:Cheatham was born in Nashville, Tennessee on a plantation...
commanded the First Corps four times, during the periods September 29 – October 23, 1863, from December 2–27, 1863, then August 31 – September 2, 1864, and lastly from September 28, 1864 – February 23, 1865. This last posting was the only period which he was not in "temporary" command of the corps.
Command under Lt. Gen. W. J. Hardee
William J. Hardee
William Joseph Hardee was a career U.S. Army officer, serving during the Second Seminole War and fighting in the Mexican-American War...
commanded the First Corps four times, during the periods October 23 – December 2, 1863, again from December 27 – August 31, 1863, a third time from September 2–28, 1864, and lastly from February 23 – April 26, 1865. On that date the corps, along with the rest of the Army of Tennessee, were surrendered by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph Eggleston Johnston was a career U.S. Army officer, serving with distinction in the Mexican-American War and Seminole Wars, and was also one of the most senior general officers in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
.
Command under Maj. Gen. P. R. Cleburne
Patrick Cleburne
Patrick Ronayne Cleburne was an Irish American soldier, best known for his service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, where he rose to the rank of major general....
commanded the First Corps temporarily from August 31–September 1, 1864.
Units added:
- On October 31, 1863, a portion of the Third Corps, Army of TennesseeThird Corps, Army of TennesseeThe Third Corps was a military formation in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Formation:The Corps was originally formed by gathering William Joseph Hardee's division from the Central Army of Kentucky, also known as the Army of central Kentucky...
was added to the First Corps - On November 4, 1863, the "Reserve Corps" of the army was added
- On April 10, 1865, all remaining forces in the state of Georgia were added.