Army of Mississippi
There were three organizations known as the Army of Mississippi in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. (This name is contrasted against Army of the Mississippi, which was a Union Army named for the Mississippi River, not the state of Mississippi.)
Army of Mississippi (March 1862)
This army, at times known by the names Army of the West or Army of the Mississippi (the latter particularly at Shiloh), was one of the most important in the Western theater, with battles from Shiloh to Perryville. It was organized on March 5 1862, and portions of the Army of Pensacola were added on March 13. It was consolidated with the Army of Central Kentucky and the Army of Louisiana on March 29. On November 20 1862, it was renamed the Army of Tennessee.
Command History
Commander | From | To | Major Battles and Campaigns |
---|---|---|---|
Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard | March 5 1862 (assumed March 17 1862) |
March 29 1862 | |
Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston | March 29 1862 | April 6 1862 | Shiloh |
Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard | April 6 1862 | May 6 1862 | |
Gen. Braxton Bragg | May 6 1862 (assumed May 7 1862) |
July 5 1862 | |
Maj. Gen. William J. Hardee (temp) | July 5 1862 | August 15 1862 | |
Gen. Braxton Bragg | August 15 1862 | September 28 1862 | |
Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk (temp) | September 28 1862 | November 7 1862 | Perryville |
Gen. Braxton Bragg | November 7 1862 | November 20 1862 |
Army of Mississippi (December 1862)
The second army was also referred to as the Army of Vicksburg. It was organized December 7 1862, from troops in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. Its sole function was to defend Vicksburg, Mississippi, and it ceased to exist when it surrendered to Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant on July 4 1863.
Command History
Commander | From | To | Major Battles and Campaigns |
---|---|---|---|
Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton | December 7 1862 | December 9 1862 | |
Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn (temp) | December 9 1862 | December 17 1862 | |
Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton | December 17 1862 | July 4 1863 | Vicksburg Campaign |
Army of Mississippi (1863–64)
The third army was retitled III Corps, Army of Tennessee, around May 4 1864, but it continued to use the former name.
Command History
Commander | From | To | Major Battles and Campaigns |
---|---|---|---|
Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee | July 30 1863 | October 23 1863 | |
Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk | October 23 1863 | June 14 1864 | Atlanta Campaign |
Maj. Gen. William W. Loring | June 14 1864 | June 23 1864 |
References
- Eicher, John H., & Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1.