Army of the Mississippi facts for kids
The Army of the Mississippi was the name given to two different armies used by the Union during the American Civil War. Both armies operated near the important Mississippi River. They were active for only a short time.
The First Army of the Mississippi
The first Army of the Mississippi was formed on February 23, 1862. Its first leader was Major general John Pope. General Pope's job was to clear out Confederate soldiers along the Mississippi River. This would allow the Union army to move freely.
On February 28, 1862, General Pope started moving his army towards New Madrid, Missouri. The army then fought in the Battle of Island Number Ten. After that, they fought at the Siege of Corinth.
After the capture of Corinth, General Pope was sent east. He was given command of the Army of Virginia. Major general William S. Rosecrans then took command of the Army of the Mississippi.
Under Rosecrans, the army fought in the Battle of Iuka. They then fought in the Second Battle of Corinth. His commanding officer, Ulysses S. Grant, was not happy. Rosecrans did not chase the retreating Confederates after the Battle of Corinth. In October 1862, Rosecrans was moved to command the Army of the Ohio. The Army of the Mississippi was then officially ended.
The Second Army of the Mississippi
In 1863, Major general John Alexander McClernand was put in charge. His mission was to lead an attack against the Confederates down the Mississippi River. He was given two corps (large groups of soldiers) from the Army of the Tennessee. McClernand decided to name his force the "Army of the Mississippi."
McClernand was successful in capturing Arkansas Post. However, he did this without direct orders. On January 30, 1863, General Grant personally took command of the army. The two corps that made up McClernand's force were returned to the Army of the Tennessee on January 12, 1863.
