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Army of the Southwest
Country United States of America
Branch United States Army
Engagements American Civil War

The Army of the Southwest was a Union Army group of soldiers. It fought for the United States during the American Civil War. This army was active in the Trans-Mississippi Theater, which was the area west of the Mississippi River. It was also sometimes called the Army of Southwest Missouri.

History of the Army of the Southwest

Forming the Army: Christmas 1861

The Army of the Southwest was officially created on Christmas Day, 1861. It was a field unit, meaning it was a group of soldiers ready for battle. These troops came from the Department of the Missouri. The main leader of this army was Brigadier General Samuel Ryan Curtis. Other officers also led the army for short times later on.

Leaders and Divisions: A Team Effort

When General Curtis took command, the army had three main parts, called divisions. These were led by Brigadier General Franz Sigel, Brigadier General Alexander Asboth, and Colonel Jefferson C. Davis.

General Sigel felt he should have been in charge of the whole army. He even thought about leaving. Many soldiers in the army were German immigrants, and Sigel, who was German, was very popular with them. To keep Sigel happy, General Curtis made him second-in-command. Sigel then oversaw the 1st and 2nd Divisions, which had mostly German immigrant soldiers.

Colonel Peter Joseph Osterhaus, another German immigrant, led the 1st Division. General Asboth, who was from Hungary, continued to lead the 2nd Division. Colonel Davis's 3rd Division had soldiers mostly from the Midwestern United States. To make the army more balanced, General Curtis created a 4th Division. Colonel Eugene Asa Carr was put in charge of this new division.

Major Battles and Changes

General Curtis led the Army of the Southwest in its most important battle, the Battle of Pea Ridge. This was a big fight for the army. Later that year, the army captured Helena, Arkansas. After this, the army became less important for the rest of the war.

Some parts of the army were moved to other groups. The 1st Division, now led by Frederick Steele, joined the Army of the Tennessee. The 2nd and 3rd Divisions were sent to the Army of Mississippi. They helped during the siege of Corinth.

Army of Southeast Missouri: A Short-Lived Group

On December 3, 1862, a large part of the 4th Division was renamed the Army of Southeast Missouri. General John Wynn Davidson was its commander. This group had two divisions. They were led by Colonel William Plummer Benton and Colonel Chester A. Harding, Jr..

This army did not last long. Its soldiers were soon moved to the Army of the Tennessee. They were preparing for the Vicksburg campaign, a very important series of battles. There, they became part of the 14th Division of the XIII Corps, led by General Carr.

Commanders of the Army

Here are the main commanders who led the Army of the Southwest:

Major Battles

The Army of the Southwest fought in several important battles:

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