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Department of California facts for kids

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Pacific Theatre 1861-01-01
This map shows the areas covered by the Departments of California (in yellow) and Oregon on January 1, 1861.

The Department of California was a special part of the United States Army. It was like a military district that managed army activities in a large area. This department started in 1858. It took over from an older group called the Department of the Pacific. The main office for the Department of California was in San Francisco. It was created by official army orders on September 13, 1858.

When it first began, the department covered a huge area. This included all the land that is now Arizona, Nevada, and California. It also included a big part of southwestern Oregon. This Oregon area was known as the Rogue River and Umpqua Districts.

Leaders of the Department

The first leader of the Department of California was Newman S. Clarke. He was a high-ranking officer, a Colonel in the U.S. 6th Infantry Regiment. He led the department until he passed away on October 17, 1860.

After him, Benjamin Lloyd Beall took command. He was a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. 1st Dragoon Regiment. He became the leader because he was the next highest-ranking officer. On January 15, 1861, the Department of California became part of the Department of the Pacific again. It was then called the District of California. Albert Sidney Johnston became its leader.

Becoming a District (1861-1865)

In March 1861, General Edwin Vose Sumner took over from General Johnston. He continued to lead the area, which was now called the District of California. In October 1861, General George Wright became the new leader. He remained in charge of the District even when the larger Department of the Pacific got a new commander, General Irvin McDowell, in July 1864.

Back to a Department (1865-1913)

In June 1865, the area became a full department again. It was now part of the Military Division of the Pacific. This larger division was led by Major General Henry W. Halleck. The new Department of California included the states of California and Nevada. It also covered the District of New Mexico and District of Arizona. These were parts of the New Mexico and Arizona Territories. Major General Irvin McDowell was assigned to lead this new Department of California.

Later, on April 15, 1870, the Department of Arizona was created. It included Arizona Territory and southern California. This part of California was south of a line from the northwest corner of Arizona to Point Conception.

From December 7, 1871, one general officer led both the Division of the Pacific and the Department of California. Their teams also joined together. On July 1, 1878, the main office for the Division of the Pacific moved to the Presidio of San Francisco.

The Department of Arizona lost southern California to the Department of California on February 14, 1883. But it got that part of California back on December 15, 1886. After that, the Department of California only included northern California (north of the 35th parallel) and Nevada.

The Military Division of the Pacific ended on July 3, 1891. After this, the Departments of Arizona, California, and the Columbia reported directly to the War Department. The Department of California still had its main office in San Francisco. It covered northern California and Nevada.

The Hawaiian Islands were added to the department on July 12, 1898. In 1910, Hawaii became the District of Hawaii. It was still part of the Department of California.

From 1904 to 1907, the Department of California was part of a new Pacific Division. It became independent again after 1907. Then, from 1911 to 1913, it was part of a new Western Division.

On February 15, 1913, the Department of California was officially closed. All the mainland military departments were reorganized. The areas that used to be part of the Departments of the Columbia and California were now controlled by the Western Department. However, the District of Hawaii became its own separate department, called the Department of Hawaii.

Commanders of the Department

Department of California (1865 to 1871)

Military Division of the Pacific and Department of California (1871 to 1891)

  • Major General John M. Schofield, December 7, 1871 - July 1, 1876
  • Major General Irvin McDowell, July 1, 1876 - October 15, 1882
  • Major General John M. Schofield, October 15, 1882 - November 30, 1883
  • Major General John Pope, November 30, 1883 - March 16, 1886
  • Major General Oliver Otis Howard, March 16, 1886 – 1888
  • Brigadier General Nelson A. Miles, November 23, 1888 - September 1, 1890
  • Brigadier General John Gibbon September 1, 1890 - April 20, 1891
  • Brigadier General Thomas H. Ruger, April 20, 1891 - July, 1891

Department of California (1891 to 1913)

  • Brigadier General Thomas H. Ruger, July 3, 1891 - November 10, 1894
  • Brigadier General James W. Forsyth, November 10, 1894 - 1897
  • Major General William Rufus Shafter 1897 - May 1898
  • Major General William Rufus Shafter September 1898 - February 1901
  • Major General Samuel B. M. Young February 1901 - March 1902
  • Major General Robert P. Hughes March 1902 - April 1, 1903
  • Major General Arthur MacArthur, Jr., April 1, 1903 - September 30, 1904
  • Brigadier General Francis Moore, September 30, 1904 - March 31, 1905
  • Brigadier-General Frederick Funston March 31, 1905 - 1907
  • Brigadier General John Joseph Pershing, 1907 - October 1908
  • Col. Marion F. Maus, August 10, 1908 -
  • Brigadier General Frederick A. Smith, October 1908 - January 13, 1909
  • Major General John F. Weston, January 13, 1909 - June 30, 1909
  • Major General Thomas H. Barry, June 30, 1909 - August 12, 1910
  • Brigadier General Tasker H. Bliss August 12, 1910 - August 13, 1911
  • Brig. Gen. Daniel H. Brush, July 1, 1911, to April 7, 1912
  • Colonel John P. Wisser, Coast Artillery Corps (temporary), May 2 to June 26, 1912
  • Brig. Gen. Walter S. Schuyler, June 27, 1912 - January 2, 1913
  • Colonel John P. Wisser, January 3, 1913 - February 15, 1913

Army Posts in California

Many army posts were located in California during the time of the Department of California. These were important places for soldiers to live and train.

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