Department of the Columbia facts for kids
The Department of the Columbia was an important command of the United States Army in the 1800s. It helped manage military operations in the northwestern part of the United States. This area included states and territories like Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska.
How It Was Formed
On July 27, 1865, the U.S. Army created a new large military area called the Military Division of the Pacific. This new division was led by Major General Henry Halleck. It replaced an older command called the Department of the Pacific.
The Department of the Columbia was part of this new division. It took over from the old District of Oregon. The Department of the Columbia now covered the state of Oregon and the territories of Washington and Idaho.
Inside the Department of the Columbia, there were smaller military areas. These included the District of Boise (from 1865 to 1867) and the District of Owyhee (from 1867 to 1869). Soldiers in these districts were involved in a conflict called the Snake War.
In 1867, after the United States bought Alaska, a military area called the Military District of Alaska was created. It was under the Department of the Columbia. Later, on March 18, 1868, the Army created a separate Department of Alaska. However, this Department of Alaska was closed on July 1, 1870. After that, Alaska became part of the Department of the Columbia again.
In June 1875, a part of the Idaho Territory was moved from the Department of the Columbia. This area, which included Fort Hall, was added to the Department of the Platte.
The larger Military Division of the Pacific was closed on July 3, 1891. After that, the Department of the Columbia and the other two departments that were part of it began reporting directly to the War Department.
Leaders of the Department of the Columbia
Here are some of the important military leaders who commanded the Department of the Columbia:
- Brigadier General George Wright, July 27, 1865 – July 30, 1865
- Colonel George Byron Currey, July 27, 1865 – November 20, 1865
- Lieutenant Colonel John M. Drake, November 20, 1865 – December 22, 1865
- Major General Frederick Steele, December 21, 1865 – November 23, 1867
- Lieutenant Colonel George Crook, November 23, 1867 – August 8, 1870
- Brigadier General Edward Richard Sprigg Canby, August 8, 1870 – January 1873
- Colonel Jefferson Columbus Davis, January 1873 – September 1874
- Brigadier General Oliver Otis Howard, September 1874 – January 1881
- Brigadier General Nelson A. Miles, January 1881 – July 1885
- Brigadier General John Gibbon, July 1885 – April 1891
- Brigadier General August Kautz, April 1891 – January 1892
