Department of the Ohio facts for kids

The Department of the Ohio was a special military area. It was set up by the United States Department of War during the American Civil War. Its job was to manage soldiers in the northern states near the Ohio River.

First Department: 1861 to 1862

On May 3, 1861, the War Department created the first Department of the Ohio. It included all Federal troops in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. The main office was in Cincinnati, Ohio.

General George B. McClellan's Command

Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan was the first leader of this department. In the spring and summer of 1861, McClellan's forces worked to control western Virginia. This area wanted to stay with the Union. His soldiers won against two small Confederate armies. This helped western Virginia later become the state of West Virginia.

Changes in Leadership

After McClellan moved to lead the Army of the Potomac, Brig. Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchel took command. He led the department from September to November 1861. His troops tried to move south towards Huntsville, Alabama, but they were stopped.

Then, Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell became the new commander. All the soldiers in the department became part of the Army of the Ohio. The first Department of the Ohio ended on March 11, 1862. It joined with other military departments.

Second Department: 1862 to 1865

The Department of the Ohio was created again on August 19, 1862. This time, it included Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and part of Kentucky.

New Commanders and Forces

Maj. Gen. Horatio G. Wright was chosen to lead the recreated department. In September, western Virginia and all Federal troops there were added.

On March 25, 1863, Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside took over command. Wright later moved to the Army of the Potomac. Burnside brought all the department's forces together. He created the XXIII Corps, also called the Army of the Ohio. Burnside led this new army himself.

Key Events and Leadership Changes

Parts of the new Army of the Ohio helped stop Morgan's Raid. This was a Confederate cavalry raid into Union territory. On October 16, 1863, the Department of the Ohio became part of the Military Division of the Mississippi. This larger group was led by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.

After the Battle of Fort Sanders, Burnside became ill and left command. Maj. Gen. John G. Foster replaced him on December 9. On February 9, 1864, Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield became the new commander. For most of the rest of the war, the Department of the Ohio and the Army of the Ohio were almost the same thing.