Valley District: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Jackson headquarters.png|right|225px|thumb|The Colonel Lewis T. Moore house in [[Winchester, Virginia]], which served as the Valley District Headquarters of [[Lieutenant General (CSA) | Lt. Gen.]] T. J. "Stonewall" Jackson (photo 2007).]]
[[Image:Jackson headquarters.png|right|225px|thumb|The Colonel Lewis T. Moore house in [[Winchester, Virginia]], which served as the Valley District Headquarters of [[Lieutenant General (CSA) | LtGen]] T. J. "Stonewall" Jackson (photo 2007).]]


The '''Valley District''' was an organization of the [[Confederate States Army]] and subsection of the [[Army of Northern Virginia | Department of Northern Virginia]] during the [[American Civil War]], responsible for operations between the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] and [[Allegheny Mountains]] of [[Virginia]]. It was created on October 22, 1861, and was surrendered by the authority of [[General (CSA) | Gen.]] [[Robert E. Lee]] at [[Appomattox Court House]] on April 9, 1865.<ref>Weigley, p. 489.</ref>
The '''Valley District''' was an organization of the [[Confederate States Army]] and subsection of the [[Army of Northern Virginia | Department of Northern Virginia]] during the [[American Civil War]], responsible for operations between the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] and [[Allegheny Mountains]] of [[Virginia]]. It was created on October 22, 1861, and was surrendered by the authority of [[General (CSA) | Gen]] [[Robert E. Lee]] at [[Appomattox Court House]] on April 9, 1865.<ref>Weigley, p. 489.</ref>


==Background==
==Background==


The Valley District was created to administer various home guard and military units and armies which operated in the [[Shenandoah Valley]]. The first forces organized in this area prior to the creation of the Valley District were the ''Forces In and About Harper's Ferry, Virginia'', which existed from April 18, 1861, to June 15, 1861. The Forces In and About Harper's Ferry were originally under the [[Virginia militia | Virginia State Militia]], and were placed under three commanders during that time. [[Major General (CSA)|Maj. Gen.]] [[Kenton Harper]] (Virginia State Militia) commanded from April 18 to April 28, then command fell to Col. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (Virginia State Militia) from April 28 to May 24, and finally the forces were transferred to the Confederate States Army and Brig. Gen. [[Joseph E. Johnston]] from May 24 to June 15, 1861.
The Valley District was created to administer various home guard and military units and armies which operated in the [[Shenandoah Valley]]. The first forces organized in this area prior to the creation of the Valley District were the ''Forces In and About Harper's Ferry, Virginia'', which existed from April 18, 1861, to June 15, 1861. The Forces In and About Harper's Ferry were originally under the [[Virginia militia | Virginia State Militia]], and were placed under three commanders during that time. [[Major General (CSA)|MajGen]] [[Kenton Harper]] (Virginia State Militia) commanded from April 18 to April 28, then command fell to Col Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (Virginia State Militia) from April 28 to May 24, and finally the forces were transferred to the Confederate States Army and BGen [[Joseph E. Johnston]] from May 24 to June 15, 1861.


From June 15 to October 22, military organization in the Shenandoah Valley came under local leadership until the Department of Northern Virginia. It was created on October 22, 1861, as Johnston prepared defenses in [[Northern Virginia]]. Three districts were created under the Department of Northern Virginia:
From June 15 to October 22, military organization in the Shenandoah Valley came under local leadership until the Department of Northern Virginia. It was created on October 22, 1861, as Johnston prepared defenses in [[Northern Virginia]]. The Valley District was defined as the area between the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Alleghenies and extended south from the [[Potomac River]] to the vicinity of [[Staunton, Virginia]] and covered an area of roughly five thousand square miles.<ref>Tanner, p. 37</ref>


Three districts were created under the Department of Northern Virginia:


*The Aquia District (October 22, 1861 to April 18, 1862)
*The Aquia District (October 22, 1861 to April 18, 1862)
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While the Aquia and Potomac Districts ceased to exist by the spring of 1862, the need remained for military organization in the Valley throughout the remainder of the war.
While the Aquia and Potomac Districts ceased to exist by the spring of 1862, the need remained for military organization in the Valley throughout the remainder of the war.



==1864==
==1864==


During 1864, while under the command of [[Lieutenant General (CSA) | Lt. Gen.]] [[Jubal Anderson Early | Jubal Early]], the Valley District operated its own independent army, the [[Army of the Valley]], which was essentially composed of the [[Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia]]. The Second Corps was detached from Lee's main army to invade, threaten and assault [[Washington, D.C., in the American Civil War|Washington, D.C.,]] on the hopes of drawing forces away from [[Commanding General of the United States Army | General]] [[Ulysses S. Grant | Grant's]] forces, and thereby relieving pressure on his seige around [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], and [[Petersburg, Virginia]].
During 1864, while under the command of [[Lieutenant General (CSA) | LtGen]] [[Jubal Anderson Early | Jubal Early]], the Valley District operated its own independent army, the [[Army of the Valley]], which was essentially composed of the [[Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia]]. The Second Corps was detached from Lee's main army to invade, threaten and assault [[Washington, D.C., in the American Civil War|Washington, D.C.,]] on the hopes of drawing forces away from [[Commanding General of the United States Army | General]] [[Ulysses S. Grant | Grant's]] forces, and thereby relieving pressure on his seige around [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], and [[Petersburg, Virginia]].


==Command history==
==Command history==
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! Commander || From || To
! Commander || From || To
|-
|-
| Lt. Gen. [[Stonewall Jackson | Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson]]|| October 22, 1861 || December 29, 1862
| LtGen [[Stonewall Jackson | Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson]]|| October 22, 1861 || December 29, 1862
|-
|-
| Brig. Gen. [[William E. Jones | William E. "Grumble" Jones]] || December 29, 1862 || May 28, 1863
| BrigGen [[William E. Jones | William E. "Grumble" Jones]] || December 29, 1862 || May 28, 1863
|-
|-
| Maj. Gen. [[Isaac R. Trimble]] || May 28, 1863 || July 21, 1863
| MajGen [[Isaac R. Trimble]] || May 28, 1863 || July 21, 1863
|-
|-
| Brig. Gen. [[John D. Imboden]]|| July 21, 1863 || December 15, 1863
| BGen [[John D. Imboden]]|| July 21, 1863 || December 15, 1863
|-
|-
| Maj. Gen. [[Jubal A. Early]] || December 15, 1863 || March 9, 1864
| MajGen [[Jubal A. Early]] || December 15, 1863 || March 9, 1864
|-
|-
| Brig. Gen. [[John D. Imboden]]|| March 9, 1864 || May 4, 1864
| BGen [[John D. Imboden]]|| March 9, 1864 || May 4, 1864
|-
|-
| Maj. Gen. [[John C. Breckinridge]] || May 4, 1864 || June 13, 1864
| MajGen [[John C. Breckinridge]] || May 4, 1864 || June 13, 1864
|-
|-
| Lt. Gen. [[Jubal A. Early]] || June 13, 1864 || March 29, 1865
| LtGen [[Jubal A. Early]] || June 13, 1864 || March 29, 1865
|-
|-
| Maj. Gen. [[Lunsford L. Lomax]] || March 29, 1865 || April 9, 1865
| MajGen [[Lunsford L. Lomax]] || March 29, 1865 || April 9, 1865
|}
|}


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==References==
==References==
* Tanner, Robert G., ''Stonewall in the Valley: Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign, Spring 1862'', Stackpole Books, 2002. ISBN 0811720640
* Weigley, Russell F., ''A Great Civil War: A Military and Political History, 1861-1865''
* Weigley, Russell F., ''A Great Civil War: A Military and Political History, 1861-1865''



Revision as of 02:24, 23 October 2008

The Colonel Lewis T. Moore house in Winchester, Virginia, which served as the Valley District Headquarters of LtGen T. J. "Stonewall" Jackson (photo 2007).

The Valley District was an organization of the Confederate States Army and subsection of the Department of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War, responsible for operations between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Allegheny Mountains of Virginia. It was created on October 22, 1861, and was surrendered by the authority of Gen Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.[1]

Background

The Valley District was created to administer various home guard and military units and armies which operated in the Shenandoah Valley. The first forces organized in this area prior to the creation of the Valley District were the Forces In and About Harper's Ferry, Virginia, which existed from April 18, 1861, to June 15, 1861. The Forces In and About Harper's Ferry were originally under the Virginia State Militia, and were placed under three commanders during that time. MajGen Kenton Harper (Virginia State Militia) commanded from April 18 to April 28, then command fell to Col Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (Virginia State Militia) from April 28 to May 24, and finally the forces were transferred to the Confederate States Army and BGen Joseph E. Johnston from May 24 to June 15, 1861.

From June 15 to October 22, military organization in the Shenandoah Valley came under local leadership until the Department of Northern Virginia. It was created on October 22, 1861, as Johnston prepared defenses in Northern Virginia. The Valley District was defined as the area between the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Alleghenies and extended south from the Potomac River to the vicinity of Staunton, Virginia and covered an area of roughly five thousand square miles.[2]


Three districts were created under the Department of Northern Virginia:

  • The Aquia District (October 22, 1861 to April 18, 1862)
  • The Potomac District (October 22, 1861 to January 29, 1862)
  • The Valley District (October 22, 1861 to April 9, 1865)

While the Aquia and Potomac Districts ceased to exist by the spring of 1862, the need remained for military organization in the Valley throughout the remainder of the war.


1864

During 1864, while under the command of LtGen Jubal Early, the Valley District operated its own independent army, the Army of the Valley, which was essentially composed of the Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. The Second Corps was detached from Lee's main army to invade, threaten and assault Washington, D.C., on the hopes of drawing forces away from General Grant's forces, and thereby relieving pressure on his seige around Richmond, and Petersburg, Virginia.

Command history

Commander From To
LtGen Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson October 22, 1861 December 29, 1862
BrigGen William E. "Grumble" Jones December 29, 1862 May 28, 1863
MajGen Isaac R. Trimble May 28, 1863 July 21, 1863
BGen John D. Imboden July 21, 1863 December 15, 1863
MajGen Jubal A. Early December 15, 1863 March 9, 1864
BGen John D. Imboden March 9, 1864 May 4, 1864
MajGen John C. Breckinridge May 4, 1864 June 13, 1864
LtGen Jubal A. Early June 13, 1864 March 29, 1865
MajGen Lunsford L. Lomax March 29, 1865 April 9, 1865

See also

References

  • Tanner, Robert G., Stonewall in the Valley: Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign, Spring 1862, Stackpole Books, 2002. ISBN 0811720640
  • Weigley, Russell F., A Great Civil War: A Military and Political History, 1861-1865
  1. ^ Weigley, p. 489.
  2. ^ Tanner, p. 37