Army of Mississippi

There were three organizations known as the Army of Mississippi in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. (This name is contrasted against Army of the Mississippi, which was a Union Army named for the Mississippi River, not the state of Mississippi.)

Army of Mississippi (March 1862)

This army, at times known by the name Army of the West was one of the most important in the Western Theater, fighting at Shiloh, Corinth, and Perryville. It was organized on March 5, 1862, and portions of the Army of Pensacola were added on March 13. It was consolidated with the Army of Central Kentucky and the Army of Louisiana on March 29. On November 20, 1862, it was renamed the Army of Tennessee.

Command history

CommanderFromToMajor Battles and Campaigns
Gen. P.G.T. BeauregardMarch 5, 1862
(assumed March 17, 1862)
March 29, 1862 
Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston (KIA)March 29, 1862April 6, 1862Shiloh
Gen. P.G.T. BeauregardApril 6, 1862May 6, 1862 
Gen. Braxton BraggMay 6, 1862
(assumed May 7, 1862)
July 5, 1862Corinth
Maj. Gen. William J. Hardee (temp)July 5, 1862August 15, 1862 
Gen. Braxton BraggAugust 15, 1862September 28, 1862 
Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk (temp)September 28, 1862November 7, 1862Perryville
Gen. Braxton BraggNovember 7, 1862November 20, 1862 

Army of Mississippi (December 1862)

The second army was also referred to as the Army of Vicksburg. It was organized December 7, 1862, from troops in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, including the short-lived Army of West Tennessee. Its sole function was to defend Vicksburg, Mississippi, on the Mississippi River and it ceased to exist when southern Gen. John C. Pemberton surrendered it after a long offensive campaign and siege to Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant on July 4, 1863, opening up the "Father of Waters" to Union control and splitting the Confederacy in two.

Command history

CommanderFromToMajor Battles and Campaigns
Lt. Gen. John C. PembertonDecember 7, 1862December 9, 1862 
Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn (temp)December 9, 1862December 17, 1862 
Lt. Gen. John C. PembertonDecember 17, 1862July 4, 1863Vicksburg Campaign

Army of Mississippi (186364)

The third army was retitled III Corps, Army of Tennessee, around May 4, 1864, but it continued to use the former name.

Command history

CommanderFromToMajor Battles and Campaigns
Lt. Gen. William J. HardeeJuly 30, 1863October 23, 1863 
Lt. Gen. Leonidas PolkOctober 23, 1863June 14, 1864Atlanta Campaign
Maj. Gen. William W. LoringJune 14, 1864June 23, 1864 

References

  • Eicher, John H., & Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1.
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