Army of the Mississippi - Definition and Overview

Army of the Mississippi was the name given to two Union armies, both with short existences, during the Civil War.

History

The force was created on February 23, 1862 with General John Pope in command. At its creation the army consisted of 5 divisions and served along the Mississippi River and in norther Mississippi. Under Pope, the army fought in the Battle of Island Number Ten and was part of Major General Henry Halleck's Western Army Group at the First Battle of Corinth. The army's second and last commander William S. Rosecrans commanded the army at the Second Battle of Corinth. The force was disbanded in October, 1862 and most of the forces from the army became part of the XIII Corps and Rosecrans was transferred to command of the Army of the Ohio. In 1863 General John A. McClernand was put in command of an expedition against Arkansas Post. McClernand resurrected the name "Army of the Mississippi" and gave it to his force consisting of the XII Corps and the XV Corps which were renamed the I Corps and II Corps respectively. The army was reincorporated into the Army of the Tennessee for the Vicksburg campaign. The 1862 Army of the Mississippi and the 1863 Army of the Mississippi had no relation except in name.

Commanders

• General John Pope (February 23-June 26, 1862)
• General William S. Rosecrans (June 26-October, 1862)
• General John A. McClernand (January 4-12, 1863)

Major Battles

• Battle of Island Number Ten (Pope)
• First Battle of Corinth (Pope) part of Henry Hallek's Western Army Group
• Battle of Iuka (Rosecrans)
• Second Battle of Corinth (Rosecrans)
• Battle of Arkansas Post (McClernand)

Sources

http://www.civilwarhome.com/armyofmississippi.htm
http://www.civilwarchronicles.com/commanders.htm