There were three formations 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
| Commander | From | To | Major Battles and Campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard | March 5, 1862 (assumed March 17, 1862) | March 29, 1862 | |
| Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston (KIA) | March 29, 1862 | April 6, 1862 | Shiloh |
| Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard | April 6, 1862 | May 6, 1862 | |
| Gen. Braxton Bragg | May 6, 1862 (assumed May 7, 1862) | July 5, 1862 | Corinth |
| Maj. Gen. William J. Hardee (temp) | July 5, 1862 | August 15, 1862 | |
| Gen. Braxton Bragg | August 15, 1862 | September 28, 1862 | |
| Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk (temp) | September 28, 1862 | November 7, 1862 | Perryville |
| Gen. Braxton Bragg | November 7, 1862 | November 20, 1862 |
Army of Mississippi (December 1862)
The second army was referred to as the Army of Vicksburg. It was organized December 7, 1862, by 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. It ceased to exist when southern General John C. Pemberton surrendered it after a long offensive campaign and siege to Major General Ulysses S. Grant on July 4, 1863, opening up the "Father of Waters" to Union control and splitting the Confederacy in two.
Command history
| Commander | From | To | Major Battles and Campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton | December 7, 1862 | December 9, 1862 | |
| Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn (temp) | December 9, 1862 | December 17, 1862 | |
| Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton | December 17, 1862 | July 4, 1863 | Vicksburg Campaign |
Army of Mississippi (1863–64)
The third army was retitled III Corps, Army of Tennessee, around May 4, 1864, but it continued to use the former name.
Command history
| Commander | From | To | Major Battles and Campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee | July 30, 1863 | October 23, 1863 | |
| Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk | October 23, 1863 | June 14, 1864 | Atlanta campaign |
| Maj. Gen. William W. Loring | June 14, 1864 | July 4, 1864 |
References
- Eicher, John H., & Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1.