The District of Southern California was a nineteenth century district of

Department of the Pacific The Department of the Pacific or Pacific Department was a major command ( Department) of the United States Army from 1853 to 1858. It replaced the Pacific Division, and was itself replaced by the Department of California and the Department of O ...

, a command of the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

History

Department of the Pacific was created January 15, 1861, during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. The District of

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. It includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the second most po ...

was established on September 25, 1861. The district was composed of

San Luis Obispo County San Luis Obispo County (), officially the County of San Luis Obispo, is a county on the Central Coast of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 282,424. The county seat is San Luis Obispo. Junípero Serra founded the Mission ...

Tulare County Tulare County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 473,117. The county seat is Visalia. The county is named for Tulare Lake, once the largest freshwater lake west of the Great Lakes. ...

Santa Barbara County Santa Barbara County, California, officially the County of Santa Barbara, is located in Southern California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 448,229. The county seat is Santa Barbara, and the largest city is Santa Maria. Santa Barba ...

Los Angeles County Los Angeles County, officially the County of Los Angeles, and sometimes abbreviated as L.A. County, is the most populous county in the United States and in the U.S. state of California, with 9,861,224 residents estimated as of 2022. It is the ...

San Bernardino County San Bernardino County (), officially the County of San Bernardino, is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, and is located within the Inland Empire area. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 2,181, ...

, and

San Diego County San Diego County (), officially the County of San Diego, is a county in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,298,634, making it California's second-most populous county and the fi ...

. Tulare County at the time was composed of additional territory now belonging to

Kern County Kern County is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 909,235. Its county seat is Bakersfield. Kern County comprises the Bakersfield, California, Metropolitan statistical area. The county sp ...

, to

Inyo County Inyo County () is a county in the eastern central part of the U.S. state of California, located between the Sierra Nevada and the state of Nevada. In the 2020 census, the population was 19,016. The county seat is Independence. Inyo County is o ...

Kings County Kings County or King's County may refer to: Places Canada *Kings County, New Brunswick *Kings County, Nova Scotia *Kings County, Prince Edward Island ** King's County (electoral district), abolished in 1892 Ireland * County Offaly, formerly call ...

and a small part of southeastern

Fresno County Fresno County (), officially the County of Fresno, is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 1,008,654. The county seat is Fresno, the fifth-most populous city in Cali ...

. Santa Barbara County included what is now

Ventura County Ventura County () is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 843,843. The largest city is Oxnard, and the county seat is the city of Ventura. Ventura County comprises the Oxnar ...

, Los Angeles County included what is now

Orange County Orange County most commonly refers to: *Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area Orange County may also refer to: U.S. counties *Orange County, Florida, containing Orlando *Orange County, Indiana *Orange County, New ...

and parts of Kern and Inyo County. San Bernardino County contained parts of Inyo and Riverside Counties. San Diego County included most of Riverside County, and

Imperial County Imperial Count (german: Reichsgraf) was a title in the Holy Roman Empire. In the medieval era, it was used exclusively to designate the holder of an imperial county, that is, a fief held directly ( immediately) from the emperor, rather than from ...

. Its first

headquarters Headquarters (commonly referred to as HQ) denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the to ...

was located at

Camp Latham Culver City is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,779. Founded in 1917 as a "whites only" sundown town, it is now an ethnically diverse city with what was called the "third-most d ...

, located west of

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

. The headquarters was later moved to

Drum Barracks The Drum Barracks, also known as Camp Drum and the Drum Barracks Civil War Museum, is the last remaining original American Civil War era military facility in the Los Angeles area. Located in the Wilmington section of Los Angeles, near the Port ...

. On July 27, 1865, the

Military Division of the Pacific The Military Division of the Pacific was a major command ( Department) of the United States Army during the late 19th century. Formation On July 27, 1865 the Military Division of the Pacific was created under Major General Henry W. Halleck, replaci ...

was created under

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

Henry W. Halleck Henry Wager Halleck (January 16, 1815 – January 9, 1872) was a senior United States Army officer, scholar, and lawyer. A noted expert in military studies, he was known by a nickname that became derogatory: "Old Brains". He was an important par ...

, replacing the Department of the Pacific. The department consisted of the

Department of the Columbia The Department of the Columbia was a major command ( Department) of the United States Army during the 19th century. Formation On July 27, 1865 the Military Division of the Pacific was created under Major General Henry W. Halleck, replacing the Dep ...

and the expanded

Department of California The Department of California was an administrative department of the United States Army. The Department was created in 1858, replacing the original Department of the Pacific, and it was ended by the reorganizations of the Henry L. Stimson Plan i ...

absorbing the District of Southern California that now consisted of the States of

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

and

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...

and the

Territory of New Mexico The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912. It was created from the U.S. provisional government of New Mexico, as a result of '' Nuevo México'' becoming ...

and

Territory of Arizona The Territory of Arizona (also known as Arizona Territory) was a territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863, until February 14, 1912, when the remaining extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of ...

Commanders

* Colonel

George Wright George Wright may refer to: Politics, law and government * George Wright (MP) (died 1557), MP for Bedford and Wallingford * George Wright (governor) (1779–1842), Canadian politician, lieutenant governor of Prince Edward Island * George Wright ...

, October 4, 1861 - October 14, 1861 * Colonel

James H. Carleton James Henry Carleton (December 27, 1814 – January 7, 1873) was an officer in the US Army and a Union general during the American Civil War. Carleton is best known as an Indian fighter in the Southwestern United States. Biography Carleton wa ...

, October 14, 1861 - November 18, 1861 (Carlton was relieved from command November 18, 1861 and resumed command February 5, 1862.) * Colonel

Joseph R. West Joseph Rodman West (September 19, 1822 – October 31, 1898) was a United States senator from Louisiana, a Union general in the United States Army during and after the American Civil War and the chief executive of the District of Columbia. As a ...

, January 1862 - February 5, 1862 * Colonel James H. Carleton, February 5, 1862 - May 15, 1862 * Colonel

Ferris Foreman Ferris Foreman (August 24, 1808 – February 11, 1901) was a lawyer, politician, and American soldier during the Mexican–American War, as well as a colonel commanding a volunteer regiment and the District of Southern California during the Americ ...

, May 15, 1862 - May 17, 1862 * Colonel George W. Bowie, May 17, 1862. - February 7, 1863 * Lieutenant Colonel Harvey Lee, February 7, 1863 - April 10, 1863 * Colonel Ferris Forman, April 10, 1863 - June 19, 1863 * Lieutenant Colonel

James F. Curtis James Freeman Curtis II (December 19, 1825 – March 1, 1914), participant in the 1849 California Gold Rush, Chief of Police of San Francisco, officer in the California state militia and volunteer in the American Civil War. Biography James Fre ...

, June 19, 1863 - July 27, 1865

Events, skirmishes, and battles

1861

* Sept. 7, 1861. Skirmish near the upper Santa Ana Canyon, California. * Sept. 14, 1861. Col. George Wright, U. S. 9th Infantry Regiment, assigned to command all troops serving in Southern California. * Sept. 25, 1861. The District of Southern California created, uniting the counties of San Luis Obispo, Buena Vista, Tulare, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego. Col. George Wright was assigned to its command. * Oct. 5, 1861. Expedition from San Bernardino to the Temecula Ranch and Oak Grove, California. * Oct. 4, 1861. Col. George Wright, U. S. 9th Infantry Regiment, assumes command of the District of Southern California. * Oct. 14, 1861. Col. George Wright, U. S. 9th Infantry Regiment, transfers command of District of Southern California to Col. James H. Carleton, First California Infantry. * Nov. 18, 1861. Col. James H. Carleton, First California Infantry, relieved from command of the District of Southern California. * Nov. 20–29, 1861. Pursuit and capture of the Showalter Party at Warner's Ranch in the San Jose Valley, California.

1862

* Feb. 5, 1862. Col. James H. Carlton, First California Infantry, resumes command of the District of Southern California. * March 19-Apr. 28, 1862. Expedition from Camp Latham to

Owens River The Owens River is a river in eastern California in the United States, approximately long.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 17, 2011, It drains into and through the ...

, California, with

skirmish Skirmishers are light infantry or light cavalry soldiers deployed as a vanguard, flank guard or rearguard to screen a tactical position or a larger body of friendly troops from enemy advances. They are usually deployed in a skirmish line, an ir ...

on April 9 near Bishops Creek, in the Owens River Valley. * Apr. 10, 1862. Col. Ferris Forman, 4th California Infantry, assumes command of the District of Southern California. * Apr. 13 - Sept. 20, 1862. Expedition from Southern California, through

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

, to northwestern

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

and

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...

. * May 15, 1862. Expedition from California to Arizona and New Mexico, organized as the Column from California, Col. James H. Carleton, First California Infantry, commanding. Col. James H. Carleton relinquishes command of the District of Southern California. * May 17, 1862. Col. George W. Bowie, Fifth California Infantry, assumes command of the District of Southern California. * June 11 - Oct. 8, 1862. Expedition from Camp Latham to Owen's River, Cal., with skirmish on June 24 at Owen's Lake. * August 26, 1862. Col. James H. Carleton, First California Infantry, assigned to command tho Department of New Mexico. * August 30, 1862. The District of Arizona constituted to comprise all the territory from Fort Thorn, New Mexico, along the north bank of the

Rio Grande The Rio Grande ( and ), known in Mexico as the Río Bravo del Norte or simply the Río Bravo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. The length of the Rio G ...

Fort Quitman Fort Quitman was a United States Army installation on the Rio Grande in Texas, south of present-day Sierra Blanca, 20 miles southeast of McNary in southern Hudspeth County. The fort, now a ghost town, was named for former Mississippi Governor J ...

, Texas. * Sept. 5, 1862. Maj. David Fergusson, First California Cavalry, relieved from command of the District of Western Arizona. Maj. Theodore A. Coult, Fifth California Infantry, assigned to command of the District of Western Arizona. Col.

, First California Infantry, assumes command of the District of Arizona.

1863

* Feb. 7, 1863. Lieut. Col. Harvey Lee, Fourth California Infantry, assumes command of the District of Southern California. * April 10, 1863. Col. Ferris Forman, Fourth California Infantry, assumes command of the District of Southern California. * April 12–24, 1863. Expedition from Camp Babbitt to Keysville, California. * April 24 - May 26, 1863. Operations in Owen's River and adjacent valleys, Cal. * May 19, 1863. Lieut. Col. James F. Curtis, Fourth California Infantry, assigned to command the District of Southern California, relieving Col. Ferris Forman.

1864

* Jan. 2, 1864. Occupation of Santa Catalina Island, Cal. * July 1, 1864. Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell, U. S. Army, assumes command of the Department of the Pacific. Brig. Gen. George Wright, U. S. Army, assigned to command the District of California.

1865

* July 27, 1865. The Military Division of the Pacific replaced the Department of the Pacific and consisted of the Departments of California and the Columbia. Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck, U. S. Army, was assigned to command the Military Division of the Pacific. The District of Southern California was absorbed into the newly created Department of California, consisting of the States of California and Nevada and the Territories of New Mexico and Arizona. Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell, U. S. Army, was assigned to command the Department of California.

Posts in the District of Southern California

New San Diego Depot New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

, 1851 - June, 1866. *

Fort Yuma Fort Yuma was a fort in California located in Imperial County, across the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona. It was on the Butterfield Overland Mail route from 1858 until 1861 and was abandoned May 16, 1883, and transferred to the Department of ...

, 1851 – 1883 *

Fort Tejon Fort Tejon in California is a former United States Army outpost which was intermittently active from June 24, 1854, until September 11, 1864. It is located in the Grapevine Canyon (''La Cañada de las Uvas'') between the San Emigdio Mountains and ...

1854 - 1861, 1863 - 1864 * Camp San Bernardino 1858, 1861 * Fort Beale 1859 - 1861 * Fort Piute 1864 - 1868 * Fort Soda, Hancock's Redoubt 1860 * Fort Soda Lake or Camp Soda Springs 1863 - 1868 *

Camp Cady Camp Cady (1860–1861, 1866–1871) was a U.S. Army Camp, on the Mojave Road near the Mojave River in the Mojave Desert, located about 20 miles east of modern-day Barstow, California in San Bernardino County, at an elevation of 1690 feet. ...

, 20 miles east of Barstow 1860, 1862, 1864 - 1871 * Camp Fitzgerald June 1861 - September 20, 1861 * Fort on Pine Creek 1861-1865 *

, September 1861 - March 1862 * Camp Kellogg 1861 - 1862 *

Camp Carleton Camp Carleton was the largest of several military camps to be maintained at various times in the vicinity of San Bernardino. It was established in the fall of 1861 by Captain William McCleave, William A. McCleave and a detachment of the 1st Californ ...

Fall 1861 - 1862 * Camp near Temecula 1861-1865 *

Camp Wright Oak Grove Butterfield Stage Station is located in the western foothills of the Laguna Mountains, in northern San Diego County, California. It is located on State Route 79, northwest of Warner Springs and Warner's Ranch. The station was built o ...

, October 18, 1861 - December 1866 * ''Camp Drum'' later the

, January, 1862 - November 7, 1871. *

New Camp Carleton New Camp Carleton was a Union Army garrison of the District of Southern California during the American Civil War. It was established on March 22, 1862, near El Monte, California. It was located "on the right bank of the San Gabriel River, four mi ...

1862-1865 * Post at Kline's Ranch, 1862 *

Camp Laguna Grande Rancho La Laguna was a Mexican land grant in present-day Riverside County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Julian Manriquez. The rancho lands are included in the present day city of Lake Elsinore and Wildomar. At the t ...

1862 *

Camp Babbitt Camp Babbitt was an American Civil War Union Army camp located in two sites in the vicinity of Visalia, California. History The first site of Camp Babbitt, established on June 24, 1862, was located one mile northeast of the center of the town of ...

, June 24, 1862 - August 19, 1866 * Camp Leonard, 15 miles northeast of Keysville 1863 * Camp Morris, in

San Bernardino San Bernardino (; Spanish language, Spanish for Bernardino of Siena, "Saint Bernardino") is a city and county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States. Located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, the city had a ...

June 6, 1863 - October 27, 1863 *

Camp Independence Fort Independence, originally named Camp Independence, was a fort located in the Owens Valley, north of present-day Independence, Inyo County, eastern California. The U.S. Army post was active from 1862 to 1877. History Camp Independence Camp ...

July 4, 1862 - July 5, 1877 * Camp Coster1862 - 1863 * Camp Bishop Creek 1863 * Camp Leonard 1863 * Redoubt Bitter Springs 1863-1868 * Camp Giftaler Ranch, 1863 * Camp Santa Barbara 1864 *

Camp Santa Catalina Island Camp Santa Catalina Island (1864), located on Santa Catalina Island, California at the isthmus, located near the west end of the island. In 1863, following the incident of the Confederate privateer, J. M. Chapman, a military reservation and harbor ...

, 1864 * Camp Rancho Cucamonga 1864 * Camp San Felipe 1865

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:District Of Southern California

Southern California, District of Pacific Coast Theater of the American Civil War California in the American Civil War 1861 establishments in California