The Department of California was an administrative department 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, ...

. The Department was created in 1858, replacing the original

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 Or ...

, and it was ended by the reorganizations of the

Henry L. Stimson Henry Lewis Stimson (September 21, 1867 – October 20, 1950) was an American statesman, lawyer, and Republican Party politician. Over his long career, he emerged as a leading figure in U.S. foreign policy by serving in both Republican and ...

Plan implemented in February 1913. As with the preceding organization, headquarters were in

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17t ...

. Its creation was authorized by General Orders, No. 10, of the

War Department War Department may refer to: * War Department (United Kingdom) * United States Department of War (1789–1947) See also * War Office, a former department of the British Government * Ministry of defence * Ministry of War * Ministry of Defence * D ...

, Adjutant-General's Office, September 13, 1858. As first established, the department covered all territory within the latter-day state borders of Arizona, Nevada, California, and a sizable square of southwestern Oregon representing the Rogue River District and Umpqua District.

Commanders

The Department of California was commanded first by Brevet

Brigadier General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointe ...

Newman S. Clarke Newman S. Clarke was a career military officer in the United States army who served with distinction during the Mexican–American War. Clarke was born in Connecticut and served in the United States Army during the War of 1812. At the outbreak of ...

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...

U.S. 6th Infantry Regiment, until his death on October 17, 1860. It was next commanded by

Lt. Colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...

Benjamin L. Beall, U.S. 1st Dragoon Regiment, who had assumed command, by seniority of rank, on the death of General Clarke, on October 17, 1860. It was merged into the restored

on January 15, 1861, as the

District of California The District of California was a Union Army command department formed during the American Civil War. The district was part of the Department of the Pacific, the commander of the department also being District commander. The district was created ...

administering the same territories, commanded by Brevet Brigadier General

Albert Sidney Johnston Albert Sidney Johnston (February 2, 1803 – April 6, 1862) served as a general in three different armies: the Texian Army, the United States Army, and the Confederate States Army. He saw extensive combat during his 34-year military career, figh ...

from January 15, 1861.

Reduction to District status 1861-1865

When General Edwin Vose Sumner, relieved General Johnston during March 1861 he continued in command of the Department of California now renamed the

. His successor in October 1861, Brigadier General

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 ...

continued in command of the District even after losing command of the Department of the Pacific, on July 1, 1864, to Gen.

Irvin McDowell Irvin McDowell (October 15, 1818 – May 4, 1885) was a career American army officer. He is best known for his defeat in the First Battle of Bull Run, the first large-scale battle of the American Civil War. In 1862, he was given command ...

Department again June 1865 - February 1913

During June 1865, Col. Edward McGarry was ordered to succeed Brigadier General George Wright (who was relocating to his new command 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 De ...

), in command of the

until General McDowell could take command of the District which was again raised to Department status once more under 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, replac ...

, now commanded by Major General Henry W. Halleck. The territory encompassed by the new Department of California now consisted of the States of California and Nevada and the

District of New Mexico The District of New Mexico was a military district of the United States Army in the Territory of New Mexico that existed from 1865 to 1890. The District of Arizona and the District of New Mexico replaced the Department of New Mexico from June 27 ...

and

District of Arizona District of Arizona was a subordinate district of the Department of New Mexico territory created on August 30, 1862 and transferred to the Department of the Pacific in March 1865. District of Arizona (Dept. of New Mexico) commanders Headquarter ...

in the Territories of New Mexico and Arizona. Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell, U. S. Army, assigned to command the Department of California. The Department of Arizona was established as part of the Division of the Pacific on April 15, 1870. It consisted of Arizona Territory and California south of a line from the northwest corner of Arizona to Point Conception so as to include most of Southern California. From December 7, 1871, the one general officer at San Francisco commanded both the Division of the Pacific and the Department of California and the separate staffs were consolidated into one. On July 1, 1878, Division of the Pacific headquarters was relocated from San Francisco to the Presidio of San Francisco. The Department of Arizona lost Southern California to the Department of California on February 14, 1883, but regained California south of the 35th parallel on December 15, 1886. The Department of California then consisted of California north of the 35th parallel and Nevada. The Military Division of the Pacific was discontinued on July 3, 1891. Each of the three subordinate departments of Arizona, California, and the Columbia, then reported directly to the War Department. The Department of California, with its headquarters at San Francisco, consisted of California north of the 35th parallel and Nevada. The Hawaiian Islands were added to the department July 12, 1898. It became the District of Hawaii in 1910 as part of the Department of California. From 1904 to 1907, the Department of California, as well as the

, were subordinate to a re-established Division of the Pacific known as Pacific Division. It became independent again after 1907 until they were subordinated to a new Western Division from 1911 to 1913. On February 15, 1913 the Department of California, with all the mainland territorial departments, was disbanded for a new organization of the Army. The territory of the former departments of the Columbia and California were now controlled by the Western Department, except for the District of Hawaii that now became the independent Department of Hawaii.

Commanders

Department of California 1865 to December 7, 1871

* General

, July 27, 1865 - March 31, 1868 * Major General

Henry 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 ...

, (temp), March 31, 1868 - April 24, 1868 * Major General E. O. C. Ord, April 24, 1868 - November 18, 1871

Military Division of the Pacific and Department of California

* Major General John M. Schofield, December 7, 1871 - July 1, 1876 * Major General

, July 1, 1876 - October 15, 1882 * Major General John M. Schofield, October 15, 1882 - November 30, 1883 * Major General John Pope, November 30, 1883 - March 16, 1886 * Major General

Oliver Otis Howard Oliver Otis Howard (November 8, 1830 – October 26, 1909) was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the Civil War. As a brigade commander in the Army of the Potomac, Howard lost his right arm while leading his men agains ...

, March 16, 1886 – 1888 * Brigadier General Nelson A. Miles, November 23, 1888 - September 1, 1890 * Brigadier General

John Gibbon John Gibbon (April 20, 1827 – February 6, 1896) was a career United States Army officer who fought in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Early life Gibbon was born in the Holmesburg section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the four ...

September 1, 1890 - April 20, 1891 * Brigadier General

Thomas H. Ruger Thomas Howard Ruger (April 2, 1833 – June 3, 1907) was an American soldier and lawyer who served as a Union general in the American Civil War. After the war, he was a superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, N ...

, April 20, 1891 - July, 1891

Department of California after July 3, 1891 - February 15, 1913

* Brigadier General

, July 3, 1891 - November 10, 1894 * Brigadier General

James W. Forsyth James William Forsyth (August 8, 1834 – October 24, 1906) was a U.S. Army officer and general. He was primarily a Union staff officer during the American Civil War and cavalry regimental commander during the Indian Wars. Forsyth is best ...

, November 10, 1894 - 1897 * Major General William Rufus Shafter 1897 - May 1898 * ?, May 1898 - September 1898 * Major General William Rufus Shafter September 1898 - February 1901 * Major General Samuel B. M. Young February 1901 - March 1902 * Major General Robert P. Hughes March 1902 - April 1, 1903 * Major General

Arthur MacArthur, Jr. Arthur MacArthur Jr. (June 2, 1845 – September 5, 1912) was a lieutenant general of the United States Army. He became the military Governor-General of the American-occupied Philippines in 1900; his term ended a year later due to clashes wi ...

, April 1, 1903 - September 30, 1904 * Brigadier General Francis Moore, September 30, 1904 - March 31, 1905 * Brigadier-General

Frederick Funston Frederick Funston (November 9, 1865 – February 19, 1917), also known as Fighting Fred Funston, was a general in the United States Army, best known for his roles in the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War. He received ...

March 31, 1905 - 1907 * Col. Marion F. Maus, Aug. 10, 1908 - * Brigadier General

John Joseph Pershing General of the Armies John Joseph Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948), nicknamed "Black Jack", was a senior United States Army officer. He served most famously as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) on the We ...

, 1907 - October 1908 * Brigadier General Frederick A. Smith, October 1908 - January 13, 1909 * Major General John F. Weston, January 13, 1909 - June 30, 1909 * Major General Thomas H. Barry, June 30, 1909 - August 12, 1910 * Brigadier General

Tasker H. Bliss Tasker Howard Bliss (December 31, 1853 – November 9, 1930) was a United States Army officer who served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army from September 22, 1917 until May 18, 1918. He was also a diplomat involved in the peace negotiati ...

August 12, 1910 - August 13, 1911 * Brig. Gen. Daniel H. Brush, from July 1, 1911, to April 7, 1912 * Colonel John P. Wisser, Coast Artillery Corps (temporary), May 2 to June 26, 1912 * Brig. Gen.

Walter S. Schuyler Walter Scribner Schuyler (April 26, 1849 – February 17, 1932) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the American Indian Wars, Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, and Mexican Border War (1910–1919), Mexica ...

, June 27, 1912 - January 2, 1913 * Colonel John P. Wisser, January 3, 1913 - February 15, 1913

Posts in the Department of California

California

Benicia Arsenal The Benicia Arsenal (1851–1964) and Benicia Barracks (1852–66) were part of a large military reservation located next to Suisun Bay in Benicia, California. For over 100 years, the arsenal was the primary US Army Ordnance facility for the West ...

Benicia Benicia ( , ) is a waterside city in Solano County, California, located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. It served as the capital of California for nearly thirteen months from 1853 to 1854. The population was 26,997 at th ...

, 1851–1964 * New San Diego Depot,

San Diego San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United States ...

, 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 o ...

Fort Yuma Indian Reservation The Fort Yuma Indian Reservation is a part of the traditional lands of the Quechan people. Established in 1884 from the former Fort Yuma, the reservation, at , has a land area of in southeastern Imperial County, California, and western Yuma Coun ...

, 1851–1883 *

Benicia Barracks The Benicia Arsenal (1851–1964) and Benicia Barracks (1852–66) were part of a large military reservation located next to Suisun Bay in Benicia, California. For over 100 years, the arsenal was the primary US Army Ordnance facility for the Wes ...

, Benicia, 1852–1866 *

Post of Alcatraz Island Alcatraz Island () is a small island in San Francisco Bay, offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. The island was developed in the mid-19th century with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, and a military pris ...

Fort Alcatraz Fort Alcatraz was a United States Army coastal fortification on Alcatraz Island near the mouth of San Francisco Bay in California, part of the Third System of fixed fortifications, although very different from most other Third System works. Initi ...

, 1853–1907 * Roop's Fort, Fort Defiance,

Susanville Susanville (formerly known as Rooptown) is a town in and the county seat of Lassen County, California, United States. Susanville is located on the Susan River in the southern part of the county, at an elevation of . Its population is 16,728 ...

1853-1863 *

Fort Humboldt A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''face ...

Eureka Eureka (often abbreviated as E!, or Σ!) is an intergovernmental organisation for research and development funding and coordination. Eureka is an open platform for international cooperation in innovation. Organisations and companies applying th ...

, 1853–1867 * Fort Point San José,

, 1853–1882 * Fort Point, San Francisco, 1853–1886 *

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 ...

, near Lebec, 1854-1861, 1863-1864. * Camp Burton, near San Diego, 1855 * Fort Crook 1857-1869 *

Fort Bragg Fort Bragg is a military installation of the United States Army in North Carolina, and is one of the largest military installations in the world by population, with around 54,000 military personnel. The military reservation is located within Cu ...

, 1857-1864. * Fort Ter-Waw, 1857-1862 *

Fort Mojave Fort Mohave was originally named Camp Colorado when it was established on April 19, 1859 by Lieutenant Colonel William Hoffman during the Mohave War. It was located on the east bank of the Colorado River, at Beale's Crossing, near the head of t ...

1858-1861, 1863–1890 * Fort Beale 1859-1861 ** Fort Piute 1864-1868 *

Fort Gaston Fort Gaston was founded on December 4, 1859, in the redwood forests of the Hoopa Valley, in Northern California, on the west bank of the Trinity River, from where the Trinity flows into the Klamath River. It was located in what is now the Hoopa ...

, 1859–1892 * Fort Soda, Hancock's Redoubt 1860 ** Fort Soda Lake or Camp Soda Springs (present-day Zzyzx) 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. ...

1860-1871 20 miles east of Barstow *

Camp Allen Camp Allen, is a small United States Marine Corps base in Norfolk, Virginia, a satellite of the Naval Station Norfolk. In 1942 the Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks (now NAVFAC) wanted the first Seabee training center close to an existing Nav ...

Oakland Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third largest city overall in the Bay ...

1860-? *

Camp Dragoon Bridge Camp may refer to: Outdoor accommodation and recreation * Campsite or campground, a recreational outdoor sleeping and eating site * a temporary settlement for nomads * Camp, a term used in New England, Northern Ontario and New Brunswick to descr ...

, 1860-1863 The California State Military Museum, Historic California Posts: Camp Dragoon Bridge
/ref>

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Department Of California

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

Military history of California Military history of Arizona Military history of Nevada Military history of New Mexico Military history of Utah Military history of Oregon

1858 establishments in California 1858 establishments in the United States