— Ch. 1 · Department Formation And Early Command —
Army of the Gulf.
~3 min read · Ch. 1 of 5
Admiral David G. Farragut captured New Orleans in 1862, creating a vacuum that required immediate military governance. Benjamin F. Butler stepped into this role as the commander of Union occupation forces on the 23rd of February 1862. He assumed command of the newly formed Department of the Gulf just one month later in March. The Army of the Gulf emerged from troops designated to serve under this specific department structure. Butler led these initial forces through the remainder of 1862 with little significant combat activity. His tenure ended abruptly when he was replaced by Major General Nathaniel P. Banks on the 15th of December 1862. This transition marked the beginning of a more aggressive phase for the unit.
Banks Leadership And Port Hudson Siege
Nathaniel P. Banks took charge of both the Department and the Army of the Gulf on the 17th of December 1862. At that moment, the force consisted of only a single corps known as the XIX Corps. Banks personally commanded this corps while leading the broader army operations in lower Louisiana. These engagements eventually culminated in the Siege of Port Hudson, which became the army's first major battle. Confederate forces held the position until they surrendered on the 9th of July 1863 after enduring a prolonged siege. The following year brought expansion as the XIII Corps joined the ranks along with two divisions of the XVI Corps. This growth pushed the total strength beyond three corps. William H. Emory assumed command of the XIX Corps during this period while Banks retained overall leadership.The Red River Campaign Disaster
March 1864 saw Banks launch an offensive operation known as the Red River Campaign. This strategic effort failed completely and resulted in significant losses for Union forces. Following the collapse of the campaign, Banks resigned from his post within the Army of the Gulf. Stephen A. Hurlbut replaced him as commander on the 23rd of September 1864. The XIX Corps was subsequently transferred to the Shenandoah Valley to fight elsewhere. The remaining units participated in land attacks at Mobile Bay shortly thereafter. This disaster marked a turning point where the army shifted focus away from riverine campaigns toward coastal assaults.