— Ch. 1 · Formation And Renaming —
Army of West Mississippi.
~2 min read · Ch. 1 of 5
On the 18th of February 1865, Major General Edward Canby took command of a military division in Mississippi. He renamed the field forces within that division to become the Army of West Mississippi. This administrative change transformed what was previously known as the Army of the Gulf into a new entity under his direct authority. The XIII Corps and XVI Corps were transferred to this eponymous Military Division of West Mississippi at that time. Canby held the rank of major general when he issued these orders. His leadership marked a shift from the chaotic aftermath of previous campaigns to a more structured approach for the region.
Red River Aftermath
Nathaniel P. Banks resigned from the army following the disastrous Red River Campaign. Command of the Department of the Gulf passed to General Stephen Hurlbut after Banks left. The military forces in the region saw little action during this period of transition. Generals Banks and Hurlbut managed different phases of the department's history. The troops remained largely inactive while leadership changed hands. This lull in activity lasted until August 1864 when units began moving again. The silence of the battlefield contrasted sharply with the political maneuvering above them.Mobile Bay Assault
Units from the department participated in the land attack at the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864. General Gordon Granger directly commanded these operations against Confederate defenses. The assault involved multiple corps working together under Union command. Soldiers moved across the bay area to engage enemy positions on land. This operation tested the readiness of the newly reorganized forces. Granger led the charge while other commanders coordinated support efforts nearby. The battle demonstrated that the Army of West Mississippi could still project power despite earlier setbacks.