Confederate Army of the Northwest

The Army of the Northwest was a Confederate army early in the American Civil War.

Army of the Northwest
ActiveJune 8, 1861–February 9, 1862[1]
DisbandedIncorporated into Army of Northern Virginia February 9, 1862
Country Confederate States of America
Branch Confederate States Army
EngagementsBattle of Rich Mountain
Battle of Corrick's Ford
Battle of Cheat Mountain
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Robert S. Garnett
Henry R. Jackson
William W. Loring
Edward Johnson

On June 8, 1861, Confederate troops operating in northwestern Virginia were designated the "Army of the Northwest" with Brig. Gen. Robert S. Garnett as commanding general.[1] Troops of this command were engaged by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's Department of the Ohio forces in a series of battles and skirmishes early in summer 1861. Garnett's army was defeated at Battle of Rich Mountain, and pursuing Union troops killed Garnett at Corrick's Ford July 13, 1861.[1]

After Garnett's death, Brig. Gen. Henry R. Jackson briefly commanded the force, but Brig. Gen. William W. Loring arrived to take charge on July 20. Loring commanded until November, when he was given three Army of the Northwest brigades as a division (still designated Army of the Northwest) paired with the Stonewall Brigade under Stonewall Jackson's command for the Romney Expedition.[1] The army was disbanded February 9, 1862, but a separate small force under Brig. Gen. Edward Johnson which operated in the northern Shenandoah Valley became known as the "Army of the Northwest" and after involvement in the Battle of Camp Allegheny was styled the "Army of the Allegheny". Johnson acquired his sobriquet "Allegheny" in command of this force.

See also

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West Virginia Civil War Confederate Units

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d Boatner, Mark Mayo, III. The Civil War Dictionary. page 601

References

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  • Boatner, Mark Mayo, III. The Civil War Dictionary. New York: McKay, 1959; revised 1988. ISBN 0-8129-1726-X.