1861 The Department of Virginia was created on May 22, 1861, to include any areas within a 60-mile radius of
Fort Monroe and any sections of North Carolina and South Carolina occupied by the Union Army. Major General
Benjamin F. Butler was appointed its first commander. Early battles undertaken by troops from this department under General Butler included actions at
Big Bethel and
Hatteras Inlent. Early on the department was also known as the
Department of Southeastern Virginia. On January 7, 1862, the areas of North Carolina were detached to form the
Department of North Carolina. On June 1, 1862, the area south of the
Rappahannock River and east of the Fredericksburg-Richmond-Petersburg-Weldon Railroad were added to the department. From June 26, 1862, to September 12, 1862,
John Pope's Army of Virginia operated within the department. On July 15, 1863, the Dept. of Virginia was merged with the Dept. of North Carolina.
1865 On January 18, 1865, the Department of Virginia was re-created to consist of the area within 60 miles of Fort Monroe, the areas south of the
Rappahannock River and east of the Fredericksburg-Richmond-Petersburg-Weldon Railroad. On April 19, 1865, much of the rest of Virginia was added, excluding the
Shenandoah Valley. From January 18, 1865, to August 1, 1865, the
Army of the James consisted of troops from this department which were the first to enter the fallen capital city of
Richmond.
Commanders 1861 Benjamin F. Butler (May 22, 1861 – August 9, 1861)
John E. Wool (August 9, 1861 – June 2, 1862)
George B. McClellan (appointed June 1, 1862 – never assumed command)
John Adams Dix (June 2, 1862 – April 6, 1863)
Erasmus D. Keyes (April 6, 1863 – April 14, 1863)
John Adams Dix (April 14, 1863 – July 15, 1863)
1865 E.O.C. Ord (January 18, 1865 – June 14, 1865)
Henry W. Halleck (appointed April 16, 1865, but revoked April 19, 1865)
Alfred H. Terry (June 14, 1865 – August 6, 1866)
Posts in the Department of Virginia •
Fort Monroe, VA, 1861–65,
Norfolk •
Fort Calhoun, Virginia, 1861–62, renamed
Fort Wool, Virginia, 1862–65, Norfolk •
Fort Norfolk, VA, 1862–65, Norfolk •
Norfolk Military Prison, VA, 1862–63, Norfolk •
Camp Naglee, 1862–1864, Norfolk •
Post at Newport News, VA, 1863–65
Newport News •
Civil War Defenses of Williamsburg, 1862–1865,
Williamsburg •
Burwell's Landing Batteries, 1862,
Kingsmill-on-the-James •
Defenses of Jamestown Island, 1862, 1863–1865,
Jamestown, Virginia •
Swann's Point Battery, 1862, 1863–1865, north of
Surry, Virginia ==Department of North Carolina==