Creation and Vicksburg The XVI Corps was organized on December 18, 1862, with Maj. Gen.
Stephen A. Hurlbut in command. It had four
divisions commanded respectively by
William Sooy Smith (1st Division),
Grenville Dodge (2nd Division),
Nathan Kimball (3rd Division) and
Jacob G. Lauman (4th Division). These divisions were assigned to garrison duty in the vicinity of
Memphis, Tennessee,
LaGrange, Tennessee and
Corinth, Mississippi.
Dissolution The corps in its entirety was discontinued on November 7, 1864. Andrew J. Smith remained in command of his two divisions and were sent to Missouri to help defeat
Sterling Prices's Missouri Raid. During this time Smith's command, once known as the Right Wing-XVI Corps, was now officially titled "Detachment-Army of the Tennessee". Smith was then sent to Tennessee to join with Maj. Gen.
George H. Thomas for the
battle of Nashville. At Nashville Smith had three divisions being commanded respectively by
John McArthur,
Kenner Garrard and Col.
Jonathan B. Moore. McArthur's division took a prominent part in both days of the battle.
Re-activation On February 18, 1865, Smith's Detachment-Army of the Tennessee became the official XVI Corps. It was composed of three divisions: First (
McArthur), Second (
Garrard) and Third (
Carr). The composition remained virtually the same as it had at Nashville except Brig. Gen.
Eugene A. Carr replaced Col. Moore in command of the 3rd Division. It served in the operations of Maj. Gen.
Edward Canby against
Mobile, Alabama and fought in the battles of
Spanish Fort and
Fort Blakeley. The latter ended on April 9, 1865, the day
Lee surrendered at Appomattox. The corps was finally disbanded on July 20, 1865. ==References==