General Orders, No. 97 (Headquarters of the Army) (November 9, 1861)

GENERAL ORDERS NO. 97

Headq'rs of the Army, Adj't General's Office,

Washington, November 9, 1861

The following Departments are formed from the present Departments of the West. Cumberland and Ohio:

I.                    The Department of new Mexico – to consist of the Territory of New Mexico – to be commanded by Colonel E.R.S. Canby, U.S.A.

II.                  The Department of Kansas -  to include the State of Kansas, the Indian Territory west of Arkansas, and the Territories of Nebraska, Colorado and Dacotah – to be commanded by Major General Hunter; Headquarters at Fort Leavenworth.

III.                The Department of the Missouri – to include the States of Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas and that portion of Kentucky west of the Cumberland river – to be commanded by Major general H.W. Halleck, U.S. A.

IV.                The Department of the Ohio – to consist of the States of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and that portion of Kentucky east of the Cumberland River and the State of Tennessee – to be commanded by Brigadier General D.C. Buell; Headquarters at Louisville.

V.                  The Department of Western Virginia – to consist of that portion of Virginia included in the old Department of the Ohio – to be commanded by Brigadier General W.S. Rosecrans, U.S.A.

By Order:

JULIUS P. GARESCHE, Assistant Adjutant General