Commanding the Defenses

The Department of Washington

The Department of Washington was constituted on April 9, 1861. The department was tasked with defending the Federal capital and serve as an organizing depot and training ground for thousands of Union soldiers that campaigned in the Eastern Theater. The organization of the department evolved over the course of the war. On February 2, 1863, the War Department created the Twenty-Second Army Corps (Department of Washington) to include all troops garrisoning the forts; the corps remain in service through the war's duration and was disbanded in June 1865. The Department of Washington remained as an active military oganization until March 16, 1869.

According to Dr. Frank J. Welcher, "the term 'Defenses of Washington' was generally used throughout the war to refer to the fortifications constructed to protect the national capital and the troops assigned to occupy them." For clarity and organizational purposes, the Faces of the Forts Project will refer to the Defenses of Washington interchangeably with the Department of Washington, Twenty-Second Corps.

Reach for the Stars

The commanders of the Department of Washington were a venerable collection of Regular Army veterans. The department was formed just days prior to the Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina (April 12-13, 1861), and remained active until the formation of the Department of the Potomac in August 1861. The Department of Washington was reactivated on February 2, 1863. All troops assigned in the department were organized as the Twenty-Second Army Corps. The commanders listed will include only those who served during the war of the rebellion, April 1861-August 20, 1866. On that day, President Andrew Johnson signed a Proclamation—Declaring that Peace, Order, Tranquillity, and Civil Authority Now Exists in and Throughout the Whole of the United States of America.

Commanders

Maj. Gen. Charles F. Smith, April 9, 1861--April 26, 1861. on August 20, 1866.

Maj. Gen. Joseph K. F. Mansfield, April 27,1861--August 17, 1861.

Maj. Gen. Samuel P. Heintzelman, February 7, 1863--October 14, 1863.

Maj. Gen. Christopher C. Augur, October 14, 1863--June 7, 1865.

Maj. Gen. John G. Parke, June 7, 1865--June 26, 1865.

Maj. Gen. Christopher C. Augur, June 26, 1865--August 13, 1866.

Maj. Gen. Edward R. S. Canby, August 13, 1866--August 31, 1867.

Military Governor of the District of Columbia:

Brigadier General General James S. Wadsworth, March 15, 1862-December 1862

GENERAL ORDERS, WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJT. General 'S OFFICE,

Washington, March 15, 1862.

Numbers 25.

The Provost-Marshal-General of the Army of the Potomac and his subordinates will turn over to Brigadier-General Wadsworth, military governor of the District of Columbia, the buildings and premises occupied in the city of Washington and all the public property belonging thereto; and from and after it being so turned over the provost-marshal's office will be withdrawn from the city of Washington, and all the force employed in the military police of the city will be henceforth under command of Brigadier-General Wadsworth, as military governor of the District. General Wadsworth will establish his headquarters in the building heretofore used and occupied by the provost-marshal in the city of Washington.

The Provost-Marshal-General and his subordinates will also turn over to Brigadier-General Wadsworth, as military governor of the District of Columbia, all the military prisons and prisoners within thee District of Columbia and all contrabands now in custody, and the same shall henceforth be under command of the military governor of the District of Columbia. General Wadsworth will forthwith assume command as military governor of the said District.

By order of the Secretary of War:

L. THOMAS,

Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

Numbers 83.

Near Alexandria Seminary, Va., March 17, 1862.

SUPPLEMENTARY.

Brigadier General James S. Wadsworth, having been assigned to duty by the direction of the President as military governor of the District of Columbia, will, besides the military command of the city of Washington, assume the charge of the defenses north and south of the Potomac in the vicinity of Washington.

The limits of his command will embrace the District of Columbia, the city of Alexandria, the ground in front of and in the vicinity of the defensive works south of the Potomac from the Occoquan to Difficult Creek, and the post of Fort Washington. He will have charge of the provisional brigades, composed of new troops arriving in Washington, and will exercise supervision over troops in the city.

By command of Major-General McClellan:

RICH'D B. IRWIN,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

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