The Department of Virginia and North Carolina was a United States Military department encompassing Union-occupied territory in the Confederate States during the Civil War. In 1863 it was formed by the merging of two previously existing departments: the Department of Virginia and the Department of North Carolina. In 1865 the two departments were once again separated.
Department of Virginia
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
1862
The Department of North Carolina was created on January 7, 1862, to include the areas of North Carolina occupied by Union forces. These areas were formerly part of the Department of Virginia. Brigadier General Ambrose E. Burnside was the department's first commander. Early territories captured by Burnside's Expeditionary Force included Roanoke Island, New Bern, Morehead City, Beaufort and Fort Macon. On December 24, 1862, XVIII Corps was created, composed of the five divisions stationed in North Carolina. On July 15, 1863, the department was merged with the Department of Virginia. The Department of North Carolina was headquartered at the Slover-Bradham House in New Bern, North Carolina.
1865
On January 31, 1865, the department was re-created to include Union-occupied areas of North Carolina excluding those occupied by the armies of William T. Sherman. General John M. Schofield was hand picked by Ulysses Grant to head the department. Schofield assembled troops within the department into the Wilmington Expeditionary Force which he personally led in the capture of Wilmington. Significant territories included in the department were those captured by Ambrose Burnside in 1862 along with recently captured Fort Fisher and Wilmington. In March 1865, The troops of the Department of North Carolina formed the "revived" X Corps, under the command of Alfred Terry. On May 19, 1866, it was merged into the Department of the Carolinas.