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{{Infobox military unit
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=Army of the James
|unit_name=Army of the James
|image=Negro quarters, Army of the James (18057168083).jpg
|image=
|caption=The Negro quarters of the Army of the James
|caption=
|dates= April 1864 – April 1865
|dates= April 1864 – August 1865
|country={{flag|United States of America|1863}}|
|country={{flag|United States of America|1863}}|
|branch=[[Image:Usdowseal.jpg|20px]] [[United States Army]]
|branch=[[Image:Usdowseal.jpg|20px]] [[United States Army]]
Line 21: Line 21:
|mascot=
|mascot=
|battles=[[American Civil War]]
|battles=[[American Civil War]]
|notable_commanders=[[Benjamin Franklin Butler (politician)|Benjamin F. Butler]]<br />[[Edward Ord]]
|notable_commanders=[[Benjamin Butler (politician)|Benjamin F. Butler]]<br />[[Edward Ord]]
|anniversaries=
|anniversaries=
}}
}}
The '''Army of the James''' was a [[Union Army|Union]] Army that was composed of units from the [[Department of Virginia and North Carolina]] and served along the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]] during the final operations of the [[American Civil War]] in [[Virginia]].
The '''Army of the James''' was a [[Union Army]] that was composed of units from the [[Department of Virginia and North Carolina]] and served along the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]] during the final operations of the [[American Civil War]] in [[Virginia]].


==History==
==History==
The Union Departments of Virginia and North Carolina merged in 1863. Troops from these departments formed the [[XVIII Corps (Union Army)|XVIII Corps]]. In April 1864 the [[X Corps (Union Army)|X Corps]] was transferred from the Department of the South and the two corps formed the Army of the James. [[Major general (United States)|Maj. Gen.]] [[Benjamin Franklin Butler (politician)|Benjamin F. Butler]] was placed in command.
The Union Departments of Virginia and North Carolina merged in 1863. Troops from these departments formed the [[XVIII Corps (Union Army)|XVIII Corps]]. In April 1864 the [[X Corps (Union Army)|X Corps]] was transferred from the Department of the South and the two corps formed the Army of the James. [[Major general (United States)|Maj. Gen.]] [[Benjamin Butler (politician)|Benjamin F. Butler]] was placed in command.


During [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lt. Gen.]] [[Ulysses Grant]]'s [[Overland Campaign]] in 1864, Butler made several unsuccessful attempts at [[Petersburg, Virginia|Petersburg]] and [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]]. At the [[Battle of Cold Harbor]] the XVIII Corps was sent to act under the [[Army of the Potomac]]. The XVIII Corps also participated in the [[Siege of Petersburg]]. During the siege the Army of the James was mainly involved in the [[investment (military)|investment]] of Richmond.
During [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lt. Gen.]] [[Ulysses Grant]]'s [[Overland Campaign]] in 1864, Butler made several unsuccessful attempts at [[Petersburg, Virginia|Petersburg]] and [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]]. At the [[Battle of Cold Harbor]] the XVIII Corps was sent to act under the [[Army of the Potomac]]. The XVIII Corps also participated in the [[Siege of Petersburg]]. During the siege the Army of the James was mainly involved in the [[investment (military)|investment]] of Richmond.


Butler's only major success as commander of the army was in September 1864 at the [[Battle of Chaffin's Farm]], in which the army took a significant portion of the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] works guarding Richmond, including Fort Harrison. In December the army was reorganized and the XVIII and X Corps were for the time discontinued. All the [[African-American|black]] troops in the army were formed into the [[XXV Corps (Union Army)|XXV Corps]] and the white troops into the [[XXIV Corps (Union Army)|XXIV Corps]] and the Departments of Virginia and North Carolina were separated. Units from the former XVIII Corps and X Corps were formed into the "Fort Fisher Expeditionary Corps" and sailed to [[Fort Fisher]]. Butler used his position as department commander to assume personal command of the expedition, but after his failure at the [[First Battle of Fort Fisher]], Grant took the opportunity to relieve Butler of command. Maj. Gen. [[Edward Ord]] was placed in command of the Army of the James.
Butler's only major success as commander of the army was in September 1864 at the [[Battle of Chaffin's Farm]], in which the army took a significant portion of the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] works guarding Richmond, including Fort Harrison. In December the army was reorganized and the XVIII and X Corps were for the time discontinued. All the [[African-American|black]] troops in the army were formed into the [[XXV Corps (Union Army)|XXV Corps]] and the white troops into the [[XXIV Corps (Union Army)|XXIV Corps]] and the Departments of Virginia and North Carolina were separated. Units from the former XVIII Corps and X Corps were formed into the "Fort Fisher Expeditionary Corps" and sailed to [[Fort Fisher]]. Butler used his position as department commander to assume personal command of the expedition, but after his failure at the [[First Battle of Fort Fisher]], Grant took the opportunity to relieve Butler of command. Maj. Gen. [[Edward Ord]] was placed in command of the Army of the James.


Under Ord's leadership the Army of the James was to achieve its greatest success. The XXIV Corps participated in the final assaults on Petersburg, while the XXV Corps was the first unit to enter the fallen city of Richmond. Ord and the XXIV Corps followed the Confederates to [[Appomattox Court House]] where they cut off [[Robert E. Lee]]'s escape route. The Army of the James was then present at the surrender of the [[Army of Northern Virginia]].
Under Ord's leadership the Army of the James was to achieve its greatest success. The XXIV Corps participated in the final assaults on Petersburg, while the XXV Corps was the first unit to enter the fallen city of Richmond. Ord and the XXIV Corps followed the Confederates to [[Appomattox Court House National Historical Park|Appomattox Court House]] where they cut off [[Robert E. Lee]]'s escape route. The Army of the James was present at the surrender of the [[Army of Northern Virginia]].


==Command history==
==Command history==
* Major General [[Benjamin Franklin Butler (politician)|Benjamin F. Butler]] (April 28, 1864 – January 8, 1865)
* Major General [[Benjamin Butler (politician)|Benjamin F. Butler]] (April 28, 1864 – January 8, 1865)
* Major General [[Edward Ord]] (January 8, 1865 – August 1, 1865)
* Major General [[Edward Ord]] (January 8, 1865 – August 1, 1865)


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==References==
==References==
{{no footnotes|date=June 2016}}
* Eicher, John H., and [[David J. Eicher]]. ''Civil War High Commands''. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
* Eicher, John H., and [[David J. Eicher]]. ''Civil War High Commands''. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-8047-3641-3}}.
* [http://www.civilwarhome.com/armyofjames.htm Department of Virginia and North Carolina, Army of the James]
* [http://www.civilwarhome.com/armyofjames.htm Department of Virginia and North Carolina, Army of the James]


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|Army of the James}}
* [http://encyclopediavirginia.org/Army_of_the_James Army of the James in ''Encyclopedia Virginia'']
* [http://encyclopediavirginia.org/Army_of_the_James Army of the James in ''Encyclopedia Virginia'']


{{Union Army Formations}}
{{Union Army Formations}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Union armies|James, Army of the]]
[[Category:Union armies|James, Army of the]]
[[Category:Virginia in the American Civil War]]
[[Category:Virginia in the American Civil War]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1864]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1864]]
[[Category:1864 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:1865 disestablishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1865]]

Latest revision as of 23:48, 3 February 2024

Army of the James
The Negro quarters of the Army of the James
ActiveApril 1864 – August 1865
Country United States of America
Branch United States Army
TypeField Army
EngagementsAmerican Civil War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Benjamin F. Butler
Edward Ord

The Army of the James was a Union Army that was composed of units from the Department of Virginia and North Carolina and served along the James River during the final operations of the American Civil War in Virginia.

History

[edit]

The Union Departments of Virginia and North Carolina merged in 1863. Troops from these departments formed the XVIII Corps. In April 1864 the X Corps was transferred from the Department of the South and the two corps formed the Army of the James. Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler was placed in command.

During Lt. Gen. Ulysses Grant's Overland Campaign in 1864, Butler made several unsuccessful attempts at Petersburg and Richmond. At the Battle of Cold Harbor the XVIII Corps was sent to act under the Army of the Potomac. The XVIII Corps also participated in the Siege of Petersburg. During the siege the Army of the James was mainly involved in the investment of Richmond.

Butler's only major success as commander of the army was in September 1864 at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm, in which the army took a significant portion of the Confederate works guarding Richmond, including Fort Harrison. In December the army was reorganized and the XVIII and X Corps were for the time discontinued. All the black troops in the army were formed into the XXV Corps and the white troops into the XXIV Corps and the Departments of Virginia and North Carolina were separated. Units from the former XVIII Corps and X Corps were formed into the "Fort Fisher Expeditionary Corps" and sailed to Fort Fisher. Butler used his position as department commander to assume personal command of the expedition, but after his failure at the First Battle of Fort Fisher, Grant took the opportunity to relieve Butler of command. Maj. Gen. Edward Ord was placed in command of the Army of the James.

Under Ord's leadership the Army of the James was to achieve its greatest success. The XXIV Corps participated in the final assaults on Petersburg, while the XXV Corps was the first unit to enter the fallen city of Richmond. Ord and the XXIV Corps followed the Confederates to Appomattox Court House where they cut off Robert E. Lee's escape route. The Army of the James was present at the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Command history

[edit]

Major battles and campaigns

[edit]

References

[edit]
  • Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher. Civil War High Commands. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
  • Department of Virginia and North Carolina, Army of the James
[edit]
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