District of Utah


During the American Civil War in the early 1860s, the District of Utah was a subordinate district of the U.S. Army's Department of the Pacific. The district was composed of territorial areas that later became parts of the modern U.S. states of Idaho, Nevada, and Utah.

History

On August 6, 1862, the Department of the Pacific absorbed the District of Utah, the territory of the former Department of Utah which had been discontinued on July 3, 1861; the remaining troops had marched out August 9. The District of Utah was composed of the Territory of Nevada and the Territory of Utah. General Connor established its headquarters at Fort Ruby on August 6, 1862. After a visit to Salt Lake City he returned and on October 20, moved his headquarters to Camp Douglas, about three miles east of Salt [Lake City, Utah] where his forces could overlook and intimidate the Mormon leadership who he regarded as traitors to the Union. On August 20, 1863, the area of Soda Springs, Idaho Territory was added to the district. His District also provided a garrison for Fort Bridger. The Territory of Nevada became the State of Nevada and was admitted to the Union on October 31, 1864.

Commanders

On February 17, 1865, the District of Utah was transferred from the Department of the Pacific into the Department of the Missouri. On March 28, 1865, the district was merged into the Department of the Plains, under Connor's command. On June 27, 1865, the State of Nevada and Territory of Utah became part of the expanded Department of California that also consisted of the State of California and the Territory of New Mexico and Territory of Arizona.

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