Department of East Tennessee and West Virginia


The Department of East Tennessee and West Virginia was a Confederate Army command in the Trans-Allegheny Theater during the American Civil War. This department existed in two previous forms during the war.

Department of Southwestern Virginia

Organized May 8, 1861 for the mountainous region of southwest Virginia and present-day southern West Virginia.
Commanders:
Renamed on November 25, 1862 and extended to the border of eastern Kentucky. On September 25, extended to include the areas of southwestern Virginia formerly encompassed by the Department of East Tennessee and forces east of Knoxville. On March 19, 1864, the area around Saltville, Virginia was added to the department and, briefly from April 23 to May 2, the entirety of the Department of East Tennessee was added to the department.
Commanding generals:
Organized September 27, 1864. The Valley District was added on April 9, 1865 from the Department of Northern Virginia.
Commanders:
  • John C. Breckinridge - September 27, 1864 - February 20, 1865
  • Jubal A. Early - February 20, 1865 - March 29, 1865
  • John Echols - March 29, 1865 - April 19, 1865

    Department of Tennessee and Georgia

Merged with the Department of Tennessee and Georgia on April 19, 1865.