4th District, DMEL

[JohnG0609]

Is there a anything that describes the geographic boundaries of the 4th District, DMEL ; HQ Jackson; Adams, commanding? Was it just the post of Jackson? Or did it comprise all the territory in Mississippi not expressly assigned to the other districts? 4th District didn't appear on the Dec '62 return but did on the Jan '63 return. There's nothing in the OR, but I'm sure the answer exists in the GOs at NARA. Just curious if anyone else had run across it.

 

[John Hartwell]

DMEL/DEML??????

 

[John Hartwell]

DMEL/DEML??????

 

[Bradley]

DMEL/DEML??????

He means the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana.

 

[JohnG0609]

He means the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana.

Yes, thank you Bradley. Apologies, 29 years in the USAF so I love a good acronym.

 

[JohnG0609]

DMEL/DEML??????

Thank you! Transposed the letters. DMEL

 

[Stryker65]

@JohnG0609

DEPARTMENT OF MISSISSIPPI AND EAST LOUISIANA, DISTRICT FOUR

John Adams, 1 Apr. 1863--2 Sept. 1863

Established about 1 Apr. 1863 for the vicinity of Jackson, Mississippi. Abolished 2 Sept. 1863.

(Taken from Eicher, Civil War High Commands, pp 873)

 

[Stryker65]

For reference, the other districts were as follows:

1st District: "Organized 21 Oct. 1862 to include Mississippi east of the Mississippi and Tennessee Railroad and the New Orleans and Jackson Railroad, but excluding the counties along the Gulf Coast."
2nd District: "Organized 21 Oct. 1862 to include the area between the Mississippi and Tennessee Railroad, the Mississippi River and the Big Black River."
3rd District: "Organized 21 Oct. 1862 to include the area between the New Orleans and Jackson Railroad, the Mississippi River and the Big Black River, and also the Gulf counties of Mississippi."
5th District: "Established 9 Mar. 1863 for the two northern tiers of counties in Mississippi from New Albany on the east to the Mississippi River."

 

[JohnG0609]

@JohnG0609

DEPARTMENT OF MISSISSIPPI AND EAST LOUISIANA, DISTRICT FOUR

John Adams, 1 Apr. 1863--2 Sept. 1863

Established about 1 Apr. 1863 for the vicinity of Jackson, Mississippi. Abolished 2 Sept. 1863.

(Taken from Eicher, Civil War High Commands, pp 873)

Thank you. Except that the 4th District first appears on the January 1863 return for DMEL.

 

[JohnG0609]

For reference, the other districts were as follows:

1st District: "Organized 21 Oct. 1862 to include Mississippi east of the Mississippi and Tennessee Railroad and the New Orleans and Jackson Railroad, but excluding the counties along the Gulf Coast."
2nd District: "Organized 21 Oct. 1862 to include the area between the Mississippi and Tennessee Railroad, the Mississippi River and the Big Black River."
3rd District: "Organized 21 Oct. 1862 to include the area between the New Orleans and Jackson Railroad, the Mississippi River and the Big Black River, and also the Gulf counties of Mississippi."
5th District: "Established 9 Mar. 1863 for the two northern tiers of counties in Mississippi from New Albany on the east to the Mississippi River."

Thank you. I've read this and the absence of geographic boundaries for the 4th district leads to conclude that it was just the post of Jackson. How do you interpret it?

 

[Stryker65]

Thank you. I've read this and the absence of geographic boundaries for the 4th district leads to conclude that it was just the post of Jackson. How do you interpret it?

I would also think that it was just the post of Jackson, as the makeup of the troops composing the district (mostly infantry, few cavalry) give the appearance of a Garrison, rather than an area-coverage distribution. Additionally, Maj. Gen. William W. Loring (commanding his division, which was in the district in January) makes his reports either from Jackson or Grenada in January-February, before moving to guard the Yazoo in late February.

Thank you. Except that the 4th District first appears on the January 1863 return for DMEL.

Can't argue with that! Eicher likely made a mistake in that respect.

 

[JohnG0609]

I would also think that it was just the post of Jackson, as the makeup of the troops composing the district (mostly infantry, few cavalry) give the appearance of a Garrison, rather than an area-coverage distribution. Additionally, Maj. Gen. William W. Loring (commanding his division, which was in the district in January) makes his reports either from Jackson or Grenada in January-February, before moving to guard the Yazoo in late February.


Can't argue with that! Eicher likely made a mistake in that respect.

Right?? Ultimately, it's a minor discrepancy only important to Civil War nerds like us. Are you able to form an opinion on the question? Was the 4th District just the post of Jackson?

 

[Stryker65]

Right?? Ultimately, it's a minor discrepancy only important to Civil War nerds like us. Are you able to form an opinion on the question? Was the 4th District just the post of Jackson?

See the first part of my previous post.

 

[JohnG0609]

See the first part of my previous post.

Indeed you did have an opinion. My apologies I was reading your response on my phone and not my laptop.