Rethinking the Term "Western Theater"

[JeffBrooks]

Traditionally, we divide the Civil War into the Eastern Theater and the Western Theater (sometimes we remember to toss in the Trans-Mississippi and the Lower Seaboard). I have always felt that this was rather too simplistic and that it should be rethought.

In particular, I have a problem with the "Western Theater" being thought of as all the land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River. It would be better to view it as two separate theaters, with the Mississippi River considered a separate theater altogether. In this scheme, the operational region of the Army of the Cumberland (i.e., from Louisville through Nashville and Chattanooga to Atlanta) might be seen as the Western Theater, while that of the Army of the Tennessee (prior to October 1863) might be seen as the River Theater.

In other words, the Battle of Stones River and the Battle of Chickamauga took place in the Western Theater, but the Battle of Shiloh and the Siege of Vicksburg took place in the River Theater.

I don't see, say the Army of the Cumberland/Army of Tennessee as any more closely related to the Army of the Tennessee/Army of Mississippi than either group was related to the armies of Virginia. Yes, troops were transferred back and forth, but the same was equally true regarding the armies in Virginia. Take, for example, the movement of Longstreet's Corps and Hooker's corps from Virginia to the Western Theater in the fall of 1863.

Thoughts?

 

[Borderruffian]

Call it what ever you please, but it's not us you have to convince. Personally I think you've got a long row to hoe to change theater designations when they've East and West for so long.

 

[A. Roy]

Yes, I'm thinking that these designations are just too entrenched in historical thinking to be changed. But that doesn't mean that any of us can't use more precise terms when discussing the war, as long as others will understand what we're saying.

Just as a freaky example of how this east v west terminology can generate absurdities: Living in NC, I'm particularly interested in the Carolinas Campaign. But I scratch my head when I hear it referred to as part of the western theater! I know why it's that way, but psychologically it's hard to wrap my head around...

ARB

 

[JeffBrooks]

Just as a freaky example of how this east v west terminology can generate absurdities: Living in NC, I'm particularly interested in the Carolinas Campaign. But I scratch my head when I hear it referred to as part of the western theater! I know why it's that way, but psychologically it's hard to wrap my head around...

In my view, the moment Sherman marched north from Savannah, he left the Western Theater and entered the Eastern Theater.

Similarly, when Grant came east to Chattanooga in October of 1863, he left the River Theater and entered the Western Theater.

 

[121st PA Vols]

Whatever the areas may be called, things can change. I was raised saying oriental and now hear many others for some time now say....Asian. That's somewhat right with the point being, people change.

 

[jackt62]

Differentiating theaters of war by their major armies does make sense, as in the AotT's role in what you describe as the "River" theater, and the AotC's in the "Western" theater. But the AotT shifted its emphasis to the "Western" theater during the Atlanta campaign so that strict definition starts to unwind. Regardless of how one defines western theater, the axes of the main fighting fronts offers a more sensible way to sort out the geographic distinctions. In that regard, there were 2 important lines of movement and campaigns; the Mississippi Valley axis and the Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta axis. Additionally, the trans-Mississippi region deserves its own designation because of its geographically separation and secondary importance to the outcome of the war.

 

[archieclement]

Differentiating theaters of war by their major armies does make sense, as in the AotT's role in what you describe as the "River" theater, and the AotC's in the "Western" theater. But the AotT shifted its emphasis to the "Western" theater during the Atlanta campaign so that strict definition starts to unwind. Regardless of how one defines western theater, the axes of the main fighting fronts offers a more sensible way to sort out the geographic distinctions. In that regard, there were 2 important lines of movement and campaigns; the Mississippi Valley axis and the Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta axis. Additionally, the trans-Mississippi region deserves its own designation because of its geographically separation and secondary importance to the outcome of the war.

But it's always seemed odd to me it's called the trans-mississippi........when it's actually the western theatre......what is referred to as "western theatre" is most definitely east of T-M

 

[Borderruffian]

In my view, the moment Sherman marched north from Savannah, he left the Western Theater and entered the Eastern Theater.

Similarly, when Grant came east to Chattanooga in October of 1863, he left the River Theater and entered the Western Theater.

Like I said call it whatever you please, whatever makes you happy. Just remember, that Eastern and Western as well as Trans-Miss mean the theatre your referring to , and have decades in this field of study.ike I've said you've got a long hard row to hoe if you're trying to change terms in common usage. But hey Brother, you do you. As for me I'm to old to change what I'm comfortable with and know is understood.

 

[Borderruffian]

But it's always seemed odd to me it's called the trans-mississippi........when it's actually the western theatre......what is referred to as "western theatre" is most definitely east of T-M

Because it's across the Mississippi River.

 

[archieclement]

Because it's across the Mississippi River.

Which is east

The west starts west of the Mississippi River, why St Louis is Gateway to the West........

 

[Ole Miss]

Sorry to disagree but I do. Shiloh and Vicksburg were Western Theater engagements.
Regards
David

 

[Borderruffian]

Which is east

The west starts west of the Mississippi River, why St Louis is Gateway to the West........

Well I am just a dumb as Redneck but I believe the rises in the East and sets in the west. So I reckon east is toward the Slums of I'll e noise.

 

[Taylin]

While we're at it we can move the Midwest a few states over

Jokes aside, I think it's fun to try and parse out the Theatres of War in a more precise way but I don't particularly see any of it really catching on. The most I've seen is a "Gulf Coast" or "Lower Sea Board" theatre being thrown in. People already know what you are referring to when you say "Eastern Theatre" or "Western Theatre" and for the outliers we typically just refer to a state itself, i.e the Carolinas / Florida

You could use the various Military Departments/Divisions but these changed a lot, often either expanding, merging or being replaced with a new / other department

 

[RedRover]

During the War the US and CS had various names for their departments/theatres. For example, early in the war, the US Department of the East, was east of the Mississippi River.

In fact, the US Army's eastern department from 1837, included all east of the Mississippi...

It floated over time, but by the war the Department of the East was essentially east of the Mississippi River. Here's the US Governments' military division in 1859:

These departmental/division boundaries changed over the war some.

For example, the State of Alabama lay in the Dept. of the East, and later

Arkansas, was in the Department of the West at the outset...

Tennessee, for the federals, was in the Eastern Department for starters...

The geographical departments/divisions east of the Mississippi River, were called the Division of the Mississippi by late 1863.

The Military Division of West Mississippi, west of the river, was constituted in 1864:

 

[wausaubob]

Small, but vitally important actions took place in New Mexico and the US ranger battalions crossed what became Arizona, in relays.

 

[wausaubob]

They were far from NYC, but Missouri, Kansas and the NE corner of what became Indian Territory also saw conflict.

 

[Jamieva]

I understand what you are getting at, there are 2 seperate operations going on within the theater.

Belmont, Henry, donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, iuka and Vicksburg

Stones river, tullahoma, chickamauga, Chattanooga

 

[Pat Answer]

Of course the real war was more fluid* and conventions are arbitrary, but to @Borderruffian 's point we have them to orient discussions of complex historical events.

*The shifting of departmental areas during the war as administrators tried to keep up with events is pretty interesting.

 

[bamaman]

Call it what ever you please, but it's not us you have to convince. Personally I think you've got a long row to hoe to change theater designations when they've East and West for so long.

I live in California. What theater am I in?

 

[Pat Answer]

The Trans-Rocky…