The Military District of Alaska, subordinate to the Department of the Columbia, was formed in 1867 following the purchase of Alaska. On March 18, 1868, the Army established the
Department of Alaska under the Division of the Pacific. The Department of Alaska was discontinued on July 1, 1870, and
Alaska was absorbed again by the Department of the Columbia.
In June 1875, the part of the Territory of Idaho that lay east of the extension of the western boundary of
Utah, and including
Fort Hall, was detached from the Department of Columbia and added to the
Department of the Platte.
When the Military Division of the Pacific was discontinued on July 3, 1891. Each of its three subordinate departments including the Department of the Columbia, then reported directly to the
War Department.
Commanders of the Military Department of Columbia
Brigadier General
George Wright, July 27, 1865 – July 30, 1865
^A two-story blockhouse built to protect the
Siletz Indian Agency. It was a subpost of Fort Hoskins. Originally called Yaquina Bay Blockhouse (1856–1858) located at the mouth of the
Yaquina River near South Beach. It was dismantled and floated upriver in 1858. Located at
Siletz, Oregon.
^Post at Cape Disappointment 1862–63, was at the north mouth of the Columbia River, Washington Territory, later renamed Fort Cape Disappointment 1864 and
Fort Canby in 1875.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 672. Located on the south shore of the mouth of the
Columbia River. Later named Fort Stevens.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671. This camp, named for Oregon's representative in Congress at that time, was established early in 1864, near the mouth of Jordan Creek, 330 miles from Walla Walla, and was the center of operations in Southeastern Oregon for some time afterward.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671. At the Willow Creek crossing of the Canyon City – Boise Road, south of
Baker City.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671. On Silver Creek.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671. On the
Snake River, at the site of
Old Fort Hall in S. Idaho Territory.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671 East of Canyon City, on the road to Colfax.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671 In the Jordan Valley, east of the
Owyhee River.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671. North of Harney Lake. A temporary state militia encampment on the Silvies River, possibly to the south of
Burns, Oregon. . Originally Adobe Camp (1865), a 25-yard square sod-walled post, was located here before being replaced after only two weeks.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671. Located east of Warner Lakes. A Federal camp originally located 20 miles east of Warner (Hart) Lake. It was moved in 1867
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671. Located west of Warner Lakes.
The Military District of Alaska, subordinate to the Department of the Columbia, was formed in 1867 following the purchase of Alaska. On March 18, 1868, the Army established the
Department of Alaska under the Division of the Pacific. The Department of Alaska was discontinued on July 1, 1870, and
Alaska was absorbed again by the Department of the Columbia.
In June 1875, the part of the Territory of Idaho that lay east of the extension of the western boundary of
Utah, and including
Fort Hall, was detached from the Department of Columbia and added to the
Department of the Platte.
When the Military Division of the Pacific was discontinued on July 3, 1891. Each of its three subordinate departments including the Department of the Columbia, then reported directly to the
War Department.
Commanders of the Military Department of Columbia
Brigadier General
George Wright, July 27, 1865 – July 30, 1865
^A two-story blockhouse built to protect the
Siletz Indian Agency. It was a subpost of Fort Hoskins. Originally called Yaquina Bay Blockhouse (1856–1858) located at the mouth of the
Yaquina River near South Beach. It was dismantled and floated upriver in 1858. Located at
Siletz, Oregon.
^Post at Cape Disappointment 1862–63, was at the north mouth of the Columbia River, Washington Territory, later renamed Fort Cape Disappointment 1864 and
Fort Canby in 1875.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 672. Located on the south shore of the mouth of the
Columbia River. Later named Fort Stevens.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671. This camp, named for Oregon's representative in Congress at that time, was established early in 1864, near the mouth of Jordan Creek, 330 miles from Walla Walla, and was the center of operations in Southeastern Oregon for some time afterward.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671. At the Willow Creek crossing of the Canyon City – Boise Road, south of
Baker City.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671. On Silver Creek.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671. On the
Snake River, at the site of
Old Fort Hall in S. Idaho Territory.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671 East of Canyon City, on the road to Colfax.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671 In the Jordan Valley, east of the
Owyhee River.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671. North of Harney Lake. A temporary state militia encampment on the Silvies River, possibly to the south of
Burns, Oregon. . Originally Adobe Camp (1865), a 25-yard square sod-walled post, was located here before being replaced after only two weeks.
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671. Located east of Warner Lakes. A Federal camp originally located 20 miles east of Warner (Hart) Lake. It was moved in 1867
^Carey, History of Oregon, pg. 671. Located west of Warner Lakes.