The Department of Oregon was one of two Army Departments created September 13, 1858, replacing the original Department of the Pacific and was composed of the Territories of Washington and Oregon, except the Rogue River and Umpqua Districts, which were assigned to the Department of California. Its creation was authorized by General Orders, No. 10, of the United States Department of War, Adjutant-General's Office, September 13, 1858. Its headquarters was at Fort Vancouver, in the Washington Territory. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Vol. 50, Part 1, OPERATIONS ON THE PACIFIC COAST JANUARY 1, 1861 - JUNE 30, 1865, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1897. pp. 1, 37-38.
Commanders Its first commander was Brevet Brigadier General William S. Harney, U.S. Army, from 1858 to June 1860. Shortly after he took command he sent troops under Captain George E. Pickett to San Juan Island precipitating the Pig War with Great Britain. Due to these altercations with the British he was recalled in June 1860 by the United States Secretary of War who reassigned Harney to the Department of the West, replacing him with the victor of the Oregon Indian Wars, Colonel George Wright, of the U.S. 9th Infantry Regiment, from June 8, 1860.
The Department of Oregon was merged into the restored Department of the Pacific on January 15, 1861, as the District of Oregon administering the same territories, under Col. Wright."The war of the rebellion, Series 1, Vol. 50, Part 1, OPERATIONS ON THE PACIFIC COAST.", pp. 1.
Posts in the Department of Oregon Washington Fort Colville, Washington Territory 1825 - 1870 Fort Steilacoom, Washington Territory 1849 - 1868 Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory 1849-1879 Fort Bellingham, Washington Territory 1855 - 1860 Fort Cascades, Washington Territory 1855 - 1861 Fort Townsend, Washington Territory 1856 - 1861 Fort Walla Walla, Washington Territory 1856 - 1911 Camp Chehalis, Washington Territory 1860 - 1861 Camp Pickett, Washington Territory 1859-1863
Idaho Major Howe's Camp, Washington Territory (Idaho) 1860 A temporary Federal camp located on the Portneuf River, near Chubbuck, Idaho. Fort Hall, Washington Territory (Idaho) 1859 - 1860
Oregon Fort Dalles, Oregon 1850-1867 Fort Yamhill, Oregon 1856 - 1866 Fort Hoskins, Oregon 1857 - 1865 Siletz Blockhouse, Oregon 1858 - 1866 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. Camp Randolph 1859 A temporary Army post near The Dalles on Three Mile Creek during the Wagon Road Expedition to Salt Lake City, Utah. Camp Owyhee, Oregon 1860 A temporary Army post at the mouth of the Owyhee River near Owyhee, Oregon. Also called Camp Owyhee River. Camp Union, Oregon 1860 A temporary Army encampment near Riley, Oregon on Silver Creek about 30 miles northwest of Harney Lake. Camp Day, Oregon 1860 A temporary Federal camp just west of Keno, Oregon that protected the Klamath Road.
See also Department of California
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