The Department of the Columbia was a major command (Department) of the United States Army during the 19th century.
On July 27, 1865 the Military Division of the Pacific was created under Major General Henry W. Halleck, replacing the Department of the Pacific, consisting of the Department of the Columbia (replacing the District of Oregon) that now consisted of the state of Oregon and the territories of Washington and Idaho and the expanded Department of California.
Within the Department was the District of Boise, 1865-67 and District of Owyhee, 1867-69 that were engaged in the Snake War.
The Military District of Alaska, was formed, subordinate to the Department of the Columbia 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, 1865Colonel George Byron Currey, July 27, 1865 – November 20, 1865Lieutenant Colonel John M. Drake, November 20, 1865 – December 22, 1865Major General Frederick Steele, December 21, 1865 – November 23, 1867Lieutenant Colonel George Crook, November 23, 1867 – August 8, 1870Brigadier General Edward Richard Sprigg Canby, August 8, 1870 – January 1873Colonel Jefferson Columbus Davis, January 1873 – September 1874Brigadier General Oliver Otis Howard, September 1874 – January 1881Brigadier General Nelson A. Miles, January 1881 – July 1885Brigadier General John Gibbon, July 1885 – April 1891Brigadier General August Kautz, April 1891 – January 1892Fort Colville, Washington Territory, 1859–1882Fort Steilacoom, Washington Territory, 1849–1868Fort Dalles, Oregon, 1850–1867Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, 1853–1879Fort Yamhill, Oregon, 1856–1866Fort Walla Walla, Washington Territory, 1856–1911Siletz Blockhouse, Oregon, 1858–1866 Post of San Juan, Washington Territory, 1863–1867Fort Cape Disappointment, Washington Territory, 1864–1875 Fort Canby, 1875–Fort Lapwai, Idaho Territory, 1862–1884Fort Boise, Idaho Territory, 1863–1912Fort Klamath, Oregon, 1863–1890Fort at Point Adams, Oregon, 1863–1865 Fort Stevens, Oregon, 1865 - 1947Camp Alvord, Oregon, 1864–1866 Camp Henderson, Oregon, 1864–1866 Camp Watson, Oregon, 1864–1869Camp Colfax, Oregon, 1865, 1867Camp Currey, Oregon, 1865–1866 Camp Lander, Idaho Territory, 1865–1866 Camp Logan, Oregon, 1865–1868 Camp Lyon, Idaho, 1865–1869 Camp Polk, Oregon, 1865–1866 Camp Reed, Idaho Territory, 1865–1866 Camp on Silvies River, Oregon ? Camp Wright, Oregon 1865–1866 Old Camp Warner, Oregon, 1866–1867Camp Warner, Oregon, 1867–1874