The District of California was a Union Army command department formed during the American Civil War. The district was part of the Department of the Pacific, the commander of the department also being District commander. The district was created as a separate command on July 1, 1864, after Irvin McDowell took command of the Department of the Pacific, relieving General Wright, who then remained as District of California commander. The District comprised the state of California and the areas of the Rogue River and Umpqua River in Southern Oregon. Its headquarters were in San Francisco, co-located with those of the Department of the Pacific. On March 14, 1865, the District of Oregon was extended to include the entire state of Oregon, removing the Rogue River and Umpqua River areas from the District.
District of California commanders
Albert Sidney Johnston, January 1861 - March 1861
Edwin Vose Sumner, March 1861 - October 1861
George Wright, October 1861 - June 27, 1865
On July 27, 1865 the Military Division of the Pacific was created under Major General Henry W. Halleck, replacing the Department of the Pacific. It consisted of the Department of the Columbia replacing the District of Oregon and the Department of California. George Wright, now a U. S. Army Brigadier General, was assigned to command the new Department of the Columbia.
Fort Umpqua, 1856–1862
Camp Baker, 1862-1865
Benicia Arsenal, 1851–1964
Benicia Barracks, 1852–1866
Fort Jones, 1852–1858, 1864
Post of Alcatraz Island or Fort Alcatraz, 1853–1907
Roop's Fort, Fort Defiance, Susanville 1853-1863
Fort Point San José, San Francisco, 1853–1882
Fort Point, San Francisco, 1853–1886
Fort Crook 1857-1869
Camp Allen, Oakland 1860-?
Camp Cady, 20 miles east of Barstow 1860, 1862, 1864 - 1871
Camp Dragoon Bridge, south of the town of Litchfield 1860-1863
Camp Downey, Oakland, 1861
Camp Halleck, Stockton,1861-1863
Camp Fitzgerald, Los Angeles June 1861 - September 20, 1861
Fort on Pine Creek, Independence 1861-1865
Camp San Bernardino, San Bernardino 1861
Camp Lyon, San Francisco 1861-1865
Mare Island Post, 1861–1862
Camp McClellan, Auburn 1861
Camp McDougall, near Stockton, 1861
Camp Gilmore, 1863
Camp Union, Sutterville 1861-1866
Camp Sigel, near Auburn, 1861–1862
Camp Sumner, San Francisco, 1861-1865
Camp Wright, San Francisco, 1861
Camp Alert, San Francisco, 1862-1865
Camp Hot Creek Station, 1862
Camp Hooker, near Stockton, 1862
Camp at Red Bluff, Red Bluff, 1862
Camp Reynolds on Angel Island, 1863–1866
Camp Bidwell, Chico, 1863–1865
Camp Chico, Chico, 1865
Camp Merchant (originally Camp Merritt), 1863
Fort Miller, 1863-1864.
Camp Stanford, Stockton, 1863
Camp Johns, 1864
Camp Low, 1864-1865
Camp Pollock 1864
Camp Susan, Susanville 1864
Federal Armory, Copperopolis 1864-1875
Post at Friday's Station, 1864
Colusa Post, 1864-1865
Camp Bidwell 1865-1879 (Later Fort Bidwell)
Camp near Hornitos, 18 miles northeast of Merced, 1865
Camp Jackson, near Ione, 1865
Monterey Barracks, 1865-1866
Camp at Pierson's Ranch, 1865
Camp Waite, 1865-1866
Events, skirmishes, and battles
1861
January 15, 1861. The Departments of California and Oregon merged into the Department of the Pacific. Col. Albert Sidney Johnston, 2nd US Cavalry, Brevet Brigadier General, U. S. Army, assumes commund of the Department of the Pacific (including direct command of the District of California).
March 23, 1861. Brigadier General Edwin V. Sumner, U. S. Army, assigned to command the Department of the Pacific.
April 25, 1861. Brig. Gen. Edwin V. Sumner, U. S. Army, assumes command of tho Department of the Pacific, relieving Col. Albert Sidney Johnston, 2nd US Cavalry, brevet brigadier-general, U. S. Army.
August 3–12, 1861. Scout from Fort Crook to Round Valley, California, with skirmish on the 6th in the Upper Pitt River Valley.
August 15–22, 1861. Expedition from Fort Crook to tho Pitt River, California, with skirmish on the 19th near Kellogg's Lake, California.
Sept. 7,1861. Skirmish near the Santa Ana Canyon, California.
Sept. 14, 1861. Col. George Wright, 9th US Infantry, assigned to command all troops serving in Southern California.
Sept. 25, 1861. The District of Southern California created, comprising the counties of San Luis Obispo, Tulare, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego, and Col. George Wright, assigned to its command.
Oct. 11, 1861. Lieut. Col. Albemarle Cady, 7th US Infantry, assigned to command the District of Oregon.
Oct. 20,1861. Brig. Gen. Edwin V. Sumner, U. S. Army, relinquishes command of the Department of the Pacific to Col. George Wright.
Oct. 26,1861. Col. George Wright, assumes command of tho Department of the Pacific.
Nov. 19,1861. Brig. Gen. George Wright, U. S. Army, formally assigned to command the Department of the Pacific.
Dec. 12, 1861. Humboldt Military District created to prosecute the Bald Hills War, to consist of the counties of Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Trinity, Humboldt, Klamath, and Del Norte, in Northern California, and Col. Francis J. Lippitt, Second California Infantry, assigned to its command.
1862
Sept. 21,1862. Affair on the Yreka Road, near Fort Crook, Cal.
Nov. 3-29, 1862. Scouts from Fort Crook, Cal., and Fort Churchill, Nev. Ter., to Honey Lake Valley, Cal.
1863
1864
July 1, 1864. Brig. Gen. George Wright, U. S. Army, retained command of the District of California but Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell, U. S. Army, relieved him and assumed command of the Department of tho Pacific.
1865
Apr. 5-18,1865. Expedition from Camp Bidwell to Antelope Creek, Cal.
June 27, 1865. Military Division of the Pacific created, to consist of the Departments of California and the Columbia. Department of California consisted of the States of California and Nevada and the Territories of New Mexico and Arizona. Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell, U. S. Army, assigned to command the Department of California.
