11 March, 1862: Tuesday

Union - Government/Military
President Lincoln signs War Order number 3, which officially relieves General McClellan of his post as General-in-Chief of the Federal Armies. He does retain his position as commander of the Department of the Army of the Potomac.

In the West, the departments are consolidated when Major GEneral Henry W. Halleck is given command of not only the Department of Missouri, but that of Kansas and part of the Department of Ohio as well. These became the Department of the Mississippi.

A new department in the mountains of Virginia and western Virginia to be termed the Mountain Department is created under the command of Major General Fremont (still in the Army despite the controversies over his Missouri reign.

All generals were to report directly to the Secretary of War.

There was to be no General-in-Chief, at least for a while.

In Washington, most Cabinet members and many other officials applauded Lincoln's command changes, although some were bitter over the downgrading of McClellan.

Government - Confederacy
In Richmond, President Davis refuses to accept the reports of Brigadier GEnerals Floyd and Pillow,, who had fled Fort Donelson before the surrender. Both officers were relieved of command.

Union - Military
Virginia
At Manassas, the Federal Army of the Potomac found the burning remains of supplies, wrecked railroad tracks and installations, and only a small amount of usable materiel, left behind by the retreating Confederates.

In the Shenandoah at Stephenson's Depot north of Winchester, there is another brief figh, but Stonewall Jackson's 4600 men complete their retreat from Winchester. They fall back rapidly up the valley, southward, follwed by Union soldiers from Banks' larger command.

Tennessee
There is a skirmish near Paris, Tennessee.

Bibliography
The Civil War Day By Day: An Almanac 1861-1865. E.B. Long with Barbara Long, De Capo, 1971