BackgroundThe units comprising the First Corps were drawn from the organization of Department No. 2 (or the Western Department) of the Confederate States of America, which had responsibility for the area between the Tennessee River and the Mississippi River. Command historyCommand under Lt. Gen. Leonidas PolkLt. Gen. Leonidas Polk commanded the First Corps from November 26, 1862, until October 23, 1863. The First Corps participated in the Tennessee Campaign from June to October 1863 under General Braxton Bragg. Major engagements under Lt. Gen. Polk:
Command under Maj. Gen. B. J. CheathamMaj. Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham commanded the First Corps three times, during the periods October 23 to October 31, 1863 December 2 to December 27, 1863, and again from September 28, 1864, to April 9, 1865. Command under Lt. Gen. W. J. HardeeLt. Gen. William J. Hardee commanded the First Corps three times, during the periods October 31 to December 2, 1863, again from December 27, 1863, to August 20, 1863, and a third time from September 2 to September 28, 1864. Command under Maj. Gen. P. R. CleburneMaj. Gen. Patrick Cleburne commanded the First Corps temporarily from August 31, 1864, to September 1, 1864.
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