Third Military District

{{Short description|Temporary administrative unit in American South}} {{Use American English|date=November 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}} [[File:Reconstruction military districts.svg|thumb|right|300px|Map of the five Reconstruction military districts {{Legend|#000|First Military District}} {{Legend|#009F6B|Second Military District}} {{Legend|#C40233|'''Third Military District'''}} {{Legend|#FFD300|Fourth Military District}} {{Legend|#0087BD|Fifth Military District}}]] The '''Third Military District''' of the U.S. Army was one of five temporary administrative units of the U.S. War Department that existed in the American South. The district was stipulated by the Reconstruction Acts during the Reconstruction period following the American Civil War.<ref>{{cite web |title=Landmark Legislation: The Reconstruction Act of 1867 |url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/Civil_War_AdmissionReadmission.htm |website=United States Senate |access-date=1 November 2021}}</ref> It comprised Georgia, Florida and Alabama and was headquartered in Atlanta.<ref name="USArmy">{{cite web |last1=Vergun |first1=David |title=150 years ago: Army takes on peacekeeping duties in post-Civil War South |url=https://www.army.mil/article/153230/150_years_ago_army_takes_on_peacekeeping_duties_in_post_civil_war_south |publisher=U.S. Army |access-date=24 April 2022}}</ref>

The district was originally commanded by General John Pope<ref name="NatArch">{{cite web |title=War Department. Third Military District. 3/11/1867-7/28/1868 Organization Authority Record |url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/10452640 |website=National Archives Catalog |publisher=U.S. Government |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref> until his removal by President Andrew Johnson on December 28, 1867, when General George Gordon Meade took his place.<ref>[http://www.city-book.com/Overview/history/history3.htm Atlanta city directory website, timeline of Atlanta history.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060831071227/http://www.city-book.com/Overview/history/history3.htm |date=August 31, 2006 }}</ref> Meade served at the current location of Fort McPherson until August 1868 after Alabama and Florida were re-admitted into the United States.

Because of the expulsion of Blacks from the Georgia legislature, a new and final military commander was appointed on December 22, 1869, General Alfred Terry.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Whitney |first1=Sandra |title=Honor and Duty: The Life of Alfred Howe Terry |url=https://connecticuthistory.org/honor-and-duty-the-life-of-alfred-howe-terry/ |website=Connecticut History |publisher=Connecticut Humanities |access-date=25 August 2022}}</ref> In January, he returned the legislators and ousted 29 Democrats. In February, the Fourteenth amendment was ratified by Georgia and by July it was re-admitted into the Union.

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Reconstruction era Category:History of Atlanta Category:Departments and districts of the United States Army