Department of the Platte

Department of the Platte
The Department of the Platte as it existed beginning June 22, 1875.
Active	1866–1898
Country	United States
Branch	Army
Type	administrative district
Part of	Division of the Missouri
Headquarters	Omaha, Nebraska Fort Omaha
Commanders
Notable commanders	George Crook Oliver O. Howard

The Department of the Platte was a military administrative district established by the U.S. Army on March 5, 1866, with boundaries encompassing Iowa, Nebraska, Dakota Territory, Utah Territory and a small portion of Idaho. With headquarters in Omaha, the district commander oversaw the army's role initially along the Overland route (or Oregon Trail) to Salt Lake City, then later the construction route of the Union Pacific Railroad. The district also included the Montana road (or Bozeman Trail) through eastern Wyoming. The district was discontinued when the Army's command was reorganized in 1898.