United States territorial acquisitions
West Florida was declared to be a U.S. possession in 1810 by President James Madison after the territory had declared its independence from Spain. Madison ordered the U.S. Army to take control. Six weeks later, the army entered and occupied the capital, St. Francisville, putting an end to the republic after 74 days of independence. Spain did not relinquish its claim to sovereignty (see West Florida Controversy) until ratification of the Adams–Onís Treaty. General Andrew Jackson personally accepted the delivery of West Florida from its Spanish governor on July 17, 1821.
Department of Florida
On March 15, 1862, the Department of Florida was merged into the Department of the South.
At the end of the Civil War, a new Department of Florida, subordinate to the Military Division of the Gulf, (1865–66) was established by the United States Army on June 27, 1865. It remained until 1866 when it was merged into the Department of the Gulf, (1866–67).