▁ 1 4 , ▁ 1 8 9 8 . ▁The ▁department ▁was ▁head qu arter ed ▁in ▁Atlanta , ▁Georgia . ▁ ▁On ▁October ▁ 2 5 , ▁ 1 8 9 9 , ▁the ▁department ▁was ▁merged ▁with ▁the ▁Department ▁of ▁the ▁East . ▁It ▁was ▁re est ab lished ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 0 3 . ▁ ▁Command ers ▁ ▁Brig ad ier ▁General ▁William ▁M . ▁Graham , ▁March ▁ 1 4 , ▁ 1 8 9 8 ▁– ▁May ▁ 1 8 , ▁ 1 8 9 8 ▁Major ▁General ▁John ▁R . ▁Bro oke , ▁May ▁ 1 7 , ▁ 1 8 9 8 ▁– ▁July ▁ 4 , ▁ 1 8 9 8 ▁Brig ad ier ▁General ▁A . ▁C . ▁M . ▁Pen ning ton , ▁July ▁ 4 , ▁ 1 8 9 8 ▁– ▁March ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 1 8 9 9 ▁Brig ad ier ▁General ▁Royal ▁T . ▁Frank , ▁March ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 1 8 9 9 ▁- ▁October ▁ 1 8 , ▁ 1 8 9 9 ▁( his ▁ret irement ▁date ) ▁... ▁Brig ad ier ▁General ▁Thomas ▁H . ▁Barry , ▁December ▁ 1 9 0 3 ▁– ▁May ▁ 1 5 , ▁ 1 9 0 5 ▁Brig ad ier ▁General ▁James ▁F . ▁W ade , ▁May ▁ 1 5 , ▁ 1 9 0 5 ▁- ▁April ▁ 6 , ▁ 1 9 0 6 ▁Brig ad ier ▁General