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The '''War Department''' was one of the three original cabinet departments of the United States, created by the Congress in 1789 to supervise and supply Army.  It was headed by the Secretary of War, who had civilian responsibilities, such as finance and purchases; he had a minor role in deciding military affairs. In 1947 the department was absorbed by the National Military Establishment (renamed in 1949 as the [[Department of Defense]]).

The '''War Department''' was one of the three original cabinet departments of the United States, created by the Congress in 1789 to supervise and supply the Army.  It was headed by the Secretary of War, who had civilian responsibilities, such as finance and purchases; he had a minor role in deciding military affairs. In 1947 the department was absorbed by the National Military Establishment (renamed in 1949 as the [[Department of Defense]]).

==History==

==History==

The War Department was a civilian agency created in 1789 to administer the field army under the president (as commander in chief) and the secretary of war. [[Henry Knox]], a senior general now in civilian life, was the first secretary.

The War Department was a civilian agency created in 1789 to administer the field army under the president (as commander in chief) and the secretary of war. [[Henry Knox]], a senior general before returning to civilian life, was the first secretary.

==1800-1860==

==1800-1860==

After the department's poor handling of the [[War of 1812]], reform was urgently needed. [[John C. Calhoun]] became secretary and reorganized the department into a system of bureaus, whose chiefs held office for life, and a commanding general in the field, a position not authorized by Congress. [[Winfield Scott]] became the senior general, into the start of the Civil War. The bureau chiefs acted as advisers to the secretary of war and at the same time commanded their own troops and field installations. Conflicts among the bureaus were frequent, but in disputes with the commanding general the secretary of war generally supported the bureaus. Congress regulated the affairs of the bureaus in minute detail, and their chiefs looked to that body for support.  

After the department's poor handling of the [[War of 1812]], reform was urgently needed. [[John C. Calhoun]] became secretary and reorganized the department into a system of bureaus, whose chiefs held office for life, and a commanding general in the field, a position not authorized by Congress. [[Winfield Scott]] became the senior general, into the start of the Civil War. The bureau chiefs acted as advisers to the secretary of war and at the same time commanded their own troops and field installations. Conflicts among the bureaus were frequent, but in disputes with the commanding general the secretary of war generally supported the bureaus. Congress regulated the affairs of the bureaus in minute detail, and their chiefs looked to that body for support.