The Department of the Navy was the Confederate Civil Service department responsible for the administration of the affairs of the

Confederate States Navy The Confederate States Navy (CSN) was the Navy, naval branch of the Confederate States Armed Forces, established by an act of the Confederate States Congress on February 21, 1861. It was responsible for Confederate naval operations during the Amer ...

and

Marine Corps Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...

. It was officially established on February 21, 1861. __TOC__

History

The Department of the Navy was established by an act of the Provisional Confederate Congress in Montgomery,

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

which passed into law on February 21, 1861. This act also established the position of

Secretary of the Navy The secretary of the Navy (or SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department (component organization) within the United States Department of Defense. By law, the se ...

which was according to the act authorized to handle all affairs related to the navies of the Confederacy. President

Jefferson Davis Jefferson F. Davis (June 3, 1808December 6, 1889) was an American politician who served as the president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. He represented Mississippi in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives as a ...

nominated

Stephen Mallory Stephen Russell Mallory (1812 – November 9, 1873) was a Democratic senator from Florida from 1851 to the secession of his home state and the outbreak of the American Civil War. For much of that period, he was chairman of the Committee on Na ...

and he was confirmed by the Congress. On May 9, 1862, Secretary Mallory issued orders to James D. Bulloch instructing him to proceed to

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England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

to act as the Confederacy's agent in securing six new vessels, armaments, and supplies for the nascent Confederate Navy. These orders granted Bulloch a wide berth of discretion in the selection of these ships, but specified that these ships must be suitable for the commerce raiding. Furthermore, the orders specified that at least one Armstrong breech-loading rifled cannon be acquired for each vessel. An amendment to this act passed on May 21, 1861 granted the Department of the Navy the power to grant patents concerning armed vessels, floating batteries, or other defenses.

Organization

Key Personnel

Office of the Secretary

Key positions of the Department of the Navy included: * Secretary of the Navy, Stephen R. Mallory (March 4, 1861 to May 20, 1865) *Chief Constructor: Position established April 30, 1863 ::

John L. Porter John Luke Porter (13 September 1813 – 4 December 1893) was a naval constructor for United States Navy and the Confederate States Navy. Early life Porter was born in Portsmouth, Virginia in 1813. His mother was Frances Pritchard, daughter of ...

(April 30, 1863 - April 1865) *Engineer in Chief: Position established April 21, 1862 ::

William P. Williamson William Price Williamson (August 10, 1884 – August 17, 1918) was an officer in the United States Navy. Biography William Price Williamson was born in Norfolk, Virginia on August 10, 1884, the son of Thom and Julia ''Price'' Williamson. He gr ...

(April 21, 1862-April 1865) *Naval Aide to the President ::

John Taylor Wood John Taylor Wood (August 13, 1830 – July 19, 1904) was an officer in the United States Navy and the Confederate Navy. He resigned from the U.S. Navy at the beginning of the American Civil War, and became a "leading Confederate naval hero" ...

(1863 - May 1865) *Register of the Navy: Established April 4, 1863 :: James S. Jones

Naval Agents in Europe

* James D. Bulloch (June 11, 1861 - April 1865) * James H. North (May 17, 1861 -April 1865) * George T. Sinclair (May 7, 1861 -April 28, 1865) * Matthew F. Maury (September 20, 1862 - April 1865) * Samuel Barron (August 29, 1863 - March 1865)

Offices and Bureaus

Important Bureaus and Offices of Department of the Navy included:

Office of Special Service

The Office of Special Service was responsible for the construction of wooden gunboats.

Bureau of Orders and Details

The Bureau of Orders and Details was responsible for the administration of personnel affairs of the Navy. This included the postings of officers and crews to ships, recruitment for the Navy, and the determination of promotions. Captain William F. Lynch was Chief of the Bureau in 1862 and Captain French Forrest in 1862 to 1863.

Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography

The Bureau was led by Commander John M. Brooke from 1863 to the Civil War's conclusion.

Torpedo Bureau

The Confederate Torpedo Bureau was not part of the Navy Department. It was part of the War Department; i.e., the army. The Submarine Battery Service comprised the navy's torpedo specialists. It was created 31 October 1862 and originally commanded by Commander Matthew Fontaine Maury. The Submarine Battery Service primarily utilized electrically-detonated torpedoes to protect the South's waterways.

Office of Provisions and Clothing

The Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, later the Office of Provisions and Clothing, was charged with supplying ships with food and clothing.

Office of Medicine and Surgery

The Bureau of Medicine and Surgery was responsible for the operation of several medical facilities in Southern ports. This department was managed by William A. W. Spotswood throughout its entire existence from April 10, 1861 to April 1865.

Marine Corps

The Marine Corps was established by an act of the Provisional Congress on March 16, 1861. As originally legislated the Marine Corps was to be a battalion-sized force of six companies and a headquarters element led by a major. The Marine Corps was later expanded into a regiment following an act of the Provisional Congress on May 20, 1861; this was spurred on by the succession of Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The newly expanded legion was authorized to consist of 1,000 men. The first Commandant of the Corps was Colonel Llyod J. Beall who was appointed to that capacity on May 23. On June 1, 1861 the Virginia Marine Corps was incorporated into the Confederate States Marine Corps. In 1862, the

first Confederate Congress The 1st Confederate States Congress, consisting of the Confederate States Senate and the Confederate States House of Representatives, met from February 18, 1862, to February 17, 1864, during the first two years of Jefferson Davis's presidency, a ...

appropriated a budget of CS$243,322 for the operation of the Marine Corps.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Department of the Navy Military of the Confederate States of America Confederate States Navy 1861 establishments in the Confederate States of America 1865 disestablishments in the Confederate States of America