War Department,
One of the executive branches of the United States government, the chief of which is popularly known as the
Secretary of War, who performs such duties as the
President may enjoin on him concerning the military service.
He is charged by law with the supervision of all estimates of appropriations for the expenses of the department, of all purchases of army supplies, of all expenditures for the support and transportation of the army, and of such expenditures of a civil nature as may be placed by Congress under his direction.
He also has supervision of the United States Military Academy at
West Point, of the board of ordnance and fortification, of the various battle-field commissions, and of the publication of the
Official records of the War of the rebellion.
He has charge of all matters relating to national defence and sea-coast fortifications, army ordnance, river and harbor improvements, the prevention of obstruction to navigation, and the establishment of harbor lines, and approves all plans and locations of bridges authorized by Congress to be constructed over the navigable waters of the
United States.
He also has charge of the establishment or abandonment of military posts, and of all matters relating to leases, revocable licenses, and all other privileges upon lands under the control of the War Department.
The functions of the department are exercised by means of a number of bureaus, the chief of which are those under the supervision of the
adjutant-general,
inspector-general,
quartermaster-general,
commissary-general of subsistence,
surgeon-general,
paymaster-general, chief of engineers,
chief of ordnance,
judge-advocate-general,
chief signal officer, and the chief of the record and pension office.
See
cabinet, President's.
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