Confederate States Secretary of War
The Confederate States secretary of war was a member of President Jefferson Davis's cabinet during the American Civil War. The Secretary of War was head of the Confederate States Department of War. The position ended in May 1865 when the Confederacy collapsed during John C. Breckinridge's tenure of the office.
| Secretary of War of the Confederate States | |
|---|---|
Seal of the Confederate States | |
| Confederate States War Department | |
| Style | Mr. Secretary |
| Status | Abolished |
| Member of | The Cabinet |
| Reports to | The President |
| Seat | Richmond, Virginia |
| Appointer | The President with Senate advice and consent |
| Term length | No fixed term |
| Formation | February 25, 1861 |
| First holder | LeRoy Pope Walker |
| Final holder | John C. Breckinridge |
| Abolished | May 10, 1865 |
Answerable to the president, the secretary of war controlled all matters regarding the army and Indian tribes, and had the right to appoint as many clerks as it found necessary. This designation allowed the secretary of war to create what eventually became the biggest department in the Confederacy. Related to the war effort, the secretary of war managed important aspects of the war effort like medical distribution, engineering devices (pontoon bridges), prisoners of war, and fort cessions. During the war, the Confederate secretary of war’s report on the war effort became important information for the Confederate Congress and President Davis. The president had the power to appoint and fire the secretary of war for unnecessary, dishonest, and inefficient work performance. The secretary of war was also subject to impeachment proceedings from the Confederate Congress.