The Board of War, also known as the Board of War and Ordnance, was created by the Second Continental Congress as a special standing committee to oversee the American Continental Army's administration and to make recommendations regarding the army to Congress. On January 24, 1776, Congressional delegate Edward Rutledge, echoing General George Washington's own concerns, suggested that a war office similar to Great Britain's be established.[2][3] Pressure from Washington[4] and the large volume of military business led Congress to establish the Board of War and Ordnance on June 12, 1776.[5] Five delegates of Congress, initially John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Harrison, James Wilson, and Edward Rutledge, assisted by a permanent secretary, Richard Peters, composed the Board of War. They assumed the prescribed responsibilities for compiling a master roster of all Continental Army officers; monitoring returns of all troops, arms, and equipment; maintaining correspondence files; and securing prisoners of war. The Board of War began functioning on June 21, 1776.[6]
Organization of the Board of War underwent several significant changes after its inception.[7] The original board could not keep pace with the volume of work, and in early April 1777 it recommended its own replacement by a permanent administrative body.[8] On October 17, 1777, Congress approved a plan that called for a Board of War consisting of three permanent members—men who were not members of Congress—plus a clerical staff.[9] Congress also expanded the board's duties. In addition to the administrative functions of its predecessor, the new board's responsibilities included supervising recruitment and producing weapons. It was to act as Congress' sole official intermediary in dealing with the Army and the states on military affairs. On November 7, 1777, Quartermaster General Thomas Mifflin, Adjutant General Timothy Pickering, and Robert Hanson Harrison, Washington's military secretary, were elected as members,[10] although Harrison promptly declined. Mifflin persuaded Congress to expand the board to five members, which it did on November 24, and recommended Richard Peters (the permanent secretary of the old board) and Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates for the new vacancies.[11] Congress appointed both men and named former Commissary General Joseph Trumbull to replace Harrison. At Mifflin's suggestion, Gates was named president of the board.[12]Robert Troup served as Secretary to the Board of War from February 1778 until its dissolution.[13]
Various modifications to the structure and duties of the Board of War continued to be made throughout the war. For example, on October 29, 1778, Congress again modified the membership of the Board to now include two members of Congress and three permanent commissioners,[14] and the Departments of the Quartermaster General and Commissaries General of Purchases and Issues were placed under the direction of the board on November 25, 1779.[15]
Notesedit
^"War and Ordnance, Board of". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
^Schuyler, John (1886). "Robert Troup". Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati: Formed by the Officers of the American Army of the Revolution, 1783. pp. 313–314.
Ford, Worthington C., ed. (1906, 1907, 1908, 1909). Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, v. 4, pp. 85–86; v. 5, pp. 434–435; v. 7, pp. 241–242; v. 9, pp. 818–820, 874; 959–960, 971–972; v. 12, p. 1076; v. 15, p. 1312.
Board of War to Washington (June 21, 1776):Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 4.
Washington to Congress (June 13, 1776): Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 2, Letterbook 8.
Wright, Robert K., Jr. (1983). The Continental Army. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Army Center of Military History Publication 60-4-1, U.S. Government Printing Office.
October 28, 2023
board, confused, with, ministry, imperial, china, also, known, ordnance, created, second, continental, congress, special, standing, committee, oversee, american, continental, army, administration, make, recommendations, regarding, army, congress, january, 1776. Not to be confused with Ministry of War imperial China The Board of War also known as the Board of War and Ordnance was created by the Second Continental Congress as a special standing committee to oversee the American Continental Army s administration and to make recommendations regarding the army to Congress On January 24 1776 Congressional delegate Edward Rutledge echoing General George Washington s own concerns suggested that a war office similar to Great Britain s be established 2 3 Pressure from Washington 4 and the large volume of military business led Congress to establish the Board of War and Ordnance on June 12 1776 5 Five delegates of Congress initially John Adams Roger Sherman Benjamin Harrison James Wilson and Edward Rutledge assisted by a permanent secretary Richard Peters composed the Board of War They assumed the prescribed responsibilities for compiling a master roster of all Continental Army officers monitoring returns of all troops arms and equipment maintaining correspondence files and securing prisoners of war The Board of War began functioning on June 21 1776 6 Board of War and OrdnanceCommittee overviewFormedJanuary 24 1776 1776 01 24 DissolvedFebruary 7 1781 1781 02 07 1 Superseding agencyUnited States Department of WarOrganization of the Board of War underwent several significant changes after its inception 7 The original board could not keep pace with the volume of work and in early April 1777 it recommended its own replacement by a permanent administrative body 8 On October 17 1777 Congress approved a plan that called for a Board of War consisting of three permanent members men who were not members of Congress plus a clerical staff 9 Congress also expanded the board s duties In addition to the administrative functions of its predecessor the new board s responsibilities included supervising recruitment and producing weapons It was to act as Congress sole official intermediary in dealing with the Army and the states on military affairs On November 7 1777 Quartermaster General Thomas Mifflin Adjutant General Timothy Pickering and Robert Hanson Harrison Washington s military secretary were elected as members 10 although Harrison promptly declined Mifflin persuaded Congress to expand the board to five members which it did on November 24 and recommended Richard Peters the permanent secretary of the old board and Maj Gen Horatio Gates for the new vacancies 11 Congress appointed both men and named former Commissary General Joseph Trumbull to replace Harrison At Mifflin s suggestion Gates was named president of the board 12 Robert Troup served as Secretary to the Board of War from February 1778 until its dissolution 13 Various modifications to the structure and duties of the Board of War continued to be made throughout the war For example on October 29 1778 Congress again modified the membership of the Board to now include two members of Congress and three permanent commissioners 14 and the Departments of the Quartermaster General and Commissaries General of Purchases and Issues were placed under the direction of the board on November 25 1779 15 Notes edit War and Ordnance Board of Encyclopedia com Retrieved 17 December 2021 Wright p 89 Ford v 4 pp 85 86 Washington to Congress June 13 1776 Ford v 5 pp 434 435 Board of War to Washington June 21 1776 Wright p 121 122 Ford v 7 pp 241 242 Ford v 9 pp 818 820 Ford v 9 p 874 Ford v 9 pp 959 960 Ford v 9 pp 971 972 Schuyler John 1886 Robert Troup Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati Formed by the Officers of the American Army of the Revolution 1783 pp 313 314 Ford v 12 p 1076 Ford v 15 p 1312 References editFord Worthington C ed 1906 1907 1908 1909 Journals of the Continental Congress 1774 1789 Washington D C Library of Congress v 4 pp 85 86 v 5 pp 434 435 v 7 pp 241 242 v 9 pp 818 820 874 959 960 971 972 v 12 p 1076 v 15 p 1312 Board of War to Washington June 21 1776 Library of Congress George Washington Papers Series 4 Washington to Congress June 13 1776 Library of Congress George Washington Papers Series 2 Letterbook 8 Wright Robert K Jr 1983 The Continental Army Washington D C U S Army Center of Military History Publication 60 4 1 U S Government Printing Office Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Board of War amp oldid 1132826550, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
