Military leadership in the American Civil War

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Military leadership in the American Civil War was vested in both the political and the military structures of the belligerent powers. The overall military leadership of the United States during the Civil War was ultimately vested in the President of the United States as constitutional commander in chief, and in the political heads of the military departments he appointed. Most of the major Union wartime commanders had, however, previous regular army experience. A smaller number of military leaders originated from the United States Volunteers. Some of them derived from nations other than the United States. In the Southern Confederacy, the constitutional commander in chief was educated at West Point and had served in the Mexican War. Many officers in the United States Army, most of them educated at West Point at the expense of the United States, and having taken an oath of allegiance to the same, joined the rebellion against it. Several significant Confederate military leaders emerged from state unit commands. Some military leaders derived from countries other than the United States.

President Abraham Lincoln was Commander in Chief of the Union armed forces throughout the conflict; after his April 14, 1865 assassination, Vice President Andrew Johnson became the nation's chief executive. Lincoln's first Secretary of War was Simon Cameron; Edwin M. Stanton was confirmed to replace Cameron in January 1862. Thomas A. Scott was Assistant Secretary of War. Gideon Welles was Secretary of the Navy, aided by Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus Fox. TitleNameTenure NotesCommander in Chief Abraham Lincoln March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865(1,464 days during the war) assassinated April 14, 1865; died April 15, 1865 Andrew Johnson April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869(24 days during the war) Declared the armed conflict to be "virtually" ended on May 9, 1865Secretary of War Simon Cameron March 5, 1861 – January 14, 1862(277 days during the war) resigned January 14, 1862 Edwin Stanton January 20, 1862 – May 28, 1867(1,205 days during the war) previously U. S. Attorney GeneralSecretary of Navy Gideon Welles March 7, 1861 – March 4, 1869(1,488 days during the war)

Jefferson Davis was named provisional president on February 9, 1861, and assumed similar commander in chief responsibilities as would Lincoln; on November 6, 1861, Davis was elected President of the Confederate States of America under the Confederate Constitution. Alexander H. Stephens was appointed as Vice President of the Confederate States of America on February 18, 1861, and later assumed identical vice presidential responsibilities as Hannibal Hamlin did. Several men served the Confederacy as Secretary of War, including Leroy Pope Walker, Judah P. Benjamin, George W. Randolph, James Seddon, and John C. Breckinridge. Stephen Mallory was Confederate Secretary of the Navy throughout the conflict. TitleNameTenure NotesCommander in Chief Jefferson Davis February 18, 1861 – May 5, 1865 Vice President Alexander H. StephensFebruary 11, 1861 – May 11, 1865Secretary of War LeRoy Pope Walker February 25, 1861 – September 16, 1861 resigned September 16, 1861 Judah P. Benjamin September 17, 1861 – March 24, 1862 resigned March 24, 1862, to take appointment as CS Secretary of State George W. Randolph March 24, 1862 – November 15, 1862 resigned November 15, 1862, due to health reasons James Seddon November 21, 1862 – February 5, 1865 resigned February 5, 1865 Major General John C. Breckinridge February 6, 1865 – May 10, 1865 Secretary of Navy Stephen Mallory March 4, 1861 – May 2, 1865