United States War Department

War Department, United States, former executive department (1789–1947) created to govern all phases of the military. The War Department was headed by the secretary of war, an administrator who was under military advisement by the War Council. The principal task of the War Department was to ensure the proper functioning of the Army, including recruitment, transportation, weapon maintenance, and education and welfare of the troops. At times the War Department was involved in nonmilitary functions, such as managing the U.S. Island possessions and supervision of Reconstruction in the post-Civil War South. In 1947 the Natl. Military Establishment came into being (it later became the Dept. of Defense) and the War Department became the Dept. of the Army, within the Dept. of Defense.

See also: Defense, Department of.