United States Navy Organization By CivilWarTalk Published: November 23, 2006 PrintEmail
Secretary of the Navy
Gideon Welles, March 7, 1861--March 3, 1869 Welles' administrative subordinates in 1861 included fourteen clerks and two messangers.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Gustavus Vasa Fox, August 1, 1861--May 22, 1866
Commander in Chief (Commodore Commanding the Navy)
Charles Stewart, March 2, 1859--December 21, 1861
David G. Farragut, December 21, 1861--August 14, 1870
Chief Clerk
Gustuvas V. Fox, May 9, 1861--July 31, 1861
William Faxon, August 31, 1861--August 1, 1866
Organization Office Est. March 1861; renamed the Office of Detail in April 1861.
Silas H. Stringham, March 1861--April 1861
Office of Detail Est. April 1861 and merged into the Bureau of Navigaion on April 28, 1865. Responsible for the supply and control of personnel, including enlistments, personnel records and assignments, training, naval observatory, hydrographic office.
Charles H. Davis, April 1861--July 17, 1862
Bureau of Yards & Docks Est. Aug. 31, 1842. Responsible for public works, public utilities, and government quarters on navy yards and naval stations; supervised their design, construction, repair, upkeep, and operation.
Joseph Smith, May 25, 1846--April 30, 1869
Bureau of Construction, Equipment & Repair Est. Aug. 31, 1842; divided into Bureau of Construction & Repair, Bureau of Equipment & Recruiting, and Bureau of Steam Engineering on July 5, 1862. Responsible of design, construction, and repair of propulsion and auxiliary machinery.
John Lenthal, November 17, 1853--July 5, 1862
Bureau of Construction & Repair Organized from the Bureau of Construction, Equipment & Repair July 5, 1862.
John Lenthal, July 5, 1862--January 22, 1871
Bureau of Equipment & Recruiting Organized from the Bureau of Construction, Equipment & Repair July 5, 1862.
Andrew H. Foote, July 17, 1862--June 3, 1863
Albert N. Smith, June 4, 1863--September 8, 1866
Bureau of Steam Engineering Organized from the Bureau of Construction, Equipment & Repair July 5, 1862.
Benjamin F. Isherwood, July 5, 1862--March 16, 1869
Bureau of Provisions & Clothing Est. Aug. 31, 1842; included the Pay Office.
Horatio Bridge, October 1, 1854--July 11, 1869
Bureau of Ordnance & Hydrography Est. August 31, 1842; divided into the Bureau of Ordnance, and the Bureau of Navigation on July 5, 1862.
George A. Magruder, September 24, 1860--dismissed April 23, 1861
Andrew A. Harwood, April 24, 1861--July 5, 1862
Bureau of Ordnance Organized from the Bureau of Ordnance & Hydrography, July 5, 1862. Responsible for the offensive and defensive arms of the navy and shore stations where they are produced and tested.
Andrew A Harwood, July 5, 1862--July 22, 1862
John A. Dahlgren, July 22, 1862--June 24, 1863
Henry A. Wise, June 25, 1863--June 1, 1868
Bureau of Navigation Organized from the Bureau of Ordnance & Hydrography, July 5, 1862.
Charles H. Davis, July 17, 1862--April 27, 1865
Percival Drayton, April 28, 1865--August 4, 1865
Bureau of Medicine & Surgery Est. Aug. 31, 1842. Responsible for operation of naval hospitals and medical activities, medical supplies, technical schools, and advising on hygiene and sanitation.
William Whelan, October 1, 1853--June 11, 1865
United States Marine Corps Originally formed Nov. 10, 1775, but lapsed after the American Revolution. Re-established July 11, 1798.
John Harris, commandant January 7 1859--d. May 12, 1864
Jacob Zeilen, commandent June 10, 1864--November 1, 1876
United States Naval Academy (U.S.N.A.) Founded Aug. 15, 1845, as the U.S. Naval School, at Old Fort Severn, Annapolis, Maryland; became the United States Naval Academy on July 1, 1850. The Academy operated in Newport, Rhode Island, from April 1861 to August 1865. The Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography oversaw the academy, followed by the Bureau of Navigation.
George S. Blake, September 15, 1857--September 9, 1865
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