The Department of the Navy was established by an act of the Provisional Confederate Congress in Montgomery, Alabama which passed into law on February 21, 1861. This act also established the position of Secretary of the Navy which was according to the act authorized to handle all affairs related to the navies of the Confederacy. President Jefferson Davis nominated and he was confirmed by the Congress. On May 9, 1862, Secretary Mallory issued orders to James D. Bulloch instructing him to proceed to London, England to act as the Confederacy's agent in securing six new vessels, armaments, and supplies for the nascent Confederate Navy. These orders granted Bulloch a wide berth of discretion in the selection of these ships, but specified that these ships must be suitable for the commerce raiding. Furthermore, the orders specified that at least one Armstrong breech-loading rifled cannon be acquired for each vessel. An amendment to this act passed on May 21, 1861 granted the Department of the Navy the power to grant patents concerning armed vessels, floating batteries, or other defenses.
Organization
Key Personnel
Office of the Secretary
Key positions of the Department of the Navy included:
Secretary of the Navy, Stephen R. Mallory
Chief Constructor: Position established April 30, 1863
Engineer in Chief: Position established April 21, 1862
Important Bureaus and Offices of Department of the Navy included:
Office of Special Service
The Office of Special Service was responsible for the construction of wooden gunboats.
Bureau of Orders and Details
The Bureau of Orders and Details was responsible for the administration of personnel affairs of the Navy. This included the postings of officers and crews to ships, recruitment for the Navy, and the determination of promotions. Captain William F. Lynch was Chief of the Bureau in 1862 and Captain French Forrest in 1862 to 1863.
The Bureau was led by Commander John M. Brooke from 1863 to the Civil War's conclusion.
Torpedo Bureau
The Confederate Torpedo Bureau was not part of the Navy Department. It was part of the War Department; i.e., the army. The Submarine Battery Service comprised the navy's torpedo specialists. It was created 31 October 1862 and originally commanded by Commander Matthew Fontaine Maury. The Submarine Battery Service primarily utilized electrically-detonated torpedoes to protect the South's waterways.
Office of Provisions and Clothing
The Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, later the Office of Provisions and Clothing, was charged with supplying ships with food and clothing.
Office of Medicine and Surgery
The Bureau of Medicine and Surgery was responsible for the operation of several medical facilities in Southern ports. This department was managed by William A. W. Spotswood throughout its entire existence from April 10, 1861 to April 1865.
Marine Corps
The Marine Corps was established by an act of the Provisional Congress on March 16, 1861. As originally legislated the Marine Corps was to be a battalion-sized force of six companies and a headquarters element led by a major. The Marine Corps was later expanded into a regiment following an act of the Provisional Congress on May 20, 1861; this was spurred on by the succession of Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The newly expanded legion was authorized to consist of 1,000 men. The first Commandant of the Corps was Colonel Llyod J. Beall who was appointed to that capacity on May 23. On June 1, 1861 the Virginia Marine Corps was incorporated into the Confederate States Marine Corps. In 1862, the first Confederate Congress appropriated a budget of CS$243,322 for the operation of the Marine Corps.
