A Code for the Government of Armies in the Field, as authorized by the laws and usages of war on land.

"A Code for the Government of Armies in the Field" by United States. War Department et al. is a military regulation document written during the early 1860s. This publication outlines the principles and regulations governing the conduct of armies during warfare, emphasizing martial law, military necessity, and the treatment of prisoners and civilians. It serves primarily as a legal and ethical framework for military operations in the field. The book provides detailed guidelines on various matters related to warfare, such as the establishment of martial law in occupied territories, the responsibilities of military authorities, and the humane treatment of prisoners of war and civilians. It stipulates that military actions should be governed by principles of justice and necessity, prohibiting acts of cruelty and arbitrary violence. Additionally, it addresses the protection of civilian property, the regulatory treatment of spies and traitors, and the conduct expected from soldiers in various scenarios. Overall, it establishes a comprehensive set of rules aimed at promoting lawful and ethical conduct in military operations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

The United States Department of War, also called the War Department, was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army, also bearing responsibility for naval affairs until the establishment of the Navy Department in 1798, and for most land-based air forces until the creation of the Department of the Air Force on September 18, 1947.