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

A rare glimpse into mid‑nineteenth‑century military thought, this work presents a meticulously drafted code intended to guide Union armies during the Civil War. Framed as a formal proposal to the Board appointed by the Secretary of War, it lays out the principles of martial law, military necessity, and the limits placed on force in occupied territories. The language balances legal rigor with a moral tone, insisting that even in wartime, cruelty and unnecessary suffering are forbidden.

The sections explore how an invading army’s authority replaces civilian institutions, while also outlining the responsibilities of commanders to prevent abuse. It reflects contemporary ideas about war as a means to secure lasting peace, stressing that the ultimate aim of conflict is the restoration of stable, orderly societies. Listeners will hear the clear, methodical reasoning that shaped wartime policy and the early foundations of modern rules of engagement.