United States. Congress. Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War

Formed by Congress in December 1861, the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War was a special investigative body that examined how the Union was fighting the Civil War. Made up of senators and representatives, it gathered testimony in secret, called witnesses, and issued reports on major campaigns, defeats, and military decisions.

The committee became especially known for its aggressive oversight of Union generals and for its strong support of a harder war policy against the Confederacy. Historians often note that it reflected the views of the more radical antislavery wing of the Republican Party, and that its pressure sometimes influenced public opinion as well as military careers.

Today, its published reports remain valuable primary sources for readers interested in Civil War politics, military controversy, and the relationship between Congress and the army in a time of national crisis.