General-in-Chief (also known as Senior Officer of the United States Army or Commanding General of the United States Army) was the title of the highest ranked officer in the United States Army through the 19th century. At different points in US history, the title was held by all four levels of general officer.
During the Antebellum, in peacetime, the general-in-chief acted as little more than a bureacrat. In time of war most generals-in-chief took to the field to command the US's largest army: George Washington did so in the American Revolution, Henry Dearborn did so in the War of 1812, Winfield Scott did so during the Mexican War, and both George McClellan and Ulysses S. Grant did so during the American Civil War. After the Civil War Generals-in-Chief usually remained in Washington, DC during the Indian Wars, the Spanish American War, and the Philippine Insurrection, but were actively involved in crafting strategy and military policy.
In 1903 the office was dissolved with the creation of the General Staff. Ever since, the highest ranked officer in the US Army has held the title Chief of Staff of the United States Army (though since 1949 he has been subordinate to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff).
General-in-Chief in Southern VictoryEdit
In the U.S. the general-in-chief was charged with planning overall strategy during a conflict, but at the same time, had limited supervisory authority over largely autonomous field armies. Thus, the general-in-chief's ability to carry out his duties was dependent on the cooperation of the officers under his command. This situation proved disastrous for the U.S. during both the War of Secession and the Second Mexican War. During the latter war in particular, the incumbent general-in-chief, William Rosecrans, proved completely inadequate in the face of a multi-front war against several enemies.
These inadequacies were very costly to the US in the Second Mexican War and ultimately contributed to the loss of that war. Following the war, German military observer to the US Alfred von Schlieffen suggested that the U.S. reorganize the army, with an emphasis of centralizing command by doing away with the general-in-chief position and replacing it with the much more centralized Prussian-style General Staff, with the Chief of the General Staff as the senior officer. The U.S. adopted the system.
The C.S. established the position of general-in-chief after the War of Secession. Unlike Rosecrans, General Thomas Jackson had the respect of his subordinates, and was a more talented a strategist, and so during the Second Mexican War, was extremely successful in prosecuting the war against the U.S. Nonetheless, the CSA followed the USA's lead, establishing their own General Staff and doing away with the office of general-in-chief prior to the Great War.
General-in-Chief in The Guns of the SouthEdit