John M. Brooke & the Confederate States Navy

Abstract

Since the summer of 1861 Brooke had been serving in the Bureau of Ordnance. Finally on March 30, 1863 Brooke was ordered to report to Commander George Minor and relieve him as Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrograpby. As orde:red Brooke reported and on the 31st took over full charge of the bureau. As head of the Bureau of Ordnance Brooke was given the ultimate responsibility for the success or failure of ordnance developments in the Confederate Navy. However, the new title did not confer as much new responsibility as one might infer, for since the first winter of the war Brooke had held authority to consider and pass on all improvements and inventions adopted by the Navy. He had long held the power; he was now given the title that goes with it. [From concluding section]