COMMISSARIAT is a name for the organized system whereby armies are provided with food, and daily necessaries other than those connected with actual warfare. Among the ancients the Romans attended best to the C. ; the pastors were the commissaries. In feudal times, the soldiers were mainly dependent for food on their lords; but they lived very much by plunder. During the wars of the crusades, the C. was so utterly neglected, that thousands died of starvation.
In England, the first germ of the modern C. appeared in the office of proviant-master, in the time of queen Elizabeth. Under Charles I. commissaries were stationed in the different counties. Under Marlborough's command, the troops were supplied by con tract; he received a percentage, and,peculation was very common. After many changes during the 18th c., a commissary-general was appointed in 1793, to superintend all con tracts for food and forage. The dire experience of the Crimean war showed how greatly reform was required in this important department. In 1858 and 1859, accordingly, it was newly organized; and remained, until 1870, a war-office department, under a com m issary-general-in-chief.
In 1670, the C. was merged with other supply departments in the great "control department," which, under the surveyor-general of the, ordnance, performed all the civil administrative duties of the army. In Dec., 1675, the control department fell from its high estate, and the " C. and transport department" arose from its ashes. Its duties are the provision of food, fuel, lodging, and transport: a function on which it is need less to say the very existence of the army depends. The department is administered by the director of supplies, at the war office, who is an officer on the staff of the surveyor general. The ranks of C. officers are commissary-general (ranking as brig.gen.), deputy commissary-general (as col.), assistant commissary-general (as lieut.col.), commissary (as maj.), deputy-commissary (as capt.), assistant-commissary (as lieut.), and sub-assistant commissary.