Code for the Government of Armies in the Field

The Code for the Government of Armies in the Field, also known as the Lieber Code, was drafted by Francis Lieber in 1863. This code was created for the Union Army during the American Civil War. It aimed to establish a systematic set of rules for the conduct of warfare, recognizing the need to mitigate the destruction caused by conflict. The code sought to protect civilians, regulate the treatment of prisoners of war, and generally govern the behavior of armies in the field. It is considered a foundational document in the development of international laws of war.