during the american civil war, in mid-1863, the administrative load became so burdensome that the war department decided to create a single entity under the umbrella of the adjutant general's office, called the bureau of colored troops, to manage its affairs. headed by major charles w. foster, the bureau was to systematize the process of raising black units and securing officers for them. it also served as a clearinghouse of information on these units. over the course of the next year, the war department began to change the names of black commands. instead of state designations, they became united states colored troops, and the various units became united states colored infantry, artillery, or cavalry.