Military Police
In the United States; the Provost martial (or marshal) was the officer or unit assigned to deal with deserters, rioters and stragglers. The first unit was authorized by the Congress on May 27th, 1778 (although others had been formed by some commanders.) It was equipped as a light dragoon unit and took on much of the organization of like units in the British Army; but was called the Marechaussee Corps, after the French provost units. In addition to their original tasks, the Corps also conducted scouting missions, guarded river crossings to prevent their use by spies, acted as General Washington's personal guard and occasionally entered combat when extra cavalry was needed. When difficulties arose with the exchange of prisoners; the provost became responsible for guarding them, also.
The army was demobilized after Independence and the Corps was disbanded. By 1784, the only soldiers left in the army were 80 artillerymen guarding military stores at West Point and Ft. Pitt, Pennsylvania.
Provost units were established by various commanders during the War of 1812, but were not officially authorized by Congress. Provost duties were once again performed by combat units, as additional duties. This practice continued until well into the Civil War.
The role of Military Police in the U.S. Army was first formalized in 1820 by Article 58 of Army General Regulations. This regulation recommended using individuals of 'superior physical ability and intelligence', but didn't require any special training and didn't authorize forming specialized units.
Soon after the outbreak of hostilities in the Civil War, General Irvin McDowell ordered each Regiment to assign one officer and ten enlisted men to act as Regimental provosts, to act as a permanent police force and protect civilian property from plundering soldiers. Divisional and Army units later also formed provost units, but there was no central order or organization.
It wasn't until 1863 that Congress got around to establishing the office of Provost Marshal General of the United States. This was primarily for the administration and enforcement of recruiting and the conscription laws; and for combating desertion. The Invalid Corps was formed the same year, utilizing men who had been wounded and were no longer fit for field service. They were formed into regiments that provided companies for rear area provost guards service and hospital guards and attendants. The Provost Marshal General also assumed duties as chief of a bureau of military information. The provost marshal officers in field units began providing
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