Washington's Engineer by Norman Desmarais (speed reading book TXT) 📕

when they arrived in America, they found their situation was very different with respect to officers in all other corps. They saw, for example, a major of artillery exalted four ranks, as a chief. They reported these circumstances and appealed to the equity of Congress, but Congress was too busy to consider creating a Corps of Engineers.

1777

Washington’s plans for 1777 included a request for an organized Corps of Engineers. On December 27, 1776, Congress authorized him “to raise and collect a corps of engineers and to establish their pay” for a period of six months, but the shortage of proficient engineers prevented him from taking any action on this resolution. Congress resolved on July 8, 1777, “That the treaty made by the Commissioners in France on the 13th day of February last, be confirmed as far as it respects the chevalier du Portail, monsieur de la Radière, and monsieur du Gouvion; the first to be a colonel, the second a lieutenant-colonel, and the third a major of engineers.”2 These officers were from the Royal Corps of Engineers in the French army. The war attracted them and other educated military engineers to this country. As no regulations had yet been made regarding cavalry or engineers, these French engineers received five months’ pay as infantrymen, which did not even cover the expenses of their voyage.

Around January 18, 1778, Duportail submitted a proposal to the commander in chief to supplement the engineer officers with companies of combat engineers and called them companies of sappers and miners, according to European custom. The sappers dug the entrenchments (saps) for a formal siege; the miners constructed underground tunnels. These companies, which Duportail felt should become a permanent part of the Continental Army, could execute small projects or supervise infantry details in more extensive undertakings:

I would desire to have three Companies of Sappers formed—they should be instructed in every thing that relates to the construction of Field works—how to dispose of the Earth to cut the Slopes—face with Turf or Sods—make fascines—arrange them properly—cut and fix Palisades &ct.

The Sappers should be distributed in the different works, and a sufficient number of fatigue men drawn from the line should be joined to them to work under their direction, by which means the work would be executed with a perfection and celerity which otherwise will ever be unknown in this army—it is, I believe, altogether useless to enlarge upon a matter so obvious—I proceed therefore immediately to the principal Conditions on which the Corps should be formed.

The corps should be formed on the following principles:

The pay ought to be greater than that of the ordinary foot soldier, as is the practice in Europe, because the service is exceedingly hard. They should also receive extraordinary pay, when they work and vigorous soldiers should be selected with preference given to Carpenters and Masons.

The non-commissioned officers should all be able to read and write and be intelligent persons of good characters.

The companies of sappers should be under the command of the head engineer.

The captains of sappers will be charged with the detail of their companies and each of them will be accountable to the commanding officer of the engineers, in order that he may always know the state of the companies, their strength etc.

Each company should always have its tools with it, carried in a wagon provided for the purpose. The company should be answerable for all tools lost and, in case any should be broken, the pieces are to be produced to the officer to whom the detail of the company is committed.

The camp of the sappers is to be assigned by the commanding officer of the engineers adjacent to the place where they are to be employed.

Of the Officers.

If it is important to choose the Privates in these Companies, it is much more so to choose the Officers. The Congress ought in my opinion to think of forming Engineers in this Country to replace us when we shall be call’d home—The Companies of Sappers now proposed might serve as a School to them—they might there acquire at once the practical part of the Construction of Works—and if choice be made of young men well bred, intelligent and fond of Instruction, we shall take pleasure in giving them principles upon the choice of Situations, and the method of adapting works to the ground.3

Duportail recommended speedy execution of the plan, if approved, so the companies could serve their apprenticeship before the opening of the campaign. He also noted that four engineers were not sufficient because one, and sometimes two, is always detached.

1778

Duportail made further recommendations to General Washington in an undated letter docketed “Feby 1778”:

1° in all europa the pay of engineers is higher than that of all other officers, besides a particular traitement is allowed to them in time of war; in france it is more Considerable than their appointements. that is founded on several reasons and between them on the hardship of their service wich obliges them to be perpetually running about, in Consequence of it they Cannot often live with the same means wich may be found in Camp. therefore they are put to Charge of a good deal of expense.

2° each engineer even being only Capitaine wants two horses one for him and another for a servant who attends him where he may be detached. but every body Knows that the Continental horses are extremely bad, Consequenty unfit for our service; therefore we must provide with, but they are so dear that our appointments whatever may be Cannot afford for that purchase.

i ask sr pleases to the honourable Congres to grant us the necessary money, according the account here after.

to Lieut. Col. [Jean-Baptiste de] gouvion and major villefranche two horses for every one.

to Colonels La radiere et laumoy for three horses.4

Duportail did not await a response to this memorial, as he was aware of the responsibilities that would be required of the engineers in future combat. He created a school of engineering to start