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

an Artillery Officer or an Engineer, as the different branches of Mathematics, the Natural philosophy etc. are the same.

2ndly. The very great Relation between the professions themselves. The most important use of Cannon, that one which requires most skill and Knowledge of the Art is for the Defense of Fortified Places or the Attack of them. When an Engineer combines the different lines and Angles of a fortification between themselves and the Surrounding Ground to make that Fortification of the most advantageous Defense; when to the Contrary he frames the Plan of the Attack of it, and lays out his trenches and other works, he has principally in view to prepare the use of the Artillery, facilitate its effects and make them as great as possible. So he must be personally acquainted with the Nature of that Arm and have really on that Point all the Knowledge of the Artillery Officer. It is true the thing is not reciprocal and that the Artillery Officer when he is not Engineer at the same time and is confined to the execution of his Cannon does not want to have the Knowledge of the Engineer; but why not make him acquire it since he has already all the Preliminary Knowledge and the practise of the Artillery; and so he wants only to add the Study of the Art of fortification. Do we not see clearly that to do otherwise is to make two Professions of what ought to be the object of one only.

3rdly. The great economy which results from that union. Wherever there is any fortification there is an Engineer to have the charge of it, and there is an Artillery Officer for the Artillery. But very often each of those Officers has not a Sufficient Employment in his Department and if the Departments were united one Officer could do the Duty of the two with the greatest ease. I think one third of Officers might be Spared upon the whole without the least inconveniency for the Service.

4thly. That great Relation which we said to take place between the two Professions of the Artillery and the Engineers is the Cause of frequent Disputes and Dissentions among them because the line of Separation cannot be drawn exactly, principally for the most delicate circumstance in War, and the more Knowledge and Talent each Corps possesses, the more Difficulties arise between the individuals, because they have more pretensions. So that reciprocal Envy and Enmity make the very qualities which should be conducive to the good of the Service turn against it.

For those Reasons and many less important the Departments of the Artillery and of the Engineers are united in some European States, and in those where they are not Plans for uniting them are proposed every Day. In France that union has been executed once and if it did not last it was because the time was not proper (in the midst of the war), and the Operation was formed upon a bad Scheme. Besides the private Interests of many Individuals principally of the first Officers were much hurted by it. Add to this that as those Corps in France exist a long while ago, each of them has acquired a particular esprit which makes it very adverse to such Union. However every Officer of experience almost, is persuaded of the advantage of it, and that it will take Place one Day or another. But here where there is not yet private interests or passions of the Corps to combat, the Congress must avail themselves of a happy circumstance which may never return to make at once their Establishment upon the Plan that Experience show to the old Peoples of Europe to be the best, although they cannot always follow their Notions.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CORPS OF ARTILLERY AND THE ENGINEERS

I suppose here, according to the letter which his Excellency Genl. Washington has honored me with, the present Establishment must be calculated only for the wants of the Frontier against the British for if the United States intended to have fortified Harbours what I am going to propose should be insufficient.

I propose two Regiments each to be composed of five Companies of Gunners one of Bombardiers, one Sappers & Miners, one of Artificers, each Company in time of peace shall be composed of 3 Sergeants, 6 Corporals, 24 privates commanded by a first Capt. a second Capt. a first Lieut. and Second Lieutenant. (in time of war the number of privates may be doubled).

The Regiment shall be commanded by one Colonel, one Lt. Colonel, one Major adding to this one pay master adjutant, one Qt. Mr., two Surgeons, one Sergent Major, the Drum Major, 6 Drums and fifes, which would make the whole of the Regiment altogether of 327 Men and the two Regiments of 654.

I propose four Officers in each Company because it is necessary to have some to detach without Troops to different Places for the erection or care of Fortifications sunderies etc. Thus one of the Captains or Lieutenants, may be detached that makes 16 Officers for the two Regiments. one of the field Officers, the Lt. Col. or the Major may be detached also, so in all there will be eighteen which will be sufficient in this Moment.

I propose to divide the whole extent of the frontiers in three Parts at the Head of which there should be an Officer of the Rank of Brigadier or Colonel to have the Direction of all what concerns the Artillery or the fortifications erected or to be erected and generally of all the Establishments relative to that Department.

Above all there must be a Commandant Director of all the fortifications of the United States. To the Director General the three Directors of the Districts mentioned shall be accountable for every thing as the Colonels of the Regiment and every Person employed in that Department.

Through him shall the Orders of the Board of War or the Congress be transmitted to the Corps. Such an Officer appears to