In December 1800, Sir Ralph Abercromby instructed Lieutenant Francesco Rivarola to raise and command a force of 500 Maltese volunteers as pioneers for the expeditionary force in the Egyptian Campaign. The troops were assigned to the Ordnance Department, and their work included cutting wood and loading fuel transports. Officers could also hire the pioneers as servants. They saw combat action in March and April 1801. Apart from the pioneers, a third corps of artificers was also set up and joined the Egyptian Campaign.