The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-17

de.ire TO enumerst some of the various duties OF en-
ossr troops and endesvos 10 sci forth the manner in
hieh they can bes BIZ performed In the fourth section
o die act ior the organization oil company Of sappers
miners and pononeis (eiay 10, lsaol Their duties are
.usei6cd 40 follows
Tbsy shall be Instructed in and pc rorm ali thu da,es
fsnppcrs miners and ponionieIs, and shall aid la giving
Instructions la these branches al the nil,rs ~
Psdemy they shall, moreover, under the orders the
Ief be liable 10 serve, by deac over
ia0 aud aiding aborers upon oftc other works
drs the engineer department. and in finished
publications as oftkeePefs preventing injuries and
plying repairs
The principal object OF the organization OF the engineer
company is be instructed in and perform all the du.
lies Of sappers miners, aud pononiers The other duties
mentioned in the law are con,ng ent-he last entirely
discretionary with The chief engineer.
in April 1872 there was created company OF " bonn
ba,defs sappers, and miners" to be attached to the
corns of engineers. This company was dsbanded in
March, 1921.
During the period when it served upon the peace
establishment our military situation was entirely differ
ent from what it now is; so that, had full inorma
ton with regard 10 the duties il then performed could
not serve as guide the present time We must there
fore ascertain what now and have been since the era
Of yauban The duties assigned TO and performed BY the
engineer troops of foreign services We will then with
out blndly following the European model be enabled TO
accommodate them to our own peculiar exgencies and
situation
we now have is intended TO serve as nucleus in the
event Of sudden increase of this peculiar kind Of troops
becoming necessary in The future 1t should. however
be so employed in time OF peace that, while enjoying all
desirable facilities for instruction in the more difficult por-
tons Of its duties, il may constantly render valuable and
important services that portion OF its time be lost
to the government.
The duties OF engineer troops. established by our
laws and regulations. and by those OF other ser
vices, may be classified under five distinct heads viz
st The attack and defencs Of permanent Notifications
I'd. The attack Of field works.
Sd. The construction and defence of field works
4th "Reminiscences.
5th. Their duties the march.
lst In the attack Of permanent Notifications the eng-
neer soldiers construct all full saps, descents and passa-
ges Of covered and bitches, ascents and crownng
Of breaches embasures platforms, and magazine frames
Of batteries &c. BESIDES assisting engineer officers d
ecng the operations OF the working parties who pre-
pare gabons, fascnes &c. construct the least dangerous
enches such the parallels and flying saps epaulmens
and magazines Of batteries. They also construct all the
galleries and mines used in the attack. They lead and
clear the way for the assaul,ing columns when the breach
sormsd In the defence they exercise similar functions
In brief they perform in sieges the most dangerous
tosome, and difficult operations all OF which require
degree Of experiences which only be acquired by
long practice and careful drllng-operations which, if
attempted by unnstructed men, would certainly involve
SACTInCe OF time anu lie, and would all
probability often result in complete failure
ID In the attack of field works they precede the as
sauItng columns and all obstacles from their
path for instance, they through abattes and entan.
Clements, fill up military pits" destroy palisades and
fages seek out and destroy fongasses, blow down OF
cut through doors, barrcades, &c.
3d. They assist the officers of engineers in directing
and nstrucng the working parties employed in throwing
up entertainments, making such obstacles as abattes sc
Thpy m ha MALI
mbrazures, gun platforms, &c., loop hole walls barri
cade doors, streets, &C.
4h They escorts to engineer officers in re
connossances made on foot take care of and assist in
using the instruments necessary in surveys, &c. Many
Of them may be very useful in making simple drawing
and calculations
5h On the march they construct and repair all bridges
whether upon fixed or floating supports they improve
fords TO render them passabe down the steep
banks OF streams for the passage Of trains make and re
PAR the roads. Finally they liable and ready to
serve whenever it may be necessary, as efficient in.
iantry
Al the present time engineer soldiers and ought ia
be required 10 perform in TtIas. Nep UtIieo California
and Oregon iae duties enumerated above under the Sd
Ih, and 5h heads.
They should be engaged in the construction OF military
roads between the different posts and from the post TO the
depo,s IN building bridges these roads in escortns
and assisting engineer officers surveys and reconnois
anees oil The country and drawing the necessary maps
In Ierds California, and Oregon they would be very
advanageousy employed in the erection OF earthen bat
eies which would subserve useful purpose in defend.
ng the more important harbors until permanent work,
can be erected At isolated points. where weak popu
aion is exposed 10 Indian attacks. and where j, is moi
now possible TO station troops the engineer soldiers
toud erect block houses, other slight deences which
would enable The inhabitants TO repe any Indian assaults
10 The present unsettled condition OF European affairs
and The possibility OF being involved in their wars
would appear To be important precaution provide
ueh harbors Galveston Motogorda bay the mouth oil
as Columbia, San Diego, Monterey and most especially
Nm frantoo, with least earhen batteries and hot.
hot ufnaces In very few hours heavy guns could be
mounted in these to repe the attack OF any single cruiser
small feet, which might be tempted, by their presen,
e0eee's condition, 10 with but little risk rich
I'd aluung booty
hos'ie fleets would thus be forced to make extensive
Osuy' and tedious prepar atoms, which would give us
up une TO increase our means oil resistance, or re-
owe INTO TIE interior the contents Of public and private
o'ehouses- In addition to these purely military duties
Rheet soldiers could, in the Of time, be most
seiany occupied IN improving and making roads be.
wen "e alefent towns in these western departments,
eosh fodd % California Nth the necessary az sian or
Dn"on mefs along Il. Far from diminishing the presen,
'.e OF engineer troops, II should be increased
AEoou organization would be AS follows:
companies IN California and Oregon
companies in Texas
company 10 New Mexico and on the road 10 Cali.
PIMA :" w '''' y 0"
company IN reserve-say at Jefferson Barracks or at
on he 49,