ENGINEERS, Cones OF. The Corps of Engi neers of the United States Army, organized in 1802, originally consisted of one colonel, one lieu tenant-colonel, two majors, four captains, four first and second lieutenants, and cadets; the whole number not to exceed 20. They were sta tioned at West Point. N. Y., and formed the nucleus of the present military academy. In 1838 the corps was increased to 47 officers, and a corps of topographical engineers organized and added to it. Sappers. miners, and pontoniers were added in I At the commencement of the Civil War in 1861 three additional eomp;mies were provided for, and also one of topographical which in ISO was disbanded, and its officers posted to the Corps of Engineers.
In 1866 the battalion of engineers was formed from the companies already organized, the station being at Willets Point, N. Y. Under act of Congress, approved February 2, 1901, the per manent engineer establishment was increased to three battalions of four companies each, the com pany consisting of 104 enlisted men, rank and tile. with two additional staff non--commisslotted officers to each battalion. The band (28 men) is also included in the total strength of the corps, which. excluding officers, is 1282 men, rank and file.
The nited Malts Engineer School, which was for many years at WHIM,: Point, had charge of the instriedion of officers of the corps, as well as of le, r arms of the service, in all that pertained to milli a ry engineering and torpedo defense. Upon the reorganization of the United States Army in 1901 the eonstrnetion and maintenance of the torpedo defenses were turned over to the art illery together with the post at Yyututs Fort. Totten (9.v.), and school and garrison were transferred to Washington, D. C. As may be seen frnm the following st;Beinent of its duties, the engineer corps is certainly the most scientific if the most important branch of the military service, and for this reason cadets standing highest in their final examination at /•st Point are usually assigned engineer eommis "ions. The duties of this corps comprise reconnoi
tring and surveying for military purposes, inelml ing the laying out of °amps: sele/•thni of sites and fortrtl ion of plans NM estimates formilitary &fen, s the em st rnet inn a nil repair of fort ifiea t :11111 their accessories, ha-biding the location ;old ipervision of MIlst roil ion of all buildings in or within one mile of any fort ificat ion : supplying Ly purcha c or otherwise. and distributing the .art iffiniarinc wining material and •lce trie-lighting supplies for seacoast fortifications; planning and superintending of defensive or offensive works of troops in the field; examina tion of routes of communication for supplies and for military movements; construction of military roads and bridges. In the field and on active ser vice they would plan and superintend the con struction of 'field works and fortifications; the removal or creation of obstacles; the planning of military roads and lateral communications for the advance of troops; the more important topo graphical reconnoissance work, if authoritative survey maps of the theatre of operations cannot otherwise be obtained: the construction and re pair of bridges; and the general overcoming of such other engineering obstacles as the terrain may disclose or the campaign present. The rank and file of the United Stales Engineer Corps are not required to be trained artificers before enlist ment. necessary instruction being given after wards. They are combatants, and receive mili tary as well as technical training. Titles of rank are the same as in the infantry, the enlisted men being divided into privates of the first class and privates of the second class. See UNITED STATES, sect ion on Army.