Napoleonic Uniforms Vol 2 - Engineers PDF
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remo tanziNapoleonic Uniforms Vol 2 - Engineers PDF
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remo tanziEngineers
Index
Plate 1: Topographical Engineers, Captain, 1810.
Plate 2: Topographical Engineers, Captain, Field Uniform, 1812.
Plate 3: Engineers, Captain, 1805.
Plate 4: Engineers, Garde 1st Class, 1812.
Plate 5: Engineers, 1st Sergeant, 1812.
Plate 6: Engineers, Private, Siege Equipment, 1812.
Plate 7: Miners, Private, 1809.
Plate 8: Miners, Drummer, 1810.
Plate 9: Engineer Train, Officer, 1812.
Plate 10: Engineer Train, Private, Field Uniform, 1812.
Plate 11: Engineer Fireman, Officer, Summer Full Dress, 1812.
Plate 12: Engineer Fireman, 1st Sergeant, 1812.
Plate 13: Black Pioneers, Private, 1804.
Plate 14: Spanish Pioneers, Private, Fatigue Uniform, 1812.
Engineers
Even before the Revolution French military engineers had a hi h international reputation; a
small
group of them rendered invaluable service to the Continental Army during our American
Revolution. They were, however, all officers who were assigned to army or fortress
headquarters staffs as required.
In 1793, the French government created Engineer troop units (sapeurs du génie), which were
the equivalent of our modern combat engineers. Under Napoleon the engineers became the
Corps Impérial du Genie, consisting of a sizeable headquarters (which also functioned as a
pool of officers available for assignment). units of Sapeurs du Génie, Miners, and engineer
train troops.
The Topographical Engineers (Ingénieurs Géographes) were a separate organization,
consisting like the Royal Army's engineer corps, entirely of officers.
Engineer work, especially in the interior of France, was normally carried out by labor
(pionier) units. Most of these were composed of prisoners of war or soldiers undergoing
punishment and so could not be employed with armies in the field. Such duty was performed
by volunteers from among Austrian and Spanish prisoners and Frenchmen condemned to such
service as a punishment for self mutilation in an attempt to avoid conscription.
The firemen (Sapeurs-Pompiers) of Paris and several other major cities were semi military or-
ganisations associated with the engineers.
