The developments of science applied to war, such as railways, telegraphs, and balloons, the importance of mobility for modern armies, which entails much road-making and bridging work, and the increased demand for field works in the attack, as well as on the defensive, have greatly increased the demand for Engineers with Forces in the field.
It may be pointed out that the Military Engineer existed for centuries before the civil engineer, who is a nineteenth-century offshoot of his military colleague, named after him, and not vice versa, as is sometimes imagined. The civil engineer was so called because, like the Engineer, he dealt with tools, machinery, and works, but only for civil purposes.
CHAPTER XIX
ORGANIZATION IN THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES
The “New Model” Army
The Swedish Army under Gustavus proved so effective and successful in the Thirty Years’ War that it became the model for the organization common to all armies during the seventeenth century, which may be well studied by British soldiers in the “New Model” Army, raised in the Civil War on Cromwell’s suggestion. This army, perhaps the best disciplined and most effective the world has ever seen since Roman times, was never beaten during its many campaigns. The “New Model” is the true ancestor of the British Army, which has proved itself not unworthy of its descent. We still wear the red coat common in Cromwell’s army, and have its organization and military terms in use to-day. Marlborough’s army was practically the same as the New Model Army, only with bayonets for pikes, and flint locks for match locks.
The New Model Army was organized much like the armies of Maurice and Gustavus. It was composed as follows:
The Horse were formed in 11 Regiments of 600 men each, with 6 Troops. The Foot were in 12 Regiments of 1,200 men, each with 10 Companies. The Dragoons, which were practically Mounted Infantry, formed one Regiment of 1,000, in 10 Companies. Regiments had been formed in England after 1618. The Colonel had a Company of his own, and, as he could not command it himself as well as the Regiment, it was commanded by the Lieutenant, who was therefore styled Lieutenant of the Colonel, or Lieutenant-Colonel. That officer’s connection with the Commanding Officer caused him to be of such importance that his position was that of Second-in-Command of the Regiment, and he eventually became the Commanding Officer, as he is to-day. In the Horse, the Colonel had, similarly, a Troop, which was commanded by the Lieutenant, who ranked as Junior Captain, and was called Captain-Lieutenant. Horse Regiments had thus no Lieutenant-Colonel, and Cavalry Regiments have no Second-in-Command in any army to-day.
All Regiments had a Major (originally the Sergeant-Major), whose duties were those of our Adjutant. The latter officer was introduced after the Restoration in 1660, to perform the duties of the Major, who had become Second-in-Command, owing to the Lieutenant-Colonel having become Commanding Officer. Like the Colonel, the Lieutenant-Colonel and Major had each a Company of their own to provide their emoluments, and these were stronger than those of ordinary Captains, so as to bring in more pay to the senior officers.