To these were added, on the 31st December—
| Sergeant | Edward Macdonald. |
| Corporal | Robert Blair, and |
| Corporal | Peter Fraser. |
and soon afterwards—
| Corporal | Robert Brand, |
who completed the non-commissioned officers to the full number authorised by the warrant.
At the time the soldier-artificers were raised, the extensive works ordered to be executed by his Majesty in October, 1770, were in progress, and furnished an excellent opportunity for testing their capabilities and merits. The advantage of the change, and the consequent benefits accruing to the fortress, were soon apparent. Scarcely had the company been in existence a year, before Major-General Boyd, the Lieutenant-Governor, impressed with the conviction of its usefulness, represented, in several communications to Lord Rochford, the Secretary of State, the expediency of augmenting it; and he was the more urgent for its sanction as the new works in hand—which were absolutely essential for the defence of the place—required to be hastened with all possible despatch. The recommendation, coming from so high an authority, met with ready attention, and a Warrant dated 25th March, 1774, was accordingly issued for adding twenty-five men to the company. Its establishment was then fixed as follows:—
| Sergeant-major | 1 |
| Sergeants | 4 |
| Corporals | 4 |
| Drummer | 1 |
| Private artificers | 83 |
| Total | 93 |
To the former list of non-commissioned officers were now added—
John Richmond, sergeant.
John Brown,[[6]] corporal.