In the prospect of a long war, to provide reinforcements for the execution of the extensive works in progress at Dover and Nova Scotia, and to be capable, to a certain extent, of meeting the contingencies that might arise, a royal warrant was issued dated 5th September, sanctioning a reorganization of the corps for general service, an augmentation of two companies, and a small increase to each of the other ten companies.
Under this arrangement the corps was distributed as follows, and the companies for the first time, appear to be distinguished by numbers; which, however, from the long habit of designating them by stations, soon became obsolete:—
| 1st. | Woolwich | Captain G. Hayter. | |
| 2nd. | Chatham | Major R. D’Arcy. | |
| 3rd. | Dover | Captain W. H. Ford. | |
| 4th. | Portsmouth. | Captain R. Fletcher. | |
| 5th. | Gosport. | Captain T. Fyers. | |
| 6th. | Plymouth. | Lieut.-Colonel T. Skinner. | |
| 7th. | Spike Island | Lieut.-Colonel Sir C. Holloway. | |
| 8th | { | Jersey Guernsey. | Captain J. Humfrey Major J. Mackelcan. |
| 9th. | Gibraltar | Captain H. Evatt. | |
| 10th. | Gibraltar | Captain G. Landmann. | |
| 11th. | West Indies. | Lieut.-Colonel W. Johnston. | |
| [[146]]12th. | Nova Scotia | Captain W. Bennett. |
By the authority of the warrant alluded to, the establishment of each company was remodelled, the ranks of Sub-Lieutenant and second corporal were created, and the total of all ranks per company increased from 100 to 126. Under the previous system of detaching men, the companies were mutilated, disordered and reduced; but under this enlarged organization, it was considered they would be more accessible, and better able to afford such accidental assistance as might be needed, without diminishing the companies to an inconvenient strength, or without particular detriment to the station. The subjoined detail shows the approved composition of a company at this period.
| 1 | Sub-Lieutenant,[[147]] a new rank, with pay of 5s. a-day.[[148]] | |||
| 1 | Sergeant-major. | |||
| 5 | Sergeants. | |||
| 5 | Corporals. | |||
| 10 | Second Corporals,[[149]] a new rank, pay fixed at 1s. 9d. a-day. | |||
| 30 | Carpenters, including 4 top sawyers. | |||
| 20 18 | Masons, Bricklayers, | } | including slaters, tiles, and plasterers. | |
| 10 | Smiths, | |||
| 10 | Miners, | |||
| 4 | Wheelers, | |||
| 4 | Collar Makers, | |||
| 2 | Coopers, | |||
| 2 | Painters, | |||
| 4 | Drummers. | |||
| Total | 126 | |||
The total establishment of the corps, including the adjutant and sergeant-major on the staff, amounted to 1,514, exhibiting an increase above the former establishment of 439 men; and its expense for one year, exclusive of the working pay and other miscellaneous allowances, reached the sum of 45,500l.[45,500l.] 17s. 7¼d. With the three companies of Maltese artificers, the corps mustered a force of 1,790 officers, non-commissioned officers, and men.
As a means of encouraging the men to exertion and good behaviour, their working pay was permitted to be increased, under the authority of the warrant before mentioned, from 6d. to 9d. or 1s. a-day. The non-commissioned officers invariably received the highest rate. None, however, could be advanced from the lowest to the superior rates without first being recommended to the commanding royal engineer at the station, by the junior officers, foremen, or overseers; and this system of rewards, except for special services, has been observed in the corps ever since.
The sergeant-majors who received the first commissions had been in the artillery, and were distinguished for their good services and bravery. To their zeal and expertness as soldiers, they added an intimate knowledge of drill and discipline—requisites of essential importance in the organization of a new force, but which, from the vague and indefinite character of the corps, became, almost necessarily, too temporizing and elastic to be sufficiently beneficial or respected.
Efforts had on one or two particular occasions been made to avoid the faults and supply the omissions of earlier years; but the improvement before alluded to, had not reached the expectations of those who felt an interest in the corps. One obvious reason was, the nominal appointment of officers to companies, who were so incessantly shifted, that it was not uncommon to find a company passing under the command of three or four different officers in the course of twelve months;[[150]] and another was, the reluctance with which some commanding officers permitted the temporary withdrawal of the men from the works for the purposes of drill and discipline.[[151]] The free use of the means to train the men to subordination and the use of arms, to restrain them from irregularities, and fully to develop the organization and purposes for which the corps was raised, being thus interrupted, naturally tended to vitiate and lower its military pride, spirit, and appearance.
Bald and grey-headed non-commissioned officers with ages varying from forty-five to sixty-five, good artificers and foremen, but lacking the energy and demeanour of soldiers, were no rarities in the royal military artificers. Disinclined to learn, they but very imperfectly understood their military station, and seldom exercised their authority, except in the emollient guise of persuasion and advice. On all sides there was a yielding, that in some measure obliterated the lines of distinction between the different grades. Their interests seemed to be reciprocal and interwoven, and the best workman was generally esteemed the best man. Almost every military idea was sacrificed for “the works,” in which it would be hazardous to say, that they did not labour with ability and industry.