In accordance with the order observed in the continuation of the crossing of troops and heavy loads, it was completed safely. During this crossing of the pontoon, commands were given to constantly crawl along the bottom of the pontoons, inspect by touch the places supported by the beams of the destroyed bridge, and if a beam was felt, they immediately let them know, especially if there was a leak in any of the pontoons. When in one pontoon, after crossing 12 pounds. The gun turned out to be leaking, it was immediately replaced by another, and the crossing, which was stopped for a short time, continued to the end without any stop. After removing the bridge and examining all the pontoons, scars and pressure were noticed on the canvas from the horses passing and stopping under them, and only in one pontoon, which was taken out during the crossing, many threads of the canvas broke, probably from the strong pressure of the bottom of the pontoon on the goat’s legs. In the case we examined, two mistakes of our pontooners are especially striking, namely: they placed the bridge on a trestle higher than the canvas one and did not dismantle it in time, and, in order to give it greater stability, they used means that turned out to be not only insufficient, but also subjected the pontoon bridge to complete destruction.
The materials collected here sufficiently show that at the end of the period under review, the pontoon part was in a very satisfactory condition.
1760 On April 27, 1760, Count Shuvalov drew up an Instruction, which determined the appointment of the Engineer Regiment in wartime, as well as how it should be trained in peacetime. It was approved by the Highest on May 6 and forwarded for execution to the army engineer, General Muravyov. (See Appendix XY).
This instruction instructed:
1) Divide each of the first four companies of the Engineer Regiment into 7 separate equal desks and train:
The first batch is to prepare tours and fascines.
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
The third part is the construction of trenches and parallels.
The fourth batch is leading the glanders and building galleries across the ditch.
The fifth batch, consisting of carpenters, will be taught how to construct platforms, palisades, slingshots, storm falls, dugouts, stretchers, carts (wheelbarrows) and mantlets.
The sixth squadron, as well as the fifth company of the Engineering Regiment, will be trained in underground mine work and the construction of various types of landmines.
The seventh batch, consisting of blacksmiths, carpenters and painters, was intended to carry out various household work in the regiment.
2) In wartime, the Engineer Regiment came under the complete orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. At the same time, to perform technical bb ny for the purpose of its activity, it was used in its entirety, and for large works undertaken by the whole army, the ranks of the Engineering Regiment were used as leaders to supervise the work, according to the following calculation: for the construction of roads - 1 person for 20 workers; for circumference and counter - felting lines, etc. work - 1 person per 10 workers; in aprosha and for the construction of batteries - 1 hour per 5 workers, and for the management of glanders and mine galleries - an equal number. The staff and chief officers were appointed in proportion to the number of lower ranks.
3) During general battles, it was recognized that it was best for the Engineer Regiment to be partly in reserve, keeping all the tools with them in case of emergency, and partly attached to the Wagenburg and their convoys.
1727-1762. And so, we see that Count Shuvalov was the first field commander general who paid serious attention to the condition of the field engineering troops and the pontoon unit. Under him, their numbers were significantly increased, and most importantly, they received a more proper organization. With regard to the practical education of engineering troops in peacetime, it is impossible to determine the degree of its development before 1760. The archives on this subject contain very meager materials!). From them we can only conclude that since 1740, in the vicinity of St. Petersburg and Riga, there were training grounds where siege batteries were erected, approaches were made, and forges were laid.
Under what programs all these activities were carried out, and to what extent they contributed to the improvement of field engineering, remains an unresolved question, since, unfortunately, no instructions have been preserved in the archives.