the width and depth of one and a half fathoms, and according to the will of the engineer and the chief on the site, and excellent, since the soil of the earth allows it. The thickness of the shaft with an ordinary banquet, embrasures, rounds with sand or earth, especially with intervals for rifle shooting; mice too. The gates are fortified with traverses, blocked by slingshots, and the ditches in front of them are covered; there is a drawbridge or movable bridge on them, inside there is a perpendicular palisade, as far as the materials allow; in front of them there is a step——three rows of wolf pits, one and a half arshins in depth and width, a span between them, in the middle of each a sharp small stake coming out of the ground half an arshin... “Behind the floor-length explanade there may be another ditch less important than the first. According to the wealth of a person, there may be an explanade with slingshots between the ditch and wolf pits."... "Instead of a hundred slingshots, the following are used: gerzas, overturned trees, short or dolma with sharply severed branches."... "Infantry privates deployed in fortifications have a hundred cartridges; then not for frequent shooting, for that is what shootings are appointed for, but for withstanding what kind of sieges "... "In the fortified areas the artillery! I fire with grapeshots"... "With the usual Russian courage%, the wise commandant will not spew out the importance of his fortified captivity, the nasty enterprises of the regular troops, if not barbaric! Scattered raids! The chase is not necessary, it is not commendable, just like forays, except as a reserve; but this is for the ritual.”
In addition, it is impossible not to mention that engineer-Lieutenant Colonel De-Volant is responsible for the project of forming in the Russian army a special brigade (numbering 250-300 selected people) of miners, sappers and poners, which were urgently needed in the Rumyantsev (1769-1774) and Potemkin (1787-1791) wars with the Turks.
After the dismissal of Prince Orlov, the Engineering and Artillery units came under the control of General Baron Meller-Zakomelsky!),
1) Baron Ivan Ivanovich Meller-Zakomelsky (artillery general) was one of the great generals of Catherine’s time. With his knowledge, activity and personal qualities, and finally, with his heroic death, he gained deep respect not only from his contemporaries, but also from his descendants. Vooduchi was invited by Field Marshal Potemkin to the Yekaterinoslav army; he was the field marshal's closest and most useful assistant. With his advice and knowledge of engineering, he helped Prince Potemkin draw up a plan for the siege and assault of the city of Ochakov. Meller-Zakomelsky himself led two columns of the left flank to attack. In these columns were his three sons, one of whom was mortally wounded. When this sad news was reported to Meller, he said: “Well then! I still have two more sons left for the attack.” In 1790, when military operations with the Turks resumed, General Meller was wounded on October 7, near the fortress of Kilea. (Histor. Pt. Ing. Administration in Russia 1879, A. Savelyeva).
although he was not appointed general-feldtzeichmeister. During this time, the chancellor! I am the Chief Artillery! and fortifiers! acquired even more rights. Most of the orders for the Engineering Department depended on this office: it issued orders completely independently and only informed General Meller-Zakomelsky for information. In 1787, Baron Meller was invited by Field Marshal Potemkin to take command of the Artillery in the Yekaterinoslav Army.
While General Meller was in the active army, the duties of managing the Engineering Unit did not change their previous character. Despite his absence, the office of the Main Artillery and Fortifications sent him from time to time matters concerning the personnel of the Engineering Troops and various branches of the Engineering Department; from the surviving archival files it is clear that the chancellor very often issued decrees and instructions to the institutions subordinate to her and, notifying the general about this. Meller, demanded his consent to the orders she made.
17909 After the death of General Meller-Zakomelsky, which followed from wounds on October 10, 1790, the Artillery and Engineering units came under the control of Field Marshal Prince Potemkin-Tavrichesky, who on this occasion issued, on October 11, 1790, the following order: “By which now follows my sensitive, regretful end. General Anshef and Cavalier Baron Ivan. Ivanovich Meller-Zakomelskalo, I accept the Artillery Corps, especially with respect to this, into my own superiors, which I order to be announced to the entire command, which relates directly to the mother, the manager of the late office with all this part in writing to appear with me. Enyaz Potemkins-Tavrichesky.