From Revolutionary War Fortifications to Modern-Day Infrastructure.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers was founded on March 11, 1779, by the Continental Congress to assist the United States Army in planning, engineering, and preparing environmental and structural facilities. The Corps comprised civilian workers, soldiers from the Continental Army, and French leaders, and it played a significant part in important battles throughout the Revolutionary War. Some of these battles were Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and Yorktown.
However, in 1794, Congress established the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers to serve under the newly established federal government. This occurred after the Corps had been abolished following the War of Independence. The Corps of Engineers of the United States Army was reinstated as a permanent branch in the year 1802, with the primary mission of constructing and maintaining defensive fortifications.
As tensions with Britain escalated in the years leading up to the War of 1812, the Corps of Engineers’ responsibilities grew correspondingly. The most important contribution it made during this time period was the fortification of New York Harbor, which not only prevented naval assaults by the British during the war but also laid the groundwork for the construction of the Statue of Liberty.
With the passage of time, the United States Army Corps of Engineers expanded its duties to include mapping unexplored territory in the western United States and providing military support. When the Corps of Engineers was established in 1824, it was given the added task of controlling navigation and flood control of the nation’s river systems.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers currently has over 35,000 civilian and enlisted members, making it one of the most varied workforces in the country. The Corps of Engineers has carried out several reconstruction projects in recent years. These projects include those in Afghanistan and Iraq and the reconstruction of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
