A History of the British Army, Vol. 1: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' WarFortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir
History
A History of the British Army, Vol. 1: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' War
Fortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir
Great Britain -- History, Military; Great Britain. Army -- History
The special branch of military administration in the hands of
the commander-in-chief was that relating to the men. The care
of material of war was committed to the ancient and efficient
Office of Ordnance. At the Restoration the old post of Master of
the Ordnance was revived with the title of master-general; and
in 1683 the Department was admirably reorganised, as has been
seen, by the Duke of York. At the head stood, of course, the
master-general; next under him were two officers of two distinct
branches, the lieutenant-general and the surveyor-general. The
lieutenant-general was charged with the duty of estimating the
amount of stores required for the Navy and the Army, and of making
contracts for the supply of the same; he was also responsible for
the maintenance of marching trains for service in the field, and
for the general efficiency of the artillery both as regards guns
and men. His first assistant was named the master-gunner. The
surveyor-general was responsible for the custody and care of all
stores, and for all services relative to engineering; his first
assistant was called the principal engineer. Transport of ordnance
by land was the care of a waggon-master, transport by water of a
purveyor. The laboratory was committed to a fire-master, whose
duties included the preparation of fireworks for festive occasions.
The only weak point of the office was the exclusiveness of its
jurisdiction over artillery and engineers, which was carried to
such a pitch that all commissions in the two corps were signed by
the master-general, though that functionary and his staff received
their own commissions from the commander-in-chief.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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