Army Corps of Engineers

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is one of the oldest continuously operating branches of the U.S. military establishment and has contributed in a number of ways to the military and civilian progress of the nation. This entry briefly outlines the beginnings of the corps, its current organization, and its continuing role both in domestic and international actions.

Early History

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was founded on June 16, 1775, by order of General George Washington. The recognized founder of the engineers was Louis Le Bègue de Presle du Portail, a French engineer and Continental Army colonel, who headed the branch from 1777 until 1782. It became a separate and independent branch of the U.S. Army on March 16, 1802. The first duty of ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles