We ignore the consideration of the organizational formations and reorganization of artillery schools, their renaming and repeated associations with the engineering school with the subsequent division, but we are only trying to trace some trends in the development of artillery education in Russia.
Put in 1756 at the head of the Russian artillery PI Shuvalov drew attention to the need to have educated people - and was forced to take up artillery schools.
According to Shuvalov's suggestion, on June 9, 1759, it was ordered to establish "a special printing house for printing works and books that are most needed for the artillery and engineering corps, translated into the Russian dialect from other languages, on the same basis as under the land Cadet gentry corps." Shuvalov conceived the transformation of this school into a gentry Corps "for artillery and engineering." This idea was carried out by Shuvalov's successor - A. N. Vilbonne in 1762.
The establishment of the Corps was of great importance in improving the level of artillery education. Teaching methods received a direction different from that used in artillery schools. Due to the increased volume of allocated funds and the attention to the Corps from the government, knowledgeable people are attracted to teaching. In the Corps, they not only trained, but also educated. Particularly noteworthy is the teacher, who bore the title of "Director over the Classes" I. A. Velyashev-Volyntsev, who wrote one of the first Artillery Courses (we have already mentioned about him above). Many famous artillerymen, who became famous not only in the artillery line, but also in other fields, came out of the Corps: Kutuzov M. I., Buksgevden O. A., Arakcheev A. A., and others.
Some of the Corps pets released into artillery during the period under review include:
VG Kostenetsky - a selfless hero, distinguished by courage and decisiveness; he participated in all the wars of the era - from the storming of Ochakov (1789) to the end of the Patriotic War of 1812;
LM Yashvil, who participated with constant distinction in the battles under the command of A. V. Suvorov (Ochakov, Izmail, Ackerman) and in the Napoleonic Wars;
PM Kaptsevich - a participant in many wars, in addition to combat service, who worked a lot in central directorates - especially when he was an employee of Arakcheev.
The artillery work in the Corps was especially high during the management of the last A. I. Markevich (1812 - 1832).
AI Markevich was an outstanding scientist. He wrote a voluminous essay (1700 pages in large format) entitled "A Course in Artillery Art", published in 1820-1824. This essay provided not only information about guns, shells, etc., but also provided extensive extracts from reports of experiments, as well as articles on tactics, mechanics, fortification, attack and defense of fortresses. This composition was like an artillery encyclopedia.
How much Arakcheev did for the Russian artillery is known. Speaking about this side of Arakcheev's activities, one cannot fail to point out the schools organized not without his participation in the Gatchina troops.
In the Gatchina troops, a school of three departments or, better to say, classes was established. The first taught calligraphy, Russian, arithmetic, elementary geometry; ensigns and cadets of infantry and cavalry studied here. In the second, artillery cadets studied Russian, mathematics and artillery. In the third, tactics and fortification were taught to all officers. Classes were conducted under the guidance of artillery officers Kaptsevich, Sievers and Aprelev - from 14:00 to 16:00 daily (.).
The arrangement of training in this school and in the Gatchina troops in general was of great importance for the dissemination of correct views on the service of artillery and its combat use. Everything in the Gatchina troops was strictly regulated - based on the experience of war and peacetime.
On February 24, 1804, on the initiative of Arakcheev, the "Provisional Artillery Committee" was established, which, in fact, was a permanent institution for considering proposals for an artillery unit and the production of experiments. The above-mentioned Markkevich was especially distinguished in this Committee for his knowledge and breadth of views. The committee developed guidelines, instructions, decrees, which had a great influence on the rise of education and an increase in interest in artillery work, and contributed to the improvement of artillery. By the way, Arakcheev gave the following instructions to the Committee:
"About all the projects presented in this (the Committee) for research, what is the benefit of them, or unfounded and weak concepts of searchlights will be discovered, published in newspapers" ().
This order, undoubtedly, should have had a great impact both on the work of the Committee, which could be widely criticized, and on the projectors, who could not help but think about the project before presenting it.
According to the regulations on the Committee, approved on December 14, 1808, examinations of all persons presented for artillery production were to take place in the presence of all members of the Committee.
Clause 6 of the regulation says:
"To provide artillery officers with the means to acquire the necessary knowledge for an artilleryman, the Committee publishes an artillery journal of useful and entertaining content for an artillery officer."
In the resolution on the publication of the Artillery Journal, the Committee, by the way, expressed the following wish:
"Not only every member of the Committee, but all science lovers in general, especially those serving in artillery, are invited to participate in this useful publication by sending them to the Temporary Artillery Committee, to enter their writings in the journal, comments during practical exercises, extracts and translations concerning artillery" …
It is also interesting to note the following indications of the cited resolution. All materials received for placement in the Artillery Journal "should be considered at the meeting of all members and when they are suitable for placement in the journal, then, having approved it by the subscription of the entire Committee, are given to the publisher of the Journal …".
Curious is the announcement of the publication and acceptance of a subscription to the Artillery Magazine, published by the Committee in the Addendum to No. 16 St. Petersburg Gazette on February 25, 1808. Here is an extract from the latter:
"Thus, setting out in the form of a Journal the subsequent improvements in artillery, a vast field opens up with popularity for the lovers of science, in which new sources will undoubtedly arise for enriching this science with the most useful works and for improving this part of the military art."
Also during the management of artillery by Arakcheev, several different levels were established for lower ranks and officers.
Thus, the development of artillery education went on until the memorable event - the founding in 1820 (November 25) of the Mikhailovsky Artillery School, which became the flagship in the promotion of artillery knowledge.
