Artillerists and Engineers pb - Paperbackby Arthur Wade (Author) In 1794, faced with possible war with Great Britain, the federal government assumed the responsibility for the construction and manning of seacoast fortifications from Maine to Georgia. Construction was entrusted to French born engineers, who followed traditional European bastioned designs. In 1806, Britain s abuse of neutral maritime rights again threatened war, and Congress appropriated funds for additional seacoast defenses.