3-011-672 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

General Todleben, the Russian military engineer, 1864. Engraving from a photograph by M. Steinberg, 'Todleben...though a subject and servant of the Russian empire, is of German race. He was educated in the Imperial School of Engineers at St. Petersburg, and rose steadily in the ranks of his profession...[He]...devoted himself to the theory and science of fortification, while directing the experimental operations of the sappers of the Guard at Peterhof. In 1854 he was promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel, and was sent to the army of the Danube at the outbreak of the war with Turkey, but was soon transferred to the army of the Crimea. The circumstances under which he was intrusted with the construction of those extraordinary works for the defence of Sebastopol, which form one of the greatest achievements of military mechanics in recent times, must be fresh in the recollection of most of our readers. Since the peace of 1850 General Todleben has had no active employment, but has been much engaged in scientific and literary studies. His recently-published "Narrative of the War in the Crimea " has given rise to some controversies'. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.