Hi,
This is the quotation from the definition of Rams: "Operating Crew: Requires 35 Idle Population to train; occupies 35 vacancies in Garrison."
As far as I know, rams are independent and they do not require other soldier to operate them.
If you send rams and guardians to attack, they all do attack. Those 35 population will operate the rams, they do nothing more IMHO.
If I am wrong, I will be happy to know the correct answer.
Good luck.
MaDD.
This is correct, the battering ram's operating crew doesn't inflict damages to the fortress, only the battering rams do. 35 soldiers are not taken from the rest of the army to operate 1 battering ram, 35 population is used for building the ram and it occupies 35 vacancies in the fortress garrison.