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B 338031
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In Memory of
NG
STEPHEN SPAULDING
1907
1925
CLASS of 1927
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Whilekoa 1927
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پر
UG
400
T563
V₁ 20
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THE
Harry Harding
FIELD ENGINEER;
O R
INSTRUCTIONS UPON EVERY BRANCH
O F
FIELD FORTIFICATION:
Demonftrated by Examples which occurred in the Seven Years War
BETWEEN THE
PRUSSIANS, the AUSTRIANS, and the
RUSSIANS;
WITH PLANS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.
1
Tranſlated from the Fourth Edition of the GERMAN ORIGINAL of
Johann Gottlieb
Johann G. TIEL KE,
LATE CAPTAIN OF ARTILLERY IN THE SERVICE OF
H. S. H. THE ELECTOR OF SAXONY,
EDWIN
B. Y
HEW GILL,
ENSIGN AND ADJUTANT
IN THE COLDSTREAM REGIMENT OF FOOT GUARDS,
•
IN TWO VOLUME S.
VO L. II.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE TRANSLATOR,
AND SOLD BY
J. WALTER, AT HOMER'S HEAD, CHARING Cross,
M.DCC.LXXXIX.
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CONTENT S
OF THE
SEGOND VOLUME.
CHAPTER XIII.
F Parapets, Fleches, Redouts, Star-Forts,
and other Works.
CHAPTER XIV.
Of Têtes-de-Pont.
CHAPTER
Page 1
21
XV.
30
Of Trous-de-loup, Crows-feet, &c.
CHAPTER XVI.
Of Fougaffes.
36
CHAPTER XVII.
Of Abbatis:
CHAPTER XVIII.
Of Inundations.
A
56
СНАР-
2.
iv CONTENT S.
CHAPTER XIX.
Of the Methods of retrenching Heights and high
Pofitions.
Page 81
1
CHAPTER XX.
To defend Ravines, Valleys, Debouchés, and De-
files, by means of Retrenchments.
CHAPTER XXI.
91
Of the Defence of Rivers.
- 95
CHAPTER
XXII.
1
Of the Defence of Church-yards, Walled-yards,
and Farm-houſes.
CHAPTER XXIII.
104
Of the Defence of Villages.
122
CHAPTER XXIV.
Of the Defence of Towns by means of Retrench-
ments.
CHAPTER XXV.
129
Of Lines or Retrenchments for the Defence of an
Army.
135
1.
PART
CONTENT S.
>
PART III.
:
OF TAKING UP GROUND, AND THE PRE-
PARATION OF MILITARY PLANS.
CHAPTER I.
Of the Preparation of the Scale.
СНАРТER II.
Page 191
Of taking up Ground WITH the Help of a
Map.
CHAPTER III.
194
Of taking up Ground WITHOUT the Help of a
Map.
CHAPTER IV.
197
Of taking up Ground entirely by the Eye.
CHAPTER V.
201
Of taking up Ground with a Compass and another
Inftrument.
CHAPTER VI.
Of taking up Ground by Paces.
204
209
CHAP-
vi CONTENT S.
4
CHAPTER
VII.
Of taking up a Camp or Pofition.
CHAPTER VIII.
210
Öf taking up Rivers and interfected Ground. 213
CHAPTER IX.
Of taking up Woods.
CHAPTER X.
Of taking up Ground in a hilly Country.
CHAPTER XI.
Of taking up Towns and Villages.
I
216.
218
220
CHAPTER XII.
To make a Plan of an Action.
1
CHAPTER XIII.
Of taking up Trenches.
CHAPTER
221
223
XIV.
Examples relating to the foregoing Chapters. 224
CHAPTER XV.
Of Plans in General.
2
246
CHAP
CONTENT сол
vii
S.
1
CHAPTER XVI.
Of Water and Morafs.
Page 250
CHAPTER XVII.
Of Heights.
255
CHAPTER
Of Arable Land, Meadows, Trees, Gardens,
XVIII.
Vineyards, and Woods.
CHAPTER XIX.
Of Roads, Bridges, Fords, &c.
257
260
CHAPTER XX.
Of Houses, Villages, Towns, and Fortreſſes. 261
CHAPTER XXI.
Of Camps and Retrenchments.
263
CHAPTER XXII.
Of colouring Plans.
266
CHAPTER XXIII.
Of ornamenting and finishing a Plan.
268
CHAPTER XXIV.
Of the Preparation of transparent Paper.
1
269
СНАР-
viii
CONTENT S.
1
CHAPTER XXV.
Of copying Plans.
1
J
Page 270
CHAPTER XXVI.
To make Glue.
CHAPTER XXVII.
To paſte Plans upon Linen.
اف
1
272
1
272
i
THE
{
}
THE
1
FIELD ENGINEER.
PART II.
CHAPTER XIII.
Of Parapets, Fleches, Redouts, Star-Forts,
and other Works.
$
§ 351. A
S I have now explained the
rules which are to be attend-
ed to in marking out retrenchments, in
eſtimating their extent, and in conſtruct-
ing the different field-works; their uſe,
advantage, and diſadvantage, will be the
more eaſily underſtood.
}
OF PARAPET S.
EVERY work confiſts of a breaftwork
or parapet and a ditch.-The ditch is in-
VOL. II.
B
tended
1
2
PART II. CHA P. XIII.
tended to keep off the enemy, while the
parapet defends your troops againſt the
fire of his artillery or ſmall arms: Confe-
quently, whenever the Engineers begin
the foundation of a work, they ought to
be aware of the number and weight of the
cannon with which there is a probability
of its being attacked, and to carry in their
minds what I have before obferved, viz.
that a ſhot from one to four pounds weight
will penetrate good earth to the depth of
four or five feet: that a ſhot of fix or eight
pounds will penetrate from fix to seven
feet: that a ſhot of twelve pounds will pe-
netrate from eight to nine feet and that
a fhot of twenty-four pounds will penetrate
even to the depth of fifteen or fixteen
feet.
§ 352. PARAPETS are generally four feet
and a half above the banquette; and (as
it ſeldom happens that foldiers meaſure
more than five feet ten or eleven inches)
they would be altogether uſeleſs if their
height was increaſed; and perhaps a de-
duction
}
Of Parapets, Fleches, Redouts, &c.
сла
tluction of ten or twelve inches might
make them ftill more convenient. For,
in the firſt place, many fhort men cannot
hit the enemy when he has gained the
ditch, or is even within a few paces of it;
while thoſe who are taller will feldom ſtand
upright, that they may be the better de-
fended, and fire into the air. And 2dly,
the more a foldier is in the habit of being
covered, the more he will require for I
am perfuaded, that if the genérality of
them had a parapet as high as their chins,
they would foon feel a degree of diffatif-
faction at not being totally concealed.-If
the half of a man's body is defended, he
ought to think himſelf fufficiently ſecure,
and he will then have the following ad-
vantages over his enemy, which are by
no means inconfiderable. Let the height
of the parapet be what it may, the enemy
muſt be expofed during the attack, and
the ground upon which he ſtands will be
lower than the banquette. (§ 259). There-
fore the fire of his muſketry cannot have
its full effect, according to the principle
В 2
which
1
4
PART II. CHA P. XIII.
1
which I have before laid down in the 2538
paragraph; and if, inftead of firing, he
only attempts to march expeditiouſly up
to the work with a view of taking it by
ſtorm, its lowneſs will not be detrimental :
provided the ditch is of fufficient depth.-
Hence it is evident, that fuch a parapet
cannot counteract the great advantage
which is to be derived from every field-
work, viz. that of keeping off your ene-
my.
In what I have hitherto faid, I am of
courſe confining myfelf to the interior
height of the parapet above the banquette;
and I only mean it to be underſtood, that
a proportionable number of banquettes
ſhould be added, whenever it may be ad-
viſable to raiſe the work more than uſual.
As long as the enemy is at a diſtance from
your work, the whole of the defenders
cannot be wanted at the parapet, and when
he is near to it, your troops may ſtand
upon the upper banquette, without being
expoſed to the fire of artillery: for, at
that time, he will not be able to make uſe
of
Of Parapets, Fleches, Redouts, &c.
5.
of cannon, for fear of deſtroying his own
men.
$ 353. I HAVE already obferved, that
the ditch is intended to keep off the ene-
my; conſequently it ought to be in front
of the parapet: except when the height
of the fituation, a river, a moraſs, or ſome
other obſtacle, fhould make an approach'
to it either impracticable or extremely
difficult.
$ 354. THE ditch must be of fuch
breadth that the enemy fhall neither be
able to leap over it on foot nor on horſe-
back; and, by its depth, you muſt en-
deavour to obftruct his afcent of the
fcarp as much as poffible, even if he
ſhould have had the courage to get into
it.
•
§ 355. EPAULEMENTS may be ranked
under the head of parapets; and although
they are principally formed with a view
of covering the cavalry, yet there are fome
В 3
cafes,
6
PART II. CH A P. XIII.
!
cafes, eſpecially during the attack of a
fortrefs, wherein they may be equally fer-
viceable to the infantry.-They are not
intended to keep off the enemy, but mere-
ly to refift his fhot. Confequently, they
muſt be of ſufficient ſtrength, from eight
to twelve feet in height, as circumſtances
may require, and their ditches may be
made either in their front or rear. When-
ever they are to be occupied by infantry,
(as in Pl. 24 and 25) two or three ban-
quettes will be required; and if their
ditches are in front, an excellent hori-
zontal fire may be gained from thence,
§ 356. WHEN a parapet is formed in a
ftraight line (as at a b, Pl. 14. fig. 4), it
can only preſent a front fire; and of courſe
its defence would be too weak, unleſs it
was ftrengthened by falient and rentrant
angles.
OF
Of Parapets, Fleches, Redouts, &c.
7
OF FLECHES *.
§ 357. FROM what I have faid in the
foregoing paragraph, it muſt be evident
that thoſe fleches which are not flanked
by any other work, will be ſtill weaker
than a ſtraight parapet. Becauſe they can
only preſent a ſingle fire, and are at the
fame time totally expofed at their falient
angles:-Pl. 14. fig. 1, a b c †.
§ 358. BUT if they are placed within
muſket-ſhot, fo as to flank each other,
they will be ſerviceable in covering the
front of a line, and may be confiderably
improved by the addition of two ſmall
* See Vol. VI. Chapters XI. and XVIII.-Author.
† An undefended angle in fortification is generally underſtood
to be the expoſed part, i e h, in Pl. 4. fig. 1; and a cò in
Pl. 14. fig. 1: but a dead angle is properly that part of the
ditch in front of a rentrant angle, which cannot be raked by any
other line, and which is not even vifible from the parapet, when
there is a high rampart; of courſe it then becomes ftill more
dangerous on account of the enemy's miners. Pl. 17. fig. 3,
b. Thefe fubjects, however, will be more fully explained in the
third Volume and third Section of my ACCOUNT of the WAR,
&c.-Author.
B 4
flanks
?
दे
8.
PART II. CHA P. XIII.
flanks (as at a a, fig. 2). In fome cafes it
may be alfo advantageous to cut off their
falient angles, as in fig. 3, d; by which
means they will be in great meaſure de-
fended,
§ 359. IF fleches are thrown up in front
of a ſtraight line, or joined together by a
curtain, as in fig. 4, their defence will be
weak: but that fault may be eaſily cor-
rected if you allow the centre of the cur-
tain to project. (Fig. 5, b).- Becauſe, in
that caſe, a ſpecies of indented line will be
formed, which is always preferable to any
other. In the 10th Chapter, and 319th
paragraph, I have ſhown how they are to
be drawn and marked out,
§ 360. IN general it is not adviſable that
fleches fhould be enclofed in the rear, left
the enemy ſhould be defended against your
fire when he has taken poffeffion of them.
And if it ſhould be thought neceſſary to
encloſe the gorges of fuch as lie in the
front, that the enemy may not march
round
1
Of Parapets, Fleches, Redouts, &c.
9
4
round and take them in the rear, ſtrong
palifades ought to be made uſe of for that
purpoſe: becauſe, in all probability, they
will not be carried till you have had time
to fend a reinforcement to their relief; and
if they ſhould not hold out fo long, the
palifades will afford him no defence againſt
the fire of your cannon; but, on the con-
trary, they will increaſe the effect of every
hot. Pl. 14, fig. 1 and 7.
•
§ 361. WHEN cannon are brought into
a fleche, their poſition need not be con-
fined to any particular part of it. In ge-
neral, however, they are either placed as
at a in fig. 2 and 5, for the purpoſe of de-
fending the ditch; at the ſalient angles d
in fig. 3, and dc in fig. 4; behind the
curtain e e in fig. 4, and fig. 5b; or at
the fortie c in fig. 5.
Whenever fleches or other works are
joined together, their entrances are ufually
made at the rentrant angles, particularly
when they can be well defended by a croſs
fire, and covered by traverfes, as in fig. 5 and
7.-
|
}
ΤΟ
PART II. CHA P. XIII.
i
7. But if the curtains are formed in a
ftraight line, they may be in the centre,
and covered by ſmall fleches, fig. 6, a b.
In which cafe, and indeed whenever there
are detached works in front of a line, the
ends of their ditches fhould be floped off
as at a b, in fig 6; otherwiſe it would be
impoffible to fire upon the enemy from the
parapet c d after he had got into them.
§ 362. WHEN a communication is to be
kept up between the main line and the de-
tached works in its front, it may be effec-
ted, either by means of two rows of pali-
fades (d fig. 1, Pl. 14) or by a double pa-
rapet, as at c e in fig. 3.-Theſe communi-
cations however are generally better in
theory than in practice. For although it
would appear to be right, and merely con-
fiſtent with every idea of humanity, that
your troops, who have made an obftinate
and brave reſiſtance, ſhould be able to re-
treat in fecurity: yet the unavoidable con-
fufion upon fuch occafions, and the pro-
bability that the enemy might force his
2
way
1
1
Of Parapets, Fleches, Redouts, &c. II
way into your lines at the fame time, ren-
der it frequently neceffary to abandon
them to their fate, and to begin a heavy
fire of grape-ſhot for your own preferva-
tion.
In this manner General Laudon took
poffeffion of Glatz; and the fame accident
was narrowly avoided at Dreſden, in the
year 1758, when the Auftrians repulfed the
Pruffian advanced pofts from the Great-
Garden.
OF RED OUT S
§ 363. NOTWITHSTANDING redouts are
generally made uſe of in the field, they are
as imperfect as fleches, if undefended by
other works; and their falient angles will
always be as much expofed: eſpecially if
you cannot bring artillery into them.-M.
de Clairac has endeavoured to repair this
imperfection by means of a cremaille, but
his attempts have not been altogether fuc-
* See Quadrangular-works, Vol. VI. Chap. XI.-Author.
ceſsful,
12
PART II. O H A P. XIII.
J
ceſsful, as I have ſhown in the 3d Sect. and
3d Vol. of my ACCOUNT of the WAR, &C.
For my own part, I would not make uſe
of cremailles on any occaſion: but, as they
are now in confiderable repute, I have ad-
ded them to the Ift figure in the 15th plan.
-Whenever a cremaille is to be formed,
pickets are driven into the ground about a
foot afunder, and wattled with twigs or
pliant branches of trees. And the pickets
which are made ufe of for that purpoſe,
are four feet and a half above the earth, or
of equal height with the parapet.
§ 364. IN the 15th plan I have endea-
voured to explain every good alteration
which can be made in the conftruction of
a redout *.
* I have here omitted a few lines of the original, which con-
tained an apology, on the part of the Author, for having been
compelled, by the ſmallneſs of his plan, to diſregard the gene-
ral rules of proportion in feveral parts of it. My plan is
drawn on an increaſed ſcale, that all its parts might have their
proper dimenfions; and my additional profiles g h will flow the
difference between the two finiſhed fides of the redout, as well
as the appearance of the fraiſes and palifades when placed: which
could not have been fo well expreffed in any other manner.
Tranfator.
In Ing
Of Parapets, Fleches, Redouts, &c. 13
L L, in fig. 2, repreſent the method of
marking out the flope of the firſt ban-
quette; kk, ii, its breadth; ii, bb, the
baſis of the flope of the ſecond banquette;
and bb, gg its breadth.—In fig. 1, b h, 8 g,
repreſent the flope of the first and only
banquette. To form the cremaille, pick-
ets are driven along the line ƒƒ, fix feet
afunder, and from each of them, lines are
drawn parallel to m i, and to the baſe dk.
The teeth or falient angles of the cremaille
will enter three or four feet into the para-
pet; therefore it muſt be ſtrengthened in
proportion, and its ufual interior talus re-
jected. In the 2d figure, gg, ff, mark the
bafis of the interior talus of the parapet;
ff, e e, its breadth; and e e, a' a, its exte-
rior talus. If there is no berm, a a, b b,
fhow the interior flope or ſcarp of the
ditch, and the magiftral line, or line of
horizon, becomes invifible as foon as the
work is finiſhed: becaufe the exterior
talus of the parapet and the ſcarp of
the ditch form an uninterrupted defcent.
When a berm is made, it extends from the
line
1
14
PART II. CHA P. XIII.
1
line of horizon outwards, and is generally
from two to four feet in breadth. In that
caſe, the interior talus of the ditch will be-
gin at the edge of the berm. B b, c c,
mark the breadth of the bottom of the
ditch; a a, m m, its breadth at the top; b b
a a, its interior talus or ſcarp; and c c, mm,
its exterior talus or counterſcarp.—When-
ever a glacis is formed, the counterſcarp
cm is a little elevated, and of courſe
the ditch receives an addition to its depth.
This is ſhown by m d, and the extent of
the glacis by the letters dr.-The height.
and flope of a glacis are generally regula-
ted by carrying an imaginary line in the
direction of the fuperior talus of the pa-
rapet*.
I have made one embraſure at the fide
T, and another at the falient angle s. The
laft, however, is but rarely found; becauſe,
when it is neceffary to have cannon at the
angles, it is uſual to fire over the parapet.
The platforms u and v are formed for that
purpoſe.
* See my additional profiles g h.-Tranflator.
X
o re-
1
Of Parapets, Fleches, Redouts, &c. 15
o reprefents the beath upon which the
fraiſes are nailed; p, that with which they
are fixed within the parapet ; and q, their
appearance when the whole is finiſhed.-w
fhows the beſt poſition of the palifades
when in one row, and x their beſt poſition
when in two rows. -y in fig. 1, and ≈ z in
fig. 2, repreſent the workmen.
§ 365. IN confequence of the weak de-
fence of every falient angle, one of the
fides of a redout ought always to be oppo-
fite to the object, which it is either intend-
ed to fire upon or to defend : except when
its parapet is formed en cremaille. In that
cafe, an angle may be advanced and occu-
pied by a cannon. -The entrance ſhould
be covered either by a traverſe, chevaux-
de-frife, or palifades; and a tambour may
be formed within the work, to enable you
to make a fecond defence after the enemy
has gained the parapet.-But I am afraid
this will feldom be of much fervice.
Whenever redouts are thrown up in
front of a line or pofition, their rear fides
ought
16 PART II. CHA P. XIII.
1
ought only to be encloſed with ſtrong pa-
lifades (a c b, Pl. 14. fig. 7), for the rea
fons that I have already had occafion to
give in the 360th paragraph, and if a
ditch is made on the outfide of them, to
give the enemy greater difficulty in taking
poffeffion of the works, the earth muſt
either be carried away or ſpread upon the
ground.
§ 366. REDOUTS, as well as fleches, may
be joined together with a curtain, for the
formation of a line or retrenchment; and
if they are not within ſhot of each other,
its centre ſhould form a falient angle, as
in fig. 7. Pl. 14: or a fleche may be add-
ed, as in fig. 6, to give a more rectangular
defence. In either cafe, the rear lines of
the redouts ought to be made according
to the method which has been recom-
mended in the laſt paragraph, or upon a
very weak profile. Such a retrenchment
will have one peculiar advantage, viz. that
of obliging the enemy to make a freſh at-
* See Vol. VI. Chap. XVIII.—Author.
tack
?
Of Parapets, Fleches, Redouts, &c. 17
tack upon every redout, even if he ſhould
have forced his way through any part of
the curtain.
§ 367. No retrenchments are ſo good as
thoſe formed by redouts, which flank and
ſupport each other, with fleches and fingle
parapets between them, as in Plans 24 and
28.-Becauſe your troops can then ma-
nœuvre with freedom, or advance to the
attack whenever a favourable opportunity
may offer; and, if the enemy fhould break
through the fleches in front, the ſecond
chain of works will probably oblige him
to make a precipitate retreat.-But I fhall
fay more upon this fubject in the 25th
Chapter.
1
OF THE TENA IL LE.
$368. As this work flanks itſelf and has
a croſs fire in the front, its defence is un-
doubtedly preferable either to that of a
fleche or a redout: I am therefore at a loſs
VOL. II.
C
to
18
PART II. CHA P. XIII.
to imagine why the Engineers do not
make more frequent uſe of it.—Fig. 8, in
the 14th Plan, is a reverſed tenaille; and
the extent of the angle c is in great mea-
fure difcretionary: that is to fay, it may.
have from 90° to 150°. However, if it is
too obtuſe, the croſs fire becomes imper-
fect, and if it has leſs than 90°, the defen-
ders will be in danger of wounding each
other.
•
§ 369. THIS tenaille may alſo have flanks
as in fig. 9, and the direction of them may
be either ſimilar to a dor be: as the ground
and other circumftances may feem to re-
commend. If the flanks are not expofed
to the enemy's fire, but only added to pre-
vent their being taken in the rear, they
ought to be formed upon a very weak pro-
file, or merely with palifades: which me-
thod I alſo recommend whenever their
gorges are to be encloſed, as fhown by
de*.
If a fortie is neceffary, it may be made
* See Vol. VI. Chap. XII.-Author.
in
1
Of Parapets, Fleches, Redouts, &c. 19
A
in the rentrant angle, or through the pa-
lifades da.-In the firſt cafe it fhould be
covered by a traverſe, and in the ſecond
by a chevaux-de-frife.
OF THE STAR-FORT.
§ 370. STAR-FORTS are at preſent not
much in uſe, becauſe it has been found by
experience that they are weak, efpecially,
thoſe of a ſquare or pentagonal form, and
that their interior ſpace is too ſmall.-The
hexagon, however, is ftill uſed for the
purpoſe of covering fingle pofts, particu
larly when they occupy heights; it admits
of the beſt defence, and may be made with
flanks and curtains, according to the re-
gular rules of fortification, (Pl. 16. fig. 1).
The lines of defence are found by draw-
ing together the points a c, c e, bd, df,
&c.; from the points of interſection of
theſe lines, fix toifes or thirty-ſix feet are
carried along them to i k, and three toiſes
or eighteen feet to 1 m. Confequently, ki
C
2
and
20
PART II. CHA P. XIII.
and Im give the flanks and curtain; i a
and b the faces of the baftions *
The methods of marking out this figure
upon the ground have been already ex-
plained in the 312th paragraph.
OF IRREGULAR WORKS.
§ 371. As thefe works are at all times
regulated according to the nature of the
ground on which they are fituated, they
are the moſt in uſe; and wherever no-
thing is to be apprehended from the ene-
my's artillery, they may be formed en-
tirely with palifades.-But this ſubject will
come more particularly under our confi-
deration in the 25th Chapter.
* See Star-Farts, Vol. VI. Chap. XII, and XIII.-Author.
A
•
СНАР-
Of Têtes-de-Pont.
21
CHAPTER XIV.
Of Têtes-de-Pont*.
ETES-DE-PONT muſt be
§ 372. TET
placed wherever they will
defend the bridges moſt effectually from
the enemy's artillery, and there muſt be a
ſufficient ſpace in their rear to allow the
troops to move with eaſe after they have
paſſed the river, and to march through
with the utmoſt regularity.—During a re-
treat, the fame objects are to be attended
to. If
you can eſtabliſh your tête-de-pont
where the river forms a curve, you will be
able to gain more room within the work
than in any other fituation, and to flank it
effectually from the oppofite ſhore.-Pl. 17.
fig. 2.
§ 373. IF fmall arms will carry croſs the
river, a parapet may be thrown up as ſhown
* The attack and defence of theſe works will be found in
the fixth Vol. of my ACCOUNT of the WAR, &C. Chap. XIX,
Author.
C 3
by
22
PART II. CHA P. XIV.
by cd, in fig. 2; by which means you will
be enabled to fupport the tête-de-pont, in
caſe of an attack; and, at the fame time, to
fire upon the enemy, if he ſhould take
poffeffion of the work.-But if the river is
300 or even 250 paces in breadth, or if the
ground is very low between your pofition
and the water, muſketry will be of little
fervice. In that cafe, it would be advifa-
ble to form batteries as at a, before you
venture to march down to the bridge.
It is alſo of the greateſt advantage that
the flanks fhould be defended by fleches
or redouts, whofe rear fides are either en-
cloſed with palifades or a weak parapet
(fig. 2, b): that the enemy's cavalry may
not take poffeffion of them, although they
may be fent over the river for that pur-
pofe.
In all têtes-de-pont the entrances fhould
be large enough to allow your troops to
march expeditiously through them, and
defended by traverfes or chevaux-de-
frife.
1
374-
Of Têtes-de-Pont.
23
§ 374. WHENEVER the time will admit
of it, no pains ſhould be fpared in the
conſtruction of a tête-de-pont: becauſe
every thing muft depend upon its ſtrength
and durability.
Têtes-de-pont may be formed under two
circumſtances: Firſt, when you have no
cauſe to be apprehenſive of an attack, and
are in poffeffion of both the banks of the
river: and 2dly, while you are throwing
over your bridges in fight of the enemy.-
In the laſt inftance, I believe, no better
rules can be obſerved than thoſe which I
have given in the 5th Chapter.
§ 375. EVERY tête-de-pont muſt be left
open towards the water, that the enemy
may be totally expoſed to the fire of our
batteries on the oppofite fhore, in caſe hẹ
ſhould take poffeffion of them.
$ 376. WHENEVER a tête-de-pont is
thrown up at the end of an old bridge, near
a town or poſt, it is not done ſo much with
a view of facilitating the paffage of your
troops,
C 4
24 PART II. CHA P. XIV.
troops, as of preferving a fafe communi-
cation between the two fhores.-There-
fore the interior ſpace may be ſmaller than
is uſual in other cafes, and one paſs thro'
it will be fully fufficient. In general its
fize will be regulated according to the
number of men intended for its defence.
feveral
§ 377.
NOTWITHSTANDING
têtes-de-pont are contained in the latter
part of the 10th Chapter, I ſhall add others
here, with a more particular account of
their conftruction and uſe.
To form the fecond figure in the 16th
Plan, which I have taken from M. de Clai-
rac, you muſt mark out a fquare or pa-
rallelogram of the intended fize of your
figure. (Here the length is fifty toifes
and the breadth fixty, or three hundred
and fixty feet.) Let its fides be divided into
four equal parts. A c is one-fourth of the
fide a b; and at c, a line is drawn parallel
to af. Upon this line you muſt mark off
one-fourth of its whole length from c to
and the fame on the other fide. The
points
>
25
Of Têtes-de-Pont.
points d and e fhow where the flanks of
the baſtions will commence; as well as the
length of the curtain.-Then draw the
lines of defence a e, f d, and the perpendi-
culars which are raiſed on them at d and e
will give you the points g b, by their in-
terſection of the lines of defence.-Confe-
quently dg, eb will be the flanks, and ga,,
bf the faces of the baftions.-To regulate
the fides you muſt ſet off from c towards
d one-fixth of that line; and draw your
chain from a through that point towards
k, till you find yourſelf oppofite the picket
which marks the third quarter of the ſide
a b; and at that point k, you muſt ſet off
an angle of 120°, and draw km to the bank
of the river, or as far as may be neceffary.
I have here added a covert-way, but the
work may be formed either with or with-
out it and if it is intended that an army
fhall paſs through, two entrances ſhould
be made, one at k and the other at m, and
defended by traverſes: that the march
may not be retarded.
$ 378.
26
PART II. CHA P. XIV.
§ 378. THE first figure in the 17th Plan
may be formed in the following manner;
Let the falient angle bac have 120°,
and its fides the length required. From
the point a deſcribe an arc through b, d,
and c*, and draw a line from c to a, and
another from b to a: divide the fide a b
into two equal parts, and with the length
of one of thoſe parts deſcribe a femicircle
from the point e, through the lines b d and
da.-Draw the lines of defence from a and
b toff, and at their points of interfection
eight toiſes or forty-eight feet muſt be fet
off towards a b, and four toifes or twenty-
four feet towards ff.-Theſe points will
give you the length of the curtain, as well
as the flank and face of each baſtion.
J
Fig. 2, is conſtructed in the fame man-
ner, and the fleche with which I have co-
vered the curtain may either remain or be
laid afide.
* You muſt let fall a perpendicular from a, to mark the centre
of this arc at d; and then draw together the points b d and de:
otherwife you will not be able to aſcertain the points ff, where
the lines of defence are to fall.-This feems to have been
omitted in the original.—Tranflator.
1
§ 379.
Of Têtes-de-Pont.
27
§ 379. IF fig. 2 has only one entrance, it
may be made in the curtain at b. But
if a body of troops muſt march through
the work, there ought to be two, as at i, k,
in fig. 1: and in fuch poſitions they will
be completely defended.-Thefe entrances
are of two kinds.
$ 380. WHEN the bank of a river is fo
low that the water may be brought into
the ditch (as ſhown in Pl. 16, fig, 2, and
Pl. 17, fig. 1), a confiderable advantage
will be gained; and in that cafe, there
muſt either be draw-bridges at the en-
trances, or ſuch as can be eaſily removed.
-An embraſure may alſo be cut in the
traverſe which covers each entrance.
§ 381. IN all caſes it is advantageous to
throw up works on that fide of the river
which is oppofite to your tête-de-pont; as
well for the purpoſe of adding to its fup-
port as of covering a retreat.-Artillery
ought therefore to be uſed in preference
to ſmall arms, notwithſtanding the banks
may be within musket-ſhot of each other.
If
1
1
28
PART II. CHA P. XIV.
:
If the oppoſite bank is much higher than
the tête-de-pont, funk batteries fhould be
formed, as at a in fig. 2; and if it is lower,
the platforms ſhould be confiderably raiſed,
that the tête-de-pont may be defended by
a croſs fire.
§ 382. ONE or two encloſed redouts can
give you a command over your tête-de-
pont, as well as the bridge itſelf (fig. 2, e),
and if they are judiciouſly placed they may
alſo enable you to rake the ground in
their front.
$ 383. IF a tête-de-pont is intended to
be extremely ſtrong and durable, it may
be formed with a regular rampart and co-
vert-way of which I have given a profile
in the 17th plan, fig. 3.—And as it is of the
greateſt confequence that the conftruction
of the work ſhould give both the muſketry
and artillery a complete command over the
ditch (eſpecially when water cannot be
brought into it); the palifades ought not
to be placed in its centre, but rather, be-
low
Of Têtes - de - Pont.
29
}
low the ſcarp or counterſcarp: or even in
both thoſe fituations, if a fufficient quan-
tity of wood can be procured. Becauſe,
however unuſual it may be to find them
in the main ditch of a fortreſs, I am per-
fuaded they will always add very much to
the ſtrength of your works, and, together
with the fraiſes, render them almoſt inac-
ceffible.
§ 384. A, b, in Pl. 17, fig 3, repreſent the
rampart; c, the banquette; c, b, e, f, the
parapet; m, the berm; a 1, the interior,
and ƒ m, the exterior talus of the rampart;
mn, the ſcarp; and go, the counterfcarp:
under which name the whole covert-way
is frequently comprehended.-Gb mark
the covert-way; bi, the banquette; i, the
palifades; k, the glacis; and p, the cuvette;
which is frequently made in a dry ditch,
as an additional obftacle to the enemy, and
for the purpoſe of carrying off whatever
water may ſpring out of the ground, or dif-
charge itſelf from a fluice.
4
}
CHAP-
30
PART II. C H A P. XV.
CHAPTER XV.
of Trous-de-loup, Crows-feet, &c.
OF THE TROU - DE - LOU P.
$385.
TROU-DE-LOUP is either
A or circuli heicher
Α
a fquare or circular hole of
fix or eight feet in width, by four or five
feet in depth, with a picket of about three
feet in length driven into the centre of its
bottom, and afterwards pointed.
If circular trous-de-loup are to be made, a
line is firſt traced out, to direct the poſition,
of ſmall pickets; which are placed in the
ground at proper diſtances from each other,
and circles deſcribed round them in the
uſual manner, with half the length of their
intended diameter. The fecond and third
lines (for it feldom happens that more
than three are wanted) are then traced on
each fide, parallel to the firft, and every
hole that is made upon them must be op-"
pofite to the heaps of earth which have
+
been
Of Trous-de-loup, Crows-feet, &c. 3r
been thrown out of thoſe of the middle
row. The ſpaces which are left between
trous-de-loup muſt always be as large as
the holes themſelves (Pl. 4, fig. 13, and Pl.
io, fig. 2); except when there may be fuf-
ficient time to carry away the earth. In
that caſe, they can be formed cloſe to each
other.
Square trous-de-loup muſt be made by
the fame rules, and with the fame intervals
between them.
$ 386. TROUS-DE-LOUP are uſually in
front of the falient angles of a work, or
wherever its defence may be weak, and
about ſeven or eight paces from the coun-
terſcarp of the ditch. They may alſo be
formed before the entrances; provided
they do not obſtruct the free paffage of
your men.-Their tops muſt be covered
either with weak hurdles or branches of
trees, that the enemy may not diſcover
their poſition till he comes upon them
otherwiſe their principal advantages will
be deſtroyed; viz. that of creating diforder
or
32
PART II. CHA P. XV.
or delay among his troops, and of keep-
ing them expoſed to your fire.
If they are placed as a fecurity for the
intervals between detached works, equal
care muſt be taken that they do not con-
fine your own troops and render your ca-
valry uſeleſs.
OF SHORT PICKETS.
§ 387. SHORT PICKETS, when cut out of
hard wood, will always be preferable to
trous-de-loup; provided they are of different
lengths, from one and a half to three feet,
of about an inch in thickness, and pointed
at the top.-Ten or more rows of them are
uſually driven into the ground en echiquier,
and not less than two feet afunder.-Or, if
a fufficient number of harrows could be
collected, they might be ſtill more ſervice-
able.
As fuch means of defence can be applied
in all cafes, I am ſurpriſed that they are not
*See Vol. V. Pl. 4-Author.
}
in
Of Trous-de-Loup, Crows-feet, &c.
33
in more frequent ufe. For, in the firſt
place, they are not liable to be ſhot away
by artillery ſecondly, they are fo nume-
rous that the carpenters muſt be deſtroyed
before they can remove them: and, third-
ly, while they retard the progrefs of the
enemy's infantry, throw them into dif-
order, and effectually impede his cavalry,
your own troops are at liberty to march
out on any emergency: which, when
trous-de-loup have been formed, is not
always practicable.
§ 388. THE reaſons which I have given
in the foregoing paragraph, and the expe-
ditious method of preparing pickets; are
fufficient inducements to me to place them,
not only in the intervals between detached
works, but upon the declivity of every
hill: on which I might be defirous of
keeping the enemy under the fire of my
batteries. (See § 192).
§ 389. As experience has proved that bat-
VOL. II.
D
teries,
34
PART II. CHA P. XV.
teries*, when placed in the open field, are
more liable to be taken by cavalry than in-
fantry; I muſt recommend the uſe of ſhort
pickets on all fuch occafions, and in moſt
cafes, when it is either probable that an
unforeſeen attack, or the enemy's impe-
tuofity, fhould prevent our making uſe of
other means for the defence of our front
or flanks.
Henry V. King of England, won the
battle of Azincourt, in confequence of ha-
ving defended his crossbow - men with
fuch pickets +.
OF CROWS FEE T.
$ 390. NOTWITHSTANDING we make
but little uſe of crows-feet in the field,
there are cafes when they might be of
much fervice.-They are pieces of iron
with four points of about four inches in
length; which are placed in ſuch a man-
*The firſt kind in the 333d paragraph.-Author.
+ See the fixth Vol. of Barrow's works.-Author.
ner,
Of Trous-de-loup, Crows-feet, &c. 35
ner, that wherever they are thrown, one
of them will always remain in a perpendi-
cular direction.
Crows-feet enabled the Romans to gain
a complete victory over the Parthians;
who came provided with fuch numbers of
horſes and camels, that they were likely to
overpower every tactical effort, that could
be made againſt them.
OF STURM BALKEN*
§ 391. I Do not intend to include under
this name fuch as are made uſe of in the
defence of a breach; which are hollow
and filled with ſhells: but merely thoſe
which are laid on the fummit of a height,
and rolled down upon the enemy during
his aſcent, for the purpoſe of driving him
headlong to the bottom.-In fome hilly
countries the peaſants find this an excel-
lent mode of defence, becauſe they are
* Theſe are large cylindrical pieces of timber, for which I
do not know of any Engliſh or French name.-Tranflator.
D 2
eafily
1
36
PART II. CHA P. XVI.
1
eafily made, coft nothing, do great mif-
chief, and are not to be eſcaped.-If one
row of them is found to be infufficient,
a ſecond and a third may be rolled down
afterwards.
$ 392. ANOTHER mode of defending a
work is by means of whole trees, or their
branches, placed on the outſide of the
ditch; as in Pl. 10, fig. I, E *.—If they
are not in the way of our own ſhot, they
tend very much to diſtreſs the enemy, and
to keep him under our fire in caſe he
ſhould attempt to ſtorm our lines.
1
1
$
§ 393.
CHAPTER
Of Fougaffes.
XVI.
NOTWITHSTANDING the
fougaffes which are formed
before a retrenchment may be much more
harmleſs than is generally imagined, I am
*See Vol. V. Plans 4, 5, and 6.-Author.
an
Of Fougaffes.
37
an advocate for them: becauſe they check
the enemy's approach, and if he knows
where they are placed, he will either give
up every idea of attacking that part of the
lines, or proceed with the greateſt irregu-
larity and heſitation.-Fougaffes are uſual-
ly laid before falient angles, unflanked
faces, in narrow paffes, and in ravines,
through which the enemy muſt march:
provided they can be protected at the fàme
time by our own artillery.
§ 394. THEY are prepared in the follow-
ing manner. Ten, twelve, or fifteen paces
from the outward edge of the ditch,
fquare wells are dug in the ground
whofe fides are at leaſt three feet in length,
that the men may have room to work in
them: Pl. 18, fig. 1, a b, and fig. 2, i k.
Their depth is ufually from fix to ten
feet: fig. 1, a c, and fig. 2, k l.—If the ſoil
is loofe, their fides muſt be fecured with
boards, as in fig. 2, i kl; but in a ſtiff or
clayey foil it is only neceffary that the top
ſhould have fuch a fecurity. Before the
boards
D 3
38
PART II. CHA P. XVI.
boards are uſed for this purpoſe, they
ſhould be cut into the neceffary length,
and joined together as ſhown by fig. 4.-
In looſe earth the workmen ſhould begin
to line the fides as foon as they have dug
to the depth of a few feet, and there ſhould
not be a ſpace of more than twelve or four-
teen inches between the boards (fig. 1, ef,
gh, &c.), and in fome cafes they muſt be
ftill clofer *.
1
§ 395. As ſoon as a well is prepared, the
chamber is made on the fide neareſt the
retrenchment (fig. 1, i; fig. 2 h), and if
neceffary, lined with boards. Its width
will depend principally upon the ſize of
the box which contains the powder, but
in general it is equal to a fixth of the whole
depth: and the proportionable quantity of
powder will be fhown by the following
table; which I have taken from the ſecond
part of Vauban DE L'ATTAQUE et de la
Defence des Places.
Fougaffes were much uſed at the retrenched camp near
Buntzlewitz.See the third Vol. of my "ACCOUNT of the
WAR," &c. Pl. 4.- Author,
Depth
Of Fougaffes.
39
In ftony or
gravelly foil.
lb.
Oz.
ib.
oz.
lb.
oz.
lb.
Oz.
lb.
02.
Depth of the Fougaſs.
In common
earth.
In deep fand.
In mixed
foil.
In clay.
Two Feet
Three D°.
Four D°
Five D
Six Do
1
9/2
HIN
12/1
12
I2 플
​14
•
I 131/1
2
4
2
5/2/20
MIN
2
8
2
12
.
4 6/1/1
5
5/2/2
5
12/1/
6
6
10
8
1
ΙΟ
10
7/2/2
II
1
HIN
II
12
12
ΙΟ
14
12/1
मात
17
14
18
15/1/20
20
23
2
Seven D°
22
2/2/
26
4
26
5 //\
27
7
31
ΙΟ
Eight а
34
6/2/20
42
3
44
5
46
62/12/03
HIN
52
9
Nine D°
55
9
67
8
71
10
75
13
88
Ten D°
78
9
96
100
IO
106
4
121
14
Eleven D°
104
12
125
II
132
12
139
13
163
Twelve D°
132
IO
161
2
170
12
180
4
208
14
D 4
§ 396.
40
PART II. CHA P. XVI.
§ 396. ANOTHER method of finding the
neceffary charge for the chamber of a
fougafs is, by aſcertaining the cube of its
depth; which will ſhow how many cu-
bic feet of earth are to be blown up. For
inſtance; 216 cubic feet will require in
common earth 14lb of powder, in a ſtiff
foil 171b, in mixed earth 181b, in clay 19lb,
and in ftony or gravelly foil, 22 lb *.
I have only introduced the above calcu-
lation to give a fuperficial knowledge of
the effect of powder in a mine+: for in
the preſent inſtance much accuracy is ne-
ver required.
§ 397. THE following methods are alfo
ſhort, and fufficiently accurate.
1. When you have fquared the depth of
*Theſe calculations are founded on experience: and it is
here ſuppoſed that the fougafs is fix feet deep; becauſe 6 × 6
36×6 216. Therefore, if the 'well is 12 feet in depth,
we ſhall find by the fame rule that 1728 feet of earth muſt be
blown up and confequently, if 216 ft.: 14 lb. :: 1728 ft.
: 112 lb.-Tranflator.
+ Belidor has greatly enlarged and improved this branch of
military ſcience by his globes of compreffion.-See the opera-
tions on the ift of September, in the fourth Vol. and third Sect.
of my ACCOUNT of the WAR, &c." Pl. 7 and 8.— Author,
the
Of Fougaffes.
41
the fougafs or the line of leaſt reſiſtance,
lay aſide the laſt figure, and multiply the
refidue again by the fame number. For
inſtance, we will fuppofe the depth to be
12 feet, which, when multiplied by 12,
will give 144; reject the laſt 4, multiply
14 by 12, and the product will be 168.
Conſequently 168 pounds of powder will
be required.
Or, 2, you may find the cube of the
depth, and allow an ounce and a half of
powder to each cubic foot of earth.
§ 398. IN general, the powder-box muſt
be equal to a ninth of the whole depth of
the fougafs; and about an inch from the
bottom of one of its fides, there muſt be a
hole of one inch and a half ſquare (as in
fig. 5.) to receive a wooden tube. One
end of this tube muft project a little be-
yond the box, while the other terminates
in a point near the centre of the charge,
that the fire may not fail to take effect.—
When this is done, the top muſt be pegged
down; and if it is probable that the fou-
gafs
42
PART II. CHA P. XVI.
gafs will remain long unuſed, eſpecially in
a wet foil, the box and auget fhould be
entirely covered with pitch or oil-cloth, or
encloſed within a thick mat of ſtraw. A
powder-barrel may alſo be made uſe of
for this purpoſe, provided the tube can be
properly introduced.-When put into the
chamber, the box or barrel muſt be fixed
in its place with wedges or turf; and, if
the lower part of the well is not lined with
wood, a board muſt be placed on the fide
next the auget or tube (fig. 6), through
which the fauciffon will be conducted.
§ 399. THE fauciffon (fig. 8, a b), by
which the fire is brought from behind the
parapet to the powder-box, ought to be
made of coarſe linen or fuftian, one inch
and a half or two inches in diameter, and
well filled with dry gunpowder.-In ge-
neral half a pound may be allowed to every
foot in length. It must then be encloſed
within a wooden fpout or auget, that it
may not be injured by moiſture, and laid
about two feet below the furface of the
ground:
Of Fougaffes.
43
ground: as ſhown by fig. 1, 7, and fig. 2,
a, b, c, d, e, f, and g.-The wood of the
auget muſt not be leſs than an inch in
thickneſs, and its interior cavity two inches
and a half fquare, as in fig. 8 and 9.-At
the end of every half foot, pegs muſt be
driven on each ſide of the ſauciffon, that it
may remain in the centre, and the part
which deſcends into the chamber muſt be
fixed with extreme care; left it ſhould af-
terwards move out of its proper place,
(fig. 1, km). When this is completed, the
top of the auget muſt be faftened down
with pegs, and the gutter in which it is
depofited filled up with earth. On theſe
occafions wooden mallets are always uſed
inſtead of hammers,
$ 400. THAT part of the auget which
paffes under the parapet, ought to be laid
before the earth is thrown up: or, when
fougaffes are formed in front of an old
work, the parapet ſhould be carefully re-
paired in thoſe places. In either caſe, if
there is not fufficient time to lay it under
the
44
PART II. CHA P. XVI.
the ditch, it may be carried horizontally
over it, and fupported by ftrong poles, as
ſhown by the dotted lines o, p, q, in fig. 2.
That end of the fauciffon which receives
the fire within the work, muſt alſo be
pegged down to the ground or made faſt
with heavy ſtones.
If an auget cannot be procured, the fau-
ciffon may be wrapt up in ftraw till it has
a covering of four or five inches in thick-
nefs.
§ 401. THE board which is placed be-
fore the chamber, muſt be fixed in its
proper place by means of three or four
wooden props, which are ufually about
two inches longer than the breadth of the
well; that they may have a firm hold a-
gainſt the oppofite fide (fig. 1, m): and
the auget will require a prop of the fame
kind, as at n.—When the fougafs is filled,
the earth ſhould be well rammed down, to
augment the effect of its exploſion.
§ 402.
Of Fougaffes.
45
§ 402. THE mouth of the fauciffon,
(fig. 2, a) ought to be eight or nine paces
from the parapet, and equally fecure a-
gainſt fire and dampneſs.-With this view
the end of the auget may be allowed to
project a few inches beyond it, and when
the fougaſs is intended for uſe, this
top or covering fhould be removed, and
ſome freſh gunpowder ſcattered over the
fauciffon. But the fire need not be com-
municated till the enemy is within five or
fix paces of the well.
§ 403. IF all the neceffary tools, pegs,
wood, &c. are in readineſs, four foldiers
and two carpenters will be able to finiſh a
fougafs in the courſe of eight or ten hours.
§ 404. WHEN treffle-fougaffes are form-
ed, the fauciffons may be joined tegether
at one point, as at a in figures го and 11.
But, if they ſhould not be intended to
play at the fame time, they may be other-
wife conducted, with about two inches of
earth between them, as fhown by b in
fig.
46
PART II. CHA P. XVI.
fig. 10; and their ends muſt be of different
lengths, that they may not be in danger of
taking fire at the fame time.-By theſe
means you will fave the labour of cutting
through ſeveral parts of the parapet.
Whenever a double or treffle-fougafs is
formed, the diſtance between the cham-
bers muſt not be less than twice the depth
of the wells, that the exploſion of one may
not injure that which is next to it.
§ 405. IN the formation of a treffle-fou-
gafs before a falient angle (as in fig. 10
and 11), it is of great confequence that the
point on which the augets are to meet
ſhould be equidiftant from each chamber.
-Here the fauciffons will be joined toge-
ther, and brought in a ftraight line through
the parapet.
§406. FOUGASSES are fometimes form-
ed under works for the purpoſe of de-
ſtroying them when abandoned: in that
caſe, they muſt be laid fix or ſeven feet
below
3
of Abbatis.
47
羹
​below the centre of the parapet, before the
rampart is built, fig. 12.
When Goettingen was blockaded, in the
winter of 1760-1, the French formed lu-
nettes before the falient angles of the gla-
cis, which communicated with the covert-
way by means of coffers. When theſe
works were traced out, they drove ftakes
into the ground cloſe to each other, in the
common form of T mines, and covered
them with boards and fafcines; that they
might be formed as the earth was thrown
up from the ditch. Of courſe they were
ready to receive the powder, whenever
they might have occaſion to make uſe of
them.
§ 407.
CHAPTER XVII.
IN
Of Abbatis.
N time of war, no greater abuſes
are committed than by the un-
neceffary formation of abbatis.-As they
coſt the military nothing, the Command-
•
ing
}
PART II. CHA P. XVII.
48
'
ing Officers of corps and detachments ge-
nerally make uſe of them without the
leaſt ſcruple, as well for the defence of
their own troops, as for the purpoſe of
deceiving the enemy; eſpecially when
they are defirous of recommending them-
felves to the immediate notice of their So-
vereign, or the Commander in Chief of
the army, as prudent and cautious officers.
A foldier fnould be ready to make every
effort, even at the expence of his own
property, whenever the fervice of his
country may make a demand of it; but
he ſhould remember, at the fame time,
that war is not carried on againſt the
countrymen; and it ought to be an inva-
riable maxim with him, never to opprefs
them with wanton injury, even in an ene-
my's country.-The deftruction of wood
is a great and permanent evil, and every
benefit that can be derived from an ab-
batis, which we neither can, nor intend,
to maintain, are much too inconfiderable
to juſtify it.—I have already endeavoured
to prove, that the defence of abbatis is
difficult
Of Abbatis.
49
difficult and precarious, and that no fer-
vice whatever can refult from them, when
unoccupied by troops. Confequently,
whenever a General repofes much confi-
dence in them, he will be the more em-
barraffed, and the probability of his defeat
will be augmented.
$408. IN the undermentioned cafes ab-
batis may be of real uſe.
Ift. When woods are included within
the poſition of a corps.
2dly. When you wiſh to put your ad-
vanced poſts or other fmall bodies into a
ſtate of defence, or to prevent their being
carried off; and,
3dly. When you wiſh to retard the ene-
my's march through hollow-ways, ravinės,
&c. or to make them impaffable.
§ 409. IN the firſt caſe, that is to fay,
when an abbatis forms a part of our de-
fence and retrenchment, every expedient
muſt be uſed to prevent its being opened
by the enemy.
VOL. II.
E
The
50
PART II. CHA P. XVII.
t
The uſual method of felling the trees
with their tops towards the enemy is evi-
dently erroneous, becaufe a removal of
the branches gives him at once a free paſ-
fage. But if they are allowed to cross
each other, theſe openings cannot be made
without difficulty, and of courſe half the
depth of wood will then give you a better
defence.
§ 410. IF the wind is not too high, al-
moſt all trees may be felled in the poſition
you wiſh, provided you firft chop them
to the heart on the fide you intend they
fhould fall, and afterwards begin on the
other about four or five inches higher:
and, whenever they lean in a contrary di-
rection, two or three men will be able to
pull them down.-If the trees are young,
you ought not to cut through their ſtems,
that they may preferve a ſtrong hold
hold upon
the remaining ſtumps.
§ 411. THE principal care in the forma-
tion of an abbatis is to give it as much de-
fence
Of Abbatis.
51
*
fence as poffible, otherwiſe the enemy will
drive you from it and force his way thro'.
-This may be done in two ways.
(1). If an abbatis is intended to do the fer-
vice of a parapet with falient and rentrant
angles, you can give them whatever di-
rection the nature of the ground may ſeem
to require, and the trunks of the trees
muſt be carefully placed on the infide. If
they are laid lengthwife, the branches
within muſt be cut off, and formed into a
glacis on the outſide of the work, but if
they are otherwiſe placed, this is unnecef-
fary. Fig. 1 and 2, in Pl. 19, repreſent the
abbatis which were uſed by the French at
their camp near Ganderfhayn, in 1761. As
theſe are generally higher than other pa-
rapets, two or three banquettes will be
required; the batteries must be equally
elevated, as at a in fig. 2; and the trunks
muſt have a covering of earth of eighteen
inches or two feet in depth (fig. 1, b),
otherwiſe the ſplinters, which are occa-
fioned by a cannonade, will deftroy your
own men.
E 2
$412.
52
PART II. CHA P. XVII.
§ 412. IN moſt caſes an abbatis ſhould
be placed within rather than on the out-
fide of a wood; becauſe, if the trees ftand
thick in its front, they not only fecure it
from a cannonade, but at the fame time
impede the enemy's manoeuvres.- Near
the abbatis the trees may be cut down
three or four feet above the ground, as in
fig. 2, b, and fig. 3, a; by which means
the enemy will be expofed to your fire,
while the remaining ftumps retard his
advance.
As much time and trouble are requifite
in the formation of fuch abbatis, I fhall
proceed to explain thoſe which are not in-
tended to ſupply the place of a parapet:
and, in my opinion, they deferve the pre-
ference.
§ 413. (2). CARRY on your abbatis in a
continued or broken line, as the circum-
itances may require; in the intervals, or
in the front, throw up fleches or redouts
which can fupport each other; encloſe
their gorges with palifades (fig. 3, b), or
with
Of Abbatis.
53
with another abbatis, as at c; and let them
be joined to the main abbatis d, in ſuch a
manner as will enable the troops to retreat
through them. Theſe lines muſt be de-
fended both by artillery and ſmall arms.
}
§ 414. IN this caſe, your works ought to
be as ſtrong as poffible, becauſe the enemy
muſt firſt get poffeffion of them before he
can gain the abbatis.—An entire abbatis
may alſo be formed in the rear, that your
troops may be able to make a ſecond de-
fence, in caſe they ſhould be driven out
of the works (fig. 3, b, d).—This method
is advantageous when you wiſh to occupy
a great extent of ground with few troops.
For, if the works are properly placed, you
can defend the whole abbatis from them,
and of courſe it may remain unoccupied,
§ 415. IN General Peyfegar's Treatiſe
on the Art of War, we find another me-
thod of forming an abbatis; which, tho'
troubleſome, deferves to be recommended.
E 3
66
___" If,'
54
PART II. CHA P. XVII.
"If," fays he, "there ſhould happen to
❝ be a wood near the place to which you
are carrying on your approaches, cut
"down the large trees fo that they may
"fall on each other; twenty paces in their
66
rear, place` a double row of palifades or
"pickets wattled with twigs, three feet
"afunder, and fill up the centre with
"earth. By theſe. means you will have a
66
parapet of four or five feet in height;
"from whence the abbatis, which acts as
"a line, will be completely defended."
§ 416. AN abbatis when made in the
front of an out-poft need not be very ſtrong,
becauſe it is merely intended to fecure the
troops from a furpriſe, and to enable them
to fight with advantage. In this cafe it
fhould be placed at the edge, and not with-
in the wood as before recommended; that
they may retreat in greater fecurity, and
harrafs the enemy from behind the trees,
Cr, if ſeveral abbatis are formed behind
each other, they will be able to retire from
one
Of Abbatis.
55
one to the other, and to continue fighting
till they have either driven off the enemy
or received a reinforcement.
§ 417. IN the laſt Silefian war, the Pruf-
fian huffars frequently leaped over the
enemy's abbatis to attack their advanced
pofts; and, although they generally loft
their lives in the attempt, thé fentinels
were frequently cut down.-It once hap-
pened, near Freyberg, that they got within
the abbatis by forcing their way through
the forties. After that time, I always made
them between two trunks of trees which
were fawn off about five feet above the
ground, and covered by a third or a beam.
-This precaution gained me confiderable
eſteem and confidence among the Croats.
§ 418. WHENEVER the Croats were
poſted in the open fields, or in villages
with large debouchées, they covered them-
felves with ſtakes driven into the ground,
as a fecurity againſt the huffars.
E 4
$ 419.
3
56
PART II. CHA P. XVIII.
1
1
§ 419. ALTHOUGH it may require la-
bour and time to form an abbatis, when
the trees are not to be had upon the ſpot,
yet they are frequently of great ufe; par-
ticularly in ravines and hollow-ways.
§ 420. THE third object in the forma-
tion of an abbatis, viz. that of guarding a
ravine, &c. will be explained in the 19th
Chapter,
CHAPTER XVIII,
$421. A
Of Inundations.
N inundation is formed by
ſtopping the uſual courſe of
a ſtream: either for the purpoſe of fe-
curing the flank of an army, or of dimi-
niſhing the number of pofts, which would
otherwiſe be neceffary for the defence of
a tract of country.
§ 422. As this is the most troubleſome
part of the duty of a Field Engineer, I
I
fhall
Of Inundations.
57
ſhall endeavour to give a correct explana-
tion of it in all its branches; but particu-
larly of that which includes the conſtruc-
tion of dams and fluices.-Firſt, on account
of its difficulty and importance, and 2dly,
becauſe the generality of authors (efpe-
ally in Germany) have either omitted it
altogether, or only treated of it in a ſuper-
ficial manner.
That the ſubſequent matter may be clear
and comprehenſive to my readers, I ſhall
firſt point out the rules which are to be
attended to in forming an inundation;
and then confider its uſe and pofition.
OF DAM S.
§ 423. WHENEVER a fhort dam is co-
vered by our own artillery, or out of the
reach of the enemy's batteries, Pl. 20.
fig. 2, a; its ſtrength muft depend en-
tirely upon the weight and velocity of the
water, which it will have occafion to re-
fift.—But if its length ſhould deprive it of
theſe advantages, as is the caſe at m and n,
or,
}
58
PART II. CHA P. XVIII.
or, if it is to be apprehended that the ene-
my may either fire through it, or march
over it to attack our pofition; works muſt
be thrown up in the centre, as at b b and c,
or at the end d, and well fupplied with
cannon.-The fluice ≈ may be covered by
an epaulement at y.
The weakest dam ought never to be lefs
than four feet in breadth at the top.-The
breadth of the bottom will of courſe de-
pend upon its height.-See fig. 1.
·
§ 424. WHETHER a dam is to keep up a
body of ftanding water or to refifſt a ſtream,
the flope on the upper fide ought to be at
leaft equal to twice its height, as ſhown by
de, fg, in fig. 1, that it may deſtroy the
effect which its conftant motion would
otherwiſe have upon it; eſpecially when
driven down by the wind.-On the other
fide it may have a natural talus; that is to
fay, equal to its height, (fig. 1, bi, k l).
The height of each dam is found in the
following manner:
§ 425.
Of Inundations.
59
§ 425. WHEN water cannot be raiſed to
the depth of five feet behind the dams,
holes or ponds fhould be made between
them, as at e in Pl. 20. fig. 2, to ſtop the
enemy's paffage.-Or a deep ditch may be
cut, as at ƒ, which will alſo give you a ſuf-
ficient fupply of earth,
§ 426. THAT five feet depth of water
may be raiſed behind each dam, it is firſt
neceffary to eſtimate its fall between each
of thofe places where they are to be built.
-This may be done in different ways and
with a variety of inftruments*. But as
they are all founded on mathematical
principles, and explained in almoſt every
book which has been written upon the
ſubject of mathematics, it will not be ne-
ceffary for me to trouble my readers with
a tedious repetition of what the generality.
of them muſt have a competent know-
ledge. When millers or watermen are in
the neighbourhood, the fall of the water
* See the words Level and Levelling in Capt. Smith's Mi--
litary Dictionary, or the " Traités du nivellement de M. M. Pi-
card et Bullet."-Tranflator,
may
60
PART II. CHA P. XVIII.
}
may be learned from them; but if no in-
telligence is to be had, the lower dams
ought to be made higher than ufual, that
the inundated water may not obſtruct the
formation of thofe above *. Afterwards,
they can be reduced to a proper height.
§ 427. IN cafes of neceffity, a ſmall in-
undation may be formed without aſcer-
taining the exact fall of the ground; but
in large inundations the true level muſt be
known. For thoſe therefore who may
happen to want the proper inftruments,
or who are not fufficiently acquainted with
this branch of mathematical knowledge,
I have inſerted a method by which the
fall may be found with tolerable accuracy,
though not without fome trouble.
Take twenty or thirty ſtaves, from one
to fix feet in length, as the nature of the
ground may ſeem to require; mark inches
* This method will be productive of the inconvenience
which the author ſuppoſes it will remove. His intention muſt
be, that the upper dams ought to be made of fufficient height
to keep up the water, while the workmen are employed in
forming thoſe below.-Tranflator.
and
Of Inundations."
6r
and half-inches from their tops down-
wards, and let the upper part of them be
perfectly flat, as fhown in Pl. 19. fig. 4.
Then provide yourſelf with a common le-
vel and plummet as ufed by carpenters,
bricklayers, &c. that you may know when
the ſtaves have been driven to a fufficient
depth.-A level is a ſtraight piece of wood
of about eight or ten feet in length, with
a plummet fufpended as at k, or let into
another piece of wood placed perpendicu-
lar to its centre.
•
§ 428. WHEN you arrive upon the
ground where the inundation is to be
formed, place your ftaves a, b as far afun-
der as the length of the level may require ;
allowing a to remain only one inch above
the ground. Confequently, if b ſtands
three inches above the ground, it is evi-
dent there must be a fall of two inches
between a and b.-And in this manner
•
you will proceed till you reach at the end
of the line.
§ 429.
62
PART II. CHA P. XVIII.
§ 429. WHEN the ground is uneven, a
ſtake or picket muſt be placed wherever
it riſes or falls, as at d, e, f, g; and as the
laft is found to be a foot above its ſurface,
the whole fall from a to g muſt be eleven
inches. In all cafes this operation ought
to begin where the ground is the moſt ele-
vated, even if it ſhould happen in the cen-
tre of the line. And when any of the
pickets have been driven too far, you
fhould fix ſmall pieces of wood upon them
which have been previouſly meaſured;
that they may be brought to a proper level
without being again pulled out of the
ground.
§ 430. WHEN feveral dams are to be
made, as in Pl, 20, fig. 1, A, B, C, D, and I
wiſh the inundated water to be at leaſt
five feet in depth; A muſt be ſix feet
high, otherwiſe it will wash over and
deſtroy its fummit.-If the ground ſhould
fall one foot down to B, that dam muſt
be ſeven feet high, and the water about
it fix. feet in depth. And if the fall
9
from
Of Inundations.
63
from в to c fhould be one foot more, that
dam muſt be of proportionable height.—
The fize of the plate has obliged me to
place the dams too near to each other.-
Ab ſhows the line of horizon; bc the
whole fall from a to c; ac is the bottom
of the water; m n its level when raiſed
behind the dam; and w d its natural depth.
-Oi, pf, ql, and ru, repreſent the ac-
quired depth throughout.
§ 431. THAT the fall of the water might
be clearly expreffed, I have defcribed the
dams A, B, C D, following the ftream: but
when they are conftructed, the beginning
fhould be made at D, and the order chang-
ed to D, C, B, A. For, if I began with A, the
inundated water would entirely prevent my
finiſhing thoſe below *.-When a fufficient
number of workmen are to be had, all the
dams may be begun at the fame time:
provided openings are left in the middle,
*Here the author has repeated the error, which I have al-
ready taken notice of and corrected in my note upon the 426th
paragraph.-Tranflator.
!
that
་
1
64.
PART II. CHA P. XVIII.
{
4
that the ſtream may flow without inter-
ruption till every other part is finiſhed.
§ 432. (1.) A DAM may be formed merely
with earth and rubbiſh; (2.) it may be
ſtrengthened with a revetement of turf
and quicks; (3.) with twigs wattled upon
ſtakes; (4.) with faſcines; and (5.) with
piles.
§ 433. (1.) THE first is the eaſieſt and
moſt expeditious method of making a du-
rable dam: eſpecially if the inundation is
fmall and the ſtream not rapid.-But if you
are under the neceffity of forming fuch
dams in a great inundation, the baſe or
foundation of them must be very broad,
and their flope on the upper fide extremely
gradual. They are conftructed after the
manner of parapets, and the earth
and the earth may ei-
ther be brought from the moſt convenient
places near the water, or taken out of holes
as at e, in Pl. 20, fig. 2: which will render
the paffage of an enemy ſtill more difficult.
§ 434.
Of Inundations.
65
§ 434. THAT part which is to refift the
ſtream muſt be left open till the whole is
finiſhed, and channels cut for the purpoſe
of carrying off ſome of the water.—When
it is encloſed you muſt either uſe water
fafcines with a covering of heavy ftones,
or drive down ftrong piles on each fide,
equal to the height and breadth of the
dam, and fill up the middle with ftones and
clay (Pl. 19, fig. 5, a b). In ſome caſes,
however, one row of piles may be fuffi-
cient, as ſhown by c.
§ 435. (2). A DAM with a revetement of
turf and quicks is very durable, but much
time is requifite before it can be in a ſtate
of perfection.-It is conftructed in the
following manner :
Two rows of large fods are laid one be-
hind the other, on the fide next the ſtream,
with the grafs downwards; that the re-
vetement may be at the leaſt two feet in
depth: upon them there is a fecond layer
of the fame kind, with a row of quicks
and green willow twigs; their tops barely
appearing
VOL. II.
F
66
PART II. CHA P. XVIII.
appearing beyond the fods.-Then follow
two more layers of fods with quicks and
willow as before; and in this manner the
work is continued till the dam has attained
its proper height.- Afterwards the top is
floped off towards the ftream, and well wa-
tered; Pl. 19, fig. 6.
$
§ 436. (3). THE third fpecies of dam is
ſtill more durable, and will refift the fhoals
of ice after a fudden thaw much better
than the ftrongeft piles: its conftruction
is as follows.
Green willow ftaves of two or three in-
ches in diameter muſt be driven into the
ground, along the lines which mark the
intended thickneſs of the dam, and as far
afunder as may be neceffary. Their tops
muſt project about a foot above the ground,
and when they have been wattled with
twigs, and the cavity behind them carefully
filled up, the earth muſt be rammed-down.
The fecond row of ftaves muſt be a foot
behind the firft, and one foot above it; the
third row a foot higher than the fecond;
I
and
Of Inundations.
67
1
and thus the work will be continued till
the dam is of fufficient height. Each step
being covered at the fame time by green
}
willow twigs with their ſmall ends out-
wards. (Pl. 19. fig. 7.) ·
The three lower rows of ftaves muſt
have firm hold in the ground, but thoſe
above need only be driven into the earth,
which has been thrown up for the forma-
tion of the dam.
§ 437. (4). THERE are two ways of form-
ing the revetement of a dam with fafcines;
the firſt confifts in placing them as in
Field-works; and the fecond, in laying
them with a gradual flope to the top, as
repreſented by fig. 8, Pl. 19.—In the firſt
caſe, the water may looſen ſome of them
(notwithſtanding they have been bound
and anchored with extreme care), and
if one ſhould give way the whole dam will
be in all probability deſtroyed. But in
the fecond, they will refift the greateſt
•
See my additional fig, d, Pl. 4.—Tranſlator.
F 2
force,
68
PART II. CHA P. XVIII.
force, becauſe their ends can yield to the
motion of the water.
The fafcines which
are uſed for theſe purpoſes ought always to
be compofed of green willow twigs.
§ 438. (5). By the 5th and laſt method
a dam may be made capable of refifting a
great and rapid body of water; provided
it is not injured by fhoals of ice. But its
conftruction will be expenfive and te-
dious.
Piles of fix or eight inches in diame-
ter muſt be firft driven into the ground
with ramming machines, about a foot or
eighteen inches afunder, according to the
rapidity of the ftream (Pl. 21, fig. 1, a a).
Between, and in front of theſe piles a wall
ought to be made of large fquare ſtones,
and cemented with mofs.-In fome cafes
the middle of the dam may be formed.
merely with earth. And, if that ſhould
be infufficient, it may be ſtrengthened
with ſmaller piles (d d), or with willow
ftaves, driven from two to four feet afun-
der, as at e e e, and allowed to project a
few
5
Of Inundations.
69
few inches above the earth when the work
is finiſhed. If neceffary, there may alſo be
layers of green willow twigs between every
two or three feet of earth, as at ƒƒ: which,
in the courſe of a few years, will give the
dam uncommon ftrength, and enable it to
keep up the water after the piles and wall
have been deſtroyed.
Whenever fuch a dam is to be formed
where the river bends or waſhes violently
againſt one particular part, its force may
be broke by fquare beams of wood, laid
and fixed upon each other till they are
even with the top of the work; as ſhown
by c be
REMARK.
§ 439. IF the ſcarcity of ſtones, or the
expence of fuch a wall, fhould make it ad-
viſable to adopt fome other method; faf-
cines may be ufed, as directed in the latter
part of the 437th paragraph: and I believe
the dam would in that cafe be ftill more
durable,
F 3
This
70
PART II. CHA P. XVIII.
1
This fifth method will be equally uſeful
in banking up or repairing the fides of a
river.
$440. WHENEVER a dam has no fluice or
channel, for the purpoſe of carrying off the
fuperfluous water, the end round which it
flows muſt be extremely well defended.—
In fuch cafes, the firſt and ſecond ſpecies of
dam will be too weak, and the third the
moſt preferable; provided its head is made
circular, as in Pl. 20, fig. 2, g w, and Pl. 21,
fig. 3.
OF SLUICE S.
1
§ 441. As it may be eaſily ſuppoſed I do
not mean to defcribe the walled fluices or
batardeaus that are ufually formed in the
works of a fortreſs, I fhall confine myſelf
to two kinds; which will be fully fufficient
to anſwer every purpoſe that can be re-
quired of them in fuch inundations as are
now under our confideration.
1
$ 442.
1
1
Of Inundations.
71
§ 442. To form thoſe of the firſt kind,
you muſt either drive piles of alder or oak
cloſe to each other, as fhown by a a, Pl.
21, fig. 2 and 3; or about four feet afunder,
and line them with boards, as at cd: but
this method is not fo durable as the former.
In both cafes they muſt be continued at the
leaft five or fix feet into the dam on each
fide, and their tops let into a ſtrong beam.
-1 i, in fig. 2, repreſent this beam; b b, the
extent of the wood-work within the dam;
and fig. 3, the appearance of the piles be-
fore the beam is laid upon them.-The
openings which are left for the water muſt
be two, three, or four feet in breadth, as
its width or rapidity may feem to require;
and the piles on each fide muſt be very
ftrong, and made with a groove down
their centre to receive the door g: which
may be eaſily raiſed and let down by means
of the handle or lever b.-The corners of
the dam k, l, muſt be alfo circular.
Such fluices ought to be well defended
againſt the enemy's artillery, as in Pl. 20,
fig. 2, 2; and, when that object is not to be
attained
F 4
72
PART II. C'H A P. XVIII.
attained, I would give the preference to
fuch as are deſcribed in the next para-
graph: becauſe they can never be injured
by cannon-fhot.
§ 443. SECONDLY, you may make a com-
mon millers dam, with a foundation or
baſe equal to five times the intended depth
of the water, as ſhown by fig. 4 and 5',
which will answer all the purpoſes of a
fluice.-Let the piles A be fupported by
ſtrong pieces of wood, as at b b, fill up the
ſpaces between with rubbiſh or ftones, and
give them a covering of thick planks or
rafters, that the water may not force its
way under them. The breadth of this bed
may be from fix to twelve feet, according
to the rapidity of the ſtream; but the up-
per part of it muſt expand to receive the
water; and its fides ought to be ſecured
with ftrong planks and piles. At the other
end, the fall of the water will be broke by
the boards ef, and carried away at the
fame time from the foundation of the
work.
Whenever
Of Inundations.
73
Whenever the poſition of ſuch a dam
obliges the enemy's artillery to fire at it
from above; that is to fay, from d to f;
their ſhot cannot do it the ſmalleſt injury,
§ 444. AN inundation may be of two
kinds; and both formed to anſwer differ-
ent purpoſes.
ift. A river or brook may be ſwelled
merely with a view of deſtroying its fords,
and of rendering a ravine impaſſable *:
and 2dly; a tract of country may be laid
under water to fecure the flank of an ar-
my, or one fide of a fortreſs, from the at-
tacks of an enemy †.
The firſt is in every reſpect adviſable,
and can be made with the utmoſt eaſe :
but the fecond is of fo ferious a nature,
that every circumftance attending it, ought
to be previouſly and thoroughly confi-
τό
dered. In the firſt place, fuch an inunda-
tion is at all times highly injurious to the
country wherever it extends; fecondly,
*See Vol. V. Sect. I; and Pl. 1, No 10.-Author.
I,
+ See Vol. IV. Sect. 4, and Pl. 5, N° 23.-Author.
it
74
PART II. CH A P. XVIII.
it requires more time and labour in its,
formation than may be at firft imagined;
thirdly, it is difficult to fecure its dams
from the enemy's artillery; fourthly, it
will probably be ufelefs in a fevere froft;
and fifthly, it will tend to create danger-
ous diſorders in every other ſeaſon of the
year..
§ 445. By the firſt of theſe inundations, a
pofition may be confiderably ſtrengthened:
and the finalleft brook will be fufficient to
overflow the ravine in which it lies, fo as
to put a stop to the advance of an enemy
against that quarter.-If the ravine is not
too broad, a dam may be made entirely of
earth (§ 433), ſo as to extend from one
fide to the other, (Pl. 20, fig. 2 a); and if
the ends g, b, are well fecured, the water,
when raiſed above five feet, will flow round·
them without injuring the work.
§ 446. IF however the fides of the ravine
are fo fteep that the water cannot be carried
off in the manner above mentioned, and if
there
1
Of Inundations.
75
there are fufficient reaſons for not making
a fluice in the centre; both its ends muſt
be made lower than the other part, that it
may flow over them.-In that caſe, they
muſt be compofed entirely of water-faf-
cines, rubbiſh, and ftones, with piles on
each fide; and carefully floped off or
boarded at the top.
According to the fall of the water, theſe
dams may be from an hundred to a thouſand
feet afunder.
1
REMARK.
E MAR
1
§ 447. ALL dams ought to be formed
obliquely croſs the ſtream or river, that the
water may not have much power upon
them; Pl. 20, fig. 2, a, k, and m.
§ 448. WHEN the ground is low on both
fides of a river or brook where an inunda-
tion is to be formed, the dams muſt be of a
proportionable length, as at m, x; and, un-
leſs there ſhould be a confiderable depth of
water, with a gentle fall, it will ſcarce be
poffible
76 PART II.
PART II. CHA P. XVIII.
1
poffible to raiſe it to a fufficient height:
eſpecially if the flat is of great extent.-In
that cafe you muſt add ponds or holes, ac-
cording to the 425th paragraph.
§ 449. WHENEVER the enemy can get
near enough to deſtroy thoſe dams, which,
on account of their extreme length, are
not to be defended by artillery; or when- !
ever he can march over them to attack our
pofition, different modes of defence will
be requifite. In the laſt inſtance, they
may be fecured by felled trees, with their
branches outwards, or by chevaux-de-
frife. But in the firſt cafe, the whole
ſhould be formed en zig-zag, with a conti-
nued parapet from one end to the other:
or, if that cannot be done, they muſt ei-
ther be covered by ſmall works, as at d in
fig. 2, or by parapets or other works upon
their centre; as flown by b b and c.
$ 450. A LARGE inundation will fecure
any part of a poſition or fortreſs from the
enemy's attacks; it will enable you to with
draw
Of Inundations.
77
draw many of your troops, which would
otherwife have been neceffary for the de-
fence of that fide, and to employ them elfe-
where; and, in the third place, it will give
you an opportunity of bringing water into
the ditches. But, as a great extent of
ground muſt be laid under water, it will be
neceffary that the following points ſhould
be aſcertained with accuracy.
§ 451. (1). THE level of the country muſt
be found, as well as the weight and fall of
the water: partly, for the purpoſe of know-
ing if the inundation will cover the whole
of the intended ground, and partly, that
we may be certain of not making it diſad-
vantageous to ourſelves. For if it was to
be raiſed too high, or liable to be fuddenly
fwelled with rain, our own pofition or en-
campment might be flooded: particularly
if the channels were not large enough to
carry off the water in proportion to its rife.
§ 452. AT all events, to prevent an over-
flow of our own pofition, a dam may be
thrown
78 PART II.
PART II. CHA P. XVIII. '
?
thrown up, as at o p, Pl. 20. fig. 2, and if it
is formed with falient and rentrant angles,
it will be equally uſeful as a parapet.-Of
courſe it muſt be of fufficient ſtrength to
oppofe a body of water, and to keep off
the fire of the enemy's artillery.
§ 453. WHENEVER an inundation is thus
bounded by a dam or parapet in front of
our pofition, the croſs dams ought to be
well defended by their own works.—And,
although thoſe works may fupport each
other, it is equally neceffary that they
fhould be covered by the fire from our
lines, as ſhown in the 20th Plan.
$454. IF our pofition or encampment is
fo high that the inundation cannot be pro-
ductive of inconvenience to us, and if its
depth puts it entirely out of the enemy's
power to make an attack upon that quar-
ter;
the parapet op will be altogether un-
neceffary.-Nevertheleſs, fleches, and bat-
teries will be requifite for the defence of
the dams, (fig. 2, 4, r, s): eſpecially if an
·
attack
Of Inundations.
79
attack ſhould be made upon them during
the night.-And, however formidable their
defence may be, the tops of trees and pa-
lifades fhould be added, as at x: or, if che-
vaux-de-friſe were fixed to the ground
with long hooked pickets, they would per-
haps hinder his approach more than the
trees, and afford him no fhelter from our
grape and mufket-fhot.
§ 455. THE Works at c and d muft be
defended by fifty, eighty, or an hundred
men; who can never be permitted to re-
treat, unleſs that fide of our pofition is
raiſed and covered by batteries, as at p, s, w,
to prevent the enemy from forcing his
way within the lines at the fame time.
And, as every thing muft depend upon the
preſervation of the dams, even this will be
frequently refuſed; and the officers, to
whom fuch commands are given, will re-
ceive orders to defend themfelves to the
laft extremity.-For the lofs of an hun-
dred men cannot be an object of confide-
ration,
1
A
};
{
80
PART II. CHAP. XVIII.
!
ration, when the fafety of an army is at
ftake.
§ 456. As I have now pointed out the
methods of keeping the enemy at a dif-
tance from our dams, and of forming a
fluice which cannot be injured by cannon-
fhot, it will not be neceffary for me to fay
more upon this fubject; except that a
ftrong epaulement, as at ≈, may be ſome-
times extremely ferviceable.
§ 457. THE inundation which was form-
ed by the Auſtrians, near Dreſden, in the
year 1760, was ſo well placed and defend-
ed, that, if it had been completed in time,
the Pruffians could not have fucceeded in
the deſtruction of the town.
CHAP-
Of retrenching Heights, &c.
81
#
CHAPTER XIX.
Of the Methods of retrenching Heights and
high Pofitions.
$ 458.
I HAVE already had occafion to
fay fo much upon this fubject,
that an attentive reader will be apt to con-
fider the preſent Chapter in great meaſure
unneceffary.—But as it is of the utmoſt
conſequence to an Engineer, to have a per-
fect knowledge of this branch of the mili-
tary ſcience, I am induced to bring toge-
ther its feveral parts, and to give them a
more ample confideration.
Hills are either high or not high, teep
or not ſteep.-Each require different works
for their defence, and in all cafes the En-
gineers must know whether they can or
cannot be commanded.
$459. HIGH and ſteep hills or rocks re-
quire the feweft works, and whenever
there are only two or three roads which
VOL. II.
lead
82
PART II. CH A P. XIX.
lead up to them, they can either be de-
ſtroyed by abbatis, or by broad and deep
ditches. In the latter cafe, the earth may
either be carried away after it has been
dug out, or uſed for the purpofe of raiſing
the fide which joins our poſition, as in
Pl. 22. fig. 3, k.—But if they ſhould be
wanted for our own convenience, they
may be defended by barriers, chevaux-de-
frife, palifades, or traverfes: provided a
free paffage is left between them (Pl. 23.
fig. 1). Or, when the fall of the ground
is not too ſteep, they can be fufficiently
raked by a few field pieces, as ſhown in
Pl. 22. fig. 3, /, and Pl. 30. fig. 5, g; and
defended at the fame time by the fire of
fmall arms from m, Pl. 22.
;
§ 460. THE fides of fuch heights ought
alfo to be well attended to, notwithſtanding
their apparent difficulty of accefs; on ac-
count of the probability that a determined
and active enemy may afcend the moſt
unfufpected parts: eſpecially when they
are covered with wood.
t
§ 461.
Of retrenching Heights, &c. 83
1
§ 461. WHENEVER a height is over-
grown with trees, two ſtrong abbatis ought
to be formed within them; the one at the
bottom of the afcent, as ſhown by n n,
Pl. 22. fig. 3, the other at the edge of its
fummit o; and both occupied by troops.→→
But if it is only lined with bruſh-wood, the
whole muſt be cut down, as at n, that the
enemy may not be fheltered from our
fire.
$ 462. THE Sturmbalken, which have
been deſcribed in the 391ft paragraph, may
alſo be uſed wherever the fides of a height
are ſmooth.-Two, three, or more rows of
them muſt be laid behind each other, cloſe
to the fummit, and merely fupported by
wedges; that they may be at once rolled
down upon the enemy as foon as he has
made good half his afcent:-If the firſt
ſhould not anſwer the purpoſe effectually,
it muſt be immediately followed by the
remaining rows: and, if the park of ar-
tillery can furniſh any old facs-a-poudre or
loaded
G 2
?
+
84 PART II. CHA P. XIX.
loaded fhells, they may be thrown at the
fame time with lighted fuzes.
Whenever a hill can be fired upon by
artillery from other heights, the works
which are formed upon it ought to have
the uſual profile againſt cannon-fhot; and,
if either of the flanks are commanded,
they ſhould be covered by epaulements.
§ 463. WHEN a hill is not commanded
by artillery from other heights, works of
palifades ſhould be made upon it, accord-
ing to the form of its fummit, inſtead of
earthen parapets. Becauſe they will keep
off an enemy more effectually in cafe of a
ftorm, and the hot which are fired at
them from below will do little or no injury
(§ 253).—If the palifades are placed in two
rows, for the fake of greater ſecurity, the
firſt ſhould ſtand in an oblique direction
pointing outwards, and the ſecond perpen-
dicularly, cloſe behind the firſt.
§ 464. IN thefe cafes, it is generally ad-
vantageous to form the ditch behind the
parapet,
1
}
Of retrenching Heights, &c.
85
parapet, as in the profile u, Pl. 8: becauſe
you can then lay your works near enough
to the edge of the height, to gain an en-
tire command over its declivity, and to roll
the Sturmbalken from the parapet; which
will be more deftructive to the enemy than
the fire of ſmall-arms.-The fame method
of forming the ditch will be equally uſe-
ful if you wish to defend a ford or bridge
below the parapet.
See Pl. 20. fig. 2, !;
Pl. 22. fig. 3, c, d, e, f; and Pl. 30. fig. 5, c.
§ 465. IN the formation of works upon
heights, you are to endeavour to gain a
complete command over their fides and
approaches. This is your only object,
and you are not to regard any rules which
do not lead to the attainment of it.-See
Pl. 22. fig. 3, and Pl. 30. fig. 5.
§ 466. HILLS and heights of gradual af-
cent are always favourable for defence;
becauſe they give your fire its full effect;
Pl. 30. fig. 4.-But, as their approaches
are not difficult, a determined enemy will
march
G 3
86
PART II. CHA P. XIX.
march up without heſitation, unleſs the
works upon them are well conftructed,
and every obſtacle thrown in the way
which either art or nature can point out:
particularly ſuch as will oblige him to ad-
vance in column against your batteries.
1
§ 467. ALTHOUGH there may not be
any trees upon the ſpot, the advantages
which are to be derived from an abbatis,
in fuch a fituation, will amply repay the
labour and trouble of bringing them from
the neareſt woods.-They fhould be placed
within the fire of artillery, but beyond the
reach of grape-fhot; for if they are not
more than three hundred paces from your
works, they will give the enemy too much
ſhelter.-Confequently pickets, trous-de-
loup, and ditches, ought rather to be made
ufe of within that diſtance of a parapet.
§ 468. PICKETS are of more ufſe againſt
cavalry than infantry; but trous-de-loup
are equally ſerviceable againſt both, pro-
vided the rules which have been pointed
out
Of retrenching Heights, &c.
87
out in the 386th paragraph, are fuffi-
ciently attended to.-Pl. 22. fig. 3, 9, and
Pl. 28.
§ 469. AN avant-foſſe running parallel
to our lines, at the diſtance of about an
hundred paces, will be of great uſe, if the
earth is either carried away when dug out
of it, or formed into a glacis on the oppo-
fite fide*.-It is alfo to be remembered,
that every part near the works muſt be
floped off, as in Pl. 22. fig. 1 and 2, that
the whole may be completely raked by the
fire from the batteries: otherwiſe the ene-
my may make a fecure lodgment in it.-
The intent of fuch a ditch is to retard the
advance of an enemy and his artillery,
confequently much depth is not required;
and in general the ſpace between it and
the main ditch is filled with trous-de-
loup (fig. 2.)
§ 470. WHEN heights rife with breaks
* See AVANT-FOSSE, Vol. V. Sect. 3.—Author.
G 4
above
88
PART II. CHA P. XIX.
above each other (as is generally the caſe
near rivers), fmall works fhould be form-
ed for the defence of all the bridges or
fords below. For inſtance, thoſe at c d, in
Pl. 22. fig. 3, defend the bridge at a and
the ford b; and c, in Pl. 30. Prof. 5, covers
the bridge D.-And, that they may be
effectually under the command of the
works above them, their gorges fhould
either be left open, or only encloſed with
palifades, as at c, d, and f, according to the
nature of the ground.-But this will be
more clearly underſtood by examining
fig. 3, in Pl. 22; fig. 5, in Pl. 30; and
l, r, s, p, in Pl. 20. fig. 2.
}
§ 471. IN the formation of works upon
the fide of a hill, the falient angles will
frequently lie low enough to give the
enemy an opportunity of feeing over them,
and of firing within the parapet; a diſad-
vantage which ought at any rate to be ob-
viated. Therefore, whenever the ground
will not allow you to place them in a more
favourable pofition, thofe parts of the work
ought
Of retrenching Heights, &c.
89
ought to be raiſed as much as may be ne-
ceffary, and three or four banquettes add-
ed within them. Such an elevation is
termed a furtout*
§ 472. WHETHER the equality of our
ftrength with that of the enemy, or even
a decided fuperiority on our ſide, ſhould
induce us to wifh for an attack; we muſt
neither neglect to make the moſt of our
pofition, nor to leave ſuch apparent open-
ings as will tempt him, to march againſt
thoſe parts, where in reality we are the
beſt prepared for his reception.-For in-
ſtance; inſtead of throwing up works where
the fides of a height have a gradual aſcent,
we ought only to place artillery in readi-
neſs, and to cover them either by funk or
maſked batteries.-At the fame time, we
muſt endeavour to make every other ap-
proach as difficult of acceſs as poffible.
§ 473. THE more gradual the defcent
* See M. le Blond's Elements of Fortification, p. 102.
1
Tranflator.
from
!
go
PART II. CHA P. XIX.
from a hill may be, the more neceffary it
is that our parapets fhould be formed to
refift cannon-ſhot.-And, if the works are
encloſed, their rear fides may either be
formed upon a very weak profile, as in
Pl. 6 and 7, or merely with palifades.
§ 474. OUR works ought always to be
large, when formed upon heights where
cannon-ſhot can do little or no injury; and
they ſhould be fupplied with fuch move-
able traverſes as have been defcribed in
the 350th paragraph: becauſe we fhall
then have the moſt to apprehend from the
enemy's fhells*,
* More may be found concerning the attack and defence of
Heights in the firſt Vol. of my "AccOUNT of the WAR, &c.”
Sect. 3; and in the fixth Vol. Chap. XIX.-Author.
2
CHAP-
To defend Ravines, Valleys, &c.
91
1
CHAPTER XX.
To defend Ravines, Valleys, Debouchés, and
Defiles, by means of Retrenchments.
$475. WHEN fuch places lead to-
wards our encampment or
pofition, they ought to be occupied by in-
fantry (and particularly by light troops
and free corps); as well as the heights
above them.-If that is properly done, a
few works will give the enemy incredible
oppofition, and we can neither be out-
winged nor taken in flank.—But if an in-
experienced officer fhould fuppofe, that
the troops below will be alone able to keep
off an enemy; he will be convinced of
his error by the lofs of thoſe men, and
probably by a general attack upon the
army.
§ 476. AN inundation will alſo obſtruct
the advance of an enemy through ravines,
valleys, or defiles; or an abbatis may be
made
7
92
PART II. CHA P. XX.
made uſe of for the fame purpoſe, provid
ed it extends fo far up the hills on each
fide, that his light troops cannot march
round it.-Pl. 22, fig. 3, n, 0.
§ 477. As fuch places are feldom with-
out wood or rivulets, either of thoſe means
are within our reach. Confequently, we
are at full liberty to adopt whichever will
coſt the leaſt labour, or be the moſt likely
to anſwer the purpoſes required of them.
§ 478. BUT, before fuch means of de-
fence are adopted, it is to be confidered,
whether a paffage through thoſe places
can be hereafter uſeful to our own corps,
or not. In the latter cafe, exclufive of a
common inundation or abbatis, every kind
of obſtacle may be thrown in the way; and
if there ſhould not be a fufficient flow of
water, deep ditches may be cut cross the
bottom of the ravine, &c. Hollow-ways
may be filled up with the trunks of trees
or large ſtones; and if holes are made in
them, the earth fhould be thrown upon
the
To defend Ravines, Valleys, &c. 93
the banks on each fide: that the enemy
may not be aware of the difficulties he
1
will meet with, till he arrives at the places
in which they are formed.-Pl. 22, k.
§ 479. IN the firſt inſtance, an inunda-
tion is not to be recommended, even al-
though a road might be raiſed at the fame
time, with a view of enabling you to march
through it in fecurity: for, in fuch a fitua-
tion, it would probably be laid under wa-
ter, or rendered uſeleſs, after the firſt heavy
rain. I ſhould therefore prefer palifades,
abbatis, breaſtworks, or traverſes, when-
ever I am thus circumftanced: and, if
they were to be placed as in Pl. 23. fig. 1,
13, 15, and 16, the enemy's artillery could
not rake the length of the ravine or valley;
while mine would have its full effect.
§ 480. IF one end of a ravine reaches
our encampment or paffes through it,while
the other forms a debouché near the ene-
my; the heights on each fide and the de-
bouché itſelf ſhould be defended by en-
clofed
94 PART II. CHA P. XX.
1
cloſed works: and thofe works ought to
be ſtrengthened with palifades, fraifes,
and chevaux-de-frife. The ravine of
Tannhauſen, near Upper-Gierfdorff, was
fecured in this manner, when the Auſtrian
camp was formed upon the 22d of July
1762. — And, when there are woods at
hand, an abbatis may be uſed for the pur-
pofe of joining all the detached works to
the main retrenchment of the army.-
This was alſo done by the Auftrians, when
they were encamped near Tannhaufen up-
on the 7th of July 1762; and it enabled
them to defend the ravine of Burkerſdorff,
through which the river of Schweidnitz
paffes *
• See Vol. VI. Chap. XXII.-Author.
CHAP-
Of the Defence of Rivers.
95
CHAPTER XXI.
Of the Defence of Rivers.
HEN works are formed for
§ 481. WHE
the purpoſe of covering our
pofition, and of ſtopping the enemy's paf-
ſage of a river; particular attention muſt
be paid to the fituation of the bridges,
their ftate, and the materials with which
they are built. And we muſt at the fame
time examine all the fords and fhallow
places with the utmoſt care.-Such bridges
as are likely to be of uſe to our own corps
may be fuffered to remain, eſpecially if
they are built of ftone: and in that caſe
a ſmall work fhould be formed above each,
with one or two pieces of cannon, that we
may be able to rake them effectually, and
to deſtroy them whenever it may be necef-
fary. Pl. 22, fig. 3, b, c; and Pl. 30, prof.
5, c.-But thoſe which cannot be fervice-
able to us, ought to be at once removed.
Whenever we meet with wooden brid-
ges,
96
PART II. CHA P. XXI.
{
1
ges, an examination fhould be made into
the poffibility of their being battered down
by the enemy's artillery; either from the
neighbouring heights, or in cafe of an at-
tack.-And if there is the leaft danger of
fuch an event, none of our troops should
be ſent over the river, left they ſhould be
entirely cut off.
§ 482. A MINE may alfo be laid under
the centre of a bridge, for the purpoſe of
deſtroying it whenever it may be advan-
tageous to do fo: as was the cafe when
the Auſtrians intended to ftorm Dreſden
in the year 1759.-Its fuccefs, however,
would be attended with fome uncertainty :
first, becauſe the enemy might kill the
men who were ordered to ſpring it; and
fecondly, becauſe the effect of its exploſion
might be greatly diminiſhed by the water.
$483. WHETHER an intire line is thrown
up along the fide of a river, as in Pl. 20, fig.
2, 0, p, or detached works, as in Pl. 22; it
ought always to be confidered as a general
rule,
'
Of the Defence of Rivers.
97
rule, that the defenders muſt be able to ſee
the river, and to command it wherever it
is poffible with a horizontal fire.-Pl. 30,
fig. 5.
§ 484. ALL parapets and batteries, which
cover the paffage of a river, ought either
to be funk or placed as low as poffible:
eſpecially if they are too much command-
ed from heights in the enemy's poffeffion.
Pl. 22, fig. 3, c, d, e, f, and Pl. 30. fig. 5, c.
-And there muſt be a fafe communication
between them and the main retrenchment
upon the fummit of the heights; as at g, h,
i. But if we ſuppoſe it impoffible for the
troops, by whom they are occupied, to
make good their retreat (as is fometimes
the cafe); they must confider it their duty
to fight to the laft extremity. For if an
obftinate refiftance is made, the lofs of a
few men, with one or two field-pieces,
will be amply compenfated by the injury
they will have done to the enemy.
Men and money ought never to be too
much regarded in military operations,
VOL. II.
H
when
98
PART II. CHA P. Xxr.
when any thing is to be gained, or when
matters of importance are to be executed.
§ 485. Ir the front of our poſition is not
too long, theſe means will ſtop the paſſage
of an enemy, notwithſtanding he may be
greatly ſuperior to us in point of numbers:
except when there happens to be a large
extent of flat ground. In that cafe he
can croſs the river fome miles above or
below our works, without the poffibility
of our being able to oppoſe him. And in-
deed, if there fhould be a faint profpect of
fucceſsful oppofition on our fide, it is ne-
ceffary for us to remember there is ex-
treme danger in extending our poſts too
much, and that, by endeavouring to cover
more than we ought, we may allow him
to break through our chain, to carry off
our poſts, and either to throw our whole
corps into confufion, or oblige us to make
a difgraceful retreat.
In general, more will depend upon the
ſtrength of the armies which are acting
against each other, and the nature of the
country,
Of the Defence of Rivers.
99
country, than upon any eſtabliſhed rules.
Therefore I can only add thoſe which
may be uſeful on moft occafions; fubject at
the fame time to fuch alterations as cir-
cumſtances may feem to dictate or recom-
mend.
§ 486. THE bridges which are ſuffered to
remain, muſt be covered by works (as I
have already obſerved in the 481ſt para-
graph), and fuch batteries ínould be pla-
ced above them as will make it impoffible
for the enemy to attempt a paffage.-All
fords ought at the fame time to be deſtroy-
ed. This may be effected by laying trees
in them with their branches outwards; by
finking harrows with their teeth upper-
moft, and fixing them to the ground; by
throwing in large ftones; by digging holes
in them; or by increafing the depth of
the water, according to the 444th para-
graph.-It is immaterial which of theſe
methods are adopted; provided thoſe parts
of the river are fo well covered by parapets
or fleches, that the enemy cannot repair
II 2
them
Un
......
100
PART II. CHA P. XXI.
them or remove the obftacles that have
been laid in his way.
$ 487. PARTICULAR attention muſt be
paid to all fhallow places; and whenever
the river forms a curve towards the enemy,
we ought to throw up works in the gorge
or opening on our fide; that his progreſs
may be effectually stopped (even after he
has paffed the water), till the main army
can have time to affemble.-And, as he will
not have room to extend his front, our can-
non and grape-fhot will be doing confider-
able execution in the mean time.
The Chevaliers de Folard and Clairac
have entered largely into this fubject: but,
as no particular kind of work is required,
it will only be neceffary for me to observe,
that the lines which are thrown up on fuch
occations may either be encloſed or com-
pofed of ſeparate fleches; and that they
ſhould always have a concave form, for the
purpoſe of giving a more concentrated
fire upon one point.
§ 488.
}
Of the Defence of Rivers.
101
§ 488 IF the part of the river we wiſh
to defend, is not above eighteen or twenty
miles in length, the beft mode of proceed-
ing is to take away all the boats we can
find, to throw up works at every ford or
fordable place, and to let them be well oc-
cupied. Then to divide the army into
four different corps, to poſt three of them
along the river, about five miles afunder;
while the other remains in the rear, as a
reſerve. By theſe means, fuch an extent
of country may be fecured, but more can-
not be properly covered.
REMARK.
§ 489. IT may be remarked at the fame
time, that an enemy cannot march above
twenty miles without our knowledge, if
we are fufficiently upon our guard. There-
fore, whenever he may have made an unex-
pected movement up or down the river,
we ought to follow him: provided we have
previouſly reconnoitered the country ac-
cording to the 49th paragraph, and had
H 3
the
102
PART II. CHA P. XXI.
}
the precaution to deftroy the bridges,
fords, &c. that we may be able to take up
a new poſition.
§ 490. As it is of the greateſt importance
that there corps fhould have an eafy com-
munication with each other; the roads
between them ought to be well repaired;
and every obftacle muſt be removed which
can tend to delay the march of the
troops.
§ 491. ABOUT fix or eight miles in the
rear of theſe three corps, a convenient
place of rendezvous ought to be pitched
upon and properly retrenched: in caſe
there ſhould be occafion to make uſe of it
as a field of battle.-Upon this ground the
fourth corps or referve will guard the bag-
gage, the park of artillery, and whatever
might impede the movement of the reſt
of the army.
$.492. ROADS of communication muft
be made from every corps and work to the
place
Of the Defence of Rivers. 103
place of rendezvous; and all the bridges
and defilés properly occupied. Beacons,
fignal-guns, and fentinels muſt be placed
along the bank of the river; while pickets
patrole continually between the three corps
every quarter of an hour. And a few men
ſhould be ſent occaſionally in boats under
the oppoſite ſhore (particularly during the
night) to watch the enemy's motions.
§ 493. IN cafe of an alarm, each corps
will affemble at its appointed place; but,
as the enemy may probably make a feint
at one point, with a view of miſleading
the troops while he is effecting a paffage
in fome other part, the ſtricteſt orders
ſhould be given that no corps ſhall ſtir
from its pofition without directions from
the General who commands the army.
However, it may not be improper, that a
reinforcement of a few thoufand men
fhould be ſent, at the firſt ſignal, from the
referve to that corps on which an attack is
threatened.
§ 494.
H 4
104
PART II. CHA P. XXII.
*
!
§ 494. As foon as it is evident that the
enemy intends to paſs the river at one, or
at two places, the neareſt troops will be
affembled, and every effort made to oppoſe
him, and deftroy his bridges.-If this is
found impracticable, the different corps
will retreat, in obedience to their orders, to
the general place of rendezvous: where
they will be formed in order of battle, and
prepared to receive his attack.-By fuch
exertions, a difgraceful flight, or a con-
fufed retreat, will be avoided *.
CHAPTER
XXII.
Of the Defence of Church - yards, Walled-
yards, and Farm – houſes.
$495. A
S M. de Clairac has treated this
fubject in a very complete
and circumftantial manner, I fhall refer
my readers principally to his work; and
1
* More may be found upon this fubject, and upon the differ-
ent methods of defending a coaft, in the fixth Vol. and twenty-
fecond Chapter of my "ACCOUNT of the WAR," &c.
Author.
confine
Of the Defence of Church-yards, &c. 105
confine myſelf merely to thoſe general
rules which will at all times demand our
attention.
At preſent, troops will feldom have oc-
cafion to defend themfelves in houfes,
caſtles, &c. for any length of time, on ac-
count of the increaſed uſe of artillery;
againſt which, a well-placed work is in
every reſpect preferable. Sometimes, in-
deed, the peculiarity or ftrength of their
fituations may enable you to convert them
into good poſts; but even then, time and
labour muſt be expended before they can
be put into a ſtate of defence, and, after all
your endeavours to the contrary, the ene-
my can ſet them on fire almoſt whenever
he pleaſes, and the ftones which are
broken off in the courfe of a cannonadé,
will be as dangerous to the troops within,
as the ſhot themſelves.
§ 496. WHENEVER fufficient time and
workmen can be fpared, it is better to
throw up a new work, than to employ
them in ftrengthening houfes or walls.
First,
1
106 PART II. CHA P. XXII.
J
1
First, becauſe you will have lefs to fear
from the enemy's artillery, while your
troops are at liberty to fupport each other;
fecondly, becauſe you can make the beſt
uſe of the ground by giving it a judicious
poſition; and laſtly, becauſe you can make
your profile of any dimenfions, and regu-
late its fize according to the number of
men intended for its defence.
§ 497. THE Common occafions wherein
it is either neceffary or advantageous to
fortify a houſe, and to make uſe of it as a
poft, are:
Ift. When a detachment has either been
cut off by the enemy, or fuddenly attack-
ed on the march..
2dly. For the defence of a defilé, or to
cover a magazine.
3dly. When the feverity of the weather
obliges you to put your men under cover.
And,
4thly. When its favourable fituation
renders it a place of confiderable ſtrength.
§ 498.
Of the Defence of Church-yards, &c. 107
§ 498. THAT the particular uſe and de-
fence of every kind of building may be
clearly underſtood, I fhall give each a
diſtinct confideration.
OF THE METHODS OF STRENGTHENING
AND DEFENDING A GARDEN
A GARDEN WALL,
OR A WALLED CHURCH - YARD.
IT frequently happens that fuch walls
may be of ſervice to a picket; and that they
may enable a body of men to defend them-
felves till affiftance is fent to them, or till a
favourable capitulation can be made with
the enemy that is to ſay, if they are of
fufficient ftrength without any addition;
or if time can be fpared, and the neceffary
materials found, by which they may be
made fo.-Brick walls are the beſt for fuch
purpoſes, becauſe they cannot be ſo eaſily
knocked down as thofe which are made of
quarry or free - ftone, and their defenders
will not have fo much reafon to be appre-
henfive of ſplinters.-Here the troops are
ufually poſted two deep as behind a para-
pet,
Un
...
108
PART II. CHA P. XXII.
pet, with a reſerve in the rear to lend af-
fiftance wherever it may be wanted. But
if the wall is too long to admit of fuch a
diftribution, they must be pofted in a rank
entire; that the whole may be equally oc-
cupied. A fufficient quantity of wood may
be taken out of the neareſt houſes; and
whatever is moſt effential towards repair-
ing the wall, ought to be done with the ut-
moft expedition, on account of the dan-
ger of an immediate attack. And if that
fhould not take place, the other parts of
the work may be afterwards continued till
the whole is in a complete ftate of defence,
§ 499. IT is firſt neceffary that all the
doors and openings ſhould be as well bar-
ricaded as time and circumftances will al-
low. Therefore, if an immediate attack
is expected, and the doors open inwards,
ftrong wooden props thould be placed
against them: or, if they open outwards,
they should be nailed up; and ftems of trees
or fpars may be driven into the ground
clofe to each other, to be ufed as palifades.
Waggons
Of the Defence of Church-yards, &c. 109
1
Waggons will alſo anſwer the fame pur-
poſe, and if ſome of their wheels are taken
away, the enemy will find a difficulty
in removing them. Hewn trees ought to
be laid in the openings with their tops
outwards, and their trunks either covered
with earth or faftened down with ftakes.
In all theſe cafes, banks of earth or horſe-
dung muſt be added with great expedition,
and every ſpace carefully filled up.-If the
enemy ſhould not arrive till this is done,
their petards and cannon-fhot will not do
much injury.
On theſe occafions, a fufficient quantity
of earth may be easily procured by form-
ing ditches round the outſide of the doors
or openings; as in Pl. 23, fig 14.
$ 500. WHENEVER it is neceffary that
the doors or openings fhould be occaſion-
ally uſed as forties, they may either be de-
fended by ſtrong tambours, as in fig. 2, 3,
4, and 5; or with ſmall fleches and traver-
fes, as in fig. II and 12. To thefe I give
the preference on account of their ſuperior
defence
1
7
IIO
PART II. CHA P. XXII.
}
defence againſt artillery.-In fome cafes it
be adviſable to lay them behind the
wall, as in fig. 13.
may
If the time will not admit of fuch modes
of defence, a ditch may be dug in a ſtraight
line croſs each opening, and a parapet
formed with the earth. Both ends of
theſe parapets muſt be joined to the wall.
§ 501. As foon as the forties are finiſhed,
the walls may be put into a ſtate of defence
by the following methods.-If they are
too weak to refift cannon-fhot, ditches
fhould be cut on the outfide, pointed at
the bottom, and as far diftant from them
as the natural fall of their banks of earth
may require. They ought alfo to be low-
ered to feven and a half or fix feet, to
avoid the trouble of making ſeveral ban-
quettes, or of throwing up an unneceffary
quantity of earth againſt them: and, as
they will not ſtand in need of interior re-
vetements, the work may be expeditiously
completed.
}
$502.
Of the Defence of Ghurch-yards, &c. III
§ 502. WHEN a wall is ſtrong enough to
reſiſt in great meaſure the fire of regimen-
tal field-pieces, the earth need only be
raiſed up to half its height.-You may
then form a line of creneaux, as at a, in
fig.7; and, by raiſing a ſcaffold to b, an-
other line of fire will be gained from the
fummit.
IF
§ 503. If there is great reafon to be ap-
prehenſive of an attack before a ditch can
be completed, the workmen muſt firſt
knock down as much of the top of the
wall as may be neceffary, and the rubbiſh
can either be uſed for the purpoſe of form-
ing a banquette and platforms for the can-
non, or thrown on the outſide, as in fig. 9,
a.-When this is done, a ditch muſt be
made about four feet from the banquette
or wall; and, if the earth is carefully
thrown over, it will form itſelf into as good
a bank, as if the ditch had been made on
the outfide. The ſteps, b, c, are left for the
convenience of the workman---If baſkets
are to be had, one row of art, muft re-
rive
1
112 PART II. CHA P. XXII.
ceive them when filled, and throw the
earth over the wall: but if there are none,
it muſt be thrown firft upon the ban-
quette.
§ 504. THERE are two ways of ufing
cannon upon fuch occafions. Ift. Embra-
fures may be made as in a common para-
pet; and, that the enemy may not get
through them when our ammunition is
fhot away, the width and depth of the
ditch ought to be confiderably increaſed in
front of thoſe openings. Or, if a ditch is
only cut behind the wall, as in fig. 9, they
will ſtill require the fame external defence.
If an attack ſhould be made before the
work is completed on the outfide, the
workmen can make their eſcape through
the embrafures.
2dly. Platforms may be raiſed, with earth
or rubbiſh, ſo as to enable you to fire a
barbette; which is at all times practica-
ble, provided the wall is not very high.-
This method is, in my idea, preferable to
the other; becauſe the ftones are not fo
likely
Of the Defence of Church-yards, &c. 113
likely to be ſhook or looſened by repeated
firing, and it gives you the command of a
greater extent of ground.
1
§ 505. WHEN a bank of earth is not
thrown up againſt the wall, two rows of
creneaux may be cut through it, as in
fig. 6 and 7.—Or, in ſome caſes, it may be
better to make only one, and to add ſcaf-
folding, fo as to gain a ſecond line of fire
over the top. If the wall is not ftrong,
the creneaux may be fix feet afunder; and
the upper row of them muſt be made
above the ſpaces which have been left be-
tween thoſe below. They are uſually two
feet and a half high within, and lowered
one foot more on the outfide, that the fire-
locks may be depreffed to reach the foun-
dation. Their breadth may be either fix
inches on the outſide and eighteen within,
or fix inches within and eighteen on the
outfide, as circumſtances may ſeem to re-
commend. In general, however, the de-
fenders will be obliged to content them-
felves with fuch as can be made with the
greateſt
VOL. II.
I
114 PART II. CHA P. XXII.
}
greateſt expedition, without regarding any
accuracy in their dimenfions. In either
of theſe caſes, the lower row ſhould be ſe-
ven feet above the ground on the outfide:
otherwiſe they may be equally ſerviceable
to the enemy.
It is fometimes neceffary (particularly in
buildings) that a row of creneaux ſhould
be made a few inches above the ground.
In that cafe there ſhould be a ditch within,
to enable the foldiers to ftand upright when
they fire, as in fig. 8.
§ 506. WHEN much expedition is re-
quired, the upper row of men may ftand
upon boards, fupported by bricklayers
treftles. But if you have fufficient time
and workmen, fcaffolds ought to be made
in the following manner:
You muſt firſt ſet up ſtrong poles or
fpars ten or twelve feet from the wall, al-
lowing their tops to project as far as the
upper row of creneaux; and let other ſpars
be nailed upon them for the fecurity of
the troops in firing. - Small holes muſt
then
Of the Defence of Church-yards, &c. 115
then be made in the wall, four feet and an
half below thofe creneaux, to receive one
end of the croſs-ſpars, while the others are
faſtened with ropes or iron-cramps.-Upon
theſe the planks may be laid lengthwiſe or
croſswife, according to their ſtrength: and,
if neceffary, the whole muſt be ftrength-
ened by props, as ſhown in fig. 6.—If a
fufficient number of ladders are not to be
had, ftrong planks will anſwer the fame
purpoſe, when placed as at bc, in fig. 7.
OF THE DEFENCE OF A SINGLE HOUSE OR
CHURCH.
§ 507. WHENEVER a church-yard is fur-
rounded by a good wall, and the body of
troops fufficiently numerous, I would re-
commend that they ſhould defend them-
felves from thence as long as poffible; and
confider the church merely as a place of
refuge, or as a magazine for the provi-
fions and ammunition which they muſt
neceffarily have with them, in cafe it is
I 2
intended
116 PART II.
PART II. CHA P. XXII.
intended that the poſt ſhall be maintained.
-Upon the arrival of troops at fuch a
place, the doors and windows of the church
fhould be prepared for defence, and bar-
ricaded; but not according to the idea of
a certain author and his imitators, who
are of opinion that a hole of three feet
fquare fhould be cut in each door, for the
defenders to creep through whenever they
may be obliged to make their retreat: for,
as it would only be poffible for one man
at a time to crawl through fuch an open-
ing, it is evident, that that plan would be
productive of the greatest danger and in-
convenience.
§ 508. Ir a ftrong tambour is made in
front of one of the doors of the church:
and conftructed fo as to defend that fide
of the building, and to be covered at the
fame time from the fteeple or windows;
it will be properly fecured, and an expedi-
tious retreat may be effected: efpecially
if its entrance is formed en zig-zag, and
capable of admitting three men abreaſt.
Becauſe,
Of the Defence of Church-yards, &c. 117
Becauſe, as foon as the troops find it ne-
ceffary to withdraw themſelves from the
wall, a few men can file off to occupy that
work and the moſt material parts of the
church; upon a given fignal, others can
follow under the cover of their fire; and
when the whole are in fecurity, the en-
trance may be cloſed either by chevaux-
de-frife or a barrier.
If the tambour ſhould be found too weak
to refift the efforts of the enemy, its de-
fenders muſt retire into the church, barri-
cade the door, and fire through the holes
which have been previouſly cut in it for
that purpoſe *.
§ 509. IF there is not a fufficient body
of men for the defence of the wall, or if it
is found to be in a very bad ftate, the
church muſt be immediately occupied, and
the doors barricaded in the best manner.
-Such windows as are too near the ground
*In this, and the two preceding paragraphs, I have omitted
fome few lines, which were evidently unneceffary in an Engliſh
tranſlation.—Tranſlator.
I 3
ought
118 PART II. CHA P. XXII.
ought alſo to be boarded up, and cre-
neaux made wherever they may be re-
quired: eſpecially when a croſs fire can
be gained.
§ 510. THE fame means are to be uſed
in the defence of a houſe.-But the troops
can then retire from room to room.
When the enemy is in poffeffion of thoſe
below, they can retreat up ſtairs, and by
pulling up fome of the boards, fire down
upon them.
However, in all theſe cafes, it is to be
remembered, that if the enemy is provid-
ed with artillery, he can foon batter down
your building; if he has none, that mat-
ters are not likely to be brought to fuch
a crifis; and if he ſhould be ſo far fuccefs-
ful, that there is a great probability of his
fetting the whole building on fire.
§ 511. To guard against fire, you ſhould
fill every caſk you can find with water,
carry away and burn all the thatch or ſhin-
gles, cover the floors with wet dung, and
let
Of the Defence of Church-yards, &c. 119
1
•
let a certain number of men be always in
readineſs to extinguiſh the flames. If it
is poffible, you ſhould make uſe of the in-
habitants for this purpoſe, and place fen-
tinels over them; otherwife they will make
their eſcape as foon as the firing is begun.
-Theſe precautions were found to be of
great ufe during the fiege of Colberg *.
§ 512. WHEN a houſe happens to have
a balcony or gallery in its front, it ſhould
be lined with facks of earth or ſand; and
if a few refolute men are poſted in it, they
will be able to do the enemy great injury
by the fire of their ſmall-arms, and by
throwing large ftones upon them.
OF CASTLES, FARM-HOUSES, &c.
§ 513. IF your troops are not fufficiently
numerous to occupy all parts of fuch a
building, the outhouſes ought to be relin-
quiſhed; and every place that can afford
* Vol. II. Sect. 3, and Vol. V.
I 4
the
120
PART II. CHA P. XXII,
the enemy an advantageous lodgment muft
be either totally, or in part deſtroyed; that
they may not obftruct your fire. If this
is not done, all your exertions will be of
little confequence.
§ 514. As almoſt all farm - yards and
their offices are encloſed within a ſtone-
wall, it is firſt neceſſary that you ſhould
make uſe of the means which have been
recommended in the 498th paragraph;
and wherever there are openings, hedges,
or pales, they ſhould be ſecured by ſtrong
palifades or parapets. In the two laft
cafes, a parapet may be formed with great
expedition, becauſe a paling or hedge will
make it unneceffary for you to add an in-
terior revetement.-But if the rapid ad-
vance of an enemy fhould not even allow
you to complete fuch a defence; you muft
fill as many caſks or tubs as you can find
with earth or horfe-dung, and place two
or three rows of them in every opening *,
* See an inftance of very extraordinary courage in the de-
fence of fuch a place, in the fixth Vol. of my "AcCOUNT of
"the WAR," &c. Chap. XX, Author.
§ 515.
1
Of the Defence of Church-yards, &c. 121
t
§ 515. ALL Wooden fheds or pales
ought to be pulled down and burnt, and
every uſeleſs wall muſt be deſtroyed; that
they may not cover the enemy from your
ſhot. The building itſelf muſt be put into
a proper ſtate of defence, and creneaux
made wherever they will be particularly
ſerviceable, or enable us to gain a croſs
fire.
§ 516. TAMBOURS or fleches fhould alfo
be added to thoſe walls, which, on account
of their length or fituation, cannot be
completely covered by the fire from the
houſe. Or, if time enough can be ſpared,
ſmall baſtions may be formed before their
centres and at each end.
§ 517. As foon as your troops find them-
felves unable to make further refiſtance
from the walls and outhouſes, they muſt
retire into the main building. When this
is to be done, two fignals will be given.—
At the firft fignal, the men who are poſted
In the outhouſes will make an expeditious
§
retreat
1
122 PART II. CHA P. XXIII.
?
retreat to the tambour which covers the
entrance; and at the ſecond, they will be
followed by thofe from the fleches, walls,
and parapets. This precaution is of much
conſequence; becauſe, if the walls were
firſt deſerted, the enemy would be in pof-
feffion of the outhoufes before their de-
fenders could make their eſcape. If the
tambour can be fired into from any of the
outhouſes, its top must have a ſtrong co-
vering of rafters, planks, and horſe-dung;
or, before the attack is begun, thoſe out-
houſes ſhould be unroofed, and their front
walls deſtroyed *,
CHAPTER
XXIII.
Of the Defence of Villages.
$ 518. T
villages.
HERE are three reafons for
occupying and retrenching
ift. When they are at a diſtance from
the main army, and wanted for the de-
* See Vol. VI. Chap. XX.-Author.
fence
Of the Defence of Villages.
123
fence of a few battalions againſt a fuperior
force.
2dly. When they are a part of the cordon
which is formed for the fafety of troops
in winter-quarters, or for the defence of a
country: and,
3dly. When they can either keep off
the enemy in an action, or oblige him to
break his order of battle.- Each require
different precautions: but in all effential
points, their modes of defence are the
fame.
1
§ 519. (1). IF a village is too far diftant
from the main army to be ſupported with-
out much difficulty; or if it cannot be fup-
ported at all; it may either be deemed a
loſt poſt, and its Commanding Officer di-
rected to adhere to what has been faid in
the 172d and 173d paragraphs; or it may
be occupied in a cafe of neceffity, for the
purpoſe of gaining an honourable capitu-
lation. In the firſt caſe, the preſervation of
lives is not to be confidered: confequently
the troops may be poſted wherever they
can
124
PART II. CHA P. XXIII.
}
•
can do the moſt miſchief to their affailants,
and difpute their advance ſtep by ſtep.
But in the fecond, they must be kept to-
gether, and in as much fecurity as poffi-
ble; eſpecially if they have hopes of being
able to fight their way through the ene-
my.
§ 520. ABOVE all things it is to be ob-
ferved, whether the men will be able to
defend the whole village, or not.-In the
latter cafe, they must confine themſelves
within the most advantageous part, ſepa-
rate it from the reft, and pull down every
houſe from whence the enemy can fire
upon them.
§ 521. BUT when the whole village is to
be occupied, it muſt be as well defended
as time and circumftances will allow. And
if the rapid advance of an enemy ſhould
make it impoffible for you to throw up
works, the ſtreets and avenues may be
barricaded with waggons without their
wheels, or with cafks filled with horfe-
dung
1
Of the Defence of Villages.
125
dung or fand; for fuch expedients are al-
ways at hand and eaſily prepared.—The
troops must be poſted behind the walls,
hedges, &c.; and, in caſe they ſhould be
too high, benches, chairs, and tables may
be taken out of the neareſt houſes, and
uſed as banquettes. The Commanding
Officer of each poft will be informed, that,
in cafe of neceffity, he is to retreat to cer-
tain houſes, walls, or gardens in his rear:
confequently his plan of defence at each
of thoſe places must be determined upon,
before matters are carried to extremities;
that no miſtake may be afterwards com-
mitted.
§ 522. As foon as the enemy is in fight,
a ftrong referve muſt be formed, under the
command of an experienced officer; by
whom ſmall bodies of men will be ſent
wherever they may be wanted; either for
the ſupport of fuch as are likely to be
overpowered, or to cover their retreat.
The church-yard, or fome ftrong and well-
fituated building, will probably be the laſt
refource:
1
1
126 PART II.
PART II. СНАР. ХХІІІ.
reſource: where, after an obſtinate reſiſt-
ance, the troops can either die with glory,
or make an honourable capitulation.
$523. WHENEVER it is poffible, I
would recommend that the villages ſhould
be meaſured by paces, and ſketches made
of them upon a large ſcale: that all the
walls, hedges, ditches, or bridges, the
fituation of the houſes, and the materials
with which their roofs are made, might be
accurately deſcribed. For fuch affiſtance
would, at firſt ſight, enable an experienced
officer to form a general idea of his beſt
mode of defence.
§ 524. IT is by no means difficult to put
a compact and well-built village into a
proper ſtate of defence. But when you
meet with any of a great extent, and
where the houſes are at a confiderable dif-
tance from each other; as in fome parts
of Silefia and on the mountains of Saxony,
all your attempts will be ineffectual.
The
Of the Defence of Villages.
127
}
The inhabitants of a village can always
be made to work, and they will be ex-
tremely uſeful, if ſentinels are placed over
them.
§ 525. (2). THE villages which are in
the cordon of winter-quarters muſt be re-
trenched in front and on both ſides, but
left open in the rear: as well for the con-
venience of admitting the troops which
are ſent to their relief, as of facilitating a
retreat, when they are no longer tenable.-
In theſe caſes works are generally thrown
up and occupied between the villages;
that the enemy may not force his way
through or attack them in the rear. And
if their diſtance from each other ſhould
make this impracticable, works muſt be
thrown up behind them.
As the modes of defence and the forma-
tion of the retrenchments have been al-
ready deſcribed; I fhali now only remind
my readers of the neceffity of employing
good fpies, and of ufing every poffible pre-
caution to guard againſt the dangers of a
furpriſe,
2
F
128. PART II. CHA P. XXIII.
#
1
4
furpriſe, to which fuch pofts are particu-
larly expofed.
§ 526. (3.) As the fuccefs of an army
generally depends upon the prefervation
of the villages which are occupied on the
day of battle, it is evident that their de-
fenders must act with the utmoſt refolu-
tion; and, as there can never be a want
of workmen on fuch occafions, they may
be materially ſtrengthened in a very ſhort
time. If the enemy fhould burn any of
time.-If
them, the flames will impede his advance;
confequently, when you are obliged to de-
fert them, they ought always to be fet on
fire by your own troops; unleſs there are
very fufficient reaſons to the contrary:
and in that caſe they muſt be left open to-
wards the rear, that you may be able to
repel the enemy by your fire *.
* See Vol. VI. Chap. XX.-Author,
CHAP-
}
Of the Defence of Towns.
129
CHAPTER XXIV.
Of the Defence of Towns by means of Re-
§ 527.
trenchments.
HE prefent mode of carrying
TH
on war muſt always make it
leſs adviſable for a corps to retrench itſelf
in a town, than in a village: unleſs there
could be a certainty that the enemy would
only make his attack with infantry or ca-
valry. For whenever he is attended by
artillery, much labour and expence would
be thrown away to no purpoſe. But, as
fuch a meaſure may be fometimes necef-
ſary for the purpoſe of preventing a fur-
priſe, or of covering a magazine, I ſhall
endeavour to explain as much as is requi-
fite for the information of the Engineers;
and leave the management of the inhabi-
tants, and all interior regulations, to the
difcretion of the Commanding Officers;
upon whom they muſt ultimately de-
pend.
VOL. II.
K
§ 528.
130
PART II. CH A P. XXIV.
§ 528. WHEN the gates of a town have
been made perfectly ftrong, they muſt be
barricaded in the beſt manner, and banked
up with earth or horſe-dung, according to
the 499th paragraph; and the forties muſt
be defended as in fig. 12, or the + fig. e,
Pl. 4.
If the town is furrounded by a ditch,
draw-bridges muſt be added wherever they
may be required, and covered either by
ftrong tambours, flêches, or traverſes, as
ſhown in Pl. 23, fig. 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13,
and 16.-All the other bridges muſt be at
the fame time deſtroyed.
$529. TRAVERSES fhould be formed
croſs the ſtreets, and particularly near the
barricaded gates; that the enemy may
meet with fufficient refiftance, even if he
fhould force his way into the town.-
Theſe traverſes may either be made with
earth or wooden chefts, as deſcribed in the
288th paragraph, and in Pl. 9, fig. 2.
1
In Pl. 23, fig. 15, I have formed three
traverſes, which extend from one fide of the
ftreets
Of the Defence of Towns.
131
1
1
ſtreets to the other (a, a, b).-Thofe at a a
are placed obliquely, that the men who de-
fend them may not fire upon each other;
and communications are fuppofed to be
made through the corner houſes, as ſhown
by the dotted lines d d.
$530. WHEN the Auftrians found it im-
poffible to batter down the walls of Gabel
with their twelve-pounders, they forced
open one of its gates, upon the 15th of
July, 1757, and fome grenadier companies
ruſhed into the town. But meeting with
traverſes in their front and on both flanks,
and being fired upon at the fame time
from the corner houſes; they were obli-
ged to retire with very confiderable loſs,
and the place capitulated the following
day.
§ 531. EVERY opening in the walls muft
be well repaired with a new parapet, ditch,
and palifades. And the methods of form-
ing the embrafures, fcaffolds, &c. have
K 2
been
132 PART II.
PART II. CHA P. XXIV.
been already explained in the 22d chap-
ter.
§ 532. IF the town has a ditch, it muft
be deepened wherever it may be neceffary.
And if there is none, thoſe methods of
defence muſt be adopted, which have been
before explained in the 501ft and 502d pa-
ragraphs.
§ 533. As great benefit may be derived
from the old towers, which are fometimes
found upon the walls of a town; no pains
fhould be ſpared to increaſe their ſtrength.
A croſs fire muſt be gained wherever it
is poffible; and flêches or fmall baftions
added, whenever the length of a line will
not allow us to rake it completely.
§ 534. As foon as there is a probability
that the enemy may make a breach in the
wall, that part ought to be furrounded by
parapets, or traverfes; that he may be
complimented with a crofs fire at his en-
trance.
1
Of the Defence of Towns.
133
trance. Or, if there fhould not be fuffi-
cient time to form them in the ufual man-
ner, chefts or cafks which have been pre-
pared and filled before-hand will anſwer
the fame purpoſes. When houſes ſtand
near the place, they may alſo be converted
into block - houſes, by pulling them down
as far as the ground floor, and filling them
at the fame time with the rubbiſh: and if
their fide walls fhould appear to be too
weak, fand-bags and fafcines may be ad-
ded for the ſecurity of your men.-Thus
you will be enabled to keep off the enemy
with grape-ſhot, and to fave the trouble of
making a traverſe or parapet in front of the
breach.
Some authors are of opinion that a
breach might be effectually defended, pro-
vided a fire was kept burning behind it.-
As a temporary defence, fuch an expedient
may be of ſome uſe, but it is evidently too
defective to be confidered in any other
point of view.
§ 535-
K 3
1
134
PART II. CHA P. XXIV.
§ 535. WHEN there is a ftone bridge in
front of the gate through which a paſſage
is to be preſerved, traverſes fhould be
formed croſs the ſtreets in its front, as at
a, a, b, fig. 16; and the houſes at each end
muſt be occupied.-Two other traverſes
ſhould alſo be made behind the gate, with
one or more pieces of cannon, as at c; that
the enemy may meet with a warm recep-
tion if he ſhould attempt to enter the town.
And, for the fake of greater ſecurity,
chevaux-de-friſe may be placed between
them.
$536. A ftrong poft muſt be eſtabliſhed
within the town, as the laſt place of re-
fuge, from whence the troops muſt make
the moſt obftinate refiſtance in their pow-
er: becauſe they will have no other means
of fecuring to themſelves an honourable
capitulation. And whatever this building
may be, every endeavour muſt be uſed that.
can tend to increaſe its ftrength. The
means of retreating to it have been already
explained in the 508th paragraph.
СНАР-
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 135
CHAPTER XXV.
Of Lines or Retrenchments for the Defence
of an Army.
§ 537. IT
is perhaps a difputed point,
whether fuch retrenchments are
upon the whole to be deemed advantageous
or otherwiſe. But, as we find that the
greateſt Generals have adopted the uſe of
them; and that neither the Grecians nor
Romans confidered them as unneceffary,
even when their armies were fuperior to
the enemy; I think we need not heſitate
to decide in their favour. And, although
there are repeated inftances of their hav-
ing been deſtroyed; we have alſo ſeveral
to prove, that the moſt determined troops
have not dared to attack them.
§ 538. THAT retrenched camps are ſub-
ject to great dangers and inconveniences,
is not to be denied. But I am at the fame
time of opinion that moſt of thoſe dangers
K 4
are
136
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
t
1
are to be attributed to errors in their for-
mation; and not to the mere application
of fuch a defence.
To prove the truth of this affertion, I
ſhall point out the grounds on which the
objections to them have ever been founded.
-And, when I have fhown all their dif-
advantages; I fhall explain what ought
to be particularly attended to by thoſe,
who are charged with their conſtruction.
1
募
​OF THE DISADVANTAGES OF RE-
TRENCHMENT S.
1
§ 539. (1ft). THEY leave the enemy at
full liberty to form his own plan of attack ;
while you muſt regulate your defence in
obedience to it. And in general they not
only oblige you to anticipate his move-
ments, but alſo to counteract them by in-
ftantaneous meaſures.
§ 540. (2dly.) WHEN the enemy has
fixed his points of attack, he can bring al-
moſt
Of Lines for theDefence of an Army. 137
moſt his whole force againſt it: whereas
you are obliged to keep poffeffion of all
your poſts, becauſe you cannot know
where the real puſh will be made.
§ 541. (3dly). THE affailants are gene-
rally animated with a certainty of ſucceſs;
while the defending party is difcouraged
by an idea, that the uſe of a retrenchment
muſt either imply inferiority, or want of
confidence.
§ 542. (4thly). As the enemy will ge-
nerally be able to out-flank and furround a
retrenchment; the fhot which are fired
from it will lofe much of their effect, by
being too much ſcattered: while you are
galled on all fides by a heavy and concen-
trated fire,
$ 543. (5thly). WHEN the affailants
have gained one part of a retrenchment,
the whole is loft. Becauſe the lines, the
confined ſpace within them, and the vici-
nity
138
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
1
nity of an enemy, will not allow you to
make the neceffary movements.
§ 544. (6thly). IF the works are made
with openings between them, a determined
enemy may force his way through and
take them in the rear; and, if their being
joined together ſhould enable you to beat
him off, you cannot purſue your advan-
tage.-Confequently he will either be at
liberty to renew the attack as often as he
pleaſes; or to retreat quietly, and without
puniſhment.
§ 545. ALTHOUGH the first difadvantage
cannot be entirely removed, great part of
the danger will diſappear, if we form our
retrenchments fo as to fecure ourſelves
from an attack where it is not expected;
and if we oblige the enemy to advance
againſt the part where we are the beſt pre-
pared for his reception.-If we can alſo
have a reſerve of picked troops, without
leaving any of the works unoccupied ;
there will be ſtill lefs to be apprehended.
As
•
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 139
As we ought to be particularly careful
not to tie up our own hands; the works
ſhould be conftructed fo as to allow us to
make a fally, and to attack the enemy,
whenever we may find it to our advantage
to do fo. But this is only practicable when
they are detached from each other: as, for
inſtance, in Pl. 24, fig. 1, 2, and 3; Pl. 25,
fig. 1 and 2; and in Pl. 28.
§ 546. THE fecond diſadvantage may be
counteracted by means of a ſtrong referve,
and by conſtructing the works fo as to
oblige the enemy to make his attack with
a fmall front or in column, under a croſs
and flanking fire.
§ 547. IT is evident that the third in-
ſtance is principally founded on the mif-
conduct of the defenders: yet I am con-
vinced it may be almoſt always got the bet-
ter of by perfuafive arguments: eſpecially
when the men are commanded by officers
in whom they can thoroughly confide.
•
When
}
L
140
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
When Wunſch's corps marched to the
relief of Drefden in the year 1760, it was
not fuppofed that the imperial Croats
would have done much fervice; becauſe
they were totally without fhelter. Yet
fuch was the confidence they repoſed in
the heroic conduct of their leader, that
they fought with the moſt uncommon
firmneſs: and by that firmneſs, the town
was relieved. Upon other occafions, and
under fimilar circumſtances, I have alſo
ſeen them maintain their ground behind a
common barrier; after it had been found
that regular infantry could not withſtand
the violence of the enemy's attacks.
If retrenchments were in more frequent
uſe, and if the good conſtruction of them
was evident at first fight; their defend-
ers would foon find out that the advantage
muſt be decidedly in their favour. The
Ruffians are accuſtomed to form their
trains of artillery (excluſive of what is at-
tached to the regiments) into a certain
number of divifions; inſtead of making a
park,
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 141
park, as in other ſervices.—And when they
encamp, thoſe divifions are placed along
the front, upon the flanks, or wherever
their poſition feems to be moſt favourable
to fuch a purpoſe; and covered by a re-
trenchment. However diftant they may be
from an enemy, or however fecure in their
fuperiority, this is invariably the caſe: con-
ſequently their opponents can neither form
an idea of their ſtrength from fuch a cir-
cumſtance; nor do their own troops fup-
poſe it to be a ſtep taken to fecure them
from imminent danger.
The great Frederick himſelf recom-
mends the uſe of retrenchments, in his
"ADVICE to his GENERALS;" and when-
ever he has written againft, or rejected
them, it ſhould ſeem that he has entirely
confined his meaning to very extenfive
and encloſed lines. And for them, I am
by no means an advocate.
§ 548. THE fourth diſadvantage is in
moſt caſes to be avoided. For, by a judi-
cious formation of our lines and works,
?
1
we
142
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
we can oblige the enemy to contract his
front; while we are galling him with a
croſs fire. This may be beſt effected
with detached works which fupport each
other.
§ 549. THE fifth objection can only hold
good when we make uſe of incloſed, ill-
conftructed, and ill-placed lines or re-
trenchments. For it may be ſeen by the
examples which I have given in the 24th,
25th, and 28th plans, that if the enemy
ſhould take poffeffion of one work, he will
not gain any material fuperiority.
§ 550. THE fixth objection can alſo be
done away, if the forties are fufficiently
large and numerous, and properly cover-
ed.
K
§ 551. RETRENCHMENTS may be divi-
ded into three diſtinct kinds.-Firſt, when
a poſition is ſurrounded by ſingle works;
as ſtar-forts, redouts, and flêches. In that
caſe the intervals may be left entirely
open;
ง
}
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 143
!
open; or, if palifades and trous-de-loup.
are placed in them, great care muſt be ta-
ken that they fhall allow your troops to
manœuvre with freedom, and to fally out
upon the enemy whenever they pleaſe.-
See Pl. 24, fig. 1, 2, 3; Pl. 25, fig. 1, 2 ; and
Pl. 28.
In the feven years Silefian war, we had
frequent opportunities of feeing fuch re-
trenchments. But the moſt remarkable
of them were thoſe of the King of Pruffia
near Jauernig*, thofe of H. R. H. Prince
Henry near Liebenthal in 1759, thoſe at
Colberg in 1761 †, thoſe at Dippoldif-
walde in 1759, thofe at Boxdorff in 1761,
and thoſe upon the high Eulen-geburge in
1762. The three laft were formed by the
Auftrians.
§ 552. As it very rarely happens that a
country is fufficiently level to enable you
to place redouts, or other detached works,
* See Vol. III. Sect. 2.-Author,
+ See Vol. V. Sect. 1.-Author.
with
:
144
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
;
A
with much regularity; I have given the
plans of fome, which an Engineer can al-
ways regulate according to the nature of
the ground, provided he takes care that
they ſhall defend each other.-I will de-
ſcribe them in fucceffion, and leave it to
better judges than myſelf to determine,
whether they are preferable to other re-
trenchments or not.-In Pl. 24. fig. 1*,
the front a, b, is one hundred and twenty
toifes, or three hundred paces in length, and
the lines of defence between the redouts
and the flêches, one hundred and fifty paces:
confequently, the mufket-ſhot will pafs
them in their full force.-The redouts c
are encloſed; and, if circumſtances will
admit of it, they ought to be ſtrengthened
with fraiſes and chevaux-de-frife: that,
in caſe the enemy ſhould take poffeffion of
the flêches, the moſt material part of the
retrenchment may be ftill before him.-
The parapets d, e, are formed for infantry.
-Their pofition gives them an opportu-
*The ſcale which belongs to this and the ſubſequent plan,
is annexed to fig. 1 and 2. Pl. 26.-Author.
5.
nity
1
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 145
nity of pouring in a croſs fire upon the
enemy, of taking him in the rear during
his attack upon the redouts, or of falling.
upon him with fixed bayonets. And, if
he ſhould be beat off, they can always re-
treat in fecurity, and renew the attack as
often as they pleaſe. The ſmall flanks i, b,
prevent their being enfiladed. — The
epaulements f, g, not only cover the cavalry
from the fire of artillery, but are made at
the fame time with two or three ban-
quettes, and a ditch on the outfide; that
the fire of two additional lines of muſketry
may be gained from thence.-The fire
from thoſe ditches will be unexpected
and of great fervice. When the enemy
'comes near the epaulements, the cavalry
can rush out and make a fudden charge
upon him.-H is a referve.
The pofition and construction of all
theſe works, allow the troops to move
with freedom, to defend each other, and
to gall the enemy on all fides with a croſs
fire. Each front is regulated for a batta-
lion of 600 men, with one fquadron of
VOL. II.
horfe
Le
146
PART II. CH A P. XXV.
[
• horſe in four divifions; and they are thus
diftributed.
In the flêche a, there are 50 men.
In the redout c- 200, with an eight or
a twelve-pounder.
Behind the parapets d, e- 100, with twọ
field pieces.
In the referve b 200; and at the epaule-
ment f, 50.
Total 600 men, and three pieces of can-
non,
§ 553. IF, according to the nature of the
ground, you allow fuch a front to each
battalion, you will have a retrenched po-
fition, in which every foot of an enemy's
advance may be obftinately difputed.
§ 554. THE front a b, in fig. 2, is alſo
one hundred and twenty toifes or three hun-
dred paces in length. The flêches are
built on a ſtrong profile, and their gor-
ges encloſed with palifades. They flank
each other, and the redouts prevent their
being
in
5
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 147
being taken in the rear. Every redoubt
has two embrafures for heavy cannon, or
a raiſed platform for one gun: which, in
that cafe, will be fired en barbette, that the
faces of each flêche may be effectually de-
fended. One or two fquadrons of cavalry
are poſted behind the epaulements d and e,
with the fame view as in fig. 1.
The whole of the works are thus occu-
pied:
In the flêche a there are 100 men and
one piece of cannon.
In the redout c 250, and two ditto.
At f, by way of reſerve, 200; and at the
epaulements d, e, 50.
Total, one battalion of 600 men, and
three pieces of cannon.
$555. THESE Works fupport each other,
as in N° 1. But, as the lofs of the flêches
ab would be in this caſe of the greateſt im-
portance, they muſt be well fupported;
and, if the enemy ſhould take poffeffion of
any of them, the reſerve muſt immediately
advance for the purpoſe of driving him
L 2
back.
t
148
PART II. C H A P. XXV.
back.-If he ſhould ſtill be too powerful,
a further reinforcement may be drawn
from one of the adjoining fronts or batta-
lions; and, as none of the referves are
more than 300 paces afunder, this may be
foon effected. In all thefe attacks much
will be expected from the cavalry.
§ 556. THE front a a, in fig. 3, meaſures
three hundred paces: confequently, more
than is requifite for a battalion of fix bun-
dred men in line.-Thefe flêches cannot
defend each other; therefore they muſt
be covered by the firſt row of redouts in
their rear (bc), and thoſe again by the
fecond (d d) :-And, as the lines of de-
fence are not above two hundred paces
in length, this may be done as well by
muſketry as artillery.—If the gorges of
the flêches are not left open, they ought
only to be encloſed with palifades.
In the flêche a there are 50 men.
In the redout b 200, and one gun.
In the redout d 200, and two ditto.
As a referve 200.
Total
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 149
+
Total 650 men, three pieces of cannon,
and one or two fquadrons behind the
epaulements ef. Or, in this caſe, the re-
ferve might be poſted at each epaulement
and in its ditch.
§ 557. THE lines of fire fhow how
much theſe works fupport each other, and
the extreme danger to which an enemy.
muſt be expoſed; whenever he may ven-
ture to make an attack upon them.
$ 558. IF the movements of the referves
of infantry in fig. 2 and 3, are at all likely
to interfere with the cavalry, they may
remain fome paces further in the rear.
§ 559. THE front a b, in Pl. 25. fig. 1,
is alſo three hundred and thirty paces in
length; but the lines of defence are not
above eighty toiſes or two hundred paces:
conſequently, the flêches can be fupported
by muſketry from the redouts.-The pa-
rapets d, b are thrown up in the form of a
flêche, with two embrafures and a traverſe
L 3
to
150 PART II. CHA P. XXV.
to defend the fortie. The muſket-ſhot
which are fired from hence will reach
thoſe from the redouts at the diſtance of
100 paces. Two rows of palifades are.
placed between the flêche a, and the para-.
pets db, that the defenders may be able to
make a ſafe retreat; or a double parapet
might be formed for the fame purpoſe.
But, in that cafe, the affailants would have
a more favourable opportunity of follow-
ing the defenders, and of forcing their way
within the parapets.-If infantry are poſt-
ed at the epaulements fg, they will be of
great uſe in ſupporting the redouts and
parapets in their front.
In the flêche a there are go men.
In the redout c 250, with one or two
pieces of cannon.
Behind the parapets db 200, with two
ditto *.
At the epaulements fg 100.
Total 600 infantry, with three or four
* If there ſhould be a ſcarcity of artillery, thefe two pieces of
cannon might be omitted.-Author.
guns.
1
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 151
guns. One or two fquadrons of horſe are
poſted behind the epaulements.
§ 562. As no allowance is made for a
reſerve, in the diftribution of the troops
for the defence of this retrenchment (fig.
1.); the two hundred men at db will
charge the enemy, under the ſupport of
the cavalry in cafe he ſhould attack the
redout C..
§ 561. IN fig. 2, the works are larger,
formed en cremaille, and encloſed with pa-
lifades.-The epaulėments at d are thrown
up for cavalry, and, if it is practicable,
they ought to be fupported by one hun-
dred infantry.
In this caſe the troops may be thus di-
vided.
In the fmall tenaille a, 100 men.
In the large ditto h, 400, with two or
three pieces of cannon.
And behind the epaulement d 100.
Total 600 infantry, two or three pieces
of cannon, and two fquadrons.
In 4
§ 562
152
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
§ 562. THE above-mentioned retrench-
ment is extremely ferviceable in a flat
country, if you have a fufficient fupply of
cavalry; or wherever there are many fmall
heights with gradual afcents, which lie
near each other. Every tenaille. defends
itſelf with a rectangular and croſs fire, and
each is an effectual ſupport to thoſe which
are near it.
The double tenailles b c are fuppoſed to
have large openings, and thoſe openings
guarded by chevaux-de-frife; that fome
hundreds of their defenders may be able to
ruſh out and charge the enemy, whenever
they find it advantageous to do ſo*.
§ 563. THE Second ſpecies of retrench-
ment which I ſhall take into confideration,.
is formed by encloſed lines.-With theſe
an Army or Poſition may be either fur-
rounded, or merely defended in front.-
Of the latter kind, ſome were very advaṇ-
* See a fuller account of theſe works, and their uſe in order
of battle, in the ſixth Vol. of my ACCOUNT of the War, &c.
Chapters XVIII. and XXIII.-Author.
tageouſly
>
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 153
tageoufly formed by H. R. H. Prince
Henry, at Strehlen, in the year 1759, and
at the Katzen-Haufern, in 1760. —In all
cafes, fuch retrenchments muſt have fe-
veral well-defended forties: and, as their
fronts are feldom or ever to be made with
regularity, the Engineers will be generally
obliged to form their angles as the ground
will allow them,
§ 564. PL. 25. fig. 3, repreſents an en-
tire line of tenailles, whoſe falient, angles
a and b are one hundred toiſes or two bun-
dred and fifty paces afunder.—To form
them, you muſt erect a perpendicular, as
at be, upon the centre of the baſe cd; let
its length be thirty-three toiſes and an half,
and join b d and b c together. The forties
ſhould be made in the rentrant angles, and
covered by traveṛfes, as at d.
§ 565. FIG. 4, is an indented line with
baftions, whofe entire front is one thousand
paces in length: confequently, the diſtance
from a to / will be five hundred paces.
The
154
PART 11. CHA P. XXV.
The gorges of the baſtions may be en-
cloſed with palifades, and the forties made
as at e.-To form fuch a retrenchment,
you muſt firſt mark out your bafe, divide
it into two equal parts, and erect a perpen-
dicular at each end and on its centre.—L k
repreſent the perpendicular on the centre
of the bafe, and a f, that at one end; to
which thirty-five toifes are given for the
height of the baſtion.-From the point ƒ,
you muſt fet off twenty toifes to the right,
and twenty to the left. Let the perpendi-
culars / k, mo, i h, and c d be thirty toifes
afunder, and fifteen in length; then ſet
off five toifes from c to e, from ʼn to p, &c.;
and draw the lines a d, de, ei, ip, pm, mn,
and n l
$566. FIG. 5 and 6, reprefent lines of
baftions; and the curtain of the latter is
made with a falient angle, which increaſes
its defence.Their fronts are three bun-
dred paces in length, and their conftruc-
tion may be ſeen in the plan.
$ 567.
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 155
§ 567. FIG. 1 and 2, in Pl. 26, repreſent
two lines with lunettes or flêches: from
whence the communications are formed
by means of a double and funk parapet.
The front a b is one hundred and twenty
toifes in length, the perpendicular c d
twenty-five, and de eighteen. In fig. 2,
the perpendicular fe is thirty-five toifes in
length; ac, twenty; c d, twenty-five; and
cg is perpendicular to dg.
Theſe encloſed lines are taken from M.
de Clairac, where feveral other examples
are to be found, and all of them will admit
of various alterations*,
§ 568. UNDER the third, are compre-
hended thofe entire lines, which are fre-
quently feveral miles in length, and form-
ed for the purpoſe of covering a tract of
country. But, as they are now rejected
by the greateſt Generals, in conſequence of
their known imperfections, I fhall not pre-
* See the attack and defence of fuch lines in the fixth Vol.
of my "AccoUNT of the WAR," &c. Chap. XXII, Plans 11
and 12.-Author.
fume
1
156.
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
1
fume to ſay any thing in their defcnce:
and I therefore conceive it unneceſſary for
me to enter into a defcription of them.
§ 569. IN the fecond part of Turpin's
Commentaries upon Montecuculi, we find
feven different methods of retrenching a
camp: all of which come under theſe three
general heads. And, if I was to introduce
an account of them, I fhould go beyond
the limits of my work; without adding
much to the inftruction of thofe officers
for whom it is principally intended. For,
in the firſt place, there are only the third
and fifth, which could be of much fervice
at any time; and fecondly, we know that
much more attention muſt always be paid
to the nature of the ground in the forma-
tion of a retrenchment, than to any regular
or ſtudied ſyſtem *
§ 570. IF a corps is pofted at ſome dif-
tance from the main army, and a commu→
* See Vol. VI. Chap. XXIV.-Author.
nication
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 157
nication is to be kept up between it and
another poft or magazine; or if the ene-
my's vehemence is to be checked by the
ftrength of its pofition: it muſt be well
retrenched, its flanks must be free, and,
that it may not be cut off, the roads and
debouchés which lead towards the army
muſt be put into a good ſtate, that there
may not be the leaft hinderance to a re-
treat.
§ 571. PL. 27 fhows the retrenchment
of a corps near Welkerfdorff, when de-
tached from H. R. H. Prince Henry's
army at Krommen - Oelfe, in the year
1759; by which, the fubject of the pre-
ceding paragraph may be much better
understood, than by any explanation I
could give.-The two roads of communi-
cation which paffed through the wood,
were covered with ftems of trees in the
completeſt manner; and at their debou-
chés, there were palifades, barriers, and a
tambour. The road to Krommen-Oelfe
was defended by a flêche: the others,
by
158
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
1
by abbatis on both fides and towards the
rear.
§ 572. I SHALL now endeavour to give
a more complete explanation of what I
have hitherto faid of retrenchments, and
of the rules which are to be attended to in
their formation; by reprefenting a coun-
try, with the retrenched poſition of an
army upon it *.
§ 573. IN Auguſt 1761, the King of Pruf-
fia was about ſeven or eight thouſand paces
from Schweidnitz; with his right wing
appuyed to Tzfchechen, and his left im-
mediately behind Buntzelwitz, Zedlitz †,
and Jauernig; Pl. 28, D.-The Auftrians
and Ruffians threatened an attack, and
encamped in the following manner :-A
corps confifting of 4,000 Auſtrians and
8,000 Ruffians, under the orders of Ge-
* In the ninth part of the German Kriegs-Bibliothek, ſee a
deſcription of General Count Baſta's camp near Weizen.
Author.
+ The plan fhows that Zedlitz muſt have been in front of
his right wing.-Tranflator.
•
neral
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 159
neral Beck, encamped with its left to-
wards Nickalfdorff; and Grunau lay in
front of its right wing, c. The Ruffians,
under General Czernichef, were upon the
right and left of Striegau, with the village
of Stanovitz in their front, B.-The Auf-
trians, under General Laudon, were poſted
with their left towards Zirlau, and their
right at Boegendorff, A.-Wilkendorff and
Arnſdorff lay in their front.
§ 574. By this pofition the front and
right wing of the Pruffians were fur-
rounded by the enemy: and, as it was very
probable that General Beck would march
by Peterwitz and Neudorff, for the pur-
pofe of falling upon their rear; the whole
army was retrenched within lines, which
(including the curves) were thirty - nine
thouſand paces, or about eighteen miles, in
length. Theſe retrenchments were ex-
tremely ſtrong, and in fome parts defended
by fougaffes: but, notwithſtanding their
ftrength, General Laudon was very deſi-
rous of attacking them, and would un-
doubtedly
160 PART II. CHA P. XXV.
»
doubtedly have done fo, if he could have
prevailed on the Ruffians to affift him.-
This delay gave the King an opportunity
of quitting his encampment, and Schweid-
nitz; and General Laudon took immediate
poffeffion of them.
$ 575. I WILL now fuppofe an army
of FORTY THOUSAND men to be exactly
circumſtanced as the Pruffians were at
that time; with their proviſions, ammu-
nition, and flying hoſpital in Schweidnitz;
threatened with an attack by an enemy of
twice their ſtrength, and with the loſs of
all their magazines, &c. in that town, in
cafe they ſhould be obliged to retreat.
FIRST REMARK.
§ 576. I MUST here beg leave to ob-
ſerve, that I neither have an idea of find-
ing fault with the Pruffian retrenchments
by this fuppofition, nor the preſumption
to correct them. -The plan of defence
which I fhall propofe for this army, is
merely intended to fhow the application of
the
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 161
the rules which I have before laid down,
and to explain the methods of taking up
fuch a poſition, as the nature of the coun-
try and other circumſtances may require.
SECOND REM AR K.
§ 577. As this pofition of the Pruffian
Army, and General Laudon's plan of at-
tack, are fully explained in the third vo-
lume of my " ACCOUNT of the WAR," &c.
I muſt refer my readers to it.-They are
particularly inſtructive—and, if each ſide
of the ground is taken ſeparately into con-
fideration, viz. from Zedlitz to Peterwitz,
from Peterwitz to Wurben, from Wurben
to Buntzelwitz or Jauernig, and from Jau-
ernig to Zedlitz, a few trifling alterations
might make thoſe retrenchments applica-
ble on an hundred different occaſions.
§ 578. THE heights near Tzfchechen,
(which the Pruffians had alſo retrenched),
are throughout advantageous: whether
retrenchments are thrown up, or whether
VOL. II.
M
the
162
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
7
the enemy is received without them. But,
as I fuppofe my whole army to confiſt of
no more than forty thousand men; from
which number, a corps of fix thouſand two
hundred will be detached and poſted near
Sabiſchdorff, to keep up a communication
with Schweidnitz; it would be impoffible
for me to occupy retrenchments of ſo con-
fiderable an extent. It is alfo to be fup-
pofed that I have fufficient time for the
formation of all my works, and that my
army is not yet furrounded by an enemy.
And lastly, it is to be fuppofed, that the
enemy may be expected on all fides; or,
at all events, that his principal attack is
uncertain.-Confequently, my whole po-
ſition muſt be of equal ſtrength.
Whatever wood I may stand in need of,
muſt be brought from the Nonnen-Wald,
and the other neighbouring foreſts: that
ſuch as are within the line of my retrench-
ment may be ſpared as much as poffible.
$579. My whole army is thus com-
pofed :
31,000
}
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 163
31,000 infantry,
4,500 cavalry,
1,000 huffars, and
3,500{
men belonging to the free-
corps.
· Total 40,000.—Out of which number there
will be a corps at Sabiſchdorff of
5,000 infantry,
500 cavalry,
500 belonging to the free-corps,
and 200 huffars.
Total 6,200.
ཀ
Confequently, there will remain in the
main army 26,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry,
800 huffars, and 3,000 belonging to the
free corps.
§ 580. THE detached corps will occupy
the villages of Sabiſchdorff, Zultzendorff,
and Roth-Kirſchdorff. One of its flanks
will be covered by the river of Schweid-
nitz, and the other by the ravines of Sa-
bifchdorff and Zultzendorff.
M 2
§ 581.
164
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
t
§ 581. IF I have a juft recollection of
the ground, the river of Schweidnitz
might be dammed up from the town of
Schweidnitz to Wurben; by which means
an attack on this corps would be imprac-
ticable but I do not affirm this to be a
certainty. Or, if an inundation could be
formed with the rivulet which paffes
through Schoenbrun, Kammerau, the
ravine of Sabiſchdorff, and Zultzendorff,
without deſtroying thoſe places, it would
be ſtill more convenient.
§ 582. THE ground between Sabiſchdorff
and the river of Schweidnitz ought to be
retrenched in the ſtrongeſt manner; and
either fig 1 or 3, in Pl. 24, might be made uſe
of for that purpoſe.-If the enemy ſhould
fall upon this detachment with all his force,
it can be foon reinforced by ſome thouſand
men from the referve of the main army,
who will endeavour to gain his flank or
rear. Or, if he confines his attack entirely
to the main army, it will be of very great
ſervice in taking him in the rear.
If
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 165
If this corps fhould be obliged to give
way, it can retire under the batteries of
Schweidnitz. But this is not very likely to
happen: becauſe, as the whole diſtance from
Wurben to Schweidnitz does not exceed
nine thousand paces, another reinforcement
could be fent from thence with as much
eafe and expedition as from the main army.
-We are alfo to confider, that, unleſs the
enemy ſends a body of troops round the
whole pofition, or on the other fide of the
town; he can only make an attack upon
one flank, while both his own will be ex-
pofed.
All this part of the country may be ſeen
in the extract from one of the provincial
maps of Silefia, which I have added to the
plan.
§ 583. THE huffars of the main army
must be poſted in the villages which lie
without the retrenchments, and keep pa-
troling outwards as far as poffible: that
they may diſcover all the enemy's move-
ments. Small bodies of fix or eight men
muft
•
M 3
166
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
1
muſt be diſperſed at the fame time within
the lines, for the purpoſe of carrying in-
telligence and reports to the officers who
command the different pofts.
§ 584. THE free battalions may be divi-
ded in the following manner:
A
FIVE HUNDRED men in Wurben.
village which is particularly well calcula-
ted for fuch troops; becauſe it abounds in
bruſh-wood, large ponds, and ditches.-
It has alſo ſeveral gardens, a large yard
with out-buildings, and a church of un-
common fize; which are not only joined
together, but furrounded by high ſtone
walls.-This poſt muſt be defended to the
last extremity, and well fupported by the
main army. And, when it cannot make
further reſiſtance, the troops may retreat
through the palifades between N° 2 and 3.,
§ 585. TWO HUNDRED men in Neudorff,
where there is a large houſe and garden :
both furrounded by a ftone wall.-This
poſt muſt alſo be reinforced from the re-
trenchments;
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 167
}
trenchments; and, in a cafe of abfolute
neceffity, it may be permitted to retire in
ſmall bodies through the forties, N° 11, 15,
and 17.
1
§ 586. TWO HUNDRED men in Peterwitz.
But, as this poft will be about two thouſand
five hundred paces from the retrenchment,
it would ſcarce be poffible to ſupport it.-
It's defenders ought therefore to be compo-
fed of volunteers, who are determined to
make a moft obftinate reſiſtance (§ 519); or,
if poffible, to cut their way through the
enemy, and retire between N° 22 and 23, to
N° 25.-In this village fuch a body of re-
folute troops might hold out for a confider-
able time; eſpecially if one or two hundred
men were fent to their affiſtance from the
referve, and entirely given up to their
fate. For, exclufive of a walled church-
yard, it has a caſtle; which, together with
its out-buildings, are furrounded by a mote
and a very ſtrong wall.
M 4
$ 587.
1
168
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
§ 587. FIFTY men in Pufchkau, with
fifty huffars. In this village there is a
walled church-yard, and a very large farm-
yard furrounded by a ſtone wall.
But, as
it is at too great a diſtance to be ſupported,
theſe men muſt retreat to Tzfchechen or
Peterwitz, at the approach of an enemy;
or, if this ſhould not be practicable, they
will throw themſelves within the abbatis
at N° 23.
§ 588. THREE HUNDRED in Tzfchechen.
This village has no church, but there are
two large yards in it furrounded by walls;
and when its defenders find themfelves
unable to make further refiftance, they
will retreat through the debouché below
N° 28.-Tzfchechen is not within three
thouſand paces of this work; confequently
it will be neceffary to ſend out fuch a body
of men to cover their retreat, as the
ftrength of the enemy, and the nature of
his troops may require.-In the retrench-
ment of this place, attention fhould be paid
tq
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 169
?
to the rules which I have laid down in the
525th paragraph.
เ
§ 589. TWO HUNDRED in Zedlitz.-This
village has neither a church, a caſtle, nor a
garden wall: but, as all the houſes have
high and favourable fituations, the troops
might hold out fome time. And its pofi-
tion would make it extremely difficult for
an enemy to bring artillery against it.-
When this poft is no longer tenable, the
troops can make good their retreat between
N° 39 and N° 41.
§ 500. THREE HUNDRED will be poſted
behind ſeveral abbatis in the wood of Zed-
litz, for the purpoſe of checking the ene-
my, in caſe he ſhould attempt to force his
way through it, or to croſs the rivulet.-
To the beſt of my recollection, this part of
the ground is too flat to admit of an inun-
dation; but if the water could be dammed
up, ſo as to make it even ſwampy, muth
would be gained: becauſe this fide would
then be fecure againſt cavalry and artillery.
When
170
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
:
When theſe troops are repulfed, they
will retire under cover of the works, be-
tween N° and N° 47.
42
§ 591. FIVE HUNDRED in Jauernig.
This village has a well-fituated church,
within a circular wall; which ought to be
made as ſtrong as poffible.-Theſe men,
and the troops at Wickendorff, will ſupport
each other reciprocally; and, as the houſes
extend as far as the main retrenchment,
their retreat to N° 63 cannot be cut off.
§ 592. FIVE HUNDRED men in Bunt-
zelwitz; where there is a church in the
centre of the village, and a walled church-
yard that may be eaſily defended: becauſe
no houſes are built againſt it.-This place
cannot be attacked till the enemy has ta-
ken poffeffion of N° 68 and 69: confe-
quently it may either be uſed as head-
quarters, as a magazine, or for the lodg-
ment of ſtores, &c.
In cafe this poft ſhould be attacked, the
army will fupport it to the utmoſt; and a
retreat
+
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 171
retreat muſt not be thought of unleſs it is
fet on fire. If the enemy fhould be able
to make a lodgment upon the heights 68
and 69, the burning of this village will be
his firſt attempt, and he may probably
fucceed in it. But as he will be unable to
advance, while the houſes are in flames;
our troops muſt be prepared to occupy it
as foon as poffible, and to repel his troops
wherever they may find them. The re-
treat of theſe troops will be made behind
N° 70.
§ 593. TWO HUNDRED men will occupy
Teichenau; where there are ſeveral ſtone
walls, and a large houſe, fituated upon an
ifland in the middle of a lake, and fur-
rounded by a ſtrong wall.-At any rate
this poſt muſt be maintained, in obedience
to the 172d and 173d paragraphs, becauſe
it forms a part of the communication
with the corps at Sabiſchdorff; and when-
ever it is attacked, the troops at Roth-
Kirfchdorff will endeavour to gain the
enemy's rear,
§ 594.
172
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
I
§ 594. As all theſe villages muſt be re-
trenched according to the rules which I
have given in the 23d chapter; a fufficient
number of Engineers, or other officers
who are well acquainted with that branch
of military ſcience, will be ſent from the
main army for that purpoſe.
Whenever the light-armed troops ſhall
be obliged to retire within the retrench-
ments, they will be of very great uſe in
making fallies upon the enemy during his
attacks.
§ 595. THE works and poſts for the main
body of the army are thus regulated.
N° 1, is formed for fix hundred men.
This, as well as every other work, is con-
ftructed according to the nature and fitua-
tion of the hill on which it ftands, and its
rear is formed with palifades; both for the
purpoſe of faving labour and expence, and
of keeping the enemy under the fire of our
artillery, after he is in poffeffion of it.
And, as this is the moſt elevated part of the
whole poſition, a flight wooden beacon
fhould
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 173
1
ſhould be built upon it; that we may dif-
cover the enemy's attacks, and know when
of the poſts ſtand in need of fupport.-
The fame kind of beacon may be placed
upon N° 28, and upon the Farben-Hohe
at N° 57.
any
The flêches N° 2, 3, and 4, contain fifty
men each: they are in part joined together
by palifades, and in part by trous-de-
loup.
N° 5, is a tenaille for three hundred men.
The epaulement N° 6 is made with ban-
quettes, to enable mufketry to rake the de-
bouché. This work is defended by one
hundred infantry; and behind it there are
five fquadrons of horſe, who, in caſe of an
attack, will charge through the opening
and take the enemy in flank.
At N° 7, there will be two hundred and
This work muſt be well built,
fifty men.
and ſtrengthened by a fougafs.
N° 8, is made for fifty men. The pofition
of this work will render an approach on
this fide very difficult, and it will have an
entire
174
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
1
entire command over the declivity of the
hill. It is joined with palifades to N° 9.
N° 9, for two hundred men.-As the pro-
jected fituation of this work may expoſe
it to an attack, I have encloſed all its fides;
and it ought to be ſtrengthened at the fame
time with palifades, fraiſes, trous-de-loup,
fougaffes, and whatever may tend to ob-
ftruct the enemy.
N°
10, for one hundred men; and N° 11,
for fifty, with three fquadrons.-To ſave la-
bour and men, theſe and the following
works are joined together by trous-de-loup.
And, as I fhall have a ſtrong reſerve of in-
fantry and cavalry, this may be done with-
out danger becauſe they will be in con-
ftant readiness to fall upon the enemy,
whenever he may attempt to fill them up,
or to force his way through.
N° 12, is formed for one hundred men.
The rear fides of this redout are only en-
cloſed with paliſades; that the enemy may
find himſelf expoſed to an unforeſeen fire,
in caſe he ſhould have driven them back,
and
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 175
and had the courage to purſue them
through the debouché.
N° 13, contains three hundred men. This
work ought to be very ſtrong, and its gorge
is encloſed with palifades.
N° 14, is made for three hundred men.
This work is placed oppofite the debouché,
between 13 and 15, with the fame view as
N° 12: and, as it is alſo ferviceable in fup-
porting the retrenchment near Buntzel-
witz, I have encloſed it on all fides, and
ſtrengthened it with fraifes and palifades.
N° 15, for two hundred men, and two
fquadrons. Thefe fquadrons are poſted
with the fame view as thofe at N° 6.
N° 16, for three hundred men. This en-
cloſed redout will rake the ground within
the lines, in cafe the enemy ſhould have
penetrated within them.
N° 17, for three hundred men, and three
fquadrons.
Theſe baſtions are very ftrong; and an
opening is left between this work and
N° 18, that my infantry and cavalry may
9
be
1
176
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
be able to fally out upon the enemy, and
take him in flank and rear.
•
N° 18, for three hundred men.-As this
is one of the moſt important poſts in the
whole pofition, it ought to be of great
ſtrength, and well fupplied with artillery.
The abbatis, which extends from hence to
N° 27, is formed according to the rules
that have been given in the 17th Chapter.
-None of theſe poſts ſhould be left with-
out heavy cannon.
N° 19, for one hundred men, to defend
and
N° 20, for two hundred men
N° 21, for two hundred men,
and
N° 22, for one hundred men.
the abba-
7
tis.
The im-
}
portance
of theſe
poſts makes it neceffary that they ſhould
be ſtrengthened to the utmoſt.
N° 23, is a ſtar-fort for five hundred men;
and conſtructed according to fig. 1. Pl. 16.
This height lies near the army, and com-
mands N° 22, 24, and 26: conſequently,
the work upon it ought to be made as
ſtrong as poffible. (§ 141.)-And, as the
retreat
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 177
retreat of theſe troops must be attended
with extreme difficulty to themfelves, and
danger to the whole army; the Com-
manding Officer fhould have orders to
defend himſelf to the laſt extremity.
If he ſhould be allowed to retire, he
muſt endeavour to reach N° 25.
N° 24, is formed for one hundred men ;
and N° 25, for two hundred men.-Thefe
works defend the abbatis.
N° 26, for five hundred men.-As this is
a poſt of great importance, I have added a
fougafs, and encloſed its gorge with an
abbatis.
N° 27, for one hundred men. A flêche
which terminates the abbatis.'
N° 28, for five hundred men, and five
fquadrons. This important work is en-
cloſed on all fides, and formed according to
the contour of the height.-The five ſqua-
drons are poſted in ſecurity, and are at the
fame time ready to charge the enemy
through the debouché.
•
N° 29, for three hundred men. An en-
cloſed redout formed for the purpoſe of
raking
´. VOL. II.
N
7
178 PART II. CHA P. XXV.
ལ
raking the debouché, and of ſupporting
the works, N° 30, 39, 40, 41, 42, and 43.
N°30, is a half redout for onehundred men.
N° 31, a poſt of importance for three bun-
dred men.
N° 32, for one hundred men,] Thefe fin-
N° 33, for one hundred,
gle redouts
N° 34, for fifty,
and flêches
N°
35, for one hundred,
will be ex-
pected to
N° 36, for fifty,
N° 37, for fifty, and
N° 38, for fifty.
make a ve-
ry obftinate
defence; becauſe they ſupport each other,
and can be affifted at the ſame time by ca-
valry and infantry from within the re-
trenchment.
N° 39, for one hundred men,) Theſe are
N° 40, for fifty,
fingle works
N° 41, for one hundred, and with trous-
2
N° 42, for fifty.
de-loup in
their front.
N°43, for fifty men, and
Theſe and
N° 44, for fifty.
Sthe following
works, as far as N° 46, are joined together
by a double row of palifades, placed ac-
cording
:
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 179
cording to the 294th paragraph.-If there
are a fufficient number of abbatis in the
wood of Zedlitz, and if the river below is
dammed up, the principal attack will not
be made on this fide, becauſe the enemy
cannot bring up his artillery. And if he
could, it would be of very little ſervice, on
account of the height of this ground above
the ravine.
N° 45, for three hundred men. An en-
cloſed redout which fupports all the works
from 29 to 49, and can rake the ground
within the retrenchment.
N° 46, for fifty men. As this ſmall height
is not commanded by any in its front, I
have only furrounded the fummit with
palifades.
N° 47, for fifty men, and 2 Their gorges
N° 48, for fifty.
Sare enclofed
with palifades.
and
N° 49, for three hundred men. This en-
cloſed redout commands the debouché be-
low N° 57, as well as the ground in its
rear; and ſupports the redout 45, with
all the works from thence to 51, and the
poſt at 57.
N 2
N° 50,
1
180
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
N°
50,
for fifty men,
Thefe works are.
N° 51, for one hundred,
formed according
N° 52, for fifty,
to the ground,
N° 53, for fifty,
and joined toge-
N° 54, for fifty,
ther with pali-
N° 55, for fifty, and
fades.
N° 56, for fifty.
N° 57, is formed for four hundred men,
and two ſquadrons. This work is placed
upon the Farben-Hohe. It ſupports all
thofe which have been deſcribed after
N° 45, and commands a great extent of
ground within the retrenchment. Theſe
two fquadrons can charge the enemy
through the debouché below N° 51.
·
N° 58, for three hundred men. This
work will be of the fame uſe as 57; and,
as it forms a falient angle of the retrench-
ment, it muſt be ftrengthened and fup-
ported to the utmoſt.
'
N°
59, for five hundred men. This poſt
is immediately expofed to the enemy's at-
tack: conſequently it ought to be com-
pofed of picked troops.-It must be well
fupported by the main army, and by the
five
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 181
1
five hundred men of the free-corps from
Jauernig. The part of Nieder-Arnſdorff
which joins to it, is entirely burnt down,
and the materials removed: that the fire
from the work may not meet with any
obftruction.
N° 60, for three hundred men. This is
a funk work formed round the lower
part
of the hill, for the purpoſe of raking the
village and the ground near it with a ho-
rizontal fire.
N° 61, for one hundred men. This re-
dout occupies the fummit of the fame hill,
and can fire with fafety over the work
below.
N° 62, for four hundred men. This is
alſo a principal poſt, and muſt be ſupport-
ed to the utmoft; not only from N° 60, 61,
and 65, but by the infantry and cavalry of
the reſerve.
N° 63, for one hundred men. This pa-
rapet covers the debouché, and fivè ſqua-
drons are poſted behind it: for the pur-
poſe of making a vigorous charge upon
the enemy, as foon as the fougaffes have
been
N 3
#
182
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
been ſprung in front of N°62; or in caſe
he ſhould attempt to paſs the trous-de-
loup.
N° 64, a flêche for fifty men.
N° 65, for four hundred men. This en-
cloſed work commands the ground on all
fides.
N° 66, a flêche for fifty men, and
N° 67, an encloſed redout for three hun-
dred men. Theſe rake the ground on all
fides, particularly the debouché of Bunt-
zelwitz, and ſupport the works that lie
near them.
N° 68 is formed for two hundred men,
and
N° 69, for four hundred men.-Theſe
works muſt be made as ſtrong as poffible,
and their gorges left open towards the
village. The troops in them will fight as
long as they are able; and, as they will
have the fatisfaction of knowing that their
retreat cannot be cut off, much will be
expected from them.-During an attack,
the five hundred men of the free-corps who
are poſted in Buntzelwitz will fally out,
and
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 183
and harraſs the enemy on all fides. In a
cafe of extreme neceffity they can all
throw themſelves into the village.
N° 70, is a flêche for fifty men, and
N° 71, an encloſed redout for three bun-
dred men. Theſe works fupport Buntzel-
witz, as well as thoſe which lie near them,
and command the ground within the re-
trenchment.
N°72, is a flêche for one hundred men.
Nº 73, a redout for three hundred.
N°
74, a redout for three hundred.
N° 75, a flêche for one hundred.
N° 76, a flêche for one hundred, and
N° 77, a flêche for one hundred.
Thefe works defend each other, all the
debouchés of Teichenau, and the ground
in their rear.
At N° 78 there are three hundred men,
At N° 79
At N° 80
two hundred,
two hundred,
At N° 81
two hundred, and
At N° 82
three hundred; for
the defence of the abbatis.
Total, FIFTEEN THOUSAND men.
N 4
Confe-
184 PART II. CHA P. XXV.
1
Confequently, there will remain eleven
thouſand for the reſerve of infantry.
REMARK.
}
§ 596. ALTHOUGH I have only allotted
one hundred men to feveral of the redouts,
it is not to be ſuppoſed that their interior
ſpaces have been calculated for that num-
ber, according to the rules given in the
322d paragraph.-The defence they afford
to each other, the ſtrength of the reſerve,
and the improbability of their being taken
in the rear, make it only neceffary, for two
of their fides to be occupied at the fame
time I have therefore made them of
thirty, thirty-five, and even of forty paces
in length.
$597. A BOARD must be put up at each
work, with its number marked upon it;
both as a guide for its own men, and for
thoſe who may be fent to reinforce it.
And, to avoid confufion in cafe of a fur-
prife, the troops muft either remain in
their
1
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 185
}
their reſpective works, or pitch their tents
near them.-The divifions will of courfe
be made as foon as the poſition is taken;
and whenever a beacon is fet on fire, or a
fignal obſerved either at N° 1, 28, or 57,
the men will immediately repair to their
parapets, without waiting for further or-
ders.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESERVE OF
CAVALRY.
1
$598. EACH fquadron is fuppofed to
confift of ONE HUNDRED men.
At N° 84, five fquadrons fupport thoſe
at 11, 15, and 17: and the five fquadrons
at N° 86, may be uſed for the fame pur-
poſe, provided there is nothing to appre-
hend towards Jauernig.-If the enemy
fhould break through the abbatis, they
muſt not give him time to form.
At N° 85, five ſquadrons fupport thoſe
at 28; that part of the abbatis from 24 to
26; and all the works from 32 to 49.
At N° 86, five fquadrons fupport 57, 63,
and
186
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
and the rear of the works from 58 to
70.
Total, FIFTEEN fquadrons, or ONE
THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED men.
§ 599. THESE fquadrons are not meant
to be tied down to any particular poſt, but
they are to lend their affiftance wherever
it may be wanted: and the Commanding
Officer of each work muſt know where he
is to make his application in a caſe of ne-
ceffity. Whenever the enemy has got
within the lines, they muſt either leave
it to the infantry to take prifoners, or cut
down every man. And when they go out
of the lines, they will take equal care not
to purfue too far; left they ſhould be
driven back by his cavalry, and followed
into the retrenchment.
DISTRI-
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 187
DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESERVE OF
INFANTRY.
§ 600. AT N° 87, there are one thouſand
men, for the ſupport of all the works from
N° I to N° 1O.
At 88, five hundred, to cover the opening
below N° 11, and to fupport 12, 69, 70,
and 71.
At 89, one thousand, to cover the de-
bouché near N° 15, and to fupport the
works at 13, 14, and 15. .
At 90, one thousand five hundred, to de-
fend the debouché below 17, and to fup-
port the works and abbatis from 18 to 24.
At 91, one thousand five hundred, to con-
tinue the fupport of the abbatis from 24
ta 27.
At 92, one thousand, to cover the fortie,
and to reinforce all the works beyond it.
At 93, one thouſand, to fupport all the
works from 39 to 45.
At 94, five hundred, to keep up the fup-
port from 45 to 49.
At
·
188
PART II. CHA P. XXV.
At 95, one thousand five hundred, to de-
fend the debouchés near 57 and 63, and to
ſupport all the works between them.
At 96, five hundred, to defend the de-
bouché of Buntzelwitz, and to reinforce
the works on each ſide of it. And,
At 97, there are one thousand men, to
defend the debouchés of Teichenau, and
the height of Wurben.
Total ELEVEN THOUSAND men,
§ 601. NONE of theſe bodies of infantry
will attempt to ſupport any parts of the re-
trenchment, beyond thoſe to which they
are allotted: unleſs they receive an exprefs
order to do ſo.-Becauſe, in caſe of a falfe
alarm, they cannot regain their poſts ſo ex-
peditiouſly as the cavalry,
§ 602. THE retrenchment of the villages
will be regulated according to the 22d and
23d chapters; and the profiles of the
works will be greater or fmaller in propor-
tion to the probability or improbability of
their being attacked by artillery.-But, as
all
}
Of Lines for the Defence of an Army. 189
all the poſts at the advanced corners of the
pofition are of very great importance, they
muſt be made particularly ftrong; defend-
ed by palifades, fraifes, trous-de-loup, and
fougaffes; and amply provided with the
heaviest pieces of ordnance.
§ 603. IT is now evident that the enemy
cannot attack any part of this pofition,
>without being expoſed to a heavy and croſs
fire; that he muſt entirely loſe the advan-
tages of a large front; and that his flanks
muſt be expoſed.-And, if he ſhould have
forced his way through the line of my re-
trenchment, or taken any of the poſts, it
is equally evident that he will find his pro-
grefs checked by an encloſed redout, till
my reſerves of cavalry and infantry will
have had time to affemble, and to make
him pay dear for his temerity.
{
PART
{
( 191 )
PART III.
OF TAKING UP GROUND, AND THE PRE-
PARATION OF MILITARY PLANS.
CHAPTER I.
Of the Preparation of the Scale.
§ 604. WB
WH
HETHER a country is mea-
fured by paces or merely ta-
ken up by the eye, a ſcale muſt be added
to the plan: otherwiſe it will be extremely
imperfect, or perhaps I might ſay, almoſt
ufelefs. Such a fcale can always be made
from a map of the country, and it is not to
be ſuppoſed that an Engineer would un-
dertake fuch a bufinefs without one.
§ 605. WHEN this is to be done; you
muſt firſt determine the intended fize of
the plan, and then mark all the principal
places
§
2
192 PART III. CHA P. Ì.
places upon your paper in their new
proportion. This may be accompliſhed
either by means of triangles or fquares *.
However, the eaſieſt and moſt certain me-
thod is to enlarge your fcale according
to even numbers; that it may be two,
four, fix, or eight times as large as that of
the map. And if you then divide it into
paces, you will be able to give a diſtinct
repreſentation of the nature of the ground,
as well as of every ſmall object that has
been before omitted.
§ 606. A SCALE is formed by dividing a
given line into miles, yards,paces, feet, &c.
If, for instance, the whole length of a
line is four thouſand paces; you muſt firſt
divide them into four equal parts; the firſt
of thoſe parts into ten, for the hundreds
the firſt hundred into ten; and the firſt
tenth again into ten. Thus the thouſands,
´hundreds, tens, and fingle paces will be
* See the twenty-fifth chapter of the third part of this work
Author.
expreffed.
Of the Preparation of the Scale. 193
expreffed. But when more minute divi-
fions are requifite, I would recommend'
the uſe of tranfverfe fcales; whofe con-
ftruction and fuperior advantages may be
ſo clearly ſeen in the 26th plan, fig. 3, and
in moſt of the plates annexed to this work,
that a written deſcription of them is totally
unneceffary. — I fhall therefore content
myſelf with obſerving, that, as a pace is
of no eſtabliſhed length, it need only be
ſhown how many of them will make a
mile, and of what kind that mile is fup-
poſed to be. The tables I, II, III, and IV,
give the length of the miles and meaſures
in different countries, as well as the exact
proportion they bear to each other.-For
the uncertainty of the feat of war muſt al-
ways render fuch information extremely
neceffary eſpecially for thofe who are
to execute the duties of an Engineer.
VOL. II.
1
O
CHAP-
?
194
PART III. CHA P. II.
CHAPTER II.
Of taking up Ground WITH the Help of
a Map.
N addition to the ufual methods
§ 607. IN
}
of making a plan from a map
by means of fquares or triangles, as men-
tioned in the 605th paragraph: there ftill
remains a third (the invention of a friend
of mine), by which its contents may be in-
creaſed to any degree, and carried upon a
ſeparate ſheet of paper with- more eafe and
equal accuracy.
When lines have been marked between
the principal objects in the map, as repre-
ſented by a, c, b, ƒ, e, in Pl. 31, fig. 2; you
muft fix it and your fheet of paper upon a
table, and draw the main line A, B, fig. 1,
parallel to a, b, and as much longer as may
be neceffary. Then make A c parallel to
ac; CB to cb; AE to ae; EB to eb
* See the methods of enlarging and reducing plans in the
twenty-fifth Chapter.-Author.
A F
Of taking up Ground with a Map. 195.
A F to aƒ; and в F to bf.-Thus the in-
terfection of the lines will mark the exact
pofition of the objects a, c, b, f, e, and the
point D is either to be found by drawing
CD parallel to c d, or A D and в D parallel
to a d and b d. By the fame means the
fmalleſt plan of a fortreſs may be increaſed
and transferred almoſt without the uſe of
a compafs.
§ 608. As the generality of maps merely
ſhow the principal objects, the Engineers
can only put down the chief windings of
the rivers, and mark the points where vil-
lages are to be drawn. Remembering at the
fame time that thofe in the maps always
repreſent the church or fome other con-
fpicuous building. When they are upon
the ground they will fill up their ſketches.
-And although there are fome maps
wherein the ground is in great meaſure
expreffed, as well as the length and ſhape
of the villages; it is ftill neceffary that
they ſhould be attentively compared with
the country, and all inaccuracies corrected:
O 2
for
I
196
PART III. CHA P. II.
་ དྡྷ
for it may be taken for granted that the
beſt of them are by no means free from
errors.
§ 609. THE Compaſs muſt be drawn on
a corner of the paper, or wherever it will
not interfere with the plan. And, inſtead
of expreffing all its different points, I
would recommend that only two crofs lines
fhould be made ufe of, as in the 29th
plan; for in a military plan that will be
quite fufficient.
§ 610. WHENEVER the form of the
ground will admit of it, the upper part of
the plan ſhould mark the north: but this
cannot be confidered as a general rule; for
in thoſe of encampments or pofitions, the
whole muſt be regulated by the front.-
The common rules of light and ſhade muſt
be alſo difregarded; becauſe it is always
ſuppoſed that the light comes from the
upper corner of the left hand ſide.
CHAP-
!
Of taking up Ground without a Map. 197
CHAPTER III.
Of taking up Ground WITHOUT the Help of
§ 611. F
IF
a Map.
F it fhould accidentally happen
that an Engineer is obliged to
draw a plan of a country, of which he
has no map, he may proceed in the fòl-
lowing manner.
We will fuppofe, for inftance, that he has
pitched upon the villages A, B, C, in the
29th plan, for his firft triangle; and that
he has been informed by the people of the
country that A is three miles diftant from
B; and that c is two from A and two from
B. But, as the road is found to wind con-
fiderably between A and B, he muſt make
a proper allowance; and place them per-
haps two miles and a half afunder. Hav-
ing then taken two miles off his ſcale, he
will ſweep two arcs; the one from A, and
the other from в : and their interfection
will ſhow the poſition of c with tolerable
accuracy.
03
:
198 PART III. CHA P. III.
•
O
•
accuracy. In this manner he will proceed;
always ufing a given line between two
villages as a baſe for his other triangles;
till the whole is completed.-If he ſhould
think it neceffary to meaſure any of the
diftances by paces, he muſt make a further
deduction, whenever he aſcends a hill;
becauſe they will then become ſhorter.
Pl. 26, fig. 5.-Thefe operations are in
fome meaſure neceffary when a country
is taken up by the eye: otherwiſe the
pofition of the different objects, and
their diſtances from each other, might be
too inaccurate. However, if an Engineer
has a very correct idea of diſtances, he
need only find the poſition of a few vil-
lages, and then fill up the remainder by
his own judgment.
§ 612. WE will further fuppofe, that an
Engineer is ordered to make a plan of the
country, within and near the villages A, D,
B, C, in Pl. 31, fig. 3, which are in fight
of each other; and that he muſt aſcer-
tain their exact pofition, without the pof-
fibility
Of taking up Ground without a Map. 199
fibility of being able to meaſure the length
of any fide.
In that cafe he must take the angles
A B D and B A D for his main triangle, and
afterwards the angles A C D and D C B, and
ſketch in every part of the country be-
tween or near them. - At his return he
will take a freſh piece of paper, and, having
drawn a line upon it of a convenient length,
he muſt mark two points, as at a and b,
in fig. 4, to repreſent the villages A and B,
in fig. 3. He muft lay down their angles
with a protractor, and draw the fides a d
and b d; that their interfection may ſhow
where he is to place the point d. And
he muſt then carry the angle a CD (or n)
within his main triangle from the point b,
and B C D (or m) from the point a; as re-
preſented in fig. 4, by M, N.-The lines
which are drawn through theſe points
will meet at E. Confequently, if he paffes
a line from d through E; lays down the
angle v at v, and t at T; and draws two
freſh lines through them from b and a,
04
they
¿
200
PART III. CHA P. III.
they will cut each other at c, and mark
the poſition of that village. If he can af-
terwards learn the diftance between any
of theſe places, he may divide it into a
ſcale and add it to the plan.-By the fame
means he can find the poſition of as many
objects as he pleaſes, and correct a map;
in cafe a village, or any thing of confe-
quence, ſhould have been left out: provid-
ed it is vifible from two other points.
If I am reconnoitering a town or for-
trefs, of which I have a correct plan, and
wiſh to mark the place where I am ſtand-
ing at any particular time, it will only be
neceſſary for me to take one angle. — For
inſtance: let c, in Pl. 31, fig. 5, be my po-
fition; A, D the face of a baſtion, or any
two objects in a line with me; and м the
angle taken.-Confequently, if I lengthen
the line ad upon my plan (fig. 6.), fix the
point x wherever I pleafe, lay down an
angle at that point equal to A м в, and
draw the line cb parallel to x 2; I fhall
have the point required.-By the fame
means
Of taking up Ground entirely by the Eye. 201
means I can alſo mark the poſition of a
battery upon my plan, as ſhown by fig. 1
and 2, in Pl. 32.
CHAPTER IV.
Of taking up Ground entirely by the Eye.
HIS is not to be done with
§ 613. TH
accuracy but by thoſe who
have an experienced eye; and even then
I am of opinion that their plans will fel-
dom be very correct or uſeful.-However,
it frequently happens, in military opera-
tions, that no other method is practica-
ble.
§ 614. As foon as an Engineer has made
his ſketch from a map, he muſt ride out
to compare it with the country; and if,
upon examination, he ſhould find it to be
imperfect, he may proceed in the follow-
ing manner:
Let the 29th Plan reprefent the country,
and f, the firſt ſtand he has made. At
that
1
3
202
PART III. CHA P. IV.
that height he will obferve that f, g, and
the village d, are in a ſtraight line: confe-
quently, he can place them upon paper,
and draw a dotted line between them, to
guide his repreſentation of the ground.-
He will then find that f, c, and e form
another alignement; which he may alſo
draw in his ſketch by guefs.—Or, if he
ſhould be unwilling to truſt entirely to his
eye in laying down the angle, a very fim-
ple expedient will enable him to find it
with tolerable accuracy; viz.-Let him ſet
up a ſtick or picket at ƒ, and another at b,
in a direct line with the fteeple of the
church c; and having tied a ſtring to f,
defcribe a circle round the fummit of the
hill: then draw the line fi at right angles
with ƒ b, and divide the ſpace between
them into two, three, four, or more equal
parts, till one of them falls into the aligne-
ment f, g, d. By theſe means he may
take the angles a ƒg, a ƒ b, and thoſe of
every other viſible object.
When he has drawn as much of the
ground as he can diſcover from f, he will
make
Of taking up Ground entirely by the Eye. 203
make a ſecond ſtand upon the hill g, and
proceed in the fame manner till his ſketch
is completed.
§ 615. OR, if he covers a common
trencher, or any circular piece of wood
with white paper, and marks degrees or
diviſions upon it, as ſhown by fig. 7. Pl.
31:
he will have an inſtrument with which the
angles may be taken with greater nicety.
And if he afterwards makes uſe of it as a
protractor,it is of no confequence into what
number of degrees the ſurface may be di-
vided. Becauſe, if an angle is found to
contain thirteen of thofe divifions, when
in reality it may have thirty-five, or any
other number of degrees, and the fame
thirteen diviſions are laid upon the plan;
the angle muſt be correct.-For the con-
venience of the perſon who takes the an-
gles, it may be raiſed a little above the
ground: and if he retires a few paces, and
carries his eye gradually from the point
which marks the centre of the board to
the object before him; he will ſee at once
•
by
204
PART III. CHA P. V.
}
by what line it is cut, and perhaps with
more accuracy than if he was to ſtand
cloſe to his inftrument.
1
1
CHAPTER V.
Of taking up Ground with a Compass and
another Inftrument.
•
§ 616.
A
S it frequently happens, in mi-
litary operations, that a large
encampment or pofition is to be taken up
in the courſe of half a day, and that the
Engineer who is employed dare not dif
mount his horfe: I cannot recommend
the entire uſe of a compafs. But, as it is
at the fame time a very ſerviceable inftru-.
ment in foreſts and encloſed countries,
where alignements are not to be taken, I
ſhall endeavour to give a fufficient explà-
nation of its ufe, and in as few words as
poffible.
If I make e, in Pl. 29, my firſt poſition,
I muſt draw a line croſs my paper to re-
preſent the north and fouth, and place my
compafs
'
Taking up Ground with a Compass, &c. 205
compaſs upon it; and when I find that the
needle ſtands exactly over the line, I may
take the bearings of as many objects as I
pleaſe. I muſt then meaſure the length
of my baſe e, as well as of all thoſe lines
which I ſuppoſe will not be again viſible,
and make a ſecond ſtand at /.-Here I take
the bearings as before, and the interfec-
tion of fome of theſe lines will make it
unneceffary for me to meaſure them upon
the ground.
In taking up roads, ravines, or rivers,
a compaſs is alſo of great uſe.—For in-
ftance; if I wish to make a fection of
fig. 4. Pl. 26, and of the country near the
river, I make 1 my firft pofition, take
the bearings of the objects on each fide,
and meaſure the line 1, 2. At 2, I take
the bearings as before, and meaſure on to
3, &c. till the whole is completed.
§ 617. IF I am defirous of working with
great accuracy, my sketch book may be
prepared for the purpoſe in the following
manner. At one end, its cover muft pro-
ject
206
PART III. CHA P. V.
ject ſo far beyond the leaves, that a com-
paſs can be ſcrewed upon it, without in-
terfering with the paper on which the
fketch is to be drawn. The leaves muſt
then be divided into equal fquares, and
each fide of thofe fquares fuppofed to be
one, two, three, or four hundred paces in
length; whichever may be moſt conve-
nient.
When I come upon the ground, and
have determined on the point where I in-
tend to begin, I muſt keep turning my
book, till I find the needle has fixed itſelf,
and exactly correfponds with the north
and fouth line upon the ſketch; before I
can either mark the pofition of any ob-
jects, or meaſure their diftances. The
fuppofed fize of the fquares will be a fuf-'.
ficient guide to me in expreffing the
length of each line: but it muſt be remem-
bered at the fame time, that, whenever
they pafs diagonally over them, a propor-
tionable deduction will be neceffary; be-
cauſe the diagonal of every fquare is to its
fide, as ſeven are to five.
§ 618.
Taking up Ground with a Compaſs, &c. 207
§ 618. As it very rarely happens in the
field, that ground can be regularly taken
up with an inftrument; I fhall confine
myſelf to a deſcription of one only; which
may be prepared and uſed with great eaſe.
It is a ſpecies of aſtrolabe, with which the
angles can be taken by means of a com-
mon ruler, without the affiftance of diop-
trical fights *.-It is made of wood, and
on one fide its circumference is divided
into 360°.-It has a cavity to receive a
needle; which is cut in fuch a manner,
that when the needle has fixed itſelf, it re-
mains parallel to the diameter of the board,
between 180° and 360°: confequently this
diameter is the real line of magnetic me-
ridian. To mark the angles on paper,
nothing more than a common plain table
and ruler are requifite: but they muſt be
prepared in the following manner :-Upon
a rectangular board you muſt deſcribe a
* The ends de repreſent two upright pieces of wood, which
are uſed inſtead of dioptrical fights. If you look at an object
from d, the line of fight will pass the centre c, and the oppofite
fide e.-Theſe ends ought to have been drawn in perfpe&ive.
Tranflator.
circle,
208 PART III. CHA P. V.
circle, divide it into 360°, and let a move-
able ruler be ſcrewed on its centre.-One
fide of this board muſt alſo be parallel to
the diameter between 180° and 360°.
As ſoon as I have taken an angle I muſt
turn my ruler to the fame point on this
circle, fix it with the fcrew, and lay it cloſe
to the plain table, as ſhown by fig. 3 and
4.-By thefe means I can repreſent any
angle, and give my lines their proper
length*.
That fide of the board which is laid
againſt the plain table is parallel to the
diameter A B, or 180°, 360°, and to the real
line of magnetic direction on the large in-
ftrument. Confequently, any line drawn
parallel to A B on the plain table, muſt re-
preſent the real line of magnetic direc-
tion.
* An experienced eye will never ftand in need of ſuch af-
fiſtance; and when an inſtrument is to be uſed, I think it can
ſcarce ever happen that an officer ſhould not have it in his power
| to ſubſtitute a better.-Tranſlator.
1
CHAP-
Of taking up Ground by Paces.
209
!
CHAPTER
VI.
Of taking up Ground by Paces.
§ 619. WH
HEN Engineers allow their
guides to pace the diſtances,
it is highly probable that their plans will
be incorrect. Therefore, if they cannot
meaſure the whole on foot, they may
procure fteady horfes, and abide by their
paces for they are always more even
than thoſe of men. But, as ſome make
longer paces than others, it is of courfe
neceffary that every officer ſhould know
how many his own horfe will take in a
mile; and if any of them fhould be ob-
liged to ride a fecond, before the work is
completed, another fcale muſt be added,
and divided according to the length of his
ſteps. To avoid the poffibility of a miſ-
take, I would alſo recommend it to them
to mark off each hundred in fucceffion.
The Ruffians generally meaſure the
length of each day's journey, while their
troops are on the march.
VOL. II.
P
CHAP-
210
PART III. CHA P. VII.
:..
1
CHAPTER
VII.
Of taking up a Camp or Pofition.
§ 620. NOTWITHSTANDING it may
fometimes happen, in confe-
quence of the badnefs of the roads, or of
the length of the march, that the laft re-
giments cannot join the encampment be-
fore noon a plan of it ſhould be made in
the courſe of that day; or at all events, of
the moſt material parts of it.-And if the
army is not ordered to march the next
morning, the furvey must be completed.
§ 621. IF two Engineers are employed
together, they muft fhare the bufinefs be-
tween them; that is to fay, one may take
the right, the other the left wing, or one
may take the front, and the other the rear
line, &c.-And they must then fettle with
each other where their reſpective ſketches
fhall meet. For inftance; if they have
meet.-For
agreed to join them at the road a, c, f,
Pl. 29,
Of taking up a Camp or Pofition.
211
1
}
Pl. 29, which paffes through the centre of
the encampment; they will both meaſure
its length at the fame time (each reckon-
ing by his own ſcale and paces); and,
when they have ſketched in the ground
on each fide, they will feparate and take
up the remainder of the poſition.
$ 622. WHEN the encampment itſelf is
taken up, it is ufual to begin at a flank,
and to proceed along the front: marking
each regiment in fucceffion, and making
off-ſets to every important object. In
a retrenched camp the Engineers can ei-
ther begin with the works, or draw them
as they go down the line.- In either cafe
their angles, batteries, cannon, palifades,
&c. muſt be repreſented with the utmoſt
accuracy; as well as their diftance from
the tents, and the nature of the ground
on all fides.-Whenever an army is form-
ed into two or more lines, it is of courſe
neceffary that the front of each ſhould be
furveyed with equal attention; and if the
Engineers are previously acquainted with
P 24
the
1
212 PART III. CHA P. VII.
the ſtrength of the regiments, they can at
once aſcertain the extent of ground,they
will occupy, and the length of their re-
ſpective intervals, without meaſurement.
§ 623. WHENEVER a road happens to
paſs along the line of encampment, as in
the 29th plan; it may be uſed as a main
or baſe line in which caſe its length, di-
rection, and windings must be accurately
defcribed.
§ 624. AN Engineer ought never to un-
dertake the furvey of a camp or poſition
without a guide; and he muſt take care to
expreſs all the objects which are near the
roads. Becauſe a croſs, a guide-poft, or a
fingle tree will affift him in his work, as
well as the Commanding Officer in the
diſtribution of his poſts and detachments.
CHAP-
}
213
Of taking up Rivers, &c.
•
CHAPTER VIII.
Of taking up Rivers and interfected Ground.
5 625. Trivulets muſt be correctly re-
HE windings of all rivers and
preſented; as well as their ſhoals, iſlands,
fords, bridges, and banks: for theſe are
things of very great confequence in mili-
tary operations.-Their names ought ne-
ver to be omitted; and the courfe of the
ſmalleſt ſtream fhould be marked by an ar-
row.-But as there are alſo ſeveral circum-
ſtances worthy of notice, which the moſt
perfect plan cannot comprehend, the En-
gineers will be obliged to add a written
defcription of them, for the information
of the Commanding Officer.
This written account will ſhow whether
the rivers are liable to fudden floods or
。 not, whether their bottoms are good or
bad, if they are fordable, of what mate-
rials the roads are made, whether they
P 3
are
214
PART III. CHA P. VIII.
4
are in a good or bad ſtate, what is to be dif-
covered from the heights, &c.
§ 626. I SHALL now defcribe three of
the moſt common methods of finding the
breadth of a river, and I think they will be
fufficient for my purpoſe.-The firſt is
ſhown in Pl. 26, fig. 4; and its operation is
as follows:
Let the point a be marked by a picket;
and meaſure fix toifes in a ſtraight line
towards a tree or any given object, on the
oppofite fide of the water, for the point b.
-Then form a right angle b a d, extend
the line a d as far as you pleaſe, and mark
the point g at the end of it.-Let e divide
the line a g into two equal parts, form the
right angle fg h, and lengthen the lines
ce and gb till they interfect each other.-
Confequently g i will be equal to a c, and
if you ſubſtract a k you will have the ex-
act breadth of the river.
The fame means will enable you to af-
certain the diſtance of an enemy's battery
or fortrefs.
§ 627.
Of taking up Rivers, &c. 215
}
$ 627. SECONDLY, you may place your-
ſelf at the edge of one bank, and lower
one corner of your hat till you find it cuts
the other; then turn gently round, and
obſerve where your eye meets the ground.
-Your diſtance from that point will be
nearly equal to the breadth of the river.
§ 628. THIRDLY, take two pickets of
different lengths, drive the ſhorteſt into
the ground clofe to the edge of the bank,
meaſure ſome paces back from it, and
drive in the other till you find by looking
over both that your fight cuts the oppoſite
fide. Then pull up the firft picket, mea-
fure the fame diſtance from the ſecond, in
any direction that may be moſt convenient,
and drive it as deep into the ground as be-
fore.-Conſequently, if you look over them
again, and obſerve where the line of fight
falls, you will have the diſtance required.
§ 629. WHEN a rivulet paffes through
a thick copfe, and divides itfelf into feve-
ral branches, as is frequently the cafe;
particular
P4
216
PART III. CHA P. IX.
འ
particular attention will be neceffary ón
the part of the Engineer. For, inſtead of
repreſenting the mere ſhape and extent of
the thicket, with the fuppofed courfe of
the rivulet, he must follow all its branches;
and endeavour, by means of frequent off-
fets, to make his furvey as perfect as cir-
cumſtances may require.
The bruſh-wood muſt be properly ex-
preffed in his plan, as well as the bridges,
and all thoſe parts which are either boggy
or likely to become ſo after rain.
Such information will be expected, and
may be of the greateſt importance during
an action, a retreat, or a march.
4
CHAPTER IX.
Of taking up Woods.
N fuch employment an Engineer
§ 630. IN
will find his compaſs of particu-
lar ufe; becauſe it in great meaſure fup-
plies the want of triangles or alignements.
But,
1
Of taking up Woods..
217
1
But, as I have already explained the uſe of
that inftrument in the fifth chapter, I ſhall
only endeavour to lay down a few rules,
which will be of uſe to him in working by
the eye.
§ 631. HE muft first ride round the
wood, or as much of it as will be compre-
hended in his plan; and when he has
meaſured the length of each fide, he will
lay them down with their proper angles, as
fhown by s, t, u, v, w, and ≈ in the 29th
plan. Whenever a confpicuous or a re-
markable object happens to be in a line
with any of the fides, he will mark it upon
his ſketch; and if he wiſhes his plan to be
very exact, he may make off-ſets to the
hedge or boundary of the wood whenever
it leaves his main lines. In general, how-
ever, he may draw them and all the debou
chés by the eye.
§ 632. When this is done, he muſt take
his guide into the wood, and meaſure
the roads which paſs through it
for he
will
218
PART III. СНАР. Х.
4
will then divide it into ſmall figures, and
be able to find its extent with accuracy.
§ 633. His plan muſt ſhow the nature
and thickneſs of the wood, as well as the
bridges, ponds, fwamps, and openings
within it; and in ſome caſes it is even ne-
ceffary to mark the foot-paths, eſpecially
when it lies between us and the enemy;
that the General may be able to make a
proper arrangement in the diftribution of
his poſts, or in cafe he ſhould have occafion
to march through it.
CHAPTER X.
Of taking up Ground in a billy Country..
$ 634.
1
T
HIS is one of the important
parts of the duty of an Engi-
neer, which depends more upon practice
than eſtabliſhed rules.-For, unleſs he has
frequently exerciſed himſelf in meaſuring
heights, and in making their profiles; as
fhown by fig. 5, Pl. 26, and fig. 5, Pl. 30; he
5
will
Of taking up Ground in a billy Country. 219
will frequently err in his fuppofition of
their height and flope.-And if his mea-
furements ſhould be accurate, he muſt be
equally careful in expreffing them upon
paper: otherwiſe his labour will have
been thrown away.
§ 635. WHEN many hills ſtand near or
above each other, they muſt be examined
with attention on all fides, as well as from
their fummits. For it is of great confe-
quence that the particular height of each,
its declivity, its ſhape, and the nature of
the foil, ſhould be correctly aſcertained.
The ravines and their banks muſt be ta-
ken up according to the rules which have
[ been preſcribed for the furvey of a river,
and a correct deſcription muſt be given of
all the roads which paſs through or cross
them.
CHAP-
220
PART III. CHA P. XI.
$
CHAPTER XI.
Of taking up Towns and Villages.
§ 636. IN taking up a town it is ufual to
begin with the market-place,
and to lay down all the adjoining ſtreets
with their proper angles.-When this is
done, their length and breadth muſt be
found, and an accurate deſcription made
of all the remarkable buildings, croſs-
ftreets, and alleys.-If there is no market-
place, the furvey may be bégun at any of
its longeſt ſtreets.
·
When a town is furrounded by a wall,
an exact meaſurement of it ought never
to be omitted: eſpecially if it is probable
that the place will be afterwards attacked
or defended.
§637. Ir it is neceffary that a village
ſhould be taken up with great accuracy,
the fame rules are to be obſerved; and
the difficulty will be in fome meaſure in-
creaſed
To make a Plan of an Action. 221
1
creaſed by the want of ſtraight lines.-In
general, however, it is fufficient if you can
aſcertain their length, and infert the houſes.
by guess. But in both cafes the pofition
of every caſtle, church, walled church-
yard, garden-wall, &c. will be of the
greateſt conſequence.
CHAPTER XII.
To make a Plan of an Action.
IN
§ 638. TN this inſtance a previous know-
ledge of the ground is of all
things the moſt effential: becauſe it will
be impoffible, during the action, to enter
into an examination of it; on account of
the conſtant attention which muſt be given
to the different movements of the troops.
And even then, much muſt be left to me-
mory, or to fuch information as can be
procured afterwards by converfing with
intelligent officers upon the ſubject.-
Nothing however will tend more to faci-
litate a comprehenfion of the affair, than to
begin
HOLON
PART III. CHA P. XII.
Nr.
}
begin by repreſenting the exact pofition of
the lines, and of each regiment, as foon as
the army is formed in order of battle.—If
we remain mafters of the field, the plan
muſt be made perfect as foon as the action
is over.
§ 639. SUCH a plan cannot be complete,
or properly inſtructive, unleſs ſome of the
principal and' different pofitions are drawn
upon ſeparate pieces of paper, and paſted
on the parts to which they belong.-The
firſt poſitions ſhould be expreffed either by
dotted lines or a very faint colour, in order
that the others may be perfectly diſtinct *.
§ 640. PERSPECTIVE plans of an action
are pleafing to the eye, but they neither
convey an idea of the manoeuvres which
have been performed, nor fhow how far
the Commander in Chief may have fol-
lowed or deviated from the eſtabliſhed
rules and principles of the art of war.
* See Vol. II. Plans 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.-Author.
CHAP-
5
Of taking up Trenches. 223
1
}
CHAPTER XIII.
Of taking up Trenches.
§. 641. O
FFICERS belonging to the
corps of Engineers are always
employed in fieges; the approaches are
carried on under their direction, and it is
their duty to make plans of them when-
ever they are required. Conſequently, as
I am writing folely for the inſtruction of
Field Engineers, it will not be neceffary
for me to dwell long upon the ſubject of
this Chapter.
The plans of trenches are uſually made
by means of theodolites, plain-tables, and-
aſtrolabes; or, in a cafe of neceffity, the
compaſs may be uſed for ſuch a purpoſe;
and you muſt then follow the rules which
have already been given for taking up ra-
vines, roads, &c.
§ 642. THE breaſtwork, or rather the
earth that is thrown up on the fide next
to
224.
PART III. CHA P. IV.
to the fortrefs, may be reprefented by a
ſtrong black line; and the other edge of
the ditch by a dotted line. The ſpace be-
tween them may be painted brown; or
the work of each night repreſented in dif-
ferent colours, with a marginal reference
to explain their meaning.
CHAPTER XIV.
Examples relating to the foregoing Chapters:
§643. A
S theſe two examples contain
all the various parts of which
a tract of country can be compofed, I have
added them with a view of bringing toge-
ther the whole of what I have hitherto
had occafion to point out in the foregoing
Chapters. First, I will take up the
heights, works, &c. which are repre-
fented in fig. 3. Pl. 22, merely by paces,
without the help of a compaſs, and make
ufe of the ſcale which is annexed to the
28th Plan: fuppofing it at the fame time
to have been divided into two thoufand
man's
Examples, &c.
225
1
man's paces.-The beginning of my fur-
vey is optional, but I will here ſuppoſe my
firſt ſtand to be made on the hill g, on ac-
count of its height. On this ſpot I draw
in as much of it as I can diſcover, taking
particular notice of the contour of its
fummit, and of the windings of the road
to m, which I mark by a dotted line.
\
Upon another ſheet of paper I alſo make
a ſketch of the country, with all the roads,
valleys, ravines, &c. as far as my eye will
carry me, and extend it afterwards fo as
to take in the more diſtant objects, when
I am upon the other heights: particularly
from the hill ¿.—But my greateſt attention
muſt be turned towards thoſe which are
in the enemy's poffeffion; becauſe I can-
not venture upon them.-And, in this
cafe, I fuppofe the ground beyond the
river to be entirely occupied by them.
In my principal ſketch, the whole of the
ground will be taken up by paces, after I
leave my firſt pofition at g. Confequent-
ly, that which I carry on at the fame time
by the eye, is only intended to give me
affistance
VOL. II.
Q
226
PART III. CHA P. XIV.
affiftance in completing my finiſhed draw
ing, after I return home,
L
§ 644. WHEN I have repreſented the
height g, I begin on the right of the re-
trenchment, lay down the two falient an-
gles by my eye, and find the length of each
line in the following manner:-The firſt
line meaſures 186 paces; but as they will
have been ſhortened on account of the
ſteepness of the aſcent on this fide, I make
a proportionable deduction, and put down
only 168. The 2d line meaſures 144; the
3d, 156; and the 4th, 228 down to the
road.-Here the deſcent may have length-
ened my paces, therefore I add 24 to them.
-The fall of the ground muſt be repre-
fented with accuracy, and the pofition of
the embraſures marked in each fide.-I
then meaſure the road, lay down the fa-
lient angle at b, and give the length of
each line as before. When this is done,
I mark the rentrant angle, lay down the
whole baſtion from the fummit i, and
draw in the road leading from o to n.-
1
Here
!
Examples, &c.
227
Here alſo I give an exact reprefentation of
the form of the height, and continue my
meaſurement of the parapet with fimilar
attention, till I reach the end of it. I then
meaſure the abbatis as far as the hollow-
way, and, having marked its breadth, I
proceed to the fecond abbatis, which is
formed on the break of the hill; from
thence to the rivulet; from the rivulet İ
follow the abbatis up the next height, and
then meaſure through the wood to ǹ.
The break of the height below o, n, the
nature of its defcent, and the length of
theſe abbatis muſt be drawn with atten-
tion. But, as I cannot meaſure that which
is formed in the ravine where the rivulet
paffes, I muſt content myſelf with an exa-
mination of it from the heights o, n, n.
1
§ 645. I HAVE before obferved, that the
heights beyond the river are ſuppoſed to
be occupied by the enemy; therefore I
now take an eſcort of light infantry with
me, that I may not be diſturbed or taken
prifoner by his patroles.-I alfo take pof-
feffion
Q 2
228
PART III. CHA P. XIV.
fcffion of the bridge and ford a b; and,
for the fake of greater fecurity, I poſt ſen-
tinels upon all thofe heights which over-
look the oppofite fhore.-Theſe fentinels
will receive orders to fire, whenever they
fee the enemy draw near the river, and
at ſuch a ſignal I fhall make an immediate.
retreat, for the reaſons which have already
been given in the beginning of this work.
§ 646. WHEN thefe precautions have
been taken, I continue my meaſurement.
along the river; endeavouring at the fame
time to aſcertain its breadth, the height of
the banks, and the depth of the water.
I alſo mark its ford and bridge, and exa-
mine the heights above them, that I may
be able to give an exact repreſentation of
their afcent, and of the ravines between
them.
§ 647. As foon as I find myſelf in a line
with the height 2, I meaſure along the
edge of the water to the rivulet; and from
thence to the ford: but, between thofe
two
Examples, &c.
229
two points, I make an off-fet to mark the
pofition of the ditch of the traverſe k.-I
then proceed along the hollow-way, draw
the felled trees, the heights on both fides,
and the flêche d, with its proper angle and
the length of each face.-From ɑ, I con-
tinue my meaſurement till I am oppofite
the rivulet on the other fide; from thence
to the end of the ravine, (of which I give
an exact repreſentation); and from the
ravine to the ſtone-bridge.-Here I mark
the breadth of the bridge and river; and,
when that is done, I draw in as much of
the country as I can difcover from that
point, and follow the road up to the flêches
at c; making a deduction as uſual on ac-
count of the aſcent.-Here alſo I lay down
the angles and faces of both theſe works,
and proceed to m: marking the palifades
as I
go, as well as the real winding of the
road.
§ 648. AT e I draw in as much of the
hill as I can diſcover, and give a correct re-
prefentation of the work, and of the pa-
Q 3
lifadet
230
PART III. CHA P. XIV.
lifades r.-I then meaſure the diſtance
from the left of e to m; and, when I have
found the extent of that work, I proceed
along the trous-de-loup to the hollow-way,
and to the firſt abbatis at n.-Here I draw
the fall of the height, and the wood in my
front. From thence I return to m, mea-
fure the diſtance to the end of the palifades
at /, and cloſe my ſketch.
§ 649. To make my finiſhed drawing, I
begin by laying down the river; and, as
its courſe is almoſt ſtraight, I confider it as
a baſe, and mark the rivulets, ford, and
bridge, with the proper intervals between
them.-Upon looking over my ſketch, Í
find the diſtance between the point below
n, where I began to follow the water, and
the laſt rivulet, to be nearly equal to the
line I have drawn from the upper abbatis
through the wood: confequently, if I
take the fame number of paces off my
ſcale, reſt one leg of the compaſs in that
point, and carry the other perpendicular
to the river, I fhall know where to place
the
Examples, &c.
231
1
l.
the end of the abbatis.—I then lay down
the retrenchment ib upon a feparate piece
of paper with its proper angles, and draw
a baſe or diagonal line from one end to the
other, to aſcertain its extent. I add this
line to the whole length of the abbatis ;
and, refting one leg of the compaſs in the
point already found, I fweep an arc to-
wards . Of courſe, if I take the number
of paces which have been meaſured from
b to, with the neceffary deduction on
account of the afcent and winding of the
road, and ſweep another arc from b; their
interfection will give me the real pofition
of the point /, or the right of that work.
And, if I have drawn the road with
care, and marked the point where it paffes
between the works in front, I cannot err
much in laying them down. Afterwards,
I repreſent the two heights gi with their
retrenchments; the works ef; the pofition
of the different abbatis, flêches, and other
objects which may be found in my ſketch.
I give as accurate a defcription as poffible
of the heights beyond the river, together
Q 4
with
232
PART III. CHA P. XIV.
1
with a written account of the roads, the
depth of the water, &c.-And lastly, I add
a fcale and compaſs, that my plan may be
complete in every reſpect, and fit for uſe.
§ 650. THE second example ſhall be the
retrenched camp near Schweidnitz (Pl. 28);
which I will take up by horſe-paces, with-
out the affiftance of a needle.
§ 651. IF another officer is employed at
the fame time, the work muſt be equally
divided between us. The road from
Freyburg to Neumark may then be the
line of divifion, and I will take up the
country on the right of it.
In that cafe, we ride together along the
road, and mark the pofition of every ob-
ject on the right and left; each calculating
by the paces of his own horſe, that the
parts may be properly joined together at
the conclufion of the furvey. For instance,
we draw the rivulet which runs from Nie-
der-Arnfdorff, the pond, the road branch-
ing off to the right, the flêches on the left,
the
Examples, &c.
233
the high road from Striegau to Schweid-
nitz, &c. till we arrive at the road leading
from Peterwitz to Wurben, where our re-
ſpective ſketches will terminate. We then
ſeparate. I ride towards Wurben, and re-
preſent that road, the ſmall wood on my
right-hand, the different roads to Neu-
dorff, the rivulet, the wooden-bridge, and
the Brech-houſe, with the proper intervals
between them, and as much of the ground
on each fide as I am able,
REMARK.
§ 652. IF I was not provided with a
map, or if my map was too incorrect to
give me the real poſition of the villages, I
ſhould now meaſure the ſtraight road from
Wurben to Jauernig. By which means I
fhould have a triangle which would mark
the fituation of Wurben in reſpect to
Buntzelwitz, as well as of almoſt every
other object within my divifion.
$ 653.
234
PART III. CH A P. XIV.
}
§ 653. FROM the Brech-houfe, I conti-
nue my meaſurement along the road lead-
ing from Hoh-Boferitz to Schweidnitz,
till I arrive at Roth-Kirchdorff: and, as I
obferve at the fame time, that Wurben,
the height above it, and the meadows
which are interfected by ponds and rivu-
lets, cannot be taken up on horſeback; I
proceed on foot as far as N° 69.
§ 654. FROM the fummit of the height
of Wurben, I take notice of all the church-
es, large houſes, and hills within my fight;
and mark the direction of each of thoſe
objects by means of a dotted line.-For
inſtance; I draw lines to the churches at
Wurben, Peterwitz, and Pufchkau, to the
large houfe in Tzfchechen (which line
paffes the windmill at N° 9, and the corner
of a farm-yard at Neudorff); then to the
churches at Jauernig, and Buntzelwitz;
and lastly, to the large houfe in Teiche-
nal,
FIRST
Examples, &c.
235
FIRST REMARK.
$655. IF, on fuch occafions, an officer
fhould not be able to judge the angles by
his eye, he may make uſe of the expe-
dient which has been mentioned in the
614th paragraph,
SECOND REMARK.
§ 656. WHEN an alignement gives you
the pofition of any important objects, as is
the caſe with that which paffes the wind-
mill at N°9; you may at the fame time
examine the line of magnetic direction, if
you ſhould happen to be in poffeffion of a
compafs, and mark their interſection with
accuracy, that they may be afterwards ex-
preffed in the plan.-The line of mag-
netic direction may alfo be taken from a
map.
§ 657. WHEN I have given a correct re-
preſentation of the height of Wurben, as
well
?
236
PART III. CHA P. XIV.
1
well as of thoſe which lie near it, and ob-
ferved how far they command each other;
I meaſure the parapets of the different
works, and endeavour to afcertain the na-
ture of their defence.-And when I have
extended my furvey to Buntzelwitz and
N° 69; I remount my horfe, and take up
that village, together with the work 68.—Į
then return towards Wurben along the road
from Jauernig, mark its diſtance from the
end of Buntzelwitz, and exprefs the works
on the right and left of it; till I reach the
epaulement at N° 6. From thence I proceed
to aſcertain the pofition of Nº 7, 8, 9, 10,
and 11, draw in all thoſe heights, and take
as many alignements as poffible from the
windmill at N° 9.
I then continue my meaſurement along
the road as far as the croſs near Wurben,
and from thence back to Neudorff; mark-
ing the croſs-roads and rivulets at the fame
time. When I have furveyed that village,
I return along the road to Buntzelwitz,
which gives me the poſition of ſome other
works, and, if I proceed from thence to
Jauernig,
Examples, &c.
237
Jauernig, I fhall be able to infert N° 66,
65, 64, 62, 61, and 60.
To conclude my ſketch, I make an accu-
rate furvey of Jauernig, Wickendorff, and
Nieder-Arnſdorff.
§ 658. My companion, (who left me on
the road leading to Neumark, and not far
from Peterwitz) first meaſures the number
of paces to that village, and marks down
every object by the way: particularly the
different roads near the end of the town.
He then makes a furvey of the village;
and, when he has aſcertained the poſition
of the large pond oppofite the caſtle, he
rides along the fide of the rivulet tọ N° 22.
§ 659. FROM N° 22, he proceeds in as
ſtraight a line as poffible towards the
church of Wurben, (paffing cloſe to
N° 20), till he comes again into the Neu-
mark road. - Here he meaſures his dif-
tance from the trous-de-loup in front of
N° 18, and when he has inferted every ob-
ject between that work and Peterwitz,
which
1
238 PART III. CHA P. XIV.
which may have eſcaped his obfervation
he returns to N° 22.
$ 660. FROM hence he again continues.
his meaſurement in a ſtraight line to the
ſtar-fort N° 23, and repreſents all the ob-
jects on his right and left hand. On this
height he obſerves his alignement with
the church of Wurben, and finds, upon
examination, that it has the fame direc-
tion as the line he meaſured from N° 22:
confequently it will be afterwards a con-
fiderable affiſtance to him in laying down
the exact poſition of the works in that part
of the retrenchment. Other alignements
are alſo to be taken upon Peterwitz, Puſch-
kau, Tzſchechen, &c. He then repre-
ſents the work itſelf, the height on which
it lies, and whatever objects are viſible
from it.
As this is a regular ſtar-fort, he will only
find it neceffary to meaſure its diameter.
§ 661. He now rides along the road to
Pufchkau, or, if the country will admit of
it,
Examples, &c.
239
it, he proceeds in a ftraight line to the
church. Here he makes a furvey of
Puſchkau and of the country between it
and Peterwitz: and, when that is com-
pleted, he continues his meaſurement to
Tzſchechen, marking all the objects by
the way, and takes up that village.
REMAR K.
$ 662. IF he fhould not have a correct
map of the country, he muft either go
along the road, or meaſure a line from
Tzfchechen to Peterwitz, and from Peter-
witz to Puſchkau, for the purpoſe of afcer-
taining the exact fituation of thoſe three
villages, which form a triangle.
From Tzfchechen he returns to N° 23,
and repreſents the country between thoſe
two places; and from N° 23, he meaſures
a ftraight line to N° 26, that it may enable
him, together with the line which he has
already drawn between Nº 22 and 23, to
lay down the relative pofitions of 20
and 23.
5
A par-
1
240 PART III. CHA P. XIV.
A particular meaſurement of the ground
between N° 22 and 26 will not be ne-
ceffary: for, at N° 23, he will have had
an opportunity of examining all on that
fide of the rivulet, and the remainder may
be drawn when he takes up the abbatis
and N° 24.
§ 663. He now furveys N° 26 on foot,
paces the abbatis as far as N° 25, and the
trous-de-loup to N° 24; from thence he
returns to the abbatis, and proceeds to N°
22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17.—All theſe works are
taken up by the way; and when he has
finiſhed his furvey of N° 17, he again joins
the abbatis at 19, and goes along the other
fide of the wood, till he reaches the flêche
and his former ſtation at N° 26.
N°
27,
§ 664. FROM N° 26 he proceeds along
the ſhorteſt road to Tzſchechen, and from
thence in a ſtraight line towards the rivu-
let of Freyburg, till he arrives at the road
leading from Striegau to Schweidnitz.-
Here he takes up the village of Zedlitz, and
the
Examples, &c.
241
the rivulet of Freyburg as far as the end
of the town, croffes the road again near
N°
39, returns behind the village, furveys
the heights, the works 36, 37, 35, 34, 33,
and 329 the road in front of N° 38 and 28,
and both thofe works. Afterwards he
draws by his eye all the low ground be-
tween 28, the abbatis, and the road to Neu-
mark and afcertains the poſition of the
redout N° 16 by making an off-fet either
from that road, or the corner of the ab-
batis.
!
§ 665. WHEN this part of the buſineſs
is finiſhed, he returns towards Zedlitz by
the road which croffes the highway above
N° 61, furveys the country on each fide
till he reaches N° 29, and then takes up
N°: 30, 31, 39, 41, and 42:-From N° 42 he
goes back to N° 39, where he left the road
to Striegau.--He then follows the great road
towards Striegau, till he arrives at the place
where it is cròffed by that of Freyburg; ex-
preffing the ground on his left at the fame
VOL. II.
R
time,
R
2
242
PART III. CHA P. XIV.
time, to complete that part of the ſketch:-
On his right, however, he need only draw
as much as is vifible from the road.-
From this point he proceeds to ſurvey the
works Nº 61, 58, 57, and the Farben-Hohe,
and takes alignements upon all the confpi-
cuous objects in his view. Here he ob-
ferves that the large houſe in Tzſchechen
and the church at Jauernig are in a line
with his ftation, as well as the church of
Wurben and the Bufch-Muhle.-After-
wards he meaſures the feveral works which
are joined together by palifades from 56 to
the trous-de-loup in front of N° 42, and
again cloſes his ſketch at the end of the
village of Zedlitz. And lastly, he takes up
the wood of Zedlitz, the rivulet of Frey-
burg, the brook which runs into it from
Nieder-Arnfdorff, and concludes at our
firſt ſtation on the high road leading from
Freyburg to Neumark.
RE-
Examples, c.
243
REMARK.
§ 666. THE work of each day ought to
be taken out of the ſketch book, before the
furvey is begun on the fucceeding morn-
ing: otherwiſe many circumſtances may
be omitted, which would have added to
the fulness and accuracy of the plan. Or,
if two officers can go together, one of
them ſhould make the finished drawing,
while the other is employed in taking up
the ground.—If there is any uncertainty
in the movements of the army, the ſketches
fhould be as complete as poffible: and the
Engineers muſt be at work every day; be-
cauſe it is highly improbable that they will
have any opportunity of correcting their
errors, or of ſeeing the fame ground, after
it has once been left.
§ 667. IF I can take the outlines of my
ketch from a map, I muft draw the needle,
enlarge the ſcale, and mark the poſition of
all the churches, caftles, &c. as I find them.
When
}
R 2
*
1
1
244
PART III.
CH A P. XIV.
When I arrive upon the ground, I muft
add another ſcale of my own, or my
horfe's
paces,
and prove
prove the map by the meaſure
ment of triangles; as between Neudorff,
Wurben, and Bunzelwitz.-If I find it to
be accurate, my labour will be greatly fa-
cilitated.
§ 668. WHEN I lay down my part of
the country, I firſt take the roads which
are tolerably ſtraight, as bafes, then draw
the rivulets, afterwards the villages, and
laftly the hills, ravines, &c.; guided at the
fame time by the alignements. which I
have taken upon the different heights.-
My companion begins by marking the po-
fition of Peterwitz, Pufchkau, and Tzſche-
chen; confidering the line between the
two latter villages as the baſe of a trian-
gle, which, when taken in his compaffes,
afcertains the fituation of N° 23. From
23, he carries a dotted line to the church
of Wurben, which gives him the front of
the retrenchment from N° 22 to 18.- A
line drawn between Tzhechen and N° 23
is
Examples, &c.
245
馨
​is alſo the baſe of a triangle, which marks
the poſition of N° 26.—Of courſe the wood
of Tzfchechen and its abbatis may be eafi-
ly expreffed. And thus we continue our
joint operations till the plan is completed,
§ 669. WHAT has already been faid in
this chapter will be fufficiently inftruc-
tive to thoſe young officers, who are un-
acquainted with this part of the military
profeffion; provided they pay a proper at-
tention to the rules which I have given
them, and complete their drawings regu-
larly every evening, or before they re-
fume their work in the field on the fuc-
ceeding morning.-At firſt they may meet
with difficulties, but thofe difficulties will
foon be diminiſhed by ſteady perſever-
ance, and in the courfe of practice they
will have the fatisfaction to find they can
proceed without the leaſt heſitation,
R 3.
CHAP-
246 PART III. CHA P. XV.
1
$
CHAPTER XV,
Of Plans in General,
§ 670. A
CCURACY ought to be the
principal object of our atten-
tion in all military drawings, and when-
ever an error has been committed, it muſt
be immediately cut out or corrected:
otherwiſe it may mislead the General, and
involve the army in the greateſt difficulties.
They muft exprefs the exact form and
declivity of every height, as well as the ap-
proaches to them; that it may at once be
known how far they command each other,
and whether they are difficult or eafy of
accefs:-they must point out, all advan-
tages and difadvantages of fituation, and
the beft pofitions for the different pofts
and guards and laftly, they muſt ſhow
the ways in which the pofition will be ca-
pable of being occupied or attacked.-
Theſe points are only to be attained by
practice and affiduity, but without them a
plan
!
Of Plans in General.
247
plan would ſcarce be of more uſe than a
common map.
§ 671. IT refults from what has been
ſaid, that the finiſhed drawing ought always
to be made or fuperintended by thoſe who
have taken the firſt ſketch of the ground.
-And, if there are any parts of the coun-
try which cannot be properly repreſented
on account of the ſmallneſs of the ſcale, or
if certain points are to be expreffed by
marks, a written explanation of them
ought to be added in the field; left they
ſhould be afterwards productive of confu-
fion, or perhaps altogether omitted.
672. IF an officer is entruſted with this
employment who cannot draw well, or if
he is obliged to be very expeditious, his
plan ought to be as clean as poffible; the
words, references, &c. muſt be uniformly
and diftinctly written; and whenever he
uſes colours, he must take care that they
are properly prepared.
R 4
§ 673.
248
PART III. CHA P. XV.
}
§ 673. I HAVE frequently obſerved that
the Field-Engineers draw their plans of a
whole campaign in the fame form; pro-
bably with a view of fatisfying the taſte,
or rather the caprice of their employers.
But this is a very great error; for, to effect
their purpoſe, they are obliged to make
ufe of different fcales, and by the conftant
reduction and cnlargement of them, which
is not to be avoided, they are apt to commit
miftakes, and fometimes they even render
their drawings unferviceable. If a tract of
country is contained in feveral plans, and
formed upon the fame fcale, they may be
laid together whenever you wish to exa-
mine them, and, as there will then be a
greater probability of their accuracy, upon
what ground is an uniformity of ſhape to
be recommended?
$
§ 674. IF you wish to copy a well-drawn
plan, and ſtretch your paper upon a board
after the outlines have been traced in pen-
cil, you alſo commit a fault; becaufe it
will contract and expand itſelf in different
places,
J
Of Plans in General.
249
places, when wetted, and of courſe produce
errors which did not exist in the original:
eſpecially if the fcale is fmall, and if the
ground has been taken up with an inftru-
ment. The fame circumſtance may be
obſerved when a finiſhed plan is put upon
linen.
§ 675. IT is by no means my intention
to lay down the fundamental rules of plan-
drawing, neither would the limits of this
treatiſe allow me to enter into fo extenſive
a field; I only wish to offer inſtruction to
thofe officers who have ſome idea of the
bufinefs, and to give fuch hints as will tend
to improve them in it, or affift them in the
exact repreſentation of the different ob-
jects which they muft neceffarily meet
with in the courfe of every ſurvey *
* The last paragraph of this chapter is an exact repetition
of $ 673, therefore I have omitted it in the Tranflation.
Tranflator.
CHAP-
1
250 PART III. CHA P. XVI,
1
§ 676.
CHAPTER XVI.
Of Water and Morafs.
UNDER
NDER theſe heads may be
ranked (a) fprings; (b)
brooks; (c) ditches; (d) canals; (e) ri-
vers; (f) large rivers; (g) lakes; (b)
ponds; (i) holes or pits; (k) moraffes;
(1) ſwamps; (m) bogs; and (n) unfound
earth.-All of which muſt be accurately
and properly expreffed in every military
plan.
8.677. (a). SPRINGS generally form
brooks or streams; fometimes however
they run into the ground, and, in that
caſe, they occafion bogs, which are very
dangerous to the cavalry: particularly
when they are ſcarce viſible.-Their pofi-
tion ought alſo to be marked, on account
of their utility in a place of encampment.
§ 678. (b). BROOKS are to be reprefent-
ed by a fingle line, according to their courſe,
fu
and
Of Water and Morafs.
251
and not of the fame thickneſs from one
end to the other.-If they are to be colour-
ed, a ſtreak of pale ink, inclining rather to
a blue than green, ought to be added on
the lower or right-hand ſide, to expreſs
the fhade of the black lines *.-Let them
be ever ſo ſmall, their names fhould not
be omitted, eſpecially when they run down
from heights; on account of their capa-
bility of being fuddenly fwelled by rain.
And if their banks are high, they ought
alſo to be marked in the plan.
§ 679. (c). DITCHES are fometimes of
the greateſt importance in the courſe of
an action: confequently, their fize and
pofition muſt be carefully expreffed.
(d). Canals are to be reprefented by two
ſtraight lines, parallel to each other: and
if they are walled on each fide, thofe lines
fhould be red.
* Liquid verdigrife may be uſed for this purpofe. And with
a finall addition of yellow it makes a beautiful green.
Tranflator.
§ 630.
252
PART III. CHA P. XVI.
§ 680. (e). A RIVER is to be expreffed
by two lines, provided the ſcale is large
enough to admit of it, and that which is
next the light ought to be thicker than the
other. If the plan is to be coloured, there
muſt alſo be a ſtrong ſhade of water-blue,
which may be waſhed off gradually till it
is ſcarce viſible on the lower or right-hand
fide; and, if it is to be entirely black, a
pale ink may be uſed in the fame manner.
-Much attention will be neceffary in re-
preſenting its breadth and the height of
its banks; particularly when a drawing
is to be enlarged or reduced: for, on thoſe
occafions, errors may be eaſily commit-
ted.
§ 681. (ƒ). A LARGE river muſt be
drawn by the ſcale which is annexed to
the plan, and an exact repreſentation given
of its windings, banks, iſlands, and fhoals.
L
This is to be underſtood as a literal tranflation of the ori-
ginal word Strahm, which, in the German language, implies a
Jarge river emptying itſelf into the ſea.—Tranflator.
If
Of Water and Morafs.
253.
If your plan is to be entirely finiſhed with
a pen, it may be ſhaded as a large piece of
water; or if colours are uſed, they muſt
be ſtill paler than in the foregoing inſtance.
Its courſe muſt alſo be ſhown by an
arrow.
682. (g). LAKES ought to be drawn
with waves, eſpecially when they are very
large: but, as this is attended with fome
difficulty to the inexperienced, they may
be waſhed over with a pale ink or water-
colour; according to the rules which have
already been given for the repreſentation
of rivers.
§ 683. (b). IN ponds the water may be
expreffed by thin lines, if the plan is to be
finiſhed with the pen; otherwiſe it muſt
be coloured as above.
(i) Holes or pits are to be repreſented
in the fame manner, whenever they con-
tain water.
§ 684.
254 PART III. CHA P. XVI.
§ 684. (k). MORASSES are generally
large and impaffable.
(1) A fwamp is a ſmall morafs, and will
be uſually found in low ground, where the
water is confined. Whenever a ſwamp
croffes a road, as is frequently the cafe in
woods, it is extremely diſadvantageous.
(m) Bogs come under the fame defcrip-
tion, and are often to be met with upon
the higheſt ground.-Swamps and bogs
are to be drawn as moraffes; and it is of
great confequence that their extent fhould
be ſhown in the plan.
(n) Unfound earth is gravelly, and has
the appearance of being dry.-But, as it is
a very great impediment to the march of
artillery and baggage, it ought to be pro.
perly marked, and the Engineer who leads
a column muft always take care to avoid
it.
K, l, m, and n might have been brought under the fame
head; but, in compliance with the arrangement of the original
chapter, I thought it incumbent upon me to tranflate them in
the fame order: notwithſtanding they are nearly fynonymous in
the Engliſh.-The fame obfervation may extend to e, ƒ and
h, i with equal propriety.-Tranfiator.
CHAP-
1
Of Heights.
255
CHAPTER XVII.
Of Heights.
§ 685. PARTICULAR attention will be
required both in taking up
heights, and in the mode of repreſenting
them in your plan. Firſt, that it may be
at once known, whether your batteries
can have an entire command over their
declivities, or whether there are breaks
which can ſhelter the enemy from your
fire:-Secondly, that you may ſee how far
they command each other :-and laſtly,
that you may know whether they conſiſt
of rock, earth, or fand.
§ 686. IF an officer has not had much
experience in this particular, I would ad-
viſe him to make the profiles of the heights
after he has furveyed them, and to lay down
others after he has taken them in pro-
file*.
*The neceffary rules may be found in the firft Volume of
my" ACCOUNT of the WAR," Sect. 2.-Author.
{
§ 687.
1
256
PART III. CHA P. XVII.
§ 687. HEIGHTS may be repreſented in
different ways, and, as they ought to be
known to every Field Engineer, I fhall en-
deavour to point out the merits and im-
perfections of each.-The moſt eaſy and
expeditious manner is merely to ſhade
them with a pale Indian ink; but they
will never look well when finiſhed, errors
will be frequently committed, and it will
fcarce be poffible to diſcern how they com-
mand each other.
§ 688. SECONDLY, you may fill a hair-
pencil with Indian ink, lay a fine ivory
comb upon your paper, and draw the lines
through it.-Every ſtroke will then be
diſtinct, and with practice ſuch a drawing
may be very highly finiſhed; but, unless
you are extremely careful, you will find a
difficulty in giving the heights their true
flope.
§ 689. THE third is with a pén.-Here
the operation is flow; but, on account of
its accuracy, and the eafe with which it
enables
1
>
Of Arable Land, Meadows, &c. 257
enables you to repreſent the ſmalleſt breaks,
I prefer it to either of the other methods.
Some officers begin by marking the
ſhade of the heights with a pale ink, which
tends very much to deſtroy the exact re-
preſentation of their form and aſcent.
§ 690. IN coloured plans the hills are
uſually ſhaded with a mixture of Indian
ink and carmine, and afterwards waſhed
over with a very pale green.—They are
entirely finiſhed with the pencil, and re-
quire much time.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Of Arable Land, Meadows, Trees, Gardens,
Vineyards, and Woods.
RABLE land may be drawn
$ 691. AR
either with the pen or pen-
cil.-In the firſt caſe, the balks are ufu-
ally marked by double lines, and the fur-
rows by ſingle dotted lines, parallel to each
other fometimes they are alſo waſhed
VOL. II.
S
over
258 PART II. CHA P. XVII.
over with a faint gamboge or brown.-In
the fecond inſtance they may be coloured
either with a pale mixture of Indian ink
and carmine, or a yellow; and the fur-
rows reprefented by ſtreaks of black, dark-
brown, or green.
§ 692. WHEN the pen is uſed in draw-
ing meadows, three or four dots are placed
together to repreſent tufts of graſs; and
when coloured, they are firft washed over
with a very pale black or green, and the
tufts of grafs are marked either by a
darker fhade of the fame colours or a
bright yellow. In both thefe cafes the
meadows muſt be properly diftinguiſhed
from morafs or maríhy ground.
§ 693. TREES may be drawn in differ-
ent ways, but they must always be in pro-
portion to your fcale.-Sometimes they
are coloured with a bright green after the
outlines have been marked out, and ſome-
times the fhade is only expreffed by a
1
deeper colour without any outlines.
L
9
§ 694.
>
Of Arable Land, Meadows, &c. 259
૬
§ 694. WOODS may be reprefented by a
covering of pale Indian ink, and the trees
afterwards made out with a pen. Here
however it is of great confequence, that
the plan ſhould ſhow whether they are
filled with brushwood, or whether the
diſtance between the trees will allow your
troops to march through them without
interruption.
$695. VINEYARDS are ufually marked
by fmall dots, and the ſtakes are afterwards
drawn with a ſhade to the right-hand.-
But in coloured plans, the ground is firſt
covered with a pale yellow, and the ſtakes
are green.
§ 696. In the repreſentation of a garden
the ground may be ſhaded with a pale In-
dian ink, and the walks fuffered to remain
white, except when colours are to be uſed.
-In that cafe, the walks fhould be ſhown,
by a pale yellow, the trees and hedges by
different ſhades of green, and the beds or
quarters by a dark brown. Orchards are
S 2
to
1
260
PART HII. CHA P. XIX.
to be drawn as meadows, with the addi-
tion of trees.
Walls are generally ſhown by a ſtrong
red line, and pales by a faint black or a
yellow.
§ 697.
CHAPTER XIX.
Of Roads, Bridges, Fords, &c.
A
LL roads ought to be properly
diftinguiſhed in a military
plan.-Highways are reprefented by two
parallel lines; in fmaller roads, one of
thoſe lines must be dotted; cart-ways are
expreffed by one line; and foot-paths by
a dotted line.-Sometimes theſe are af-
terwards coloured with a pale black or
brown.
Hollow-ways muſt be particularly mark-
ed, eſpecially when water runs through
them.
Your plan muſt alſo ſhow the ſituation
of every ford or ferry, and in the repre-
fentation of bridges it muſt explain their
length,
}
Of Houfes, Villages, Towns, &c. 261
length, the materials with which they are
built, and the number of their arches.-
And, whenever you meet with a bridge of
boats, equal care muſt be taken in mark-
ing its pontoons.
CHAPTER XX.
Of Houſes, Villages, Towns, and Fortreſſes.
§ 698.
OUSES may be ſhaded with
Ho
the pen, or in coloured plans
with a bright red. In the latter caſe, there
ought alſo to be a ſtronger fhade of car-
mine or vermilion on the lower and right-
hand fides, provided the fize of the ſcale
will admit of it. — Churches and large
buildings are to be diftinguished by a
darker colour.
When towns are comprehended in the
plan, it is uſual to repreſent the roofs of
the houſes, and to add a fhade on the
lower or right-hand fide of every line,
S 3
which
1
262 PART III. CHA P. XX.
which does not immediately face the
light.
§ 699. IF colours are not to be uſed in
finiſhing the works of a fortrefs, the ram-
part must remain white, the dry ditches
will be dotted, and in wet ditches, the wa-
ter muſt be drawn as in a pond or river.
If the walls are very broad, they fhould
be marked by a double line, and the ſpaces
between them filled by ſmaller lines pa-
rallel to thoſe which mark their angles.—
But as this is a very tedious method, the
glacis is fometimes washed over with a
very pale black, to relieve it from the pa-
per, and the parapet with a ſtronger fhade
of the fame colour.
§700. WHEN colours are uſed; the
glacis, parapet, and angles are ſhaded as
before with a faint ground of Indian ink
or with a green; the ſcarp, the counter-
ſcarp, the interior talus of the parapet, and
the flope of the banquettes, are green;
the ramparts yellow; the berm and the
top
•
Of Camps and Retrenchments. 263
All
top of the banquettes remain white; dry
ditches are brown; and wet ditches are
ſhaded with the uſual water-green.
bridges and wood-work muſt be yellow;
and the outlines of the walls, red.-In
very large plans the ftones are ſometimes
marked before they are coloured.
§ 701.
CHAPTER XXI.
Of Camps and Retrenchments.
WE
HETHER you intend to
mark the place where troops
have been encamped, or during a ma-
nœuvre, the outlines ought to be dotted.
-In both cafes, the divifions are repre-
fented in the fame manner and in propor-
tion to the ſcale; but in the former, a
greater depth is given to them than in the
latter. If all the battalions and fquadrons
are to be ſhown in their proper colours,
the front of each ought to correfpond with
the uniform, and to be marked at the fame
time by a thick line; the lines which pafs
through
SA
#
264 PART III. CHA P. XXI.
through them may be white or yellow to
repreſent the buttons, and the rear divi-
ſions may ſhow the facings or cuffs.—But
when the particular colour of the uniforms
is not to be expreffed, the infantry are
generally repreſented by white and red ;
the heavy cavalry by white and yellow;
the light cavalry by a pale blue or green ;
the croats and free-corps by a deep green;
the artillery-men by red and black; and
the park either by grey and black, or yel-
low and black.-Or, if this rule is not
ftrictly followed, a marginal reference can
at any time explain the meaning of each
colour, although the troops of feveral
powers may be contained in the fame
fheet.
In the Ruffian fervice, all the regiments
of infantry are dreffed in green with ſcar-
let waiſtcoats and cuffs, and the cavalry in
blue with fcarlet cuffs; the Cuiraffiers
have fcarlet, and the Dragoons ftraw-co-
loured waiſtcoats.-The Artillery and En-
gineers have red uniforms with black
cuffs and ftraw-coloured waiſtcoats; the
former
Of Camps and Retrenchments. 265
former with gold and the latter with filver
lace. The regiments of Huffars are in
different colours, and the Coffacks have no
eſtabliſhed uniform. In the repreſenta-
tion of a Pruffian Army, the Infantry may
be blue, or blue and yellow; the Cavalry
white and yellow, or white and red; the
Dragoons and Huffars light blue, and the
Free-battalions may be shown either by
two ſhades of blue, or blue and black.
§ 702, THE batteries are uſually waſhed
over with a very pale black, and the para-
pets with a ſtronger ſhade of the fame co-
lour. The ditches are expreffed by a
brown, the embrafures by a deep black,
and the lines of fire by a deep red.—The
abbatis ought to be green; the fougaffes,
black; the palifades, fraiſes, and chevaux-
de-frife, yellow; and the trous-de-loup,
brown.
CHAP-
266
PART III. CHA P. XXII.
"
§ 703.
CHAPTER XXII.
Of colouring Plans.
A
N ill-drawn plan may be re-
lieved by colours, but if it
has been well and correctly finiſhed it can-
not ftand in need of fuch affiftance.-
Sometimes an Engineer may be obliged to
colour his plans to fatisfy the taste of his
employer, I fhall therefore lay down a few
rules for his information.
§ 704. WITH good Indian ink a plan
may be completely drawn and fhaded be-
fore it is coloured; but if it is of a bad
quality, the fhades and outlines muſt not
be added till the colours have been laid on :
eſpecially if you make ufe of carminc and
gamboge.
§ 705. IN reprefenting a large piece of
water, the colour muſt be very faint, except
at the edges; ſmall rivers and brooks may
have
Of colouring Plans.
267
have a ſtronger ſhade, to make them the
more confpicuous.
§ 706. IN a military plan it can never be
neceffary to colour more than the water,
houſes, and troops; or at moſt, the roads
and works ought only to be included.—
A painted ſtar or needle, to ſhow the dif-
ferent points of the compafs, may be alfo
rejected as an uſeleſs bawble.
§ 707. WHEN feveral diſtricts are con-
tained in a large plan or map; each of
them may be waſhed over with a faint and
different colour, as foon as the pencilled
outlines have been drawn, and before any
part is made out with ink.-Their boun-
daries may be alfo ſhown by a deep fhade
of the fame colours.
CHA P-
268
PART III. CHA P. XXIII.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Of ornamenting and finishing a Plan.
HE title and fcale may be con-
§ 708. THR
tained within a coloured and
ſhaded ornament, repreſenting a card or a
torn piece of paper; or they may be em-
belliſhed with feftoons of flowers, fhell-
work, and arms.-This latter method is
frequently uſed by the French: but un-
leſs the different parts are in proportion to
each other, and properly finiſhed, the plan
can never look well.-Sometimes the or-
nament is alſo intended to fhow the par-
ticular produce of the country, or the re-
fult of an action..
+
§ 709. THE names within the plan ought
to be written in a plain and neat manner,
otherwiſe it will be greatly disfigured;
and whenever the words are likely to be
crowded together, fingle letters may be
added,
Preparation of transparent Paper. 269
added, and their meaning explained on the
margin *.
CHAPTER
XXIV.
Of the Preparation of transparent Paper.
§ 710.
TRETCH a ſheet of good draw-
STRET
ing paper, over a charcoal fire,
and ſprinkle it with pure white wax ; then
lay it between two fheets of blotting pa-
per, and keep rubbing them with an iron
till all the wax is abforbed.-As ſoon as it
is perfectly tranſparent, waſh it with warm
water and a ſponge, and it will be fit for
ufe. Or you may ufe line-feed, or turpen-
tine oil, inſtead of wax.-In that cafe, how-
ever, it will be neceffary to renew the ſheets
of blotting paper, otherwiſe the oil will not
be entirely dried up; and your paper will
• Theſe lines contain the entire fubftance of the twenty-
fourth chapter of the original work, which I have found it expe-
dient to reduce into one paragraph.-The twenty-fifth chapter
is alfo omitted for the reafons already given in my Preface.
Tranflator.
retain
270
PART III. CHA P. XXV.
retain a very diſagreeable fmell till it has
been ſome time expoſed to the air.
$ 711.
CHAPTER XXV.
Of copying Plans.
THE
HE quickeſt method is to trace
all the outlines upon tranfpa-
rent paper, and afterwards to fill up the
drawing by the eye. This expedient is
frequently uſed in the field, when you
Have not time to lay down your ſketch in
the uſual manner, or when you wiſh to
copy a plan which has been pafted upon
wood or linen.
Secondly, you may lay a ground of white
or red lead upon a sheet of paper, before
you fix the drawing upon it, and then
trace out all the lines with a pointed inftru-
ment.—This will give you an exact im-
preffion of the original, which may bé af-
terwards made out or coloured.
Or thirdly; you may divide the original
plan and your paper into fquares of equal
dimen-
Of copying Plans.
271
dimenfions, and mark each of them with a
letter or figure to avoid miſtakes.-This
latter method will be equally uſeful in en-
larging or diminiſhing a plan. For in-
ſtance, if you wiſh to reduce your drawing
to a quarter of the ſize of the plan, the
ſquares on your paper muſt be equal to a
fourth of thoſe on the original: and if it
is to be increaſed in the fame proportion,
they muſt be four times as large.
§ 712. THE French make uſe of an in-
ſtrument for theſe purpoſes, which they
call a Pantographe or Singe.-It is well
known to all mathematical inftrument
makers, and a defcription of it may be
found in the "METHODE de lever les
PLANS, et les CARTES de terre et de mer,
par M. OZAMAN *.
• See alſo the DICTIONAIRE de MATHEMATIQUE par
M. SAVERIEN.-Tranflator..
CHAP-
ง
272 PART III. CHA P. XXVII.
$ 713.
CHAPTER
To make Glue.
PUT
XXVI.
UT threds of ifinglaſs into an
earthen veſſel, pour a little
water upon them, and let them be foaked
for three days; then boil them over a flow
fire till the ſmell is gone off, and till they
have formed themſelves into a glutinous
ſubſtance.—An inferior fort may alſo be
made in the fame manner with parchment;
provided the fhreds are boiled for fix or
eight hours, and the water afterwards
ſtrained through a cloth.-In both caſes
the glue muſt be cut into the fſhape you
wiſh, before it becomes dry or cold.
CHAPTER XXVII.
To pafe Plans upon Linen.
$ 714. To
Τ
1
O make a proper paſte for this
purpoſe, you muſt boil ſome
glue
To paste Plans on Linen.
273
glue in water, and when you have added
a proportionable quantity of diffolved
ftarch, let them be well mixed together
over a moderate fire.-Then take a ſmooth
and compact piece of linen and ſtretch it
upon a table, that it may not warp or con-
tract.
In laying down the plan great care muſt
be taken that the air fhall not get under
it, and when once fixed it muſt remain in
the fame pofition till it is quite dry.
THE END.
VOL. II.
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