298 Major-General Sir Howard Douglas oil 



preclude surprize, and to prevent a passage, by open force, from being effect- 

 ed ; and on the measures and means most conducive to the success of enter- 

 prises of this description. Sou It did not adopt proper measures of surveillance. 

 No arrangements were made for a rapid communication of intelligence, by 

 signals, by which means only that prompt concentration of troops on the 

 points of attack can be effected, on which the defence of a river-bank mainly 

 depends. The plan of operation on the offensive part was justly conceived, 

 well combined, and most gallantly executed. The quick perception of Soult's 

 error, in believing himself secure, and of his neglect of those precautionary 

 measures which he ought to have adopted, were admirably acted upon. The 

 Seminary proved an excellent tete de communication ; the batteries placed on 

 the convent height commanded the ground in front of the tcte, so that, when 

 once gained, the footing on the right bank could not well be lost ; and the 

 movement from Avintas was judiciously calculated to conceal from the ene- 

 my an important operation, and to reap the fullest fruits of a victory which 

 all these combinations richly deserved." 



Such, then, are the spendid achievements of a brave army, 

 well disciplined, provided with engineer officers of intrepidity 

 and skill, when commanded by a consummate general. Such 

 also are the disasters of an army, however brave, when under 

 the direction of an improvident leader. 



The fourth section of the work is occupied with the methods 

 of constructing Flying Bridges, and employing them for the 

 passage of troops across unfordable rivers. Sir Howard Dou- 

 glas gives several of the most convenient and effective modes of 

 erecting the necessary apparatus for this purpose. The flying- 

 bridge is formed by anchoring a floating body, such as a buoy 

 in or near the centre of a river, so that a boat attached to it by 

 a cable or chain may receive the action of the stream obliquely. 

 By this means a force is derived from the current, which moves 

 the vessel across the river. The manoeuvre will be more easily 

 executed with a somewhat long cable than with a short one. 

 In great rivers, such as the Rhine or the Danube, two large 

 boats or vessels are commonly used. On the sides of these, pa- 

 rapets of timber, wool, sand-bags, &c. may be constructed, as 

 was practised by Charles XII. in his passage of the Duna in 

 1701. The author, after having giving complete information 

 on the methods of constructing and managing flying-bridges, 

 illustrates the whole with many interesting and appropriate ex- 

 amples, which are of great utility to the practical engineer and 

 commanding officer. 



These are chiefly drawn from the campaigns of Napoleon, 



