W O R K .S OP D E F E N f ! E 



39 



of embankments accompanied by exterior ditches. There seems to be no gateway 

 or opening through the outer line ; the inner one, however, terminates before 

 reaching the bank of the ravine on the left, leaving a narrow passage-way upon 

 that side. The natural banks have an angle of forty-five to sixty degrees with the 

 horizon, and are in many places wet and slippery, and utterly inaccessible. About 

 one-fourth of a mile to the eastward of this work, is a mound ten feet high, by 

 sixty feet in diameter at the base." 



Fig. 4. — " This work is situated on the right 

 bank of Black river, in Sheffield township, Lo- 

 rain county, Ohio. The bank of the river is 

 here nearly perpendicular and quite impossible 

 of ascent, except by ropes or something equiva- 

 lent, and is about sixty feet high. The water 

 level of the lake reaches to this spot, and the 

 river is in consequence too deep to be forded. 

 ^ The position seems to have been selected for 

 the purpose of defence, although the land back 

 of it is on the same level. 

 " The artificial defences consist of double embankments, with an intermediate 

 ditch. The embankments are very slight, not much exceeding a foot in height. 

 It is not improbable that the ditch was occupied by wooden pickets, supported 

 by embankments on either side. The work could not have afforded any protec- 

 tion, except with additional defences, — palisades, or something of the sort. Within 

 the enclosure the soil is very rich ; but without, it is clayey and poor. The gate- 

 way, opening to the north, is forty feet wide." 



Sectiorv ^^b-^ ^^^ ^ 

 Fio. 4. 



Fig. 5. — " This work is situated in the same 

 township with that last described. It is bounded 

 upon three sides by a vertical slate bluft', and de- 

 fended upon the fourth by a double line of embank- 

 ments, with accompanying exterior ditches. The 

 height of the walls is about eight feet, measuring 

 from the bottom of the ditches. There is an 

 opening or passage-way through the outer line, 

 but none through the inner. We may account for 

 this circumstance by supposing the latter to have 

 been thrown up after the commencement of a 

 siege. As usual, the soil within this work is 

 very rich compared with that without the walls. 

 Under any mode of attack known to barbarians, this must have been an impregnable 

 work. Upon the other side of the creek, are bluffs of equal height with that 

 upon which this defence is located ; but they are too far distant to afford posi- 

 tions of annoyance to besiegers." 





Fig. 3. 



