FORTIPICATION. 505 
scapEs, may be more easily, as well as more effectually, Attack and 
observed with respect to the movements of the troops, 
aoubenery Sonate have’ wrath rm canapeene 
been at~ 
tack is to be undertaken, the troops assemble, and march 
» to the covered way. pono Bepmmrsenternd 
obstructions, 
removed the other ns, and’passed the fossé, the 
te eronalnamiroue mere serene A 
number of men then mount by them, sufficient to make 
prisoners of the , at one of the gates, which is im- 
mediately openéd to a reinforcement previously posted 
near it. This is by a larger foree, the other 
gates are thrown , and the town taken possession of 
in a similar as by a surprise, described above. 
a eee eon ee 
boats, with ladders called sambukes, it will be almost im- 
possible to effeet an escalade. The garrison 
He 
i 
to know the real point which it is intended to attack, and 
se srr tac these ine a use, as are 
also several attacks at the same time. is equally 
ait 
at 
ze 
. The mode certain methodol forcing a fortress to sur- 
render is by famine; but it isvat the same time the most 
tedious, especially if the place is well supplied with 
visions, and if it is situated near a river, The taki 
a-fortress in this 
' army from forming a connected circle. 
: we km meng tarp Y Remar 
blockaded, even by a small corps, than a fortress situated meow ree 
in an open country canbe by a large army. 
A town partly surrounded with water cannot be block« 
aded, unless the blockading troops command the water, 
whether it be the sea, a river, or a lake: In this case, a 
Sotijuyund frequently's feet; wilbbe mecetsary to blocks 
oa the place from the water sie a 
To assist the means of consumin enemy's provi« 
sions as soon’as possible, a eicnlber dupont is frequently 
of the use, as the enemy’s magazines andstore4 
houses may thereby be set on fire, and the’ inhabitants 
exposed to much danger. The habitations of the garri« 
son will also be rendered unsafe, and the soldiers expo« 
sed to constant disturbance and fatigue. 
A bombardment is most advantageously made by-more- 
tars of a large calibre, and at great distances, with shells 
of 12 inches diameter, and guns, with red-hot balls. 
The shells used on these occasions should be filled with 
combustible matter, so as to set on fire the objects. near 
which they e. For the same » fire-rockets 
may also be used with advantage. Whatever, indeed, 
threatens to consurhe the place, must operate as’ an in- 
ducement to the garrison to surrender, particularly if 
their provision be destroyed. This may: sometimes: be’ 
effected by spies, or some other secret means, which: of 
' course decides the fate of the place. It ought always to 
be remembered, however, that the siege is carried on, 
not as against an inhabited town, but a military post, and 
therefore the inhabitants are to be spared as: much as - 
possible. At the same time, it’ must be acknowledged, . 
that this is more the: business of the besieged than of the 
besiegers. 
The attack in form, or the regular attack of a fortress, By the at- 
begins, as in the last case, with investing, ‘or inclosing it ‘kin form, 
with troops. This investment is particularly necessary 
to cut off the communication between a fortress «and its 
army. Some towns, however, cannot be invested com~ 
pletely, as, for instance, when a fortress is situated on the 
sea, and possesses a greater naval force than ‘the besie~ 
gers. In this case, such a can al ‘receive suffi< 
cient reinforcements, and this alone will very much re« 
tard the siege. Those fortresses are also with: 
invested that are situated on the bank of a large’ river, 
the conflux of two rivers, in the middle of woods -and 
hollow ways, at a certain distarice from ‘them, or in genes 
ral ow ground which in any way’prevents: the’ besieging: 
It is also very: 
difficult toinvest a fortress covered by a large army, or 
by an entrenched camp. In this casey the i are 
miy has to ocetipy a very large s by:which ‘its force 
will be more dispersed, and driven back bya con 
centrated attack from the 
A fortress can either be invested by ‘the army which: 
is to carry on the siege, or by a-corps sent forward: bes 
fore that army arrives. This will frequently be of great 
unless the fortress is covered by’ an: army,” 
which of course must be! driven back before the siege’ or 
the investment can take place. It is always to béobser« 
ved, however, that the investment of a ‘fortress, ‘or the 
movements and preparations for besieging ity are to be 
“prepa~ 
sete dipbusse TRON Reyer jg em or te. 
Ni 
informati 
mS Previoat tab couaiedsoiend Pu yet of pr peheng 
gait Clie ary to ascertain not orily the hie siege, 
