512 FORTIFICATION. 
Auack and that a proper tunnel or excavation may be made by it bags and wool- are here also of considerable advan« 
Defence f for constructing a lodgement. tage, and where are to be had, they should always. 
— a The first method of attacking mines, is to make 
— enn be acaake , ofabout 
——> 4 feet square, and when this has been carri 
depositing the charge 
filled, blocked up, and fired. Experi 
guide in determining the powder to be used. 
In this manner the work proceeds, till it arrive near 
the covered way. As soon as a tunnel of a mine is 
formed, a t is directly made there, that the 
may vance and take possession of it, and thus 
oulaip opines the fortress. If some of the ene- 
my’s mines and wells are met with, or if his miner is 
heard, a mine is directly to be filled and burst, before 
he has time to do so with any of his. But should the 
miners be by the enemy bursting his mines, 
new ones must be which there is reason to ex- 
lp be more successful, as the enemy will then 
ve no more mines at his command. 
If the miners should chance to meet those of the ene- 
my, a subterraneous ent will ensue, in which 
smoke-balls, for producing a poisonous and suffocating 
smoke, may be of use. If they succeed in driving the 
enemy out of the mines, a large one is to be made, and 
the whole blown up as soon as possible. In all cases 
it will be necessary to keep the most accurate drawing 
possible of the progress of the mines, executed from 
surveys. 
If one of the enemy’s wells be discovered, it is to be 
filled at certain with quantities of meee these 
are to be blocked up properly, and the whole exploded, 
in order to form a |} ent or an approach, which, 
after bursting a mine, is finished by the sappe. In 
mining, it will sometimes happen that the ground is 
not firm enough, or that springs are met with, and that 
the miner is unable to proceed, in which case new wells 
are to be dug out, as before. The depth of these wells 
should, if possible, be 20 to 30 feet below the ground. 
Large mines are always very advantageous for the be- 
sieger, as they favour the construction of lodgements ; 
but small mines, which are not seen on the'surface of 
the ground, are of the greatest advantage to the be- 
sieged, as they are of no use to the enemy, but serve to 
destroy his works, and to obstruct his advances. 
The mines used to take the covered way may also be 
spies in destroying the traverses, and even the places 
arms, 
As soon as the covered way is taken, and the 
ment on it finished, the construction of the breaching 
batteries is begun, and, if possible, in such a way that 
the angle of the shoulder may be struck by the balls in 
a dicular direction. But if this cannot be done, 
and if the front has a large demi-lune, the breach is to 
heh cangapen: 10 to 15 yards from the angle of the 
The breach in the ravelin is made so as to destroy the 
intrenchments formed on it, at the same time that the 
breach is made ; or if this is not possible, the breach is 
laid 10 to 15 yards from its saliant angle. 
Breaches in counter- 
are laid as in the demi- 
SulbMerrane- 
our cogage- 
sochisy, 
Destruction 
of the ene- 
my’s mines, 
Breaching 
batteries, 
; The breaching as well as the dismounting 
batteries are constructed by the aid of the sappe, in a 
manner similar to that before described. t sand. 
» lunettes, manteaux, &c. ' 
batteries is as soon as they 
be used, ese ae tei 
never poibedls oe may not be -—— 
covered way is to be formed by the sappe, and 
that the way to the fossé is , either by a 
raneous passage, or by the double and covered 
When the subterraneous passage is formed, it is to” 
lined and covered with wood, and carried on to the res 
vetement of the counterscarpe. This is pent either : 
by a small mine, or by piercing it, and making an en- 
trance, which is to come about two feet above the sur= 
Sees Cetin Sas6 eee 
‘ossé. 
he passage over the fossé is differently constructed, 
ing to the nature of the fossé. A dry fossé may the fossé. 
be by a double or by a covered sappe ; a 
fossé, where the water does not flow,  tasciad Geen 
and a fossé where there is a current, by a kind of fascine 
ater 
The sappe over a dry ditch is made, as 
above, either by mines, or like a double or a covered 
The dase over a: wet dikcty "tard alee aatiied 
rerit, has two 3 one at each if the enemy's 
fire is to be feared in passing the even though 
all his guns at this time should be ed, or at 
pamela. on oat attacked side, hts is 
ly and successively constructed, by forming 
layer of fascines, and ieunaidhs them with earth, Sod 
continuing with this tll it be sufficiently high, then 
t is constructed, a new begun, and ’ 
wk vi veods thus till tha wicks ielaioonis ii 
A ‘over a fossé which has a current, is more dif. . 
ficult. The first thing is to try w 
commtoe the water let off. 
e, the 
tervals are filled with fascines, the upper 
- 
>. -. 
i 
can be assaulted, ’ f 
cumstances allow it, the outworks are either passed, or 
the bastion and the outworks attacked e same 
time. As soon as a practicable breach has been made 
in the rampart, a sufficient number of volunteers nek 
sault the Mest bee in 8: 
this purpose to ace . 
company the soldiers who make the assault. 
