. . 
difference in 
the besiegers, 
sive operations. 
In ing the various kinds of projectiles that 
engin uote debeiiog a place, Carnot also recom- 
artillery in certain circumstances, but 
i should not be fired through embrasures, 
are mounted on the faces. Instead of 
these he proposes 
bags of earth, to be 
ery is to be with- 
drawn, Grenades, he thinks, might also be used with 
great advantage, and even in some cases the manubalisia 
and jon of the ancients. There is still another 
be so completely soaked, as to put a stop to their work. 
“ It would not be difficult to conceive,” says Carnot, 
“ that this idea was every where turned into ridicule. 
ye was however cope by a 1785, to put 
to the test of ex t, t experiment, 
to de ter me of the — makers, com 
pletely succeed The sappers could no longer 
their ets; the earth was converted into a liquid 
mud, which slipped from under them, and of which it 
was impossible to constract any intrenchment. Yet, 
notwithstanding all this, the experiment has never been 
followed up ;—a proof that it is not always sufficient to 
have experience, reason, and even the good of the state 
on one’s side—the inertia of indolence may resist all 
these. Perhaps an age or two hence, some extraordi- 
~ nary events may shew, that the idea is neither extrava- 
it 
gant nor absurd.””. We should not be rised if the 
sentiments which Carnot has expressed with to 
Jomariére’s of defence, are hereafter found to be 
strictly applicable to his own. 
As might be expected from what has been already 
stated, present construction of fortifications is, in 
the opinion of Carnot, extremely defective. Of these 
defects he has given an enumeration, and has also il- 
pat them at considerable length.—They are as fol- 
1st, There is no provision made for covering either 
the artillery, or the garrison on duty, from the fire of 
the enemy, mete wp oie ina the guns of the 
fortress are generally dismounted in a few days. 
2d, There to “ne interlel Wakl or detrenchment;: « 
that whenever the besiegers make a successful assault, 
the place is in their power, and the inhabitants exposed 
to 
Bd, communication between the different parts 
of the place and the outworks, is too difficult for the 
prompt execution of any necessary movement. As an 
’ 
FORTIFICATION. 
improvement in this respect, Carnot proposes, 
cond na ee there — 
tle slope or glacis, from covert 
fom of the fossé, so that if i cayeliges 
session of the former, the make 
i 
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if 
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4th, The covered way is not constructed 
swer the purposes for which it isintended. | 
1. To tolkect the Secs thetuandgbe 
ance of the place. 2. To form the 
for a sortie. 3.To serve as advanced 
venting surprises. 4. To cover 
revetement of the works: And, 
cond line of fire to the enceinte. 
our author observes, that the covert 
pacers trina 28 the field, it is a 
Ity for the auxiliary troops to 
wer they can enter and even 
tered it, if they consist of cavalry or artillery, iti 
difficult to find admittance into place. 
same reason it obstructs, rather 
particularly if the sallying force consists 
As to preventing ises, it is, in its 
of very little use, as besiegers ina 
nutes; make their way over the pallisade, by m 
covering the revetement of the works, it might 
ful, if its peop hi than the revetement ; " 
it is well that, in the greater part of modern for- 
tifications, this is not the case; and, with regard. to its 
aifordi pen cane ert abe Capen abr pre arto 
the are alwa a parapet, the ra- 
“ shede ont hoot bache 
fie 
33 
g 
s 
F 
f 
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ty 
yen: of dabaielaaaieinaesant 
greater cs of wood than can in most cases be pro- 
cured: And, tiar’s 
12th, It exposes the soldiers to severe and incessant 
labour, without the possibility of their obtaining ne~ 
The great length to which this rtisle: has already: 
a 
oat 
— 
