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of the eighteenth century, to give it an extraordinary develop- 
ment, and to make the casemate the essential element of a 
system of fortification. This “most intrepid of authors upon 
fortification ” (as he is styled by Chasseloup) boldly attempted” 
to apply to his art the same principles by which Napoleon 
won his victories, — the concentration of superior forces upon 
the decisive points. In his projects we find upon all parts ‘ 
where there must be a decisive contest of artillery an ex- 
traordinary concentration of guns, amounting in some cases 
to ten times those of the attacking batteries, the construction 
of which it is intended to prevent, or which shall be promptly 
overpowered, if constructed. This concentration he effected, 
and could only effect, by the use of casemates, upon which, 
numerous and well constructed, he bases all the strength of 
his fortifications. 
No author on this art has displayed greater genius or a 
greater affluence of resources, and no author has given oc- 
casion for so much acrimonious discussion. Rejected by the 
French, the principles of Montalembert have been made the 
basis of the modern German, or “ Polygonal,” system. 
For sea-coast fortification the casemates of Montalembert 
had a singular applicability, and he has the merit, at least, of 
being the first writer who has seen in this branch of the art 
a subject of particular treatment, and who had given special 
designs for forts and batteries “ for the defence of ports.” 
In no warlike structure was there so great a concentration 
of artillery as in a ship of war, such as it was fifty or even 
twenty years ago. And as there is no limit to the number 
of ships which may be brought to bear upon a shore battery 
save that of the range of artillery and the area of navigable 
Water, it is easy to see to what overwhelming hostile fire such 
a work may be subjected. On the other hand, it frequently 
happens that the site otherwise most advantageous for a bat- 
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