THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
219 
OBSERVATIONS UPON CHANGES THAT MUST BE INTRODUCED INTO WORKS 
OF DEFENCE TO ENABLE THEM TO KEEP PACE WITH IMPROVEMENTS 
IN ARTILLERY. Read at the R. A. Institution, Nov. 14, 1862. 
By Captain C. S. HUTCHINSON, B.E. 
PEOFESSOE OF FOETIFICATION, E.M.A. 
The subject wbicli the Committee of this Institution have done me the 
honor of asking me to remark upon this evening, is one which has necessarily 
occupied considerable attention for some time past, and upon which much 
has been thought and written. I propose in the following paper to notice 
briefly some of the various suggestions that have been offered, with such 
remarks as may appear necessa^q trusting that many points will present 
themselves for interesting discussion. 
It will be most convenient to divide the subject into three parts, viz.—■ 
(1) field works, (2) permanent works, and (3) coast batteries. 
Field Works. 
As regards profile it does not seem probable that much change will be 
necessary, further than that the thickness of parapets should be increased as 
far as time and opportunity will allow, to resist the greatly increased charges 
carried in elongated shells. In some cases, such as in parapets on the 
brow of a hill with other hills in the neighbourhood, where a low parapet of 
5 or 6 ft. high might have been formerly sufficient to cover troops from any 
point within range, an additional command would now have to be given if the 
adjacent hills, available to the enemy, were within present ranges. 
With regard to plan, it will be more than ever desirable to direct the 
principal forces of works so as to avoid enfilade fire, and to provide frequent 
traverses as a defence against curved fire, and segment shells. The salients 
of lunettes or other works forming a line with intervals may, if the ground 
admits of it be placed at greater distances, by which the points of attack 
will be reduced, and a smaller number of men suffice for the defence. 
The more frequent use of field works, particularly for the advanced posts 
of armies in the field will, it is believed, be largely called for in future cam¬ 
paigns, and it has been well suggested by Col. Bainbrigge, in Yolume XI. 
of the “ B.E. Professional Engineer Papers/'’ that detachments of the engineer 
train consisting of horses or mules provided with packsaddles for conveying 
tools, each pair led by a mounted soldier, should be organized for accompany¬ 
ing the advanced guard of an army. 
'Permanent Fortification . 
Under the head of profile, the principal changes called for seem to be the 
following :—First, a large increase in the thickness of parapets, not so much 
to resist the penetration of elongated projectiles (of which we are still 
