DEFENCE OF FORTRESSES,
263
See Article‘Blindage,*
them complete and to keep them so: this is the most delicate part of his duty, andthat in which negligence might cause the worst consequences.
If all the grain be not ground, he will cause it to be done, or else satisfy himselfthat there is the means for grinding it during the siege, by constructing in timeeither hand-mills, or mills to work by means of horses. /
26. Great fortresses alone have the property of having some part of the interiorlittle exposed to the enemy’s fire: such an advantage is precious. It is in thoseparts that it is of consequence to deposit such provisions and stores as are mostvaluable, avoiding, however, to unite them in mass, that they may not form a focusfor conflagration, s
Magazines of wood and forage ought to be in the open air, in small isolated stacks.The daily issues can be very well made in sheds.
27. When the town is small, and where there is no quarter that will not be verymuch exposed to the effect of the enemy’s projectiles, the bomb-proof covers must bemultiplied as much as possible by means of blinds (. blindages ).* Such shelter isformed in a short time, and only requires timber and earth. Buildings having thickwalls may be advantageously used for the purpose; they should be blinded on eachstory if possible, the useless doors and windows should be blocked up, and in thisway healthy bomb-proof cover may be obtained for the defenders, and especially forthe sick.
28. If there should be neither building fit for blinding, nor yet bomb-proofs, in afortress, their place may be supplied by forming blinds, of trees leaning against eachother in a sloping position, or being placed inclined against revetments or solid wallsin those parts which are tlie least exposed.
29. The same measures should be adopted for the powder magazines if they are notalready bomb-proof. Such as exist ought to be solidly blinded; and if they shouldnot suffice, then dry cellars must be occupied and blinded.
30. The wells and cisterns which may be necessary for a supply of water must bealso blinded,
31. After these details it will he seen how necessary timber is in a fortress.Therefore the Governor must neglect no means of augmenting his store of that usefularticle.* It is also required for retrenchments, for wooden tambours, for fraises and
/ British troops are accustomed to the use of sea biscuit, which forms an admirable article forlengthened storage. The French seem to have an objection to it.—J. F. B.
S It is peculiarly necessary to have the magazines for ammunition well subdivided, so that an acci-dent to any one should not be fetal to the place : the principal magazine should never be resorted tofor ordinary daily consumption, but the smaller magazines kept supplied from it at particular andrare times, when that service is least likely to lead to danger.—J. F. B.
h It must be observed that an arch constructed as bomb-proof, and even so much so as to resistany one shell that can fall upon it, is not to be considered as affording absolute security. Foran arch may not resist a number of heavy shells felling upon it: this may happen accidentallywhen the bombardment is heavy or when the building is seen from without; or, its position wellknown, it may be battered as it were by vertical fire, as well as an ordinary wall is by horizontal fire;and this has been done frequently against principal magazines, and with success.
A kind of barrel has been adopted in the Navy that has a door or available opening, and is per-S ee Article fectly secure against water or damp j it is suggested that barrels large and small, on that principle,
‘Coast Defences.’ be constructed, without any great increase of expense, that would be very useful for damp
places or magazines for the land service.
It will be remarked that many of these wants are created by imperfections in the fortress; most of‘ them should be permanently provided for in the original construction, and only those required at the
period of the siege as are dependent on the operations of the besiegers, and consequently could notpreviously be regulated without an excess of expense, by providing for every part means that may be§ ee f P _ only wanted on one.—J. F. B.
i Tl> e advantage arising from planting the ramparts and open spaces within fortresses has beenalways admitted, and yet it is not always practised.—J. F. B.