IN TIME OF WAR. 269

fire from the richochet batteries ceases; some royal mor-tars are then placed in the second parallel to annoy thetroops in the covered way; and for the same purpose,some stone mortars are brought into the third parallel,so soon as any part of it be finished. The batteriesfor these pieces need not be faced with fascines, unless thesoil be sandy ; it being sufficient if they resist the shock ofthe discharge.

56. The guns and mortars are drawn to the batteriesduring the night, along the roads least exposed to the ene-my’s fire : proper bridges having been previously laid overthe trenches for their passage : the horses Ihouiu be changedwhere the ground is level, and any that are killed or wound-ed immediately unharnessed.

If the road be exposed to the fire of the enemy’s muf-quetry, two or three guns only should be brought forwardat a time, to avoid the contusion that arises when any ofthe horses or drivers take fright. In mountainous situa-tions, where the musquetry of the place has a great com-mand. new roads for the cannon should if possible be madeless steep and exposed. In steep and winding roads thatcannot be made practicable for horses, tne v guns must bedragged by men : when this must be performed under thefire of the place, strict silence and regularity should be ob-served, and the whole halt and move forwards at once,by signal from the commanding officer.

CHAP. V.

Of the Daily Service of the first Batteries.

57. TH E batteries being compleated, the general ofthe trenches for the day gives an order for them to open jand immediately each battery directs its fire against its par-ticular object.

The richochet and mortar firing is continued, but thedirect firing ceases during the night. By using moderatecharges, loading the guns with care, and pointing themwith accuracy, the service will be carried on with precisionand effect: for when the guns in the first batteries are firedwith the charges that produce the longest ranges, the object

is