IN TIME OF WAR. 299

117* The fire of the infantry is, as has been already ob-served, one of the most effectual methods of retarding theprogress of the besieger. But in keeping up a continual fireduring the night, the musquets being thin soon become un-serviceable ; wall-pieces being better reinforced are more ser-viceable and less apt to burst. The greater part of thesearms are mounted with locks, of which the cocks are of aserpentine form according to the custom of the last century; butthe troops being unaccustomed to make use of them, it wouldbe much better if they were furnished with common locks,with the use of which the infantry are perfectly acquainted.The proportion of wall-pieces should exceed by a half, thenumber of infantry destined for the daily defence of thecovered way, for a siege of 30 days ; for one of longer du-ration, the number should be increased.

There should also be a reserve of musquets with bayonets,to supply the place of any that may be damaged : for a siegeof 30 or 40 days, the number in reserve should exceed bya third the number of infantry in garrison. Some large wall-pieces are also provided for firing at a distance against recon-noitering parties of the besieger.

118. There is no absolute rule laid down by military au-thors, for determining the number of men for the defence ofa place besieged in form. The most general and unexcep-tionable one is, to reckon 3 men for every ro feet in the co-vered way, on the front of the attack, including the twocollateral places of arms; when the town is fortified in thecommon method with no outworks but ravelins. If thebody of the place be constructed on a system of demo-lition ; the fire from the flanks command the points wherethe enemy must erect his counter-batteries; or there becounter-guards before the bastions, the rest of the worksbeing in the common method; then 4 men are allowed forevery 10 feet. With counter-guards before the ravelins ;er when with ravelins only, there is one stage of coun-termines, the number is estimated at 5 : with two stages ofcountermines; or the body of the place constructed upon asystem of demolition and covered by other outworks besidesravelins, at 6.

If to the number of men resulting from this estimate, beadded the necessary guards for the parts not on the front ofthe attack, the gates, ditches, magazines, &c. and the whole

be