3 66

SERVICE OF ARTILLERY

{ loffible to the place of rendezvous, that the troopsaw without confusion.

When the army is in security, the captains should examinethe state of their brigade, and make a report of deficienciesto the commanding officer, who makes his demands accord-ingly ; the artificers are instantly set to work to repair the car-riages that are damaged.

CHAP. VII.

Of the Attack and Defence of Field Forti-fications.

239. T O conceive an adequate idea of the best modeof attacking and defending field-works, their construc-tion and use should be first understood : to this end, some ofthe fundamental principles laid down in the Treatise onMilitary Architecture will he here repeated.

The object of field-works is defence: yet the mode ofdefence is very different from the method of defending re-gular, or even irregular fortresses. Since the latter are amplysupplied with provisions and stores; whereas field-worksare open on one side and communicate with the country,by which avenue the troops can always receive supplies ofprovisions, and are generally attacked without the disposi-tions and precautions usual in sieges.

240, Field-fortifications are constructed either with a view©f covering an army that wishes to avoid an engagement, orsecuring its retreat; of occupying some important post, toimpede or frustrate the enemy’s, designs; or of forming anintrenched camp in the vicinity of a fortress, to render asiege difficult or impracticable. These fortifications are distin-guished into natural and artificialin the first class, are rankedheights that the enemy wish to get possession of, at the footof which are hollows or fences that are commanded : andeminences, houses, villages and woods near to the camp orfield of battle, that may be useful as points of support, or asadvanced posts to intrench on.

A position on a rising ground with steep banks is strongand when on the side towards the enemy, there be a canal,river, lake, mortrafs, quicksand, steep precipice or narrowps»ss through which the enemy must defile before he caty

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