Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1757. Excerpt:... breast-plates on this occasion, and long pikes in. their hands to defend themselves, and to repel the enemy if possible. It is supposed that a Governor, who is resolved to defend the Breach in the bastion, has made one or more retrenchments in it, and placed a row of palisades in the middle of the ditches before them; and if these retrenchments are made with faces and flanks parallel to those of the bastion, Mr. Vauban would have rows of palisades cross the rampart, for the defenders to retire behind when drove back by the assailants; not only small light guns should be placed in these retrenchments but likewise mortars to fling shells and stones, by which, when the Besiegers are lodged in the Breach, they may be so harrassed as to be unable to keep that post. Mines should likewise be made under these works, so that when the Breach is lost, the Besiegers cannot come underground to blow" them up, and to oblige them, if possible, to make a battery in the Breach to batter these retrenchments, which will cost great trouble, and during that time other stratagems may be used to retard the work. The several stratagems mentioned in the defence of the Breach of the ravelin are to be practised here; and when the defenders are obliged to give way to the superior force of their enemy, they should open to the right and left, and retire along the parapets, to leave room for the guns placed in the retrenchment to give a general discharge upon the enemy, which should be done with grape-shot; if this is well executed in proper time, it will surprize, if not drive the enemy back; which being perceived, a vigorous and sudden onset should be made to push them them down the Breach, if possible, and then to repair it. Many other stratagems may be used in the defence of the Bre...