A Treatise on Field Fortification, Containing Instructions on the Methods of Laying Out, Constructing, Defending, and Attacking Intrenchments, with

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1846. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XII. MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS. 300. Despatch is of the first importance in all military operations; and nothing contributes more to it than the means of opening practicable and easy communications in every direction. 301. Among the various obstacles by which the free movements of an army may be embarrassed, water courses, marshes and swamps, hold the first rank, owing to the difficulty of finding suitable means at hand to pass them, or of transporting those means in the train of an army. 302. For the passage of water courses, bridges must be constructed; the character of the construction depending on the nature of the river, the particular locality selected for the bridge, and the means at hand. 303. Before adopting definitively the particular locality, the officer charged with the construction should endeavor to gain the most accurate information, on every point, which might in any manner bear upon this selection; for which purpose he will cause a reconnaissance to be made, to determine the breadth and depth of the river, and the character of its bed ;--the velocity of the current, the seasons of freshets, with their usual extent and effects;-- the character of the banks, their absolute and relative heights, their slope, the approaches to them, the distance between them and the water way, and finally, if they are wooded or otherwise;--the position and size of islands, whether wooded or not; --the extent of fords, their depth of water, and the nature of their bottom;--the form and dimensions of elbows and indentations;--the artificial obstructions, or dams, &c, the possibility of their being destroyed by the enemy, and the practicability of applying them to the purposes of artificial inundations ;--the position, extent, and character of the affluents;--a ...