FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   257   258   259   260   261   262   263   264   265   266   267   268   269   270   271   272   273   274   275   276   277   278   279   280   281  
282   283   284   285   286   287   288   289   290   291   292   293   294   295   296   297   298   299   300   301   302   303   304   305   306   >>   >|  
ent and slight relief, partaking much of the nature of field-works.[45] [Footnote 45: The general principles of permanent fortification may be best learned from the writings of Cormontaigne, St. Paul de Noizet, and Laurillard-Fallot. A list of valuable books of reference on the several branches of military engineering will be given at the close of the next chapter.] CHAPTER XIV. FIELD-ENGINEERING. _Field-Engineering_ includes the making of military reconnaissances, temporary fortifications, and military roads; the planning and construction of military bridges; the attack and defence of military works;--in fine, all the various duties of engineer troops, either in the operations of a campaign, or in the dispositions on the battle-field. _Military reconnaissance._--By this term is meant an examination of a portion of the theatre of war, to ascertain its military character and resources. If the examination be made of a large district of country, and for an entire campaign, the reconnaissance is _general_; if made for collecting detailed information respecting a proposed line of march, the passage of a river, the position of an enemy, &c., it is termed _special_. In making a general reconnaissance, great care should be taken to collect accurate information respecting the general topography of the country; the character of the mountains, forests, and water-courses; the nature of the roads, canals, and railways; the quality of the soil, and the amount of provisions and forage it produces; the population and character of the cities, towns, and villages, the commercial and manufacturing resources of every part of the country, and the means of transportation to be found in each district. The plan of military operations will be based on the information thus obtained, and any serious error in the reconnaissance may involve the results of the campaign, and even the fate of the war. In a special reconnaissance, not only accurate but minute information will be required: the character of the roads must be given in detail; the nature of the water-courses, their depth and velocity; the position and character of bridges, and fords;--in fine, a full description of all obstacles to be encountered, and the means that can be made available for overcoming these obstacles. A reconnoitring officer may usually derive much valuable information from the published maps and descriptions of the country to be examined; addi
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   257   258   259   260   261   262   263   264   265   266   267   268   269   270   271   272   273   274   275   276   277   278   279   280   281  
282   283   284   285   286   287   288   289   290   291   292   293   294   295   296   297   298   299   300   301   302   303   304   305   306   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
military
 

reconnaissance

 
information
 

character

 
general
 

country

 

nature

 
campaign
 

district

 

courses


obstacles
 

examination

 

making

 

bridges

 

resources

 
operations
 

position

 
accurate
 
valuable
 

special


respecting

 

cities

 

commercial

 

villages

 

manufacturing

 

population

 

railways

 

collect

 

topography

 

mountains


forests
 

canals

 

provisions

 
forage
 

amount

 

transportation

 

quality

 

produces

 
overcoming
 
encountered

description

 

velocity

 
reconnoitring
 

descriptions

 

examined

 

published

 

officer

 

derive

 

involve

 

obtained