BREACH.
The best place for making a breach, in ravelins, bastions, &c., is about thirty yards from their salient angles. The batteries should commence by marking out by their fire the extent of the breach intended to be made, first by striking out a horizontal line as near the bottom of the revetment as possible, and afterwards two others perpendicular to, and at the extremities of this line. Should the breach be required to be extensive, it will be necessary to form intermediate lines. Then, by continuing to deepen these two or more cuts, and occasionally firing salvoes at the part to be brought down, the wall will give way in a mass. The guns must, however, at first fire low, and gradually advance upwards until the breach is effected; and when the wall has given way, the firing should be continued until the slope of the breach is made practicable.
TO BURST OPEN GATES OF FORTRESSES, ETC.
A leathern bag, containing about 50 lb. of powder, should be hooked upon the gate, as near the centre as possible (or be laid on the ground, close to the bottom of the gate, and tamped with sods, &c.), and be fired by means of a piece of portfire, or match, passed through a hole in the bottom of the bag.