Attack of Fortified Places. Including Siege-works, Mining, and Demolitions. / Prepared for the use of the Cadets of the United States Military Academy

by James Mercur

THE ATTACK.

68. Siege operations include all the steps taken from the first approach to the work up to its final capture. These taken in regular order are as stated in Chapter II: the investment, the distant artillery attack, the construction of approaches and parallels, breaching by artillery or mines, and the final assault.

For convenience in description the siege has been divided into three periods. The first period includes the preliminary operations up to the completion of the investment.

The second period includes all the operations between breaking ground for the batteries of the first artillery position and the first parallel, up to the completion of the most advanced parallel and the occupation of a position near the foot of the glacis from which the attack is to be made upon the breach, either by assault or sap.

The third period comprises the advance from the last parallel, and all subsequent operations up to the capture of the last entrenchment and the surrender of the garrison.

The first and second periods are sometimes known as the “distant” and the third period as the “close attack.”