Description.—The French gun-pit consists of an epaulement, whose general direction is perpendicular to the line of fire, with wings or returns at the sides, along which trenches are dug on the inside for the protection of the cannoneers. The earth for the epaulement is taken from a rectangular pit one and a half feet deep, and from the ramps and trenches leading to it. If there is not sufficient earth, more is obtained by digging a ditch in front. The lateral trenches may be prolonged and deepened to any extent.
Fig. 136.
Construction.—To trace the pit:
1. Lay off a line about ten feet in length perpendicular to the line of fire, to mark the foot of the interior slope of the epaulement.
This line should be long enough to give the piece a field of fire of 90 degrees; mark the extremities and centre of the line with stakes or otherwise.
2. In the wings lay off two lines five to seven feet in length, making with the first line angles such that the trenches shall not restrict the field of fire or interfere with the recoil of the piece.
3. Complete the rectangle of the pit, and mark the points of intersection of the trenches and the ramps leading to it.
4. In soft ground it will be found to be more expeditious to use shovels; if the ground is hard, three picks and five shovels will be necessary for each detachment of eight men. The men should commence by breaking ground along the interior slope; having picked a breadth of about two feet, they face about and advance toward the rear of the pit.