“Seventhly. The more acute (sharp) the angle at the centre is, the stronger will be the place.”
“We understand that, because it would throw off the cannon balls better.”
“And, lastly. In great places dry ditches are preferable to those filled with water, because sallies, retreats, succours, etc. are necessary; but in small fortresses wet ditches that can be drained are the best, as standing in need of no sallies.”
“And now, then, you will please to show us the other drawings of a fortification.”
“Yes, boys, you shall see them. Here is one; you may understand it pretty well by looking it over. The side of the ditch next the rampart is the escarpe, and the side next the country the counterscarpe.”
| A B. | Level of the ground, or plane of site. |
| A C. | Rampart: interior slope of the rampart. |
| D E. | Terre-plein of the rampart. |
| F. | Banquette. |
| G. | Interior slope of the parapet. |
| H. | Superior slope of the parapet. |
| H I. | Exterior slope of ditto. |
| S L. | Revêtement, wall of the escarpe. |
| P. | Foundation of the revêtement. |
| R S. | Revêtement, wall of the counterscarpe. |
| S T. | Terre-plein of the covered way. |
| C. | Coping-stone, or cordon. |
| N. | Palisading, at the foot of, in the interior slope of the glacis. |
| Z B. | Glacis. |
| W. | Ditch. |
“We must puzzle it out, but it is not quite so plain as the other.”
“True, for it is not an easy thing to make everything clear on paper that belongs to fortification. Here is another drawing, showing you the tracing or outline of the works round a fortified place.”
