Forted. Furnished with or guarded by forts; strengthened or defended, as by forts.
Forth. The ancient name for ford.
Forth Mountains. A range in the county of Wexford, Ireland, celebrated for being the rendezvous of 15,000 insurgents, who, in 1798, met here previous to the attack and capture of the town of Wexford.
Fortifiable. Capable of being fortified.
Fortification. Is the art of fortifying a town, or other place; or of putting it in such a posture of defense that every one of its parts defends, and is defended by some other parts, by means of ramparts, parapets, ditches, and other outworks; to the end that a small number of men within may be able to defend themselves for a considerable time against the assaults of a numerous army without; so that the enemy in attacking them must of necessity suffer great loss. There are various kinds of fortification, as defensive and offensive, natural, artificial, and permanent. Defensive fortification is the art of surrounding a place by works so disposed as to render it capable of a lasting defense against a besieging army. Offensive fortification comprehends the various works employed in conducting a siege. Natural fortification consists of those obstacles which nature affords to retard the progress of an enemy; such as woods, deep ravines, rocks, marshes, etc. Artificial fortification is that which is raised by human ingenuity to aid the natural advantages of the ground, or supply its deficiencies. It is divided into permanent and field fortification. Permanent fortification is intended for the defense of towns, frontiers, and seaports, and is constructed of durable materials in time of peace; while field fortification being raised only for the temporary purpose of protecting troops in the field, its materials are those afforded by local circumstances and a limited time. For the principal parts of a regular fortress, see [Banquette], [Bastion], [Batardeau], [Berm], [Caponniere], [Cavalier], [Citadel], [Cordon], [Counterscarp], [Covered Way], [Crown-work], [Cunette], [Curtain], [Ditch], [Embrasures], [Enceinte], [Envelope], [Epaulement], [Escarp], [Esplanade], [Faces], [Flank], [Flèche], or [Arrow], [Fraises], [Glacis], [Hornwork], [Lines], [Loop-holes], [Lunettes] and [Tenaillons], [Outworks], [Palisades], [Parallels], or [Places of Arms], [Parapet], [Ramps], [Rampart], [Ravelin], [Redan], [Redoubt], [Revetment], [Sallyports], [Slope Interior], [Star Fort], [Tenaille], [Terre-plein], [Têtes de Pont], [Traverses], [Zigzags], or [Boyaux of Communication].
Fortification, Elementary. By some likewise called the theory of fortification, consists in tracing the plans and profiles of a fortification on paper, with scales and compasses; and examining the systems proposed by different authors, in order to discover their advantages and disadvantages.
Fortification, Front of. Consists of all the works constructed upon any one side of a regular polygon, whether placed within or without the exterior side. Some authors give a more limited sense to the term “front of fortification,” by confining it to two half bastions joined by a curtain.
Fortification, Irregular. Is that in which, from the nature of the ground or other causes, the several works have not their due proportions according to rule; irregularity, however, does not necessarily imply weakness.
Fortification, Practical. Consists in forming a project of a fortification, according to the nature of the ground, and other necessary circumstances, to trace it on the ground, and to execute the project, together with all the military buildings, such as magazines, storehouses, barracks, bridges, etc.
Fortification, Regular. Is that in which the works are constructed on a regular polygon, and which has its corresponding parts equal to each other.