Fougasse is a small mine, six or seven feet under ground, generally formed in the glacis or dry ditch.
Curtain, the wall that connects bastions.
[168] Retrench, in fortification, means the isolating of a breach by forming inner defences; as cutting a trench, palisading, erecting barricades, &c.
[169] Chevaux-de-frieze, are wooden spars, spiked at one end, and set into a piece of timber. They were originally used as a defence against cavalry, but are now commonly employed in strengthening outworks, stopping breaches, &c.
[170] “A general officer had one of the soldiers’ wives stripped of her under petticoat, by the provost, of which he had got an inkling, either by secret information, or by its obtruding itself on his notice, from being of red velvet bordered with gold-lace six inches deep, evidently the covering of a communion-table.”—A Campaigner.
[171] “The Bivouac.”
“G. O.
“Camp before Badajoz, 7th April 1812.
“It is now full time that the plunder of Badajoz should cease.”
“G. O.