To besiege a place. See [Siege].
To accelerate the Siege, (Presser le Siege, Fr.) is when an army can approach so near the place as the covert-way, without breaking ground, under favor of some hollow roads, rising grounds, or cavities, and there begin their work.
An attack, is when the besieging army can approach the town so near as to take it, without making any considerable works.
To form the Siege, or lay siege to a place, (Mettre le Siege à une place, Fr.) there must be an army sufficient to furnish five or six reliefs for the trenches, pioneers, guards, convoys, escorts, &c. and artillery, with all the apparatus thereto belonging; magazines furnished with a sufficient quantity of all kinds of warlike stores; and a general hospital, with physicians, surgeons, medicines, &c.
To raise a Siege, (Lever le Siege, Fr.) is to give over the attack of a place, quit the works thrown up against it, and the posts formed about it. If there be no reason to fear a sally from the place, the siege may be raised in the day-time. The artillery and ammunition must have a strong rear guard, lest the besieged should attempt to charge the rear: if there be any fear of an enemy in front, this order must be altered discretionally, as safety and the nature of the country will admit.
To turn a Siege into a blockade, (Convertir le Siege en blocus, Fr.) is to give over the attack, and endeavor to take it by famine; for which purpose all the avenues, gates, and streams, leading into the place, are so well guarded, that no succor can get in to its relief.
To insult a work, to attack it in a sudden and unexpected manner, with small arms, or sword in hand.
Surprise, is the taking a place by stratagem or treason.
To escalade a place, is to approach it secretly, then to place ladders against the wall, or rampart, for the troops to mount and get into it that way.
To petard a place, is privately to approach the gate and fix a petard to it, so as to break it open for the troops to enter.