ENFILADE, in fortification, is used in speaking of trenches, or other places, which may be scoured by the enemy’s shot, along their whole length. In conducting the approaches at a siege, care must be taken that the trenches be not enfiladed from any work of the place. See [Trenches].
To Enfilade, is to sweep the whole length of any work or line of troops, with the shot of artillery or small arms.
ENFILER, Fr. to enfilade, is to batter and sweep with cannon shot, the whole extent of a strait line.
ENGAGEMENT, Fr. See Enlistment.
Engagement. See [Battle].
ENGARRISON, to protect any place by a garrison.
ENGINES, in military mechanics, are compound machines, made of one or more mechanical powers, as levers, pullies, screws, &c. in order to raise, project, or sustain any weight, or produce any effect which could not be easily effected otherwise.
Engine to drive fuzes, consists of a wheel with a handle to it, to raise a certain weight, and to let it fall upon the driver, by which the strokes become more equal.
Engine to draw fuzes, has a screw fixed upon a three-legged stand, the bottom of which has a ring to place it upon the shell; and at the end of the screw is fixed a hand screw by means of a collar, which being screwed on the fuze, by turning the upper screw, draws out or raises the fuze.
ENGINEER, is commonly applied to an officer who is appointed to inspect and contrive any attacks, defences, &c. of a fortified place, or to build or repair them, &c.