Sometimes the covert-way is sunk 2 or 3 feet below the horizon of the field; for, as such works are never made to discover the enemy in their trenches, so this method of lowering the covert-way will give room for the fire of the lower curtain (in works that have one) to scour the esplanade; and the expence of it should be the most material objection against it.
Counter-forts, in fortification, are by some called buttresses; they are solids of masonry, built behind walls, and joined to them at 18 feet distance from the centre to centre, in order to strengthen them, especially when they sustain a rampart or terrace.
Counter-guard, in fortification is a work placed before the bastions to cover the opposite flanks from being seen from the covert way. It is likewise made before the ravelins.
When counter-guards are placed before the collateral bastions, they are esteemed of very great use, as the enemy cannot batter them without having first secured the possession of the counter-guards. They were first invented by Pasino, in 1579, and greatly improved by Speckle, in 1589.
Counterscarp, is properly the exterior talus of the ditch, or that slope which terminates its breadth, and is the further side from the body of the place. It is so called from being opposite to the scarp.
Crown-work, in fortification is a kind of work not unlike a crown: it has 2 fronts and 2 branches. The fronts are composed of 2 half bastions and 1 whole one: they are made before the curtain or the bastion, and generally serve to enclose some buildings which cannot be brought within the body of the place, or to cover the town-gates, or else to occupy a spot of ground which might be advantageous to an enemy. They are of such an expence, that they are rarely found in practice. The best use this work can possibly be put to, is to cover 2 joining curtains, when the sides of it will be parallel to the sides of the place, and it should be fortified with the same strength, and in the same manner.
The authors who have written on the subject, have never thought of this useful part; and we often see 2 horn-works put in practice to cover two curtains, where crown-work would do it much cheaper and much better. The crown-work is adopted for the same purposes as the horn-work.
Crowned horn-work, is a horn-work with a crown-work before it. See [Crown-work].
Curtain, in fortification, is that part of the body of the place, which joins the flank of one bastion to that of another. The straight curtains have always been preferred to the different designs which have been proposed, of which some have diminished the expence, and (at the same time) the strength of the place, others have somewhat augmented the strength, but greatly diminished its area.
| Cuvette, | - | |
| Cunette, |