Various opinions have been entertained with regard to the best construction of these ladders; but, after all, a sim ple ladder of wood appears to he the most convenient, as being the lightest. The number of the ladders depends upon circumstances; one for every five men appears to be a very lair proportion.
In attempting an escalade, it will always be of the great est advantage, if the garrison can be taken by surprise, and therefore all preparations are to be macho in the most secret manner. The same secrecy is also to be observed with re spect to the movements of the troops, and in carrying the escalade itself into effect. When all the necessary prcpa tions have been made, and the attack is to be undertaken, the troops assemble, and march secretly to the cover ed way. Having penetrated this, removed the other obstructions, and passed the fosse, the ladders are all to be applied at the same moment. A number of men then mount by them, sufficient to make prisoners of the guard, at one of the gates, which is immediately opened to a re inforcement previously posted near it. This is followed by a larger force, the other gates are thrown open, and the town taken possession of in a similar manner as by a sur prise, described above.
If a fosse cannot be passed otherwise than by small boats, with ladders called sambukes, it will be almost impossible to effect an escalade. The garrison ought never to know the real point which it is intended to attack, and therefore false attacks are frequently of great use, as are also several attacks at the same time. But it is equally necessary that all this should be done with as much silence as secrecy; for the least noise may discover the whole operations to the gar rison, and perhaps frustrate all the attempts.
The most certain method of forcing a fortress to surren der is by famine ; but it is at the same time the most tedi ous, especially if the place is well supplied with provisions, and if it is situated near a river. The taking of a fortress in this way, indeed, is not always practicable, though in cer tain cases it may be successfully adopted, as when a fortress has a very large garrison, when the inhabitants are very po pulous, or when it cannot be taken by any other means: When it is determined to take a fortress by famine, it is blockaded by placing troops round it at such a distance, as to be without the reach of its guns. The roads, and all passes and passages towards the town, are occupied. The
cavalry is stationed on the plains, and the infantry on the inclosed ground. Each of these has its advanced posts towards the enemy, in order to prevent any communication between the fortress and its allies. That no person may pass the posts clueing the night, constant pat•oles are sent round; and the greatest vigilance is always observed, where any attempts at communication are suspected. The block ade of a fortress is still more perfect, when it is surround ed by a cout•avallation composing a connected line, or, what is still better, by a cordon of redoubts.
A town inclosed by impracticable ground, and which communicates with the field only by some roads or SCAPES, may be more easily, as well as more effectually, blockaded, even by a small corps, than a fortress situated in an open country can be by a large army.
A town partly surrounded with water cannot be block aded, unless the blockading troops command the water, -whether it be the sea, a river, or a lake. In this case, a flotilla, and frquently a fleet, will be necessary to blockade the place from the water side.
To assist the means of consuming the enemy's provi sions as soon as possible, a bombardment is frequently of the greatest use, as the enemy's magazines and store-houses may thereby be set on fire, and the inhabitants exposed to much danger. The habitations of the garrison will also be rendered unsafe, and the soldiers exposed to constant disturbance and fatigue.
A bombardment is most advantageously made by mor tars of a large calibre, and at great distances, with shells of 12 inches diameter, and large guns, with red-hot balls. The shells used on these occasions should be filled with combustible matter, so as to set on fire the objects near which they explode. For the same purpose, fire-rockets may also be used with advantage. Whatever, indeed, threatens to consume the place, must operate as an induce Ment to the garrison to surrender, particularly if their pro vision be destroyed. This may sometimes be effected by spies, or some other secret means, which of course decides the fate of the place. It ought always to he remembered, however, that the seige is carried on, not as against an in habited town, but a military post, and therefore the inhabi tants are to be spared as much as possible. At the same time, it must be acknowledged, that this is more the busi ness of the beseiged than of the beseigers.