The crest of the parapet of a redout may be about 8 feet above the natural ground, unless the work is to be defiladed from some command ing ground in the neighbourhood, in which case it must be higher. The form of a section or profile of the parapet is similar to that which is used for permanent fortification [LINKS OF INTRENCIIMENT, Fig. 4], but the breadth of the superior slope may vary with the nature of the arm which the enemy can bring against it; three feet will suffice if the work can be attacked by Infantry only, but it may be as much as 10 or 12 feet if it is to resist field artillery of the heaviest calibre. The superior surface of the parapet should slope down towards the ex terior, so that the defenders may see the top of the couuterscarp of the ditch in front ; and when, from the great relief of the work, this is impossible, the counterscarp should be raised by earth obtained front the ditch to the height necessary for this purpose ; taking care, how ever, to give the raised earth a gentle slope towards the exterior, that the enemy may not be screened by it. The exterior of the parapet and the escarp of the ditch are covered or revetted with sods when the earth has not suflieient tenacity to stand unsupported; and when the work is to resist the fire of heavy artillery, the revetment might con sist of stout logs, of timber planted obliquely in the ground or in the bottom of the ditch, and leaning against the face of the work. The interior of the parapet is usually revetted with sods or faseines.1 Itedouta are intended to fortify military positions, for which purpose they usually occupy the heights and command the defiles ; and their magnitude or number must depend upon the time afforded for their construction. [Lrxes of INTItENCIIMEN"r ; MILITARY POSI TIONS.] it sometimes happens that they are thrown up during the night to protect artillery on the wings, or in some important situation iu front of the army, in expectation of an engagement taking place tho next day ; and then they are necessarily, few and small. When Marshal Soult was reduced to defensive operations in the south of France, in 1813 and 1814, he strongly entrenched the heights on all the frontier between the sea about Bayonne and St. Jean-de-Luz, and the mountains at St. Jean-Pied-de-Port ; an extent of above 'sixteen miles. The works, which were executed in three months, were gene rally irregular polygons ; and some of them were constructed for 500 men. More than a year was spent in raising the redouta which covered Lisbon ; and consequently these were not only strong, but numerous beyond any other example. [ENCAMPMENT.] They were of every trace, but mostly irregular polygons, whose sides sometimes formed re-entering angles, as the ground required : the two great redouts before mentioned were retrenched by interior parapets, which also served as traverses, and each salient point of the redout at Torres Vedras constituted an independent post.
Attack• and Defence of a Redosgt.—In the attack of a small redout unprovided with artillery, light infantry, or riflemen, keeping for a time as much as possible covered by the inequalities of the ground, endeavour to surround the work, and, by a fire of musketry, directed towards the crest of the parapet, to diminish that of the defenders. The assailing troops then gradually close in upon the redout, and, while one division remains on the counterscarp to continue the fire, should the defenders show themselves upon the parapets, the rest descend into the ditch, where, having collected themselves in parties or small columns, they mount the parapet on each aide of a salient angle ; then developing themselves on the summit, they make a general discharge and enter the work. In order to avoid accidents in descend
ing into the ditch, or in ascending the escarp, it is recommended that the bayonets should not be fixed by the assailants till they have gained the berme of the work.
But if the redout is of considerable magnitude, if it is furnished with artillery, and moreover protected by palisades in the ditches, and abatis or other obstacles in the front, the attack must be conducted with more powerful means. It should commence by a fire of artillery directed partly so as to enfilade the parapets, break down the palisades and derange the abatis, and partly to destroy the merlons cover the artillery of the work. The fire of the latter being thus in some measure silenced, the light infantry, as in the former case, endeavour by musketry to prevent the defenders from manning the parapets ; and in the mean time columns of troops advance towards the angles, being preceded by parties of sappers and miners, who make openings for them in the line of abatis, or cover with timbers the trous de Loup, if such there be. If the ditch is deep, the descent into it, and the subsequent ascent of the escarp, must be facilitated either by placing scaling-ladders or by throwing in fascines or bags of hay; and any palisades or other obstacles which may not have been displaced by the artillery, must now be cleared away by the working parties which accompany the troops. The fire of the covering parties must cease while the assailants are mounting the parapet, but it must recommence if they should be repelled : in the latter case the storming troops reform their order in the ditch, and again attempt to enter the work. It may be supposed that at length they will succeed, when the de fenders, if not provided with a redout, to which they may retire for the purpose of capitulating, must surrender at discretion. In 1793, the French camp under Valenciennes was protected by works which, though furnished with artillery, were open at the gorge ; and in an attack, the British cavalry, having entered those works at their rear, made prisoners of all the defenders.
When a redout is threatened with an attack, the officer command iog it endeavours to provide against the event by disposing in front of the work all possible obstacles to the advance of the enemy, and by placing sand-bags on the parapets in order to cover the defenders, who are to fire through small intervals left for the purpose : these measuree should be taken, if not before, during the night preceding the attack ; since the latter generally takes place early in the morning. On the advance of the assailants, the artillery of the work is made to play upon their columns ; and the fire of musketry commences as soon as the latter are within the proper range. These fires are kept up vigo rously while the assailants are clearing away the obstacles, and until they have descended into the ditch. Should the work have flanks, and the guns behind them be not dismounted, a fire of grape-shot and of musketry must now be directed along the ditches; while hand-grenades and stones are thrown, and live shells are rolled into them from the parapets of the faces. The storming troops may however persevere, and may at length mount upon the parapet, in which case they must be received by a fire of musketry from the defenders on the terreplein; and the latter, if overpowered, must endeavour to retire or capitulate.
Any works constructed within others, in order to prolong their defence, or to !Allard a retreat for the troops who occupy them, are also called redouts ; but by the French engineers, reduits or retrench ments. [Rrrnriensts.vr ; Btoegssousr.]