Civil War Field Fortifications
Attack and Defense of a Redoubt
A transcription from General G. H. DuFour's
Strategy and Tactics
Pages 316 - 320
Translated by Captain Wm. P. Craighill
Published at New York by D. Van Nostrand, 1864
Note: A few minor corrections have been made in the text.
A redoubt may be armed with cannon, or defended by infantry alone. In the first case, the cannon must be silenced by other cannon; but in the second case, the attack may be made without any such preliminaries.
Marksmen envelop a part of the redoubt, aiming at the crest of the parapet to prevent the defenders from showing themselves, or, at least, to cause them to fire rapidly and inaccurately. The circle of skirmishers is gradually contracted, an active fire being all the time kept up. When sufficiently near the ditch, they advance at a run and jump into it, unless they are checked by some such obstacle as abatis, palisades, trous-de-loup, &c.; if these are encountered, a way must be opened through them before farther progress is made. While some descend into the ditch, others remain upon the counterscarp to fire upon the defenders who show themselves. When the troops in the ditch have rested somewhat, they make the assault. The soldiers assist each other in ascending the scarp and getting upon the berme, from which point they rush over the parapet in a body, and compel the defenders to lay down their arms.
If the redoubt is armed with cannon, and of greater strength than is supposed above, it would be necessary to use artillery, to break down the palisades, dismount the pieces, and breach the parapets. The best positions for the artillery are those from which a plunging or enfilading fire can be obtained. If the redoubt has embrasures, one or two pieces should be directed against each of them, as there is an opportunity, not only of dismounting the pieces, but also of firing through the embrasures into the interior of the work. A few good marksmen may also be detailed to pick off the gunners, whenever they show themselves at the embrasures.
When the artillery has produced its full effect, the skirmishers will be advanced, as above described. The skirmishers will generally be followed by supporting columns, that will advance upon the salients of the work. Each column should be preceded by workmen provided with axes, and ladders should be carried by men detailed for the purpose. It is a good plan to give each of the leading men a fascine, with which he may shield his body greatly, and he may use it for partly filling up the ditch. The skirmishers open out and permit the columns to pass through their line, keeping up a rapid fire until the ascent of the parapet by the storming party begins. The important thing, at this decisive moment, is unity of movement and action, an entrance being made on all sides at once. The troops should, therefore, pause a moment on the berme, until a signal is given and all will rush forward together. Such an attack as this is almost certain of success.
The commander of a redoubt should use every effort to increase the confidence of his men, especially by his own demeanor; still every thing should be kept in the best possible order. If the attack is not to take place at once, the redoubt should be surrounded with an abatis; large stones should be obtained to roll down into the ditches; sand bags and sods should be prepared for making loopholes along the parapet. As soon as the batteries of the enemy are seen, fire should be at once opened upon them; but when their guns are fairly in position and partly covered by the ground, the contest becomes an unequal one. Only those pieces will be kept in position which are covered from the enemy's fire by traverses or otherwise. A few other pieces may sometimes be temporarily run into battery and fired with grape upon the infantry. The effect will be good.
A few good marksmen will at first shelter themselves wherever they can along the parapet, but when the fire of the assailants ceases, for fear of injuring their own men, the defenders will line the parapets and open a warm fire of musketry and artillery upon the columns of attack, and upon the skirmishers who are attempting to pass the obstacles in front of the ditch. This is the time to explode any mines that may have been prepared in the ground over which the assailants must pass. If the enemy succeed in getting into the ditch, and collecting their forces to make the assault, shells should be rolled down upon them, as well as trunks of trees, large rocks, beehives -- any thing that may cause confusion. The defenders must then mount the parapet to receive the enemy at the point of the bayonet. More than one attack has been repelled at this stage of it. At Huningue, in 1796, Captain Foy of the artillery, observing that the enemy had planted scaling ladders to ascend into a demilune he was holding, had shells rolled down upon the them, by which considerable injury was done them, crowded as they were in the ditch. The gunners seized their rammers and handspikes, and, mounting the parapet, knocked on the head and back into the ditch the first men who showed themselves. The enemy abandoned the attack. When we reflect upon the disordered condition of the assailants at such a moment, and the difficulty they must experience in using their weapons, as well as upon the physical and moral advantages in favor of the defenders, who have a firm foothold upon the parapet and nothing to clog their freedom of motion, it will be manifest that, not only have the defenders many chances of success, but it seems impossible that such an attack can result in anything but failure.
Mahan's Principles Duparcq Halleck Regulations Jebb Barnard Mahan-2
Contents Home Page Major Works Minor Works Siege Works Permanent Fortifications