Civil War Field Fortifications
Defense of Fortified Places
A Transcription from
Regulations for the Army of the United States, 1857
Pages 105 - 107
Published at New York by Harper & Brothers
820....In war, every commander of a fortified place shall always hold himself prepared with his plan of defense, as if at any time liable to attack. He arranges this plan according to the probable mode of attack; determines the posts of the troops in the several parts of the works, the reliefs, the reserves, and the details of service in all the corps. He draws up instructions for a case of attack, and exercises the garrison according to his plan of defense. In sea-coast works, he provides the instructions for the different batteries on the approach of ships.
821....In framing his plan, he studies the works and the exterior within the radius of attack and investment, the strength of the garrison, the artillery, the munitions of war, subsistence and supplies of all kinds, and takes immediate measures to procure whatever is deficient of troops or supplies, either by requisition on the government or from the means put at his disposal.
822....On the approach of an enemy, he removes all houses and other objects, within or without the place, that cover the approaches, or interrupt the fire of the guns or movements of the troops. He assures himself personally that all posterns, outlets, embrasures, &c., are in proper state of security.
823....He shall be furnished by the Department of War with a plan of the works, showing all the details of the fortifications and of the exterior within the radius of the work; with a map of the environs within the radius of attack; with a map of the vicinity, including the neighboring works, roads, water-channels, coasts, &c.; with a memoir explaining the situation and defense of the place, and the relations and bearings of the several works on each other, and on the approaches by land and water -- all which he carefully preserves, and communicates only to the council of defense.
824....He consults his next in rank, and the senior officer of the engineers and of the artillery, either separately or as a council of defense. In the latter case he designates an officer to act as secretary to the council, and to record their proceedings and their joint or separate opinions, which are to be kept secret during the siege. The members may record their opinions under their own signature. In all cases, the commander decides on his own responsibility.
825....The commander of the place, and the chiefs of engineers and of artillery, shall keep journals of the defense, in which shall be entered, in order of date, without blank or interlineation, the orders given or received, the manner in which they are executed, their results, and every event and circumstance of importance in the progress of the defense. These journals and the proceedings of the council of defense shall be sent after the siege to the Department of War.
826....There shall be kept in the office of the commandant of the place, to be sent after the siege to the Department of War, a map of the environs, a plan of the fortifications, and a special plan of the front of attack, on which the chief engineer will trace, in succession, the positions occupied, and the works executed by the enemy from the investment; and also the works of counter approach or defense, and the successive positions of the artillery and other troops of the garrison during the progress of the siege.
827....The commander shall defend in succession the advanced works, the covered way and outworks, the body of the work, and the interior intrenchments. He will not be content with clearing away the foot of the breaches, and in defending them by abattis, mines, and all the means used in sieges; but he shall begin in good time, behind the bastions or front of attack, the necessary intrenchments to resist assaults on the main work.
828....He shall use his means of defense in such manner as always to have a reserve of fresh troops, chosen from his best soldiers, to resist assaults, retake the outworks, and especially to resist the assaults on the body of the place; and a reserve of provisions for the last period of the siege, and of ammunition for the last attacks.
829....He must, in every case, compel the besieging force to approach by the slow and successive works of a siege, and must sustain at least one assault on a practicable breach in the body of the place.
830....When the commander thinks that the end of the defense has come, he shall still consult the council of defense on the means that may remain to prolong the siege. But in all cases he alone will decide on the time, manner, and terms of surrender. In the capitulation, he shall not seek or accept better terms for himself than for the garrison, but shall share their fate, and exert his best endeavors for the care of the troops, and especially of the sick and wounded.
831....No commander in the field shall withdraw troops or supplies from any fortified place, or exercise any authority over its commandant, unless it has been put subject to his orders by competent authority.
Mahan's Principles Dufour Duparcq Halleck Jebb Barnard Mahan-2
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