APPROACHES
, in Fortification, the several works made by the besiegers, for advancing or getting nearer to a fortress or place besieged. Such as the trenches, mines, saps, lodgments, batteries, galleries, epaulments, &c.
Approaches, or Lines of Approach, are particularly used for trenches dug in the ground, and the earth thrown up on the side next the place besieged; under the defence or shelter of which, the besiegers may approach without loss, as near as possible to the place, to raise batteries and plant guns &c, to batter it.—The lines of approach are commonly carried on, in a zig-zag way, parallel to the opposite faces of the besieged work, or nearly so, that they may not be enfiladed by the guns from the enemy's works. And they are also connected by parallels or lines of communication.—The besieged commonly make counter-approaches, to interrupt and defeat the approaches of the besiegers. |
The ancients made their approaches towards the place besieged, much after the same manner as the moderns. Folard shews, that they had their trenches, their parallels, saps, &c.; which, though usually thought of modern invention, it appears, have been practised long before, by the Greeks, Romans, Asiatics, &c.
