Alberti, Leone Battista, Architecture, 1755

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In laying down a Camp we ought to review
and
re-conſider all thoſe Rules which we
gave
in the laſt Book for the Situation of a Ci­
ty
; for, indeed, Camps are as it were the Seeds
of
Cities, and you will find that not a few Ci­
ties
have been built in thoſe very Places, where
excellent
Generals had before incamped with
their
Armies.
In making a Camp, the chief
Matter
is to know to what Intent it is deſign­
ed
.
There would not be the leaſt Occaſion
for
a Camp if it were not for unforeſeen Acci­
dents
in War, and for the Apprehenſion of Aſ­
ſaults
from a ſuperior Force: And therefore
we
are to conſider the Nature of the Enemy.
Of Enemies ſome are inferior as to Valour and
Number
; ſome equal, ſome ſuperior.
For this
Reaſon
we ſhall determine the different Sorts
of
Incampments to be three; the Firſt is that
which
is made only for a Time, and is move­
able
every Moment, which is proper for with­
ſtanding
and managing an Enemy equal to
yourſelf
, and is deſigned partly for keeping the
Soldier
ſafe from ſudden Attacks, and partly
for
watching and obtaining Opportunities of
effecting
your Deſigns.
The ſecond Sort of
Incampment
is ſtationary, in which you wait
to
oppreſs and ſubdue an Enemy, who, diſ­
truſting
his own Forces, ſhuts himſelf up in
ſome
ſtrong Hold.
The third Sort is that in
which
you ſhut up yourſelf, to receive and re­
pulſe
the Attacks of a ſuperior Force, ſo as to
be
able to ſend the Enemy away weary of the
Fatigues
and Loſs in beſieging you.
In all
theſe
you muſt take great Care that every
Thing
be ſo ordered, that not the leaſt Parti­
cular
be wanting which can be of Service to
your
own Security and Welfare, and to the
ſuſtaining
, repulſing and breaking the Enemy;
and
on the Contrary, that the Enemy, as far as
lies
in your Power, may have no Conveniency
whatſoever
, by means of which he may either
hurt
you, or ſecure himſelf.
For this Reaſon,
the
firſt Thing to be conſulted, is the Nature
of
the Situation, that it be in a Country well
furniſhed
with all Manner of Proviſions, and
lie
convenient for the eaſy bringing in either of
Convoys
or Supplies upon all Occaſions.
Let
Water
by no means be wanting, and let Wood
and
Paſture be not far off.
Take care to have
a
free Communication with your own Terri­
tory
, and an open Paſſage at pleaſure into the
Enemy
's.
Let the Enemy on the Contrary, have
nothing
but Difficulties and Obſtacles.
I am
for
having a Camp placed on a Situation ſo
high
, as to have an open View of the Enemy's
Country
all round; ſo that they may not be­
gin
or attempt any Thing whatſoever, without
your
being immediately aware of it.
Let it be
ſecured
all round with ſteep Slopes, difficult
Aſcents
, and broken Precipices; that the Ene­
my
may not be able to ſurround you with
Multitudes
, nor to attack you on any Side,
without
expoſing himſelf to imminent Danger;
or
that if he ſhould come cloſe up to you, he
may
not conveniently uſe his Engines, or make
any
ſecure Lodgments for himſelf near you.

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