1If the Situation offers all theſe Advantages, be
ſure to be the Firſt to lay hold of them; if
not, we muſt then conſider what Sort of Camp,
and what Kind of Situation will beſt anſwer
your Purpoſe. A ſtationary Camp ought to
be much better fortified than a Flying one:
And a Plain requires more Art and Diligence
to ſtrengthen it, than a Hill. We ſhall begin
with the moveable, or flying Camp, becauſe it
is much more frequently uſed than a ſtationary
one: And indeed, the frequent moving the
Camp, has very often conduced extremely to
the Health of the Army. In placing a Camp,
it is a Queſtion that naturally ariſes in the
Mind, whether it is beſt to fix it upon our
own Territory, or upon that of the Enemy.
Xenophon ſays, that by frequent changing our
Camp, our Enemy is oppreſſed, but our Friends
eaſed. Without doubt, it is honourable and
brave to lie upon the Enemy's Country; but
it is convenient and ſafe to be upon our own.
But indeed a Camp is, with regard to all the
Territory which is ſubject to it, what a Citadel
is to a City; which ought to have a ſhort and
eaſy Retreat towards its Friends, and an open
and ready Paſſage upon its Enemies. Laſtly,
in the fortifying of Camps various Methods
have been uſed. The Britains uſed to make a
Fence round their Camps with Stakes ten foot
long, ſharpened and burnt at the Ends, with
one End fixed in the Ground, and the other
ſtanding up to keep off the Enemy. Cæſar
tells us, that the Gauls uſed to make a Ram
part of their Waggons, as he ſays the Thraci
ans alſo did againſt Alexander. The Nervii
(or People of Tournay) uſed to cut down young
Trees, and binding and interlacing the Boughs
together made them into a ſtrong Hedge,
which ſerved chiefly for keeping off the Horſe.
Arrian relates that when Nearchus, Alexan
der's Admiral, ſailed along the Indian Sea, ha
ving Occaſion to land, he ſurrounded his Camp
with a Wall to ſecure himſelf againſt the Bar
barians. The Romans were always ſo well
provided, and had ſo much Foreſight, that
whatever happened they took care it ſhould
never be by their own Fault; and they uſed to
exerciſe their Soldiers no leſs in making In
campments, than in the other Parts of the Mi
litary Duty. Nor did they think there was ſo
much Merit in offending their Enemies, as in
ſecuring their own Men; and they accounted
it no ſmall Part of the Victory, to be able to
withſtand the Enemy, and to repulſe him ſo
ſtoutly as to make him Deſpair of Succeſs. For
which Reaſon they never neglected any Means
of Deſence that they could learn or invent for
their own Safety: And if high Hills or Preci
pices were not to be had, they imitated them
as well as they could with very deep Ditches
and high Ramparts, emcompaſſed with ſtrong
Fences of Stakes and Hurdles.
ſure to be the Firſt to lay hold of them; if
not, we muſt then conſider what Sort of Camp,
and what Kind of Situation will beſt anſwer
your Purpoſe. A ſtationary Camp ought to
be much better fortified than a Flying one:
And a Plain requires more Art and Diligence
to ſtrengthen it, than a Hill. We ſhall begin
with the moveable, or flying Camp, becauſe it
is much more frequently uſed than a ſtationary
one: And indeed, the frequent moving the
Camp, has very often conduced extremely to
the Health of the Army. In placing a Camp,
it is a Queſtion that naturally ariſes in the
Mind, whether it is beſt to fix it upon our
own Territory, or upon that of the Enemy.
Xenophon ſays, that by frequent changing our
Camp, our Enemy is oppreſſed, but our Friends
eaſed. Without doubt, it is honourable and
brave to lie upon the Enemy's Country; but
it is convenient and ſafe to be upon our own.
But indeed a Camp is, with regard to all the
Territory which is ſubject to it, what a Citadel
is to a City; which ought to have a ſhort and
eaſy Retreat towards its Friends, and an open
and ready Paſſage upon its Enemies. Laſtly,
in the fortifying of Camps various Methods
have been uſed. The Britains uſed to make a
Fence round their Camps with Stakes ten foot
long, ſharpened and burnt at the Ends, with
one End fixed in the Ground, and the other
ſtanding up to keep off the Enemy. Cæſar
tells us, that the Gauls uſed to make a Ram
part of their Waggons, as he ſays the Thraci
ans alſo did againſt Alexander. The Nervii
(or People of Tournay) uſed to cut down young
Trees, and binding and interlacing the Boughs
together made them into a ſtrong Hedge,
which ſerved chiefly for keeping off the Horſe.
Arrian relates that when Nearchus, Alexan
der's Admiral, ſailed along the Indian Sea, ha
ving Occaſion to land, he ſurrounded his Camp
with a Wall to ſecure himſelf againſt the Bar
barians. The Romans were always ſo well
provided, and had ſo much Foreſight, that
whatever happened they took care it ſhould
never be by their own Fault; and they uſed to
exerciſe their Soldiers no leſs in making In
campments, than in the other Parts of the Mi
litary Duty. Nor did they think there was ſo
much Merit in offending their Enemies, as in
ſecuring their own Men; and they accounted
it no ſmall Part of the Victory, to be able to
withſtand the Enemy, and to repulſe him ſo
ſtoutly as to make him Deſpair of Succeſs. For
which Reaſon they never neglected any Means
of Deſence that they could learn or invent for
their own Safety: And if high Hills or Preci
pices were not to be had, they imitated them
as well as they could with very deep Ditches
and high Ramparts, emcompaſſed with ſtrong
Fences of Stakes and Hurdles.
CHAP. XI.
The moſt convenient Situation for a Camp, and its Size, Form and various
Parts; together with the different Methods of attacking and defending a
Camp or other Fortification.
Parts; together with the different Methods of attacking and defending a
Camp or other Fortification.
We ſhall here proceed further upon this
Subject of Camps according to the
Methods of the aforementioned Ancients. We
muſt take Care to pitch upon a Place not only
convenient, but ſo well adapted for whatever
Purpoſe we have in Hand, that none could be
found more ſuitable. And beſides the other
Advantages before recited, let the Soil be dry,
not muddy nor liable at any Time to be over
flowed; but let the Situation be ſuch that it
may be always clear and free for your own
Men, and unfafe for the Enemy. Let there
be no foul Puddle in the Neighbourhood, and
let there be good Water at an eaſy Diſtance.
Contrive, if poſſible, to have ſome clear Springs
within the Camp itſelf, or to have the Foſs
filled with ſome River or running Stream. The
Camp ought not to be ſo large, out of Propor
tion to the Number of your Soldiers, that they
cannot be able to keep ſufficient Centry about
it, ſo as to give the Watch-word round one to
another; or to relieve one another ſo often as
may be requiſite in defending the Ramparts:
Nor, on the Contrary, ought it to be ſo crampt
up and confined, as not to afford ſufficient
room for all proper Conveniencies. Lycurgus
was of Opinion that Angles were uſeleſs in a
Camp, and therefore he always laid out his in
a Circle, unleſs he had ſome Hill, River or For
tification at his Back. Others commend a
Subject of Camps according to the
Methods of the aforementioned Ancients. We
muſt take Care to pitch upon a Place not only
convenient, but ſo well adapted for whatever
Purpoſe we have in Hand, that none could be
found more ſuitable. And beſides the other
Advantages before recited, let the Soil be dry,
not muddy nor liable at any Time to be over
flowed; but let the Situation be ſuch that it
may be always clear and free for your own
Men, and unfafe for the Enemy. Let there
be no foul Puddle in the Neighbourhood, and
let there be good Water at an eaſy Diſtance.
Contrive, if poſſible, to have ſome clear Springs
within the Camp itſelf, or to have the Foſs
filled with ſome River or running Stream. The
Camp ought not to be ſo large, out of Propor
tion to the Number of your Soldiers, that they
cannot be able to keep ſufficient Centry about
it, ſo as to give the Watch-word round one to
another; or to relieve one another ſo often as
may be requiſite in defending the Ramparts:
Nor, on the Contrary, ought it to be ſo crampt
up and confined, as not to afford ſufficient
room for all proper Conveniencies. Lycurgus
was of Opinion that Angles were uſeleſs in a
Camp, and therefore he always laid out his in
a Circle, unleſs he had ſome Hill, River or For
tification at his Back. Others commend a