MOJ Sieges

		A Military Observer's Journal

Military Observer’s Journal
Sieges and Siege Trains

Sieges -- The siege of fortified places has always consisted in destroying the defenses from a distance, by means of large projectile machines, and effecting a breach in the wall for the purpose of entering the place. In recent times with the lessening in wall heights and the wall being supported behind with an earthen embankment, it is no longer possible to form the breach from a distance, and mines were resorted to for the purpose of blowing down the walls. Cast-iron cannonballs, when they first came into use, were employed to make cuts in the masonry, instead of battering it down as with stone cannonballs. This method, first used by the Turks, was improved on by Vauban, whose experience showed him that breaches so formed were more regular and made more rapidly than by the use of mines.

Besieging Army -- The besieging army is usually divided into two Corps, one charged with the siege, the other with holding the surrounding country, for a short distance from the place. Sometimes the besieging army is covered by a Corps of Observation, in which case there is no necessity for its being so numerous as when it acts alone.

Siege Train -- The artillery necessary for the attack on a fortified place constitutes this equipage. The strength of the siege train depends upon the importance of the place to be attacked and the resources at hand. For besieging the strongest places, the French prescribe an equipage of:

40--24-Pd. guns 15--8.78" mortars

40--16-Pd (U.S. 18 Pd.) guns 12--Stone Mortars

40--8.78" Howitzers 12--5.95" Mortars

15--10.79" Mortars 60--Rampart Muskets

A double attack would require about 200 cannon. The largest guns and howitzers, and the smallest mortars should be provided with about 1,000 rounds of ammunition each. The large mortars with 750 rounds, and the stone mortars with 500 rounds.

In this country, where the permanent works are so different than those in Europe, it is difficult to lay down any positive rules for the formation of siege trains. The number and kind of pieces must be determined by the circumstances of each case, taking into consideration the strength, position, and condition of the place to be attacked. Permanent works can only be reduced by the heaviest siege pieces, such as the 18 and 24-Pd guns, 811 howitzers and mortars. The amount of ammunition will of course vary according to circumstances. If possible, the 18 and 24-Pdrs should be furnished with 1,000 rounds; the 12-Pders with a greater number. The 811 howitzers and mortars with 800 rounds, and the Coehorn and 1011 mortars with 600 rounds. In addition, each or the foregoing guns should be provided with 50 rounds of grape and canister, and 100 rounds of spherical-case shot.

Reference:

Colin White, Victoria's Navy. The End of the Sailing Navy, 1981, Kenneth Mason--Hampshire, England, Pages 132-133.

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