Page 153 - Wish Stream Year of 2018

Three examples of fortifying an ‘irregular heptagon’, or town, using the bastion system, April 1790
works which defended sites of an irregular shape, some sort of system was undoubtedly necessary to permit the customisation of the various bas- tion systems. It may also be a symptom of the influence of ‘positivism’ on warfare, whereby the application of scientific principles (geometry and quantity calculations) in so thorough a way would result in ultimate military efficiency.
To this end there are 68 hand-drawn plates, cov- ering subjects such as: the ‘elements of fortifica- tion’, that is, the construction of a whole litany of works; irregular fortification; the attack of places, field fortification; estimates and countermines. At least, however, there was utility in being able to produce such drawings, because they surely assisted the young officer to apprehend the detailed nature of the structures they were to build, use and attack. Indeed, that drawings are essential for an architect is undisputed.
The illustrations in the second part of the book (the ‘Course of Artillery’), however, are arguably far less beneficial. The bulk of these consist of illustrations of pieces of ordnance, including tables of vital statistics (dimensions, weight, cali- bre etc), and carriages, equipment and accou- trements. Whilst it could be argued that they familiarised the Cadet with the parts of such weapons, it would most certainly have been bet- ter if Cadets had had the opportunity of using and fixing these guns and their carriages, rather than sitting in a classroom drawing them.
An excuse could be made for this, in that printing and lithography were expensive, and by making their own drawings, Cadets were producing a work of reference which might be useful for the future. Certainly, there is a question as to how practical the RMA course was at this time and
Batteries of the ‘first parallel’ aligned to strafe parapets of a besieged fortress using Vauban’s method of attack, 24th June 1791
the institution lacked many facilities. For exam- ple, it was not until 1806 that the new academy building was built on Woolwich Common. Prior to this, Cadets made do with the cramped old building down in the Royal Arsenal; indeed, some Cadets were sent to the Royal Military College Junior Department at Marlow for want of space. However, it was not until 1820 that a ‘Practical Class’ was instituted as a separate
Plan and elevation of a sap in progress. Under cover of stuffed wicker gabions, Sappers advance inexorably to the bastion glacis
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