JOURNAL OF THE ATTACK. =98.= In connection with the plan of attack previously referred to (par. 78), a complete _Journal of the Attack_ will be kept in which will be recorded day by day a detailed record of the daily progress of the siege, giving the day and hour of starting and completing each battery, parallel, approach, etc., with their daily progress, dates of opening fire from each battery, and, generally, every incident connected with the siege. This journal will be supplemented by journals kept by the chiefs of engineers and artillery, in which will be consolidated the daily reports of all subordinate commanders of these respective arms, giving the expenditure of ammunition, the performance of the guns, carriages, etc.; the modification made in details of parapets, batteries, magazines, etc., with their value; the results of trials of new devices, and special reports upon any points connected with the siege. These journals will be carefully preserved and copies transmitted to the War Department from time to time for future use. CHAPTER VI. THE DEFENCE. =99.= =Preliminary Considerations.=--The defence of a fortified place is entrusted to a commanding officer, who, when the siege is established, is generally known as the “Governor of the Place.” His duties become more exacting and his powers more absolute from the beginning of hostilities until the place is invested and cut off from communication with the exterior, when, since the whole responsibility of the defence rests upon him, his powers over both the garrison and the inhabitants of the place, of necessity become autocratic in all matters affecting the defence, directly or indirectly. He, of course, avails himself of the counsel and advice of his subordinate officers and may make up a “Council of Defence” from his second in command and the commander of the engineers and of the artillery; but the ultimate decision of all questions must rest with him alone. During peace and after the beginning of hostilities up to the near approach of the investing force, the civil authorities retain their ordinary jurisdiction, unless martial law is declared by proper authority; but after the place is invested, martial law (or state of siege) exists from necessity, and the police power, the control of provisions and supplies of all kinds, public and private, buildings, animals, vehicles, etc., and everything necessary for the defence of the place fall into the hands of the governor, who also is empowered to direct who shall be sent out and who shall be retained within the place, and what necessary service or labor shall be performed by the inhabitants. Having been selected for these onerous and exacting duties, he, under no circumstances, allows himself to be cut off from his post, and is therefore debarred from leading his troops in person in the active operations outside the work or exposing himself unnecessarily or recklessly during any period of the siege.