Spades 180 | 1 0 0 Shovels, shod with iron 138 | 1 0 0 -----------------------------------------+-------------- Bushel 500 | 0 12 0 Sand bags ½ ” 500 | 0 7 1 Bales 2 Bushel 250 | 0 8 1 -----------------------------------------+-------------- The following is the tonnage allowed to the military officers of the ordnance embarked for foreign service, for their camp equipage and baggage: For a field officer 5 tons. For a captain 3 ” For a subaltern 1½ ” _12th June, 1799._ _TRANSPORTS._—See the word _Embarkation_. _TRENCHES._—A general term for all the approaches at a siege of a fortified place. The approaches at a siege are generally carried on upon the capitals of the works attached; because the capitals produced are of all other situations in the front of a work the lead exposed to the fire of either the cannon or musquetry; and are the least in the line of fire between the besieged and besieger’s batteries. But if, from particular circumstances, these, or other advantages do not attend the approaches upon the capitals, they are by no means to be preferred to other positions. The trenches of communication, or zig-zags, are 3 feet deep, 10 feet wide at bottom, and 13 feet at top, having a berm of one foot, beyond which the earth is thrown to form a parapet. The parallels or places of arms of the trenches are 3 feet deep, 12 feet wide at bottom, and 17 or 18 feet wide at top, having a banquette of about 3 feet wide, with a slope of nearly as much. See the word _Sap_. The first night of opening the trenches, the greatest exertions are made to take advantage of the enemy’s ignorance as to the side of attack; and they are generally carried on as far in advance as the first parallel, and even sometimes to the completion of that work. The workmen set out on this duty, each with a fascine of 6 feet, a pick ax, and a shovel; and the fascines being laid so as to lap one foot over each other, leaves 5 feet of trench for each man to dig.