Photograph as originally submitted to this page in the Historical Marker Database www.HMdb.org. Click on photo to resize in browser. Scroll down to see metadata.

Photographer: Craig Swain
Taken: November 10, 2007
Caption: An Artillery Lunette
Additional Description: Compare this field fortification to the fixed artillery emplacements at Fort Collier (Winchester), Fort Mayfield (Manassas), or any of the Washington, D.C. forts such as Fort Totten or Fort Stevens. Field fortifications tend to be lower in profile, sinking the artillery piece lower to the ground. Where as fixed fortification emplacements tend to elevate the artillery piece in profile. Field fortifications need to offer protection from enemy fire in addition to concealment. In a perfect position, the field fortification offers the enemy only a view of the cannon's muzzle.

On the other hand with fixed fortifications, it can be assumed the enemy knows where the fort is generally located, so concealment isn't as high a priority. In order to offer a wider, clearer field of fire, the cannon is often placed on an elevated platform. Additional protection is provided in the fixed fortifications with ramparts, since time permits the additional earth moving.
Submitted: November 18, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
Database Locator Identification Number: p10444
File Size: 1.819 Megabytes

To see the metadata that may be embedded in this photo, sign in and then return to this page.