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These are items not often seen in the reconstruction of fortifications in Canada. They were a simple piece of timber placed in front of the gun-carriage in order to protect the parapet from damage during the firing of the gun. They may have in fact been a part of the gun deck or they may have been p...

This is a crescent-shaped earthwork meant to protect the front of a curtain or of a bastion without flanks. By the time of the War of 1812 these structures were being referred to as a 'Ravelin'.

This was any part of the works where no rampart or parapet actually existed. It is usually the lowest part of the works.

Properly defined it is a body of soldiers that are stationed in one location for the purpose of defending it.

This is actually a passage or passage way that is made underground and it usually lead to mines or an area that would be mined. It was normally about 5 feet in height and 4 feet in width.

This is a gentle and sloping earthwork which commences from the covert-way and stretches toward the country (countryside) or enemy. It is important to remember that every part of the Glacis is meant to be covered by fire (firing).

This is a cylindrical bucket that is open at both ends. It is approximately 3 feet in height and also 3 feet in diameter. It is filled with branches and small pieces of wood. It is used by being rolled in front of the advancing troops. In doing so it gives protection from small arm fire under moveme...

This is a Palisade constructed horizontally, or slightly inclined toward the enemy, and it is found underneath the Berm of the ditch.

This was the length of the average man with outstretched arms running from fingertip down the length of his arm over his shoulders up the other arm to the farthest point or finger. It is generally recognized as being 6 feet.

This is any part of the fortification that has been designed to defend another part of the same fortification by fire (firing).

This is often referred to as a Face of Work. A Face is generally all the parts of a fortification which project toward the attackers and away from the main body of works.

This was an elongated and roundish bundle of wood made from branches or from brushwood (very much like a giant faggot) and it would all be tied together. These bundles actually served to keep the earth from crumbling into the trenches. They worked very much like rebar works today within a large body...

This was a massive area of earth that was specifically raised in order to protect the troops from enemy fire.

This was an opening made in the parapet specifically for a gun. They have a widening angle from within in order to accommodate a sweeping effect.

Ah yes, the Ditch. As youngsters we all grew up thinking that this area was called the moat but in fact it is the Ditch. Simply, it is large and it is deep and it is a trench that is made around the entire body of works. Generally it is between 15 and 20 feet deep and between 50 and 100 feet wide. T...