The Origin of the Ditch-system of the War.
The
Romans carried on their were in a great measure, by ditching, sometimes besieging towns for years.
It was common, also, to other nations, who had to depend, for artillery, on battering rams and catapults.
In modern times, sieges have been comparatively short, although there have been occasional instances to the contrary.
The main armies have usually been kept in the field, ready to be moved at the will of the commander.
The siege of
Sebastopol was not an example to the contrary, although it seems to have given rise to the present ‘"art of war." ’
According to the military writers who have treated of this famous siege, it was undertaken on a false principle, and ought not to furnish a precedent.
Such was the opinion of the Russians themselves, at least it was said to have been so at the time.
The Allies -ally defeated the only
Russian army in the Crimes, at
Alma.
a few days after their landing.
In their retreat they passed entirely by
Sebastopol, which was altogether defenceless on the land side.--To the amazement of the Russians, the allies passed entirely by it also, instead of entering and taking possession, leaving the bridge by which it communicated across the bay still standing.
They went to Balaclava to communicate with their shipping, and Menchikon taking the hint, re-entered the town, and, with the assistance of Totleben, threw up those famous earthworks which baffled them for eleven months. The bridge being left.
Menchikon passed over continually any number of troops he pleased to man the works, so that it can hardly be called a siege after all since they were not shut in.
General Jessup (we believe it was) thought the whole proceeding wrong.
According to him, if the Allies had stationed a force at Simpheropol, about twenty miles from
Sebastopol, where all the roads of the Crimes meet, before passing in a single road to
Sebastopol, they would have cut off the latter from all supplies by land, while with their large fleet they could have kept off all supplies by water.
As their supply of troops was unlimited, they could then, with the main army, have taken possession of the passes that led into the Crimes, and defeated any
Russian force that might be sent as fast as it arrived.
But the Allies preferred the spade, and about that time
McClellan was sent on a commission to
Europe.
