Note 178 — RETREAT OF THE FRENCH.

Têtes-des-ponts are thrown up to cover a communication across a river, and favour the movements of an army advancing into, or retreating from, an enemy’s country. The form, size, and strength of a tête-du-pont must be entirely regulated by locality and circumstances. A tête-du-pont may be composed of a horn-work defended by batteries on the opposite bank—or it may be a half square fort with bastions—or half a star fort—or redoubts disposed to flank each other.