Military
Fort Huger was built with only one entrance, or sallyport, to make defense easier. Just before the entrance, a dry ditch ran the full length of the fort's exterior. When filled with sharpened wooden stakes called abatis or chevaux de frise, the ditch formed a barrier against attacking cavalry and infantry. Protrusions in the fort's outer wall also allowed rifle fire from above onto attacking enemy infantry. A naval 32-pounder stood in the probable position behind this area on a rotating carriage, allowing it to fire toward the face of the north parapet wall or directly at enemy soldiers breaking through the sallyport. Its position is the origin of the phrase last ditch defense.
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Rushmere, Virginia · United States
