In a general sense the approaches to a place are
the routes, such as roads and watercourses, that lead to it. In a more military
sense the approaches to a position assumed by an army in the field consist
of the ground, whether roads or open fields, that an enemy would most likely
use to reach the position and conduct an attack. In siege operations all
coordinated siege works constructed to reach a fortified place under cover
were considered approaches; in a more specific sense an approach was a single
line of attack with its own boyaux, parallels, and point of attack. In field
fortifications a covered route used by troops to enter and exit a work or
line of works from the rear was also sometimes referred to as an approach.
In a general sense the approaches to a place are
the routes, such as roads and watercourses, that lead to it. In a more military
sense the approaches to a position assumed by an army in the field consist
of the ground, whether roads or open fields, that an enemy would most likely
use to reach the position and conduct an attack. In siege operations all
coordinated siege works constructed to reach a fortified place under cover
were considered approaches; in a more specific sense an approach was a single
line of attack with its own boyaux, parallels, and point of attack. In field
fortifications a covered route used by troops to enter and exit a work or
line of works from the rear was also sometimes referred to as an approach.
