In
siege operations a flying sap was a trench constructed by first placing gabions
side by side along the engaged side of the trench and then having them filled
simultaneously by a large working party. Flying saps could only be constructed
in situations where the working party was not exposed to heavy defensive
musket fire and were, like most siege works, almost always constructed under
cover of darkness with the support of a large guarding party to protect the
working party against sorties by the garrison. The second parallel and boyaux
leading to it were usually constructed by means of the flying sap.
In
siege operations a flying sap was a trench constructed by first placing gabions
side by side along the engaged side of the trench and then having them filled
simultaneously by a large working party. Flying saps could only be constructed
in situations where the working party was not exposed to heavy defensive
musket fire and were, like most siege works, almost always constructed under
cover of darkness with the support of a large guarding party to protect the
working party against sorties by the garrison. The second parallel and boyaux
leading to it were usually constructed by means of the flying sap.
