An
investment occurred when a hostile force surrounded a fortified place,
established its camps in its near vicinity, and placed a close guard over
all approaches into and out of the place. If a siege was intended the hostile
force would also begin work on lines of circumvallation and countervallation
or establish strong military posts on all avenues of communication and patrol
the intervals between these posts in an attempt to prevent all movement into
and out of the place. This type of operation was usually conducted by the
main body of an army or a strong detachment regulated by the relative strength
of the fortified place and size of its garrison. As with a blockade, an
investment was not an attempt to attack the fortified place, but it was generally
considered the opening stage of siege operations against a fortified place.
An
investment occurred when a hostile force surrounded a fortified place,
established its camps in its near vicinity, and placed a close guard over
all approaches into and out of the place. If a siege was intended the hostile
force would also begin work on lines of circumvallation and countervallation
or establish strong military posts on all avenues of communication and patrol
the intervals between these posts in an attempt to prevent all movement into
and out of the place. This type of operation was usually conducted by the
main body of an army or a strong detachment regulated by the relative strength
of the fortified place and size of its garrison. As with a blockade, an
investment was not an attempt to attack the fortified place, but it was generally
considered the opening stage of siege operations against a fortified place.
