fortification A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...

, a commanding ground is an area that overlooks any post, or strong place. Of this there were three sorts: first, a ''front commanding ground'', which is a height opposite to the face of the post, which plays upon its front; second, a ''reverse commanding ground'', which is an eminence that can play upon the back of any place or post; and third, an ''

enfilade Enfilade and defilade are concepts in military tactics used to describe a military formation's exposure to enemy fire. A formation or position is "in enfilade" if weapon fire can be directed along its longest axis. A unit or position is "in de ...

commanding ground'', or ''curtain commanding ground'', which is a high place, that can with its shot scour all the length of a straight line.

References

Fortifications by type {{fort-stub