But, in a hostile country, or in one already passed over by the enemy, it will not be safe to rely with confidence upon obtaining craft of this character.

A well-organized army will always carry in its train the means of effecting a certain and speedy passage of all water-courses that may intercept its line of march.
Flying-bridges or rowboats were employed in the passage of the Dwina, in 1701, by the Swedes; the passage of the Po, in 1701, by Prince Eugene; the passage of the Rhine, at Huninguen, in 1704; Jourdan's passage of the Rhine in 1795; Moreau's passage in 1796; the sieges of Kehl and Huninguen in 1797; Massena's passage of the Limmat, and Soult's passage of the Linth, in 1799; the passage of the Rhine, at Lucisteig in 1800; the passage of the Po, by the French, just before the battle of Marengo; and others in Italy, Germany, and Spain, in the subsequent campaigns of Napoleon.
Military bridges have sometimes been formed of ropes, cables stretched across the stream, and firmly attached at each end to trees, or posts let into the earth.

If the shore is of rock, rings with staples let into the stone form the best means for securing the ends of the main ropes.
Plank are laid on these cables to form the roadway.

The ropes forming the "side-rail" of the bridge are passed over trestles at each shore, and then fastened as before.

Short vertical ropes attach the main supports to these side ropes, in order that they may sustain a part of the weight passing over the bridge.