Those who so readily draw, from the results of that siege, the inference that the present mode of fortifying land fronts must be abandoned, exhibit their ignorance of military engineering.

The facts do not justify their conclusions.
With respect to sea fronts, which can be reached only by guns afloat, the case is very different.

They are usually casemates of masonry, not masked by earthen works.

Whether the increased efficiency of projectiles thrown by ships and floating batteries now require a resort to this mode of protecting masonry on the water fronts of fortifications, is a question well worthy of discussion.

This subject has already been alluded to in the Note on Sea-coast Defences, and it is there shown that no facts have yet been developed which require or authorize any change in our present system.
NOTE TO CHAPTER XIV .-- FIELD ENGINEERING.
As Mexico had no permanent fortifications to be besieged, the war in that country afforded very little practice in that branch of engineering which is connected with the attack and defence of permanent works, particularly sapping and mining.