It is the object of the Civil War Field Fortifications Website to provide sound basic information concerning the design, construction, and use of field fortifications during the American Civil War and middle period of the nineteenth century in general. The Civil War Field Fortifications Website attempts to accomplish this object by offering its visitors four distinct categories of information: 1) a general introduction to the subject; 2) a dictionary of terms relevant to the study of the art of fortification as it was practiced during the middle period of the nineteenth century, 3) a library of period texts useful to the study of the structural characteristics of temporary and permanent fortifications along with construction techniques and methods in relation to the general conduct of war during the middle period of the ninteenth century, and, finally, 4) an expanding group of images of the modern remains of both temporary and permanent fortifications constructed during the early and middle periods of the nineteenth century in the United States. From time to time other methods of delivering information (such as the Fortification Forum, which was unsuccessful) are tested; if successful they are maintained, if unsuccessful after an initial test period they are abandoned.

July, 2004