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