Part 119

PAVESSADES, _Fr._ large portable hurdles, behind which the archers and bowmen were formerly posted. According to Froissart, these hurdles were used long before the reign of Philip Augustus, king of France. Father Daniel, the Jesuit, in his _Histoire de la Milice Francoise_, describes them as bearing the figure of a shield; but the chevalier Folard, in his _Commentaire sur Polybe_, informs us, that they were mantlets which were disposed in parallel or oblique lines, from the camp to the nearest works belonging to the _Corps de Place_, behind which the soldiers and artificers, &c. could in safety, make a small fosse or ditch that was sufficiently deep to preserve them strait and firm. Hurdles, constructed in this manner, were used during the operations of a regular siege; but when it was found expedient to insult a place, those of less dimension were adopted. Father Daniel describes the _Retranchment Portatif_, which was used many centuries before the days of Philip Augustus, under the latter head.

PAVILION, in _military affairs_. See TENT.

PAVILLON, _Fr._ See TENT.

PAVILLON, _Fr._ Flag, standard, or colors.

_Vaisser le_ PAVILLON, _Fr._ to strike, to yield.

_Vaisseau_ PAVILLON, _Fr._ Flag ship.

PAVILLON, _Fr._ This word likewise signifies the swell or broad part of a speaking trumpet.

PAULETTE, _Fr._ a certain tax or pecuniary consideration which all persons who held public situations under the old government of France, were obliged to pay at the commencement of every year, to the king. This enabled them to sell or dispose of their appointments, and to leave the amount to their heirs, if they happened to die in the course of the year. It is so called from _Paulet_, the name of the person who first suggested the measure.

PAVOIS, _Fr._ an ancient weapon of defence. It was the Clypeus or broad shield of the Greeks and Romans.

PAUSE, a stop, cessation, or intermission. It is essentially necessary for all officers to accustom themselves to a most minute observance of the several pauses which are prescribed during the firings. Accordingly the pause betwixt each of the firing words, _make ready_--_aim_,--_fire_, is the same as the ordinary time, viz. the 75th part of a minute, and no other pause is to be made betwixt the words.

In firing by _companies by wings_, each wing carries on its fire independent, without regard to the other wing, whether it fires from the centre to the flanks, or from the flanks to the centre. If there are five companies in the wing, two _pauses_ will be made betwixt the fire of each, and the _make ready_ of the succeeding one. If there are four companies in the wing, three _pauses_ will be made betwixt the fire of each, and the _make ready_ of the succeeding one. This will allow sufficient time for the first company to have again loaded, and shouldered at the time the last company fires, and will establish proper intervals betwixt each.

In firing by grand divisions, three pauses will be made betwixt the fire of each division, and the _make ready_ of the succeeding one.

In firing by _wings_, one wing will make ready the instant the other is shouldering. The commanding officer of the battalion fires the wings.

In firing companies by _files_ each company fires independent. When the right file presents, the next makes ready, and so on. After the first fire, each man as he loads comes to the recover, and the file again fires without waiting for any other; the rear rank men are to have their eyes on their front rank-men, and be guided by, and present with them.

When troops march to music, a _pause_ in the mind before the latter strikes off, will contribute greatly to that uniformity of step, without which no line can move correctly. In some regiments the music does not play until one step has been taken. See STEP OFF.

PAY, or _pay of the army_, is the stipend or salary allowed for each individual serving in the army; first established by the British government in the year 1660.

_FULL PAY_

_Of the Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Privates in the British army._

+--------------+--------------+--------------+ | | | | | Life | | Foot | Rank. | Guards. | Cavalry. | Guards. | -------------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+ |_£._ _s._ _d._|_£._ _s._ _d._|_£._ _s._ _d._| Colonel | 1 16 -- | 1 12 10 | 1 19 -- | Colonel en Second | ---- | ---- | -- | 1st. Lieut. Colonel| 1 11 -- | 1 3 -- | 1 8 6 | 2d. Lieut. Colonel | ---- | ---- | -- | 1st. Major | 1 6 -- | -- 19 3 | 1 4 -- | 2d. Major | ---- | -- | -- | Captain | -- 16 -- | -- 14 7 | -- 16 6 | Captain Lieutenant | }0 11 -- | -- 9 -- | -- 7 10 | 1st. Lieutenant | } | | | 2d. Lieutenant | ---- | -- | -- | Cornets | -- 8 6 | -- 8 -- | -- | Ensigns | ---- | -- | -- 5 10 | Pay-Master | ---- | -- 15 -- | -- | Quarter-Master | -- 6 | -- 5 6 | -- 5 8 | Adjutant | -- 11 -- | -- 5 -- | -- | Surgeon | -- 12 -- | -- 12 -- | -- 12 -- | Assistant Surgeon | ---- | -- 5 -- | -- 7 6 | Veterinary do. | ---- | -- 8 -- | ---- | Serjeant-Major | ---- | ---- | ---- | Quarter-Master do. | ---- | ---- | ---- | Serjeant | ---- | -- 2 -- | -- 1 10³⁄₄| Corporal | -- 2 6¹⁄₄| -- 1 7¹⁄₄| -- 1 4³⁄₄| Bombardier | ---- | ---- | ---- | 1st. Gunner | ---- | ---- | ---- | 2d. Gunner | ---- | ---- | ---- | Private | -- 1 11¹⁄₄| -- 1 3 | -- 1 1 | Farrier and Smith | ---- | ---- | ---- | Collar Maker} | | | | Wheeler } | ---- | ---- | ---- | Trumpeter} | | | | Drummer } | -- 2 6 | -- 1 7 | -- 1 2¹⁄₄| -------------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+

+--------------+----------------------------- | | Artillery. | Infantry +--------------+-------------- Rank. | of the line. | Horse. | Foot. -------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------- |_£._ _s._ _d._|_£._ _s._ _d._|_£._ _s._ _d._ Colonel | 1 2 6 | -- | 2 3 6 Colonel en Second | -- | 1 9 8 | 1 3 9 1st. Lieut. Colonel| 0 15 11 | 1 5 8 | -- 19 9 2d. Lieut. Colonel | 0 15 11 | -- | -- 16 10 1st. Major | }0 14 1 | {1 -- 9 | -- 14 10 2d. Major | } | { -- | -- Captain | 0 9 5 | -- 15 4 | -- 9 11 Captain Lieutenant | 0 5 8 | {0 10 -- | -- 7 -- 1st. Lieutenant | | {0 9 -- | -- 6 -- 2d. Lieutenant | -- | -- 8 -- | -- 5 -- Cornets | -- | -- | -- Ensigns | -- 4 8 | -- | -- Pay-Master | -- 15 -- | -- | -- Quarter-Master | -- 5 8 | -- 6 -- | -- 6 -- Adjutant | -- 5 -- | -- 5 -- | -- 5 -- Surgeon | -- 9 5 | -- 11 10 | -- 9 11 Assistant Surgeon | -- 5 -- | -- 6 -- | -- 5 -- Veterinary do. | ---- | ---- | ---- Serjeant-Major | ---- | -- 3 4 | -- 3 2 Quarter-Master do. | ---- | -- 2 10 | ---- Serjeant | -- 1 6³⁄₄| -- 2 4 | -- 2 2 Corporal | -- 1 2¹⁄₄| -- 2 2¹⁄₄| -- 2 ¹⁄₄ Bombardier | ---- | -- 2 ¹⁄₄| -- 1 10¹⁄₄ 1st. Gunner | ---- | ---- | -- 1 7 2d. Gunner | ---- | -- 1 5¹⁄₄| -- 1 3¹⁄₄ Private | -- 1 -- | ---- | ---- Farrier and Smith | ---- | -- 3 4³⁄₄| ---- Collar Maker} | | | Wheeler } | ---- | -- 2 ³⁄₄| ---- Trumpeter} | | | Drummer } | -- 1 1¹⁄₄| -- 2 1³⁄₄| -- 1 3¹⁄₄ -------------------+--------------+--------------+--------------

_Full_ PAY. The pecuniary allowance which is made to officers and non-commissioned officers, without any deduction whatsoever. Since the abolition of arrears in the British service, which took place in 1797, commissioned and warrant officers, &c. receive their full pay, or daily subsistence. The private soldiers are subject to temporary deductions, for the purpose of appropriating part of their pay and allowances to the expence of their messes, including vegetables, &c. and to a stoppage not exceeding 1_s._ 6_d._ per week, for necessaries; which stoppage is to be accounted for monthly, as stated in their regulations of 1st September, 1795, and the remainder being 1_s._ 6_d._ must be paid, weekly to each soldier, subject to the accustomed deduction for washing, and for articles to clean his clothing and appointments.

The full pay of the British army is given in advance on the 25th of every month, and accounted for to government by the several district and regimental paymasters, through army agents appointed for that purpose. For further particulars, see _Military Finance_, page 48, &c. Non-commissioned officers and private soldiers serving as marines, are not liable to any deduction whatsoever from their full pay, on account of provisions. It will be further observed, that although the British army is now paid its full pay, in consequence of the abolition of the distinction between subsistence and arrears, that pay is nevertheless subject to the usual deductions on account of poundage, hospital, and agency. This will explain the mutilated appearance of the different rates of pay. Thus a captain of infantry, who is nominally supposed to receive 10_s._ per diem, gets only 9_s._ 5_d._ the 7_d._ going for the above deductions. The full pay of the subaltern officers has been very judiciously increased, but that of the captains, &c. remains as it was in the reign of Queen Anne. For the several rates of full pay, see _Military Finance_, page 66, &c.

_Half_ PAY, (_Demi solde_, _Fr._) a compensation or retaining fee which is given to officers who have retired from the service through age, inability, &c. or who have been placed upon that list in consequence of a general reduction of the forces, or a partial drafting, &c. of the particular corps to which they belonged. The half pay becomes due on the 25th of June, and on the 25th of December in each year, but it is seldom issued until three months after the expiration of each of those periods. The only deduction from the half pay is the poundage, two and an half per cent. See _Military Finance_, page 113.

_Irish_ HALF-PAY. Every officer upon the Irish establishment, when reduced to half pay, must swear to, and sign the following certificate:

County of ------ ------ of foot, came this day before me, and made oath, that he is no otherwise provided for by any commission or employment, civil or military, in his majesty’s service, than by half pay on the establishment of Ireland, and is on no other establishment of half pay.

Officer’s Name.

Sworn before me this day of

N. B. To be sworn in January, April, July, and October, in every year.

PAY-MASTER, is he who is intrusted with the money, and has the charge of paying the regiment. He has no other commission in the line. His pay is 15_s._ per day.

_District_ PAY-MASTER, an officer appointed for the better management of the interior concerns of the army, when the corps are detached in garrisons on duty, in several districts.

PAY-_Bills_. in the British army these bills are distinguished according to the nature of the service for which they are given. Every captain of a troop or company receives a regular weekly account from his Serjeant, of money to be advanced for the effectives of such troop or company; and on the 24th day in each month he makes out a monthly one for the paymaster, who makes out a general abstract for the agent. The paymaster-general’s estimate is likewise called the pay bill.

PAY-_Lists_. The monthly accounts, which are transmitted by the several regimental and district paymasters to their agents on the 25th of each month, are so termed.

PAY-_Rolls_, the same as pay-lists.

PAY-_Serjeant_. See _Serjeant_.

PAYE, _Fr._ the pay of the troops.

PAYEN-_Ghaut_, _Ind._ the lower mountain Ghaut is the general term for mountain.

PAYS, _Fr._ This word is variously applied by the French in a figurative sense: _Parler, ou juger a vue de Pays._ To speak or decide at random.

_Gagner_ PAYS, (_vuider le pays_, _Fr._) To leave a country. To go voluntarily into exile. _Gagner pays_ likewise means to gain ground. _Avancer pays_ may be used in the same sense.

_Battre_-PAYS, _Fr._ to speak wide of the subject.

_Tirer_-PAYS, _Fr._ a familiar phrase among the French, signifying to escape.

PAYS, _Fr._ country, locality, ground.

PAYS-_conquis_, _Fr._ This term was applied by the French to those countries and tracts of territory which had been ceded to France by treaty; as Lorraine; or had been conquered by force of arms; as Ypres, Tournay, Ghent, Ostend, and several other towns, from the reign of Louis XIII.

PAYS-_coupés_, _Fr._ Confined, inclosed, or intersected countries. Marshal Saxe has observed, that it is impossible to lay down any specific rule relative to the management of troops in countries of this description. An intelligent and able officer will be governed by the nature of the ground in which he is to act; and as under these circumstances, the contest will consist chiefly of a war of posts, and of desultory engagements, in which the most obstinate will be generally the most successful, it will be incumbent upon every military man to recollect, that he must never advance, without having previously secured means for a retreat, should that be judged expedient, and being constantly guarded on his flanks to prevent the fatal consequences of surprise and ambuscade. Although the latter precautions are principally attended to by the general of an army, every partisan or officer commanding a detachment, should be more or less alive to the many mischiefs which must ensue from carelessness and inattention. It would be superfluous to point out what troops are best calculated to act in a close or intersected country. Every military man must know, that mountainous and close countries, or intersected lands, are best adapted to light infantry manœuvres, and that cavalry can only act, with safety and effect, in an open country. The solidity of this observation has probably been the cause of so much improvement in light artillery, and in rifle corps. The latter, indeed, by the use which has been made of their particular weapon, and the desultory execution of it on service, have sufficiently shewn, that no army ought to move without them.

PAYSANS. _Fr._ _Peasants._

PEACE, has been represented allegorically as a beautiful female, holding in her hand a wand or rod towards the earth, over a hideous serpent, and keeping her other hand over her face, as unwilling to behold strife or war. By some painters she has been represented holding in one hand an olive branch, and leading a lamb and a wolf yoked by their necks, in the other; others again have delineated her with an olive branch in her right hand, and a cornucopia, or horn of plenty, in her left.

A very celebrated temple was erected for the goddess of peace at Rome, which was furnished with most of the rich vases and curiosities taken out of the temple of the Jews at Jerusalem. In this temple she was represented as a fine lady, endowed with a great deal of sweetness and good-nature, crowned with laurel interwoven, holding a caduceus in one hand, and a nosegay of roses and ears of corn, in the other.

The temple of peace, built by Vespasian, was 300 feet long, and 200 broad. Josephus says, that all the rarities which men travel through the world to see, were deposited in this temple.

PEACE, (_Paix_, _Fr._) rest, silence, quietness; the direct opposite to war; and when the latter prevails, the ultimate object of every contest. This word is frequently prefixed to the term establishment, to signify the reduced number of effective men, in the British army, according to the various formations of corps. Thus one regiment may be 1200 strong in time of war, and only 600 in time of peace. A regiment may also consist of several battalions, the 60th regiment for example has six battalions each of the strength of a regiment; that is from 1000 to 1200 men each. Whence arises the distinction between _war_ and _peace_ establishments. The standing army of Great Britain, according to law, consists of that force only which is kept up in time of peace, and which is confined to a specific number of regiments. Every regiment, beyond the regulated number, during a war is liable to be reduced; and all within it are said to be out of the break.

PEADA, _Ind._ a footman who carries a staff.

PECHE, _Fr._ Fishery.

PECTORAL, (_Pectoral_, _Fr._) a breast plate. This word is derived from the Latin, _Pectorale_. Among the Romans the poorer soldiers, who were rated under a thousand drachms, instead of the lorica or brigantine, (a leathern coat of mail) wore a pectorale, or breast-plate of thin brass, about 12 fingers square. Some modern troops, such as the cuirassiers, &c. wear pectorals for the direct purposes of defence and bodily protection; but in general small ornamental plates with clasps, have been substituted.

PECULAT, _Fr._ See PECULATION.

PECULATE, PECULATION, the crime of pilfering any thing, either sacred or public, particularly public money, by a person who has the management or custody thereof. This crime is punishable in the heirs of the original delinquent. Under peculation may be considered not only the monies which are embezzled or misapplied by commissioned, non-commissioned, and warrant officers, but the public stores, provisions, aims, and ammunition, &c. which may be sold for private emolument. Occasional examples have been made by government, of a crime that cannot be too scrupulously watched, or too heavily punished, ought to deter individuals from sacrificing public integrity to private views. They ought to remember, that like the sword of Damocles, public scorn hangs over the head of every man whose accounts have not been finally audited and passed.

PECUNIA. Money. A deity in the heathen mythology; (though not a goddess personified among them) the most powerful ascendant the moderns know. The Romans held that she presided over riches, and that she had a son named _Argentinus_, whom they adored in the hopes of growing rich.

PECUNIUS, a deity of the ancient Prussians, in honor of whom they kept a fire of oak perpetually burning. A priest constantly attended, and if the fire happened to go out by his neglect, he was instantly put to death. When it thundered, they imagined that their grand priest conversed with their god, and for that reason they fell prostrate on the earth, praying for seasonable weather.

PEDERERO, PATTARERO, a Portuguese term, signifying a small sort of cannon, which is particularly used on the quarter deck of ships, to fire or throw forth stones, or broken iron, upon hoarding parties. This word has been adopted both by the French and English.

PEDOMETER, (_Pedometre_, _Fr._) a mathematical instrument, composed of various wheels with teeth, which by means of a chain fastened to a man’s foot, or to the wheel of a chariot, advance a notch each step, or each revolution of the wheel, and the number being marked at the edge of each wheel, the paces may be numbered, or the distance from one place to another be exactly measured.

PEGS, pointed pieces of wood, used to fasten the cords of a tent.

PEIADAK, _Ind._ a guard to accompany a prisoner at large.

PEISA, _Ind._ Cash; or copper money.

PEER, _Ind._ Monday.

PELE-MELE, _Fr._ a French adverb, from which is derived the English term pellmell, signifying, confusedly, in disorder, in heaps, &c.

PELICAN, _Fr._ an ancient piece of artillery which carried a six pound weight of ball, and weighed two thousand four hundred pounds.

PELLE _de bois simple_, _Fr._ a wooden shovel.

PELOTE _à feu_, _Fr._ Pelote literally means the bottom of a pincushion, a ball, &c. It is here used to signify a species of combustible ball, which serves to throw light into a fosse or elsewhere. The composition is pitch one part, sulphur three parts, to one pound of saltpetre. The whole is well mixed together, and incorporated with tow, from which the pelotes are made.

PELOTON, _Fr._ Platoon.

_Rompre le_ PELOTON, _Fr._ A platoon being generally considered as a subdivision, _rompre le peloton_ signifies to break into sections.

_Former le_ PELOTON, _Fr._ to double up or form subdivision.

PELOTONNE, _ée_, _Fr._ formed into a platoon.

PELOTONNER, _Fr._ to gather together, to get into groupes.

_Se_ PELOTONNER, _Fr._ to form into a platoon.

PELTA, in antiquity, a kind of buckler, small, light, and more manageable than the Parma which was used by the Amazons, according to Virgil, and resembled the moon in his first quarter, according to Servius.

PENAL, (_Pénal_, _ale_, _Fr._) any decree or law which subjects individuals, &c. to penalties. Hence _code pénal_. _Les loix pénales._ The penal code, the penal laws. Thus in England a person professing the Catholic religion is not permitted to exercise his religion if a soldier; and a catholic cannot be a commissioned officer.

PENALTY. In a military sense, signifies forfeiture for non-performance, likewise punishment for embezzlement, &c. An officer found guilty of embezzling stores is cashiered; any person who harbors, conceals, or assists any deserter from the United States’ service, is liable to a heavy penalty.

PENDULUM, in _mechanics_, any heavy body suspended in such a manner that it may vibrate backwards, and forwards, about some fixed point, by the force of gravity.

A pendulum is any body suspended upon, and moving about, a point as a centre. The nature of a pendulum consists in the following particulars. 1. The times of the vibrations of a pendulum, in very small arches, are all equal. 2. The velocity of the bob in the lowest point, will be nearly as the length of the cord of the arch which it describes in the descent. 3. The times of vibrations in different pendulums, are the square roots of the times of their vibrations. 4. The time of one vibration is to the time of descent, through half the length of the pendulum as the circumference of a circle is to its diameter. 5. Whence the length of a pendulum vibrating seconds in the latitude of London, is found to be 39 inches and ²⁄₁₀ths; and of one half-second pendulum 9.8 inches. 6. An uniform homogeneous body, as a rod, staff, &c. which is ¹⁄₃d part longer than a pendulum, will vibrate in the same time with it.