Part 121

PIECE, (_Piéce_, _Fr._) This word is variously used, in a military sense, by the French and English, viz.

_Un homme armé de toutes_ PIECES, _Fr._ a man armed at all points, or cap-a-pied.

PIECES _d’honneur_, _Fr._ the insignia or marks of honor. These consist of the crown, sceptre, and sword.

PIECES _of Ordnance_ are all sorts of great guns and mortars.

_Battering_ PIECES are the large guns which serve at sieges to make breaches, such as the 24-pounder, and the culverin, which carries 18lb. ball.

_Garrison_-PIECES, are mostly heavy 12, 18, 24, 36, and 42-pounders, besides wall guns.

_Field_-PIECES are twelve pounders, demi-culverins, six pounders, sakers, minions, and three pounders, which move with an army, and are parked behind the second line when it encamps, but are advanced in front, in the intervals of battalions, &c. and on the flanks in the day of battle.

_Regimental_ PIECES, are light 6 pounders: each regiment has generally two of these pieces. See _Am. Mil. Lib._

PIECE is likewise used to express a soldier’s musquet.

PIECE _Goods_, in India, the various fabrics which manufacture cotton and silk, are distinguished by this term.

_Une_ PIECE _d’artillerie_, _une_ PIECE _de canon_, _Fr._ These terms are used by the French to signify cannon in general.

PIECES _de Battierie_, _Fr._ See BATTERING PIECES.

PIECES _de campagne_, _Fr._ See FIELD PIECES.

PIECES _de vingt-quatre_, _Fr._ 24 pounders.

PIECES _de trente-six_, _Fr._ 36 pounders. When pieces are not specifically named the term is used in the same general sense by the English, as, one hundred pieces of cannon, or artillery: _cent piéces d’artillerie_; but when the calibre is mentioned, it is usual in English to substitute the word pounder for piece, as _une piéce de vingt quatre_; four and twenty pounder.

_Démonter les_ PIECES, _Fr._ to dismount cannon.

_Enclouer les_ PIECES, _Fr._ to spike cannon.

_Rafraichir les_ PIECES, _Fr._ to spunge or clean out cannon.

PIECE _de canon brisé_, _Fr._ The French formerly made use of cannon that could be taken to pieces, and so rendered more portable. This species of ordnance was distinguished as above.

PIECE _versée en panier ou en cage_, _Fr._ a piece of ordnance is said to be in this situation, when it is so completely overturned, as to have the wheels of its carriage in the air. Various methods have been proposed by able engineers to raise cannon that have been overturned. See _Saint Remi_, _Manuel de l’artilleur_, and a late publication, intituled, _Aide Mémoire a l’usage des Officiers d’Artillerie de France_, by Gassendi.

PIECES _légeres_, _Fr._ light pieces. See FIELD PIECES.

PIECES _à la Suédoise_, _Fr._ field pieces originally invented, and since used among the Swedes.

PIECES _Nettes_, _Fr._ Artillery pieces that have no defect whatever.

PIECES _de Chasse_, _Fr._ a marine term, signifying the cannon that is placed on the stern and forecastle of a ship. We call them chase-guns.

PIECES _détachées_, _Travaux avancés en dehors_, _Fr._ Those works which cover the body of a fortified place, towards the country; of this description are ravelins, demi-lunes, hornworks, tenailles, crown works, queues d’hironde, enveloppes, &c.

_To be cut to_ PIECES, (_Etre écharpê_, _Fr._) The French say, _Un tel régiment, a éte écharpé_. Such a regiment was cut to pieces.

PIED _de Roi_, _Fr._ a measure containing twelve French inches, or one hundred and forty lines.

PIED _Quarré_, _Fr._ The French square foot contains the same dimensions in length and breadth, giving one hundred and forty inches of surface.

PIED _de toise quarrée_, _Fr._ the sixth part of a square toise. The square toise contains 36 feet, the square foot consequently comprehends six feet, and must be considered as a rectangle.

PIED _Cube_, _Fr._ the same measure according to three dimensions. It contains 1728 cubic inches.

PIED _Rhenan_ or _Rhinlandique_, _Fr._ the German foot. See MEASURE.

PIED _courant_, _Fr._ the extent of a foot considered as to length only.

PIED _Marin_, _Fr._ literally, sea-leg. See MARIN.

PIED _de mur ou de muraille_, _Fr._ that lower part of a wall which is otherwise called _Escarpe_, and is contained between its base and top.

PIED _de rampart_, _Fr._ that extent of ground which lies between the fosse and the houses in a fortified town or place.

A PIED, _Fr._ On foot.

PIED _à pied_, _Fr._ foot by foot, gradually. _Faire un logement pied à pied_; to establish a lodgement foot by foot. _Forcer les ouvrages pied à pied_; to make regular approaches, or to besiege a town by opening trenches, &c. instead of insulting it by a direct attack.

_Troupes retenues sur_ PIED, _Fr._ troops kept upon full pay.

_Etre en_ PIED, _Fr._ to be kept upon full pay, in contradistinction to _reformé_, or being reduced.

PIEDROIT, _Fr._ Pier.

PIEGE, _Fr._ Snare.

PIERRE, _Fr._ A stone.

PIERRE _à feu_, _Fr._ Flint.

PIERRE _à fusil_, _Fr._ A flint.

PIERREE, _Fr._ A drain, water-course.

PIERRIER, _Fr._ A swivel, a pederero.

PIERRIERE, _Fr._ A quarry.

PIERRIERES, _Fr._ Heaps of stones, which are designedly collected round fortified places to interrupt besiegers in their approaches. These heaps are covered over with earth to conceal the stratagem; and the spots on which they lie are frequently fortified with palisadoes, in the form of bonnets or saliant angles; so that when the besieger attempts to carry them, the artillery from the ramparts or neighboring places, may be fired amongst the heaps of stones, and considerable damage be done by the fragments that must necessarily fly about.

PIERS. The columns on which the arch of a bridge is raised.

PIES, _Fr._ Knights that were created by Pope Pius IV. in 1560, with the titles of counts Palatines. They took precedence, at Rome, of the knights of the Teutonic order, and of those of Malta.

PIETINER, _Fr._ to move the feet with great quickness. It likewise signifies to _mark time_, but not technically so.

PIETON, _Fr._ a foot soldier.

PIEU, _Fr._ a large beam, or stake.

PIEUX, _Fr._ This word is sometimes used in the plural number to signify palisades.

PIGNON, _Fr._ the gable end of a building.

PIKE, in _war_, an offensive weapon, consisting of a wooden shaft, from 6 to 20 feet long, with a flat steel head, pointed, called the spear. This instrument was long in use among the infantry; but now the bayonet, which is fixed on the muzzle of the firelock, is substituted in its stead. The Macedonian phalanx was a battalion of pikemen.

PIKEMEN, soldiers armed with pikes.

The utility of the Pike was pointed out by marshal Saxe, but until the French being destitute of firearms for their national guards, were forced to resort to it, the great value of the weapon was not well understood; although the bayonet, which is only a pike on the end of a firelock, was in general use. On an emergency, where arms are scarce, the pike may always be relied on against infantry or cavalry. See _Am. Mil. Lib._

PIKESTAFF, the wooden pole or handle of a pike.

PILE, _Fr._ A species of javelin which was used by the Romans. They darted these weapons with so much force, that, according to tradition, two men have been pierced through, together with their shields or bucklers.

PILES, strong pieces of wood, driven into the ground to make a firm foundation for any kind of work.

_To_ PILE or _stack arms_, to place three musquets with six bayonets in such a relative position, that the butts shall remain firm upon the ground, and the muzzles be close together in an oblique direction. This method has been adopted to prevent the injury which was formerly done to musquetry, when the practice of grounding the firelock prevailed. Every recruit should be taught how to pile or stack arms before he is dismissed the drill.

PILE, any heap; as a pile of balls, shells, &c.

PILES _of shot or shells_, are generally piled up in the magazines, in three different manners: the base is either a triangular square, or a rectangle; and from thence the piles are called triangular, square, and oblong.

TABLE, _of Triangular Piles of Shot_.

+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- | Con-| | Con-| | Con-| | Con- Side.|tent.|Side.|tent.|Side.|tent.|Side.|tent. -----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- 2 | 4| 13 | 473| 24 | 437| 35 | 7486 -----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- 3 | 10| 14 | 574| 25 | 751| 36 | 8184 -----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- 4 | 20| 15 | 696| 26 | 3091| 37 | 9322 -----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- 5 | 35| 16 | 731| 27 | 3458| 38 |10131 -----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- 6 | 56| 17 | 883| 28 | 3853| 39 |10981 -----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- 7 | 84| 18 | 1043| 29 | 4277| 40 |11871 -----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- 8 | 120| 19 | 1222| 30 | 4731| 41 |12807 -----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- 9 | 165| 20 | 1540| 31 | 5216| 42 |13730 -----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- 10 | 220| 21 | 1641| 32 | 5733| 43 |14659 -----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- 11 | 296| 22 | 1883| 33 | 6283| 44 |15585 -----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- 12 | 384| 23 | 2148| 34 | 6867| 45 |16511 -----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----

_Explanation._ The numbers in the 1st, 3d, 5th, and 7th vertical columns, express the number of shot in the base or side of each triangular pile; and the numbers in the 2d, 4th, 6th, and 8th vertical columns, express the number of shot in each pile.

_Rules for finding the number in any_ PILE.

_Triangular_ PILE.

Multiply the base by the base + 1, this product by the base + 2, and divide by 6.

_Square_ PILE.

Multiply the bottom row by the bottom row + 1, and this product by twice the bottom row + 2, and divide by 6.

_Rectangular_ PILES.

Multiply the breadth of the base by itself + 1, and this product by three times the difference between the length and the breadth of the base, added to twice the breadth + 1, and divide by 6.

_Incomplete_ PILES.

Incomplete piles being only frustums, wanting a similar small pile on the top, compute first the whole pile as if complete, and also the small pile wanting at top; and then subtract the one number from the other.

TABLE, _of square Piles of Shot_.

+----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | | con-| | con-| | | | | | | |side| tent|side| tent|side|cont’t|side|cont’t|side|cont’t| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 2 | 5| 20 | 2871| 38 | 19019| 56 | 60116| 74 |137825| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 3 | 14| 21 | 3311| 39 | 20540| 57 | 63365| 75 |143450| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 4 | 30| 22 | 3795| 40 | 22140| 58 | 66729| 76 |149226| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 5 | 55| 23 | 4324| 41 | 23821| 59 | 70210| 77 |155155| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 6 | 91| 24 | 4900| 42 | 25585| 60 | 73810| 78 |161239| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 7 | 140| 25 | 5525| 43 | 27434| 61 | 77531| 79 |167480| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 8 | 204| 26 | 6201| 44 | 29370| 62 | 81375| 80 |173880| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 9 | 285| 27 | 6930| 45 | 31395| 63 | 85344| 81 |180441| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 10 | 385| 28 | 7714| 46 | 33511| 64 | 89440| 82 |187165| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 11 | 506| 29 | 8555| 47 | 35720| 65 | 93665| 83 |194054| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 12 | 650| 30 | 9455| 48 | 38024| 66 | 98021| 84 |201110| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 13 | 819| 31 |10416| 49 | 40425| 67 |102510| 85 |208335| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 14 | 1015| 32 |11440| 50 | 42925| 68 |107134| 86 |215731| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 15 | 1240| 33 |12529| 51 | 45526| 69 |111895| 87 |223300| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 16 | 1496| 34 |13685| 52 | 48230| 70 |116795| 88 |231044| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 17 | 1785| 35 |14910| 53 | 51039| 71 |121836| 89 |238965| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 18 | 2109| 36 |16206| 54 | 53955| 72 |127020| 90 |247065| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+ | 19 | 2470| 37 |17575| 55 | 56980| 73 |132349| 91 |255346| +----+-----+----+-----+----+------+----+------+----+------+

_Explanation._ The numbers gradually increasing, from 2 to 91, express the number of shot at the base of each square pile; and the numbers opposite, the quantity of shot in each complete square pile. _Example._ No. 20 gives 2871, and No 30 gives 9455; and so of the rest.

PILIER, _Fr._ a buttress.

PILLAGE, (_pillage_, _Fr._) The act of plundering.

_To_ PILLAGE, to spoil, to waste, to plunder.

PILLAGER, a plunderer; one who gets a thing by violent or illegal means.

PILLAR, in a figurative sense, support. A well disciplined army may be called the pillar of the state; an ill disciplined one, the reverse.

PILLARS, _and_ ARCHES. It was customary among the ancients, particularly among the Romans, to erect public buildings, such as arches and pillars, for the reward and encouragement of noble enterprise. These marks were conferred upon such eminent persons as had either won a victory of extraordinary consequence abroad, or had rescued the commonwealth from any considerable danger. The greatest actions of the heroes they stood to honor, were curiously expressed, or the whole procession of a triumph cut out on the sides. The arches built by Romulus were only of brick, those of Camillus of plain square stones; but those of Cæsar, Drusus, Titus, Trajan, Gordian, &c. were all entirely marble. As to their figure, they were at first semicircular; whence probably they took their names. Afterwards they were built four square, with a spacious arched gate in the middle, and little ones on each side. Upon the vaulted part of the middle gate, hung little winged images, representing victory, with crowns in their hands, which when they were let down, they put upon the conqueror’s head as he passed under the triumph.--Fabricii Roma, cap. 15.

The columns or pillars were converted to the same design as the arches, for the honorable memorial of some noble victory or exploit, after they had been a long time in use for the chief ornaments of the sepulchres of great men, as may be gathered from Homer, Iliad 16.

The pillars of the emperors Trajan and Antoninus, have been extremely admired for their beauty and curious work. We find them thus particular described in page 53, of Kennett’s Roman Antiquities.

The former was set up in the middle of Trajan’s forum, being composed of 24 great stones of marble, but so curiously cemented, as to seem one entire natural stone. The height was 144 feet, according to Eutropius, (Hist. lib. 8.) though Martian (lib. iii. cap. 13.) seems to make them but 128. It is ascended by 185 winding stairs, and has 40 little windows for the admission of light. The whole pillar is incrusted with marble, in which are expressed all the noble actions of the emperor, and particularly the Dacian war. One may see all over it the several figures of forts, bulwarks, bridges, ships, &c. and all manner of arms, as shields, helmets, targets, swords, spears, daggers; belts, &c. together with the several offices and employments of the soldiers; some digging trenches, some measuring out a place for the tents, and others making a triumphal procession. (Fabricus, cap. 7.) But the noblest ornament of this pillar, was the statute of Trajan on the top, of a gigantic bigness, being no less than 20 feet high. He was represented in a coat of armor proper to the general, holding in his left hand a sceptre, in his right a hollow globe of gold, in which his own ashes were deposited after his death, (Casalius, par. I. c. 2.)

The column or pillar of Antoninus, was raised in imitation of this, which it exceeded only in one respect, that it was 176 feet high; (Martian, lib. vi. cap. 13.) for the work was much inferior to the former, as being undertaken in the declining age of the empire. The ascent on the inside was 106 stairs, and the windows in the inside 56. The sculpture and the other ornaments were of the same nature as those of the first; and on the top stood a colossus of the emperor naked, as appears from some of his coins. See Martian idem.

Both these columns are still standing at Rome, the former most entire. But Pope Sixtus I. instead of the two statues of the emperors, set up St. Peter’s on the column of Trajan, and St. Paul’s on that of Antoninus. Casal, part I. c. 11.

Among the columns and pillars we must not pass by, (to use Mr. Kennett’s words) the _Milliarium aureum_, a gilded pillar in the forum, erected by Augustus Cæsar, at which all the highways of Italy met, and were concluded. (Martian, lib. iii. cap. 18.) From this they counted their miles, at the end of every mile setting up a stone; whence came the phrase _Primus ab urbe lapis_, and the like. This pillar, as Mr. Lassels informs us, is still to be seen.

PILON, _Fr._ a weapon, the use of which has been recommended by marshal Saxe, in his plan forming several battalions four deep. The two first ranks are to be armed with musquets, the third and fourth with large half pikes or pilons, having their musquets slung across their shoulders.

PILUM. The head of an arrow was so called by the Romans.

PINASSE, _Fr._ a pinnace.

PINDAREES, _Ind._ plunderers and marauders, who accompany a Mahrattah army. The name is properly that of persons who travel with grain and merchandize; but war affording so many opportunities and creating so many necessities, the merchants as it is all over the world, became plunderers and the worst of enemies.

_To_ PINION, to bind the hands or arms of a person so as to prevent his having the free use of them.

PINK, a sort of small ship, masted and ribbed like other ships, except that she is built with a round stern, the bends and ribs compassing, so that her sides bulge out very much.

PIN, an iron nail or bolt, with a round head, and generally with a hole at the end to receive a key: there are many sorts, as axle-tree pins, or bolts, bolster pins, pole-pins, swing-tree pins, &c.

There are likewise _musquet pins_, which are small pieces of iron or wire that fasten the stock. Soldiers are very apt to take out these pins in order to make their pieces ring; but they should not on any account, be permitted so to do.

PINTLE in _artillery_, a long iron bolt, fixed upon the middle of the limber-bolster, to go through the hole made in the trail-transom of a field-carriage, when it is to be transported from one place to another.

PINTLE-_plate_, is a flat iron, through which the pintle passes, and nailed to both sides of the bolster, with 8 diamond headed nails.

PINTLE-_washer_, an iron ring through which the pintle passes, placed close to the bolster for the trail to move upon.

PINTLE-_hole_, is of an oval figure, made in the trail-transom of a field-carriage, wider above than below, to leave room for the pintle to play in.

PIOBRACH, the Gaelic word for a _piper_; also an air played upon the bagpipe. It is now more strictly applied to the ancient Highland martial music.

PIOBRACHS, are either simple or compound; some of them consist of a march, &c. and are beautifully varied, and highly characteristic.

PIOCHE, _Fr._ a mattock, pickaxe.

PIOCHER, _Fr._ to dig.

PIONEERS, in _war-time_, are such as are commanded in from the country, to march with an army, for mending the ways, for working on entrenchments and fortifications, and for making mines and approaches: the soldiers are likewise employed in all these things.

Most of the European artillery corps have a company of pioneers, well instructed in that important branch of duty. The regiments of infantry and cavalry have 3 or 4 pioneers each, provided with aprons, hatchets, saws, spades, and pick-axes. The French _sappers_ are the same kind of soldiers.

PIONIERS, _Fr._ pioneers.

PIPE, a tube; a musical instrument; a liquid measure, containing two hogsheads.

PIPE, from the Gaelic _piob mohr_, which signifies great pipe. The Highland bagpipe is so called, and is an instrument well calculated for the field of battle. When the bagpipe is skilfully performed, its martial music has a wonderful effect upon the native Scotch, particularly the Highlanders, who are naturally warlike.

TAIL-_Pipe_, a small brass pipe fixed at the swell of the British musquet, which receives the ramrod.

_Trumpet_ PIPE, a small brass pipe near the muzzle of the British firelock, through which the ramrod is let down. It is called trumpet-pipe, from its resemblance to the mouth of a trumpet. The Prussians have no pipes to their musquets; the ramrod being received into a cylinder which runs parallel with the barrel; nor is there any pipe of this kind to the American or the French musquet; the ramrod passing within the three straps of iron or plate rings which bind the barrel to the stock.

PIPE-_Clay_ and _Whiting_, a composition which soldiers use for the purpose of keeping their cross-belts, &c. clean.

PIQUE, _Fr._ See PIKE.

PIQUICHINS, _Fr._ irregular and ill-armed soldiers, of which mention is made in the history of the reign of Philippe Augustus. They were attached to the infantry.

PIQUIER, _Fr._ a pikeman, or one who is armed with a pike.

PIRAMIDE, _Fr._ See PYRAMID.

PIRAMIDES _de feu_, _Fr._ See JETS DE FEU.

PIRATE, _Fr._ a pirate.

PISTE, _Fr._ the track or tread a horseman makes upon the ground he goes over.

PISTOL, a species of small fire-arms, of which there are various sorts and sizes, viz.

_Highland_ PISTOL. The old Highland pistol appears singular enough in the present day. Some that have been preserved, exhibit marks of excellent workmanship. The stock is metal, and the but end so shaped, that when fired off, the pistol can be used as a very serious weapon at close quarters. The Highland pistol, though never used by any of the British regiments, is still worn by every person who wishes to be considered as fully dressed and accoutred in the ancient garb. It is suspended from the left side of the waistbelt.

_Horse_-PISTOL, so called from being used on horseback, and of a large size.

_Management of the_ PISTOL _on horseback for military purposes_. Every recruit when he joins the horse-drill should be made perfectly acquainted with the handling of his pistols according to rule, and of firing correctly at a mark. To this end he must be taught to draw, load, fire, and return his pistol, by word of command, viz.

1st. The right glove is to be taken off, and the goat-skin thrown back.

_Draw right_ PISTOL. This is done at two motions; 1st, the man must seize the handle of the pistol with his right hand, the back towards the body. 2d, _Draw_ it out of the holster with a brisk motion, dropping the butt of the pistol on the right holster, and keeping the muzzle upwards.

_Load_ PISTOL. The pistol is to be dropped smartly into the left hand; open the pan, prime, cast about, and load; as soon as loaded, seize the pistol by the butt, and come to the same position as in the second motion in drawing; the bridle hand must be kept as steady as possible. In loading the pistol, the barrel is to be kept to the front.

_Return_ PISTOL. This is done in two motions: 1st, turn the muzzle into the holster, with the back of the hand towards the body, and press home the pistol. 2d, Quit the right hand briskly.