Part 122

_Cock_ PISTOL. Drop the pistol into the left hand, cocking with the thumb of the right, and as soon as done come to the second position, viz. muzzle upwards.

_To the right aim._ Come smartly to an aim, looking well along the barrel to the object you are aiming at, and turning your body as much as is necessary to aim well, but taking care not to displace your bridle hand.

_Fire!_ pull briskly at the word, and as soon as fired go on with the loading motions; when loaded come to the position as in the first direction, viz. _muzzle upwards_.

_Cock Pistol_, as already explained.

_To the left aim._ This requires particular attention, as the men will be apt to bring their right shoulders too forward, and by that means displace their bodies and the bridle hand.

_Fire!_ as already explained.

_Cock_ PISTOL. _To the front aim._ You must raise yourself in your stirrups, in order to take a proper aim; you must then look well along the pistol, and wait for the word _fire_.

_Fire!_ As soon as you have fired, you must drop into your seat, and go on with the loading motions, as before directed.

_Return Pistol_, as already explained.

_Draw left_ PISTOL, See _Draw your right Pistol_.

_Pocket_ PISTOL, a small pistol, which may be conveniently carried in the pocket.

PISTOLETS, _Fr._ See PISTOLS.

PITANS, PATAN, _Ind._ according to Mr. Orme, in his History of the Carnatic, the Pitans are supposed to be the descendants of the northern Indians, who were early converted to Mahomedanism. They have been reckoned the best troops. They are habitually fierce.

PITAN _Nabobs_. Certain chiefs in India so called, viz. of Cudapa, Canoul, and Savanore.

PITAUX, _Fr._ This word is sometimes written petaux, and was formerly used to distinguish those peasants that were pressed into the service, from soldiers who were regularly inlisted.

_To_ PITCH, (_asseoir_, _Fr._)

_To_ PITCH _a camp_, (_asseoir un camp_, _Fr._) to take a position, and to encamp troops upon it according to the principles of castrametation. See _Am. Mil. Lib._

_To_ PITCH _a tent_, to place a certain regulated quantity of canvas upon poles, so as to afford a temporary cover, against the inclemencies of the weather for one or more, officers or private soldiers. In order that the men may become expert in pitching and striking tents, they ought to be practised whilst in camp to do either.

PITCHANDAH, _Ind._ a fortified pagoda on the north bank of the Coleroon, one mile east of Seringham.

PITONS, _Fr._ nails with round eyes. They likewise signify pins with iron rings.

PITONS _d’affut_, _Fr._ iron pins which are used to keep the plate-bands of the carriage of a cannon tight and compact.

PIVOT, (_Pivot_, _Fr._) in a military sense, that officer, serjeant, corporal, or soldier, upon whom the different wheelings are made in military evolutions. There are two sorts of _pivots_ distinguished according to the position of the troops who are governed by them, viz. _standing_ pivot and _moveable_ pivot. When a battalion, for instance, stands in open column of companies, the _right in front_, the last man upon the left of the front rank of each company, is called the _inner_, or _standing pivot_; and the first man upon the right ditto, is called the _outer pivot_, or _wheeling flank_. So much depends upon the accurate position of the different pivots, that no movement can be thoroughly correct unless the most scrupulous attention be paid to them. Officers, in particular, ought to recollect that when they are posted upon the flanks, they become essentially necessary to the preservation of that perpendicular and parallelism of a march, without which direction the best digested manœuvres must be ultimately rendered useless. They must constantly bear in mind, that it belongs to the mounted field officers to watch the aggregate, and that they themselves, being incorporated parts of the different divisions, are to move successively forward, with no other object in view than the perpendicular point before them. For if they once turn to the right or left, or become anxious about the movements of others, instead of being the means of insensibly correcting any errors that might casually occur, they will deviate themselves, and at every step increase the irregularity. On this account, the instant an officer has wheeled his division, he must resume his perpendicular position, look stedfastly on his leading pivot, preserve his relative distance, and keep his person perfectly square. He ought likewise to be particularly correct in stepping off when the wheel is completed.

_Moveable_ PIVOT, one which during the wheel of its division advances in a circular direction, instead of turning on the spot where it originally stood. Thus when divisions, &c. are successively wheeled, without being first halted, the pivot upon which they wheel is said to be _moveable_.

In the drill, single ranks are frequently wheeled on a moveable pivot. In which case, both flanks are moveable, and describe concentring circles round a point which is a few paces from what would otherwise be the standing flank; and eyes are all turned towards the outer pivot or flank man, whether he is on the outward flank, or on the flank wheeled to.

PIVOT-_Flanks_, the flanks upon which a line is formed from column. When the right of the battalion is in front, the pivot flanks are on the left of its several companies, platoons, &c. and _vice versâ_, when the left is in front.

PIVOT-_flank officer_, the officer who is on the first flank. In all wheelings during the march in column the officer on that flank upon which the wheel is made must attend himself to the correctness of the pivot.

_Platoon_ PIVOTS, the men upon whom a battalion marches in column of platoons, is wheeled up into line, or into column, when the line has been formed according to a given front.

It is in the modern improved tactics determined that commissioned officers shall not themselves be the _pivots_, but that they shall consist of the non-commissioned officers, or rank and file on each flank only; and not the officers on those flanks; but the officers are strictly required to see that the _pivots_ perform their duty correctly, and are responsible for it.

PLACAGE, _Fr._. in fortification, a kind of revetement, which is made of thick plastic earth, laid along the talus of such parapets as have no mason-work, and which is covered with turf.

PLACARD, PLACART, or, as it is in the original Dutch language _Placaat_, a term used abroad for a proclamation, edict, &c. put up in all public places, by government authority; whereby their subjects are ordered to do, or forbear, something expressed therein. See MANIFESTO.

PLACARD, _Fr._ any bill, or public paper, that is posted up; same as _Bulletin_. It likewise means a libel.

PLACARDER, _Fr._ to post up, to libel.

PLACE, _emplacement_, _Fr._ any spot or scite which suits the plans of an architect to build upon.

PLACE, in _fortification_, signifies, in general terms, a fortified town, a fortress: hence we say it is a strong place. See _Pocket Encyclopedia_, vol. V. PLACE.

PLACE _of arms_, (_Place d’armes_, _Fr._) This term has various significations, although it uniformly means a place which is calculated for the rendezvous of men in arms, &c.

1st. When an army takes the field, every strong hold or fortress which supports its operations by affording a safe retreat to its depots, heavy artillery, magazines, hospitals, &c. is called a _place of arms_.

2dly. In offensive fortification, those lines are called _places of arms_, or _parallels_, which unite the different means of attack, secure the regular approaches, &c. and contain bodies of troops who either do duty in the trenches, protect the workmen, or are destined to make an impression upon the enemy’s outworks.

There are _demi-places of arms_ between the _places of arms_. These are more or less numerous in proportion to the resistance made by the besieged.

PLACES _of arms_ belonging to the covert-way. These are divided into two sorts, viz. _saliant_ and _rentrant_ places of arms. There are likewise places of arms composed of traverses, which are practised or made in the dry ditches of military towns, in a perpendicular direction to the faces of the half-moons and the tenaillons.

PLACE _of arms in a town_, a place left near its centre, where generally the grand guard is placed. In towns regularly fortified, the place of arms should be in the centre. In this place the soldiers of the garrison parade, form, and mount guard, &c.

PLACE _of arms of an attack, or of a trench_, are deep trenches 15 or 18 feet wide, joining the several attacks together: they serve for a rendezvous and station to the guard of the trenches, to be at hand to support the workmen when attacked. It is customary to make 3 places of arms, when the ground will permit: the first, and most distant from the place, is about 300 toises, or 600 yards, from the glacis of the covert-way; the second is within 140 toises, or 280 yards; and the third at the foot or the glacis. See PARALLELS.

PLACE _of arms of a camp_, was, strictly speaking, the bell-tents, at the head of each company, where the arms were formerly lodged; likewise a place chosen at the head of the camp for the army to form in line of battle, for a review, or the like.

PLACE _of arms of the covert-way_, is a part of it, opposite to the re-entering angle of the counterscarp, projecting outwards in an angle.

PLACE _marécageuse_, _Fr._ a marshy place. A place of this description may be easily fortified, and at little expence; nor does it require many troops for defence. Among other advantages, that of not being exposed to an enemy’s mines, is by no means the least considerable. On the other hand, piles must be sunk in almost every direction: and should it be invested, it is almost impossible to succour it. Add to these inconveniences, the danger to which the garrison must be constantly exposed of being visited by some contagious disorder.

PLACE _elevée dans un plat pays_, _Fr._ Places that are put in a state of defence in a flat open country. These places are almost always secured by regular fortifications: the soil is good, and there is always plenty of earth adapted to every species of military work: there is abundance of water; and should an enemy attempt to carry them by insuring the works, entrenchments may be easily thrown up to check him. Add to this, that it would require two or three armies, at least, to cut off the various supplies which can be procured from the country round. On the other hand, the goodness and abundance of the soil are equally beneficial to the besieging army. For the troops are thereby enabled to throw up entrenchments, to build redoubts, erect batteries, and by thus securing their approaches, to annoy the besieged at all hours, and in all ways.

PLACE _située sur le penchant d’une montagne_, _Fr._ a place situated or built upon the declivity of a hill. It is very difficult to fortify a spot of this sort. Whatever is erected upon it, must be commanded by the higher ground, and the body of the place be, of course, exposed to every attack.

PLACE _située dans une vallée_, _Fr._ a town, fortress, or hold that is built in a valley. Places so situated must be in constant jeopardy, as by getting possession of the heights, the enemy can always command them.

PLACE _située sur les bords d’une grand riviére_, _Fr._ a place, &c. built upon the banks, or borders of a large river. Places, constructed in a situation of this sort, are preferable to all others, provided they have a free and uninterrupted communication with the principal quarter from whence stores, provisions, and ammunition may be drawn. They may be regularly fortified towards the interior of the country, and it will require little or no artificial means to secure them on the side of the river.

PLACE _de guerre_, _Fr._ any town or place that is regularly, or irregularly fortified.

PLACE _basse_, _Fr._ In fortification the lower flanks according to certain systems are so called.

PLACE _forte_, _Fr._ a strong hold or place which presents at all points so many difficult obstacles against a besieging army, that it cannot be carried (except by surprize) unless the regular means of reducing it be resorted to.

PLACES _contreminées_, _Fr._ all fortresses, &c. are called _places contreminées_, or _countermined_, which, independent of their open and visible means of defence, &c. have subterraneous fortifications that are alongside the revetements of the works, under the glacis, or beneath the neighboring ground, to interrupt the approaches, and destroy the works of a besieging enemy.

PLACE _haute_, _Fr._ According to the systems of some engineers (which have not been followed of late years) the _place haute_, or high place, is that which stands the highest of three platforms that were constructed in the shape of an amphitheatre along the flanks of the bastions. Pagan, Blondel, and others, who have copied from these systems, did so from an idea, that considerable advantages might be derived from a powerful and concentrated discharge of artillery and musquetry. Not conceiving that it was possible to construct casemated flanks free of smoke, they built three or four open flanks one above the other. But they were soon rendered useless and untenable by the shells that fell, and the fragments that flew about in consequence of the demolition of the mason-work. Casemated ramparts, on the contrary, have been known to stand proof against the heaviest discharge of bombs, &c. to take up little room, and to afford ample space for a wide range of artillery, that is kept under cover.

PLACES _non revêtues_, _Fr._ all fortified towns or places are so called, when the ramparts that surround them are only lined with placage or simple turf. In this case the ramparts, so lined or covered, ought to be fraised and palisadoed above the berme or foot-path, to prevent surprizes. Hedges made of good quickset, well interwoven with other wood, and carefully attended to, will save the expence of palisadoes, which in marshy soils soon rot, and require to be replaced.

PLACES _revêtues_, _Fr._ All fortified towns or places are so called, whose ramparts are lined or covered with brick or stone. It frequently happens, that the revetement does not reach the terre-pleine of the rampart, especially when the parapets are thick and solid; in which case the revetement is more easily covered by the glacis. Parapets are no longer lined.

PLACE, _Fr._ This word is frequently used by the French, in a military sense, to signify ration, viz.

_Une_ PLACE _de bouche_, _Fr._ one ration of provisions.

_Deux_ PLACES _de fourrage_, _Fr._ Two rations of forage.

_To be_ PLACED. This expression is frequently used in naval and military matters, to signify the appointment or reduction of officers. Hence to be placed upon full or half-pay. It is more generally applicable to the latter case.

PLACER, _Fr._ to fix, to settle. This word is used among the French, as with us, to express the act of providing for a person by appointing him to a desirable situation, viz. _Placer un jeune homme dans un regiment_; to get a young man a commission in a regiment.

_Un cheval bien_ PLACE, _Fr._ A horse is said, among the French, to be well placed, when his forehead runs perpendicularly down between the nostrils.

PLAFOND, _Fr._ The ceiling.

PLAFONNER, _Fr._ to ceil or adorn the upper part of a room, &c.

PLAGE, _Fr._ flat shore, or extent of coast, where there are no creeks, &c. for vessels to ride in.

PLAIE, _Fr._ a wound or scar.

PLAN, _ground plot_, or _ichnography_, in _fortification_, is the representation of the first or fundamental tract of a work, showing the length of its lines, the quantity of its angles, the breadth of the ditches, thickness of the rampart, parapets, and the distance of one part from another: so that a plan represents a work, such as it would appear if cut equal with the level of the horizon, or cut off at the foundation: but it marks neither the heights nor depths of the several parts of the works: that is properly _profile_, which expresses only the heights, breadths, and depths, without taking notice of the lengths. As architects, before they lay the foundation of their edifice make their design on paper, by which means they find out their faults, so an engineer, before tracing his works on the ground, should make _plans_ of his designs upon paper, that he may do nothing without serious deliberation.

Exact plans are very useful for generals or governors, in either attacking or defending a place, in chusing a camp, determining attacks, conducting the approaches, or in examining the strength and weakness of a place; especially such plans as represent a place with the country about it, shewing the rivers, fountains, marshes, ditches, valleys, mountains, woods, houses, churches, defiles, roads, and other particulars, which appertain to it.

PLAN _of comparison_, a geometrical sketch of any fortress and adjacent country within cannon shot, in which the different levels of every principal point are expressed.

PLAN, _Fr._ See PLAN.

_Lever le_ PLAN _de quelque place de guerre_, _Fr._ to draw the plan of a fortified town or place.

PLANCHETTE, _Fr._ a small board or copper-plate, which is used in practical geometry.

PLANCHES, _Fr._ Boards, planks.

PLANCHES _d’entrevoux_, _Fr._ Boards or planks that are laid between the joists or posts of a building.

PLANCHEYER, _Fr._ to board or floor.

PLANCONS, _Fr._ literally twigs, or small round pieces of wood. A term used in hydraulics. See _Belidor_.

PLANIMETRY, (_planimetrie_, _Fr._) that part of geometry which considers lines and plane figures, without any reference to heights or depths, in opposition to stenometry, or the mensuration of solids.

PLANISPHERE, (_planisphere_, _Fr._) a representation of the globe or sphere on paper, for geometrical and astronomical purposes.

_To_ PLANT, in a military sense, to place, to fix; as to plant a standard. It likewise signifies to arrange different pieces of ordnance for the purpose of doing execution against an enemy or his works. Hence to plant a battery. Johnson applies it to the act of directing a cannon properly. The French use the word generally as we do, except in the last mentioned sense. They say, _metre le canon en batterie_. In others the term bears the same signification, with occasional deviations when they apply it figuratively, viz.

PLANTER _le piquet chez quelqu’un_, _Fr._ To quarter one-self upon any body.

PLANTER _là quelqu’un_, _Fr._ To leave a person abruptly, or, as we familiarly say, to leave another in the lurch.

PLANTER _quelque chose au nez de quelqu’un_, _Fr._ To reproach a person with any thing, or, as we familiarly say, to throw it in his teeth. _Il lui planter sa poltronnerie au nez_; he reproached him openly for his cowardice, or he threw his cowardice in his teeth.

PLANTE, _Fr._ To be fixed, to be stationary. _Un soldat bien plante sur ses pieds_, _Fr._ A soldier that is well set up.

PLANTER _un bâtiment_, _Fr._ To lay the first stones, or the foundations of a building.

PLAQUE, _Fr._ The shell of a sword. See PLACAGE.

PLAQUES _de Plomb_, _Fr._ Sheets of lead. These are used for various purposes. In the artillery, to cover the vent of a cannon; and on board ships of war, to stop the holes, &c. that are made by cannon shot.

PLAQUER, _Fr._ to lay one plank over another. To cover any space with earth or turf, &c.

PLASM. See MOULD.

PLASTER, a piece of greased leather or rag used by riflemen, &c. to make the ball fit the bore of the piece.

PLASTER, in building, a substance made of water and some absorbent matter, such as chalk or lime, well pulverised, with which walls are overlaid.

PLASTRON, a piece of leather stuffed, used by fencing-masters, to receive thereon the pushes made at them by their pupils.

PLASTRON, _Fr._ A breast plate or half cuirass. In the old French service the gens d’armes, the heavy cavalry, the light horse, &c. were obliged to wear breast-plates on all occasions at reviews, &c. The hussars were an exception to this order which took place on the 28th of May, 1733. In the original order, dated the 1st of February, 1703, it was particularly specified, that in order to be accustomed to their weight, the above-mentioned corps should wear half cuirasses in time of peace. The captains of troops were obliged to keep the half cuirasses belonging to their men in constant repair.

PLAT, _ate_, _Fr._ Flat, level, low. The flat side of any thing; as, _Plat de Sabre_.

PLAT _pays_. A flat or low country. It is generally used among the French to signify that extent, or space of country, on which scattered houses and villages are built, in contradistinction to towns and fortified places. It is likewise used in opposition to a mountainous country. _Les soldats de la garnison vivoient aux dépens du plat pays._ The soldiers of the garrison lived upon the adjacent villages or country.

_Punir à_ PLAT _de Sabre_. To punish a man by striking him with the flat side of a sabre blade. The French likewise say, _des coups de plat d’epée_. Blows given with the flat side of a sword. This mode of punishing is frequently adopted in foreign services, particularly among the Germans. M. de St. Germain, minister of the war department under Louis XVI. attempted to introduce it in France, but it was resisted by the army at large.

_Battre à_ PLATE _couture_, _Fr._ To gain a complete and decided victory, or to beat an enemy so as to kill or take almost every man he had to oppose. Hence, _une armée battue à plate couture_, _Fr._ An army completely routed and undone.

PLAT _de l’équipage d’un vaisseau_, _Fr._ A dish or mess, consisting of seven rations or portions put together, and served out for the subsistence of seven men, on board French ships of war.

_Etre mis au_ PLAT _des malades sur mer_, _Fr._ To be put upon the sick list on board a king’s ship; or to receive such rations as were ordered to be served out to the sick.

PLATAIN, _Fr._ Flat coast. A spot near the sea which is well calculated for a descent. As _Le Platain de d’Angoulin_, and the _Platain de Chatelaillon_, near Rochelle.

PLATES, or _prise plates_, in artillery, two plates of iron on the cheeks of a gun-carriage, from the cap-square to the centre, through which the prise bolts go, and on which the handspike rest, when used in raising the breech of the gun, &c.

_Breast_ PLATES, the two plates, on the face of the carriage, on the other cheek.

_Breast_ PLATES, the clasps, with ornamented heads, by which the cross belts in the army are attached.

_Train_ PLATES, the two plates on the cheeks at the train of the carriage.

_Dulidge_ PLATES, the six plates on the wheel of a gun carriage, where the fellies are joined together.

PLATEAU, _Fr._ A flat piece of wood, which is sometimes used to place mortars on, &c.

PLATEBANDES, _Fr._ Capsquares. A particular part of a piece of ordnance, which, though of a flat form or figure, rises beyond the rest of the metal, and is always cast before the moulding. There are three sorts of platbands upon a regular piece of ordnance, viz. capsquare and moulding at the breech; capsquare and moulding of the first reinforce; capsquare and moulding of the second reinforce.

PLATEBANDES _d’affuts_, _Fr._ Iron capsquares, which serve to keep the trunnions fast between the cheeks of a piece of ordnance.

PLATFORM, (_Platforme_, _Fr._) The upper part of every brick or stone building which is arched and has more floors than one, is so called. Hence the platform of a tower, or of a redoubt. All pieces of ordnance that are planted on a rampart, or are disposed along the lines of a besieging army, &c. have their platforms.