Part 130

RAMPS, (_Rampes_, _Fr._) in _fortification_, are sloping communications, or ways of very gentle ascent, leading from the inward area, or lower part of a work, to the rampart or higher part of it.

RAMS-_horns_, in _fortification_, are a kind of low works made in the ditch, of a circular arc; they were invented by M. Belidor, and serve instead of tenailles.

RAMADAN, _Fr._ a month so called among the Turks, during which period they observe fast days.

RAMASSE, _Fr._ a sort of sledge, in which travellers are conveyed from the tops of mountains that are covered with snow.

RAMASSER, _Fr._ to collect, to get together. _On a ramassé tout ce qu’on a pu trouver de soldats._ They got as many soldiers together as they could.

RAMASSE, _Fr._ Gathered together, collected. This word is likewise used to distinguish men that are hastily raised and embodied, from soldiers who have been regularly disciplined, viz. _Ce ne son pas des troupes reglées, ce sont des gens ramassés._ They are not regular troops, but persons hastily got together.

RAMASSE, _Fr._ strong, vigorous. _Un homme ramasse._ A strong athletic man. _Ramasse_, in this sense, agrees with the English word tight-built, thickset, &c.

RAMAZAN. See RAMADAN.

RAMBERGE, _Fr._ an advice boat.

RAME, _Fr._ an oar. It is likewise called _Aviron_.

_Balle_ RAMEE, _Fr._ Cross-bar shot.

RAMEAUX _de la mine_, _Fr._ Branches belonging to a mine. See GALLERY.

RAMPE _au Pente extrêment douce qu’ont fait le long des talus des ramparts_, _Fr._ a slope, or declivity which is extremely gradual along the talus of ramparts. These slopes contain two toises in breadth, and are cut upon the interior talus. They are made, according to circumstances and the exigencies of the place, sometimes within the angle of the rampart, opposite to the entrance into the bastion, when the latter is full; sometimes along the flanks, or at the flanked angle when the bastion is empty. Pieces of ordnance, ammunition, &c. are conveyed up these slopes to the embrazures of the ramparts.

RANCHER, _Fr._ a sort of ladder which is made of wooden pegs, and is used on various occasions.

RANÇON, _Fr._ Ransom. It was likewise the name of an old French weapon, consisting of a long stake with a sharp iron point at the end, and two blades or wings bent backwards, and extremely keen.

RANCONNER, _Fr._ to ransom.

RANDOM _shot_, in _artillery_, when the piece is elevated at an angle of 45 degrees upon a level plane. See RANGE.

RANG, _Fr._ Rank.

RANG _d’un escadron_ ou _d’un bataillon_, _Fr._ Rank in a squadron of horse, or battalion of infantry. Any straight line which is formed by soldiers standing by the side of each other, is so called.

_Doubler les_ RANGS, _Fr._ to form from rank entire, or to throw one rank into two, and thereby encrease the depth of any given number of men, by diminishing their front. Hence to _double up_, or diminish the front of any leading line.

RANG, _Fr._ the relative rank which is observed in military corps with regard to precedence, tour of duty, &c. In some instances _rang et grade_ mean the same thing.

_De_ RANG, _Fr._ abreast, side by side.

_Paroitre sur les_ RANGS, _Fr._ to enter the list.

_Etre sur les_ RANGS, to be numbered amongst any particular set of men.

_Mettre au_ RANG, _Fr._, to class with, to associate.

_Vaisseau du premier_ RANG, _Fr._ a first rate ship of war.

_Vaisseau du second, ou troisième_ RANG, _Fr._ a second or third rate.

RANGER _la côte_, _Fr._ to sail along the coast.

_Placer par_ RANG _de taille_, _Fr._ To size.

RANGE, in _gunnery_, the distance from the battery to the point where the shot or shell touches the ground.

_Point blank_ RANGE, when the piece lies in a horizontal direction, and upon a level plane, without any elevation or depression, the shot is said to take a point blank range. See POINT BLANK.

RANGEE, _Fr._ a series of things placed upon the same line.

RANGE, EE, _Fr._ the participle of _Ranger_, drawn out or placed in regular order.

_Bataille_ RANGEE, _Fr._ a pitched or set battle, in which two armies are drawn up opposite to one another.

RANGER, _Fr._ to place in a certain line or order.

RANGEZ _vous_, _Fr._ a term in general use among the French when any number of persons are ordered to clear the way, by drawing up on one side or the other of a street or road.

RANGING, in _war_, disposing the troops in proper order for an engagement, manœuvres, or march, &c.

RANK. Range of subordination, degree of authority. The relative situations which officers hold with respect to each other, or to military things in general. Hence _regimental rank_, _local rank_, _rank in the army_, &c.

One of the egregious errors of the British military institutions is, that the officers belonging to the life guards are entitled to the rank of lieutenant colonel, when they obtain, or purchase a majority, provided they have been seven years. Their commissions in this case run major and lieutenant colonel. But if an officer should not have completed either of those periods, he obtains the rank of major only, until its completion. A lieutenant colonel receives the rank of full colonel if he has been seven years major, or twenty one years in the British service. Cornets in the life guards rank as sub-lieutenants in their own corps, and as first lieutenants in the army. The English fuzileers enjoy the same privilege. Sub-lieutenants in the Welsh fuzileers rank only as second lieutenants in the army. Marines do the same.

With respect to rank in general, the following are the rules of the British army, by which the relative rank of the officers of the regulars, militia, fencibles, yeomanry cavalry, and volunteer corps, is to be determined.

Officers of the regular forces command the officers of equal degree, belonging to the other services; with the exception after mentioned.

Officers of the militia, fencibles, yeomanry cavalry, and volunteer corps, rank together according to the dates of their respective commissions.

Notwithstanding this regulation, such officers of fencibles as have commissions dated on or before the 25th July, 1798, continue to rank with the officers of the regular forces of equal degree, according to the dates of their respective commissions: unless when acting in conjunction also with officers of the militia; in which case, if the commission of the fencible officer be of a junior date to that of a militia officer, of the same degree, the regular officer of equal rank, although his commission be of a junior date to that of the fencible officer, commands both.

It will further be observed, that all commands in the regular forces fall to the eldest officers in the same circumstances, whether of cavalry or infantry, entire or in parties. In case two commissions of the same date interfere, a retrospect is to be had to former commissions. Should it happen, as it possibly may, that the original commissions interfere, it must be decided by lot.

In page 49 of the Articles of War, it is laid down, that the eldest officer is to command when any troops of the horse guards, and the regiment of horse guards, shall do duty together; or when any of the life guards, horse or foot guards, shall do duty with any other corps. The regiments of life guards, doing duty unmixed, are to be considered as one corps; and the officers are to take rank according to the dates of their commissions. The same holds good with respect to the foot guards. Regular officers with whom militia officers take rank as youngest, command officers of equal degree in the fencibles, yeomanry cavalry, and volunteer corps, who are to rank together according to the dares of commissions.

_To_ RANK _with_, to hold the same relative situation with regard to others. Thus post captains of three years standing in the royal navy rank with colonels in the army; and lieutenants in the guards rank with captains in the line or regulars. Officers in the militia rank generally with the regular forces as junior of their respective commissions. An ensign in the guards ranks no higher than an ensign in the regulars.

_To_ RANK _with_, in a figurative sense, to be in equal estimation, to bear the same character for skill and valor, &c. viz. lord Nelson ranks with the bravest seaman that England, or any other country, has ever produced; Bonaparte with the greatest general in ancient or modern history; Washington with Cincinnatus; and Montgomery with Wolfe, Decatur with Desaix, or Lannes.

_Brevet_-RANK. Rank without pay, nominal distinction, which sometimes entitles the holder of it to command in mixed service.

Brigade majors rank with captains, provided they have that rank in the army, independent of their staff appointment. But aids-de-camp do not possess any rank in that capacity with regard to the army. The latter constitutes a part of the general’s family, and are paid out of his allowance; they are in fact the mere carriers of his orders in the field, and his domestic inmates at home, &c. The former belonging to the brigade, and are a necessary part of its effective force.

There is likewise a sort of brevet rank which exists in the several regiments belonging to the British service, and is confined to the rank and file, or corporals and private soldiers. Thus a lance serjeant is a corporal who does the duty of serjeant without the pay or emoluments of the latter; and a lance corporal is a private soldier who does the duty of corporal. So that _lance_, which comes from _lansquenet_, which signifies a private soldier, and is derived from the German, and when put before serjeant or corporal, points out that a private soldier has the brevet rank of one of those situations. Captains of companies appoint or reduce lance serjeants or corporals, according to their judgment.

RANK, _and precedence in the army and navy_, are as follow:

_Engineers_ RANK. Chief, as colonel; director, as lieutenant colonel; sub-director, as major; engineer in ordinary, as captain; engineer extraordinary, as captain lieutenant; sub-engineer, as lieutenant; practitioner engineer, as ensign.

_Navy_ RANK. Admiral, or commander in chief of the British fleet, has the rank of a field marshal; admirals, with their flags on the main top-mast head, rank with generals of horse and foot; vice-admirals, with lieutenant generals; rear-admirals, as major generals; commodores, with broad pendants, as brigadier generals; captains of post ships, after three years from the date of their first commission, as colonel; other captains, as commanding post ships, as lieutenant colonels; captains not taking post, as majors; lieutenants as captains.

The rank and precedence of sea officers in the classes abovementioned, are to take place according to the seniority of their respective commissions in the sea service. Post captains commanding ships or vessels that do not give post, rank only as majors during the time they command those vessels.

Nothing in this shall give any pretence to land officers to command any of his majesty’s squadrons; nor to any sea officer to command on shore; nor shall either have right to demand the military honors due to their respective ranks, unless upon actual service.

RANK, is a straight line made by the soldiers of a battalion, or squadron, drawn up side by side: this order was established for the marches, and for regulating the different bodies of troops and officers which compose an army.

_Doubling of the_ RANKS, is the changing one rank to two, by telling off the files, _one_, _two_, _one_, _two_, &c. and by the word, _even files to the rear double_; this method is frequently used in the manœuvres of a regiment.

RANK _and file_, men carrying the firelock, and standing in the ranks, are called rank and file. Thus corporals are included in the return which is made under that head.

RANKS _and files_, are the horizontal and vertical lines of soldiers when drawn up for service, &c.

RAPE, _Fr._ a rasp, a file.

RAPIDES, _Fr._ Falls in a river are so called; as the falls in the rivers Ohio and St. Laurence, &c.

RAPIER, (_Rapiére_, _Fr._) formerly signified a long, old fashioned broadsword, such as those worn by the Scotch regiments; but now is understood only to mean a small sword, in contradistinction to a broad sword.

RAPINE, _Fr._ Rapine, plunder,

RAPPORT, _Fr._ Report.

RAPPORT, _Fr._ in mathematics, a term frequently used among the French. It bears the same import as _raison_, and signifies the relation which two quantities have one with another. Thus the _rapport_ or relation between twelve and six is the same as between six and three.

RAPPORTEUR, _Fr._ in geometry, an instrument made in the figure of a half-circle, and divided into one hundred and eighty degrees. We call it a _protractor_. It is used for the purpose of ascertaining the openings in angles, and to take plans upon paper.

RAREFACTION, the extension of the parts of a body, by which it is made to take up more room than it did before. It is essentially connected with gunnery; for in proportion to the rapid combustion and consequent rarefaction of air, produced by the ignition of gunpowder confined in the chamber of a gun, so will be the force of expulsion with which the charge is propelled.

RAS, _Fr._ Every barge and vessel, &c. which is without any deck or upward covering, is called by the French _batiment ras_.

RASANTE, _Fr._ See LIGNE RASANTE.

RASANT, RAZANT, in _fortification_, rasant flank, or line, is that part of the curtain or flank whence the shot projected raze or glance along the surface of the opposite bastion.

RASE, _Fr._ Pitch and tar mixed with tow for the purpose of caulking a ship.

RASLE, _Fr._ This word is used in some parts of France to signify rafter, and means the same as chevron.

RASALDAR, _Ind._ the commander of _Rasallah_, which is ten thousand horsemen armed.

RASSEMBLER, _Fr._ to collect together.

RASSEMBLER _des troups_, _Fr._ to call troops or forces together.

RASSEMBLER _les debris d’une armée_, _Fr._ to collect together the broken parts, or scattered remnants of an army. It is likewise used with the personal pronoun, viz. _Tous les soldats dispersés se rassemblerent autour du drapeau._ All the soldiers or troops that had been dispersed, gathered together round the standard or colors.

RASSEMBLER _les forces d’un cheval_, to put a horse well upon his haunches.

RASSIS, _Fr._ Stale; as _pain rassis_, stale bread.

RASSURER, _Fr._ to restore confidence, to encourage, to invigorate. _Quelques soldats commencionent à s’ébranler, quand l’exemple de leur capitaine les rassura._ Some soldiers began to give way, when the example of their captain inspired them with fresh confidence.

RAT, _Fr._ literally means rat. It is used in a figurative sense, viz. _Une arme à feu a pris un rat._ A musquet has missed fire.

RAT. _Fr._ a sort of floating platform made of planks which are tied together upon two or three masts. It is used in caulking ships, &c.

RATAN, a cane used by serjeants of companies, in the British service in drilling the men, and with which, in other countries, the non-commissioned officers and privates, are beaten for slight offences; the Austrian discipline was thus conducted, till they have been beaten out of their manhood and self-respect. The Prussians abolished this barbarous custom after the battle of Jena.

RATELIER, _Fr._ a rack used in armories, &c. for the purpose of keeping firearms arranged in proper order.

RATER, _Fr._ to miss fire. _Son pistolet a rate._ His pistol has missed fire.

RATER likewise means, figuratively, to be unsuccessful in an application. _Il a rate sa charge._ He did not get the commission.

RATES _of subsistence_, See PAY.

RATION, a certain allowance which is given in bread, &c. or forage when troops are on service, for an officer or soldier in the British service.

_Complete Ration of the small species._

Flour, or bread 1¹⁄₂ lbs. Beef 1 Or pork ¹⁄₂ Peas ¹⁄₄ pint. Butter, or cheese 1 oz. Rice 1 oz.

When the small species are not issued, 1¹⁄₂ lbs. of flour or bread, with 1¹⁄₂ lbs. of beef, or 10 oz. of pork, forms a complete ration: or 3 lbs. of beef; or 2 lbs. of cheese; or half a pound of rice, forms a complete ration.

At sea the ration is different. The following table contains the allowance for six soldiers, or four seamen on board of ship, for each day in the week. Women are provisioned at a half and children at one fourth of a soldier’s allowance, but receive no rum.

+----------+------+--------------+--------------------+ | | |Beer, gallons,| | | | |or half pints | | | Days of | |of spirits, or| Beef, | | the Week.|Bread.|pints of wine.| pieces of 8 lbs. | +----------+------+--------------+--------------------+ | | lb. | | | |Sunday, | 4 | 4 | -- | |Monday, | 4 | 4 | -- | |Tuesday, | 4 | 4 | 1 | |Wednesday,| 4 | 4 |or 6lbs. of flour | |Thursday, | 4 | 4 |or ¹⁄₂lb. of suet | |Friday, | 4 | 4 |and 1lb. of raisins.| |Saturday, | 4 | 4 | 1 | | | | | or as above. | +----------+------+--------------+--------------------+

+----------+------+-----+--------+-------+-------+--------+ | | | | | | | | | | Pork,|Pints| | lbs. | lbs. | | | Days of |pieces| of | Do. | of | of | | | the Week.| 4 lb.|peas.|oatmeal.|butter.|cheese.|Vinegar.| +----------+------+-----+--------+-------+-------+--------+ | | | | | | | | |Sunday, | 1 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | 1 | |Monday, | -- | -- | 4 | ¹⁄₂ | 1 | quart | |Tuesday, | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | per | |Wednesday,| -- | 2 | 4 | ¹⁄₂ | 1 | week. | |Thursday, | 1 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | | |Friday, | -- | 2 | 4 | ¹⁄₂ | 1 | | |Saturday, | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | | | | | | | | | | +----------+------+-----+--------+-------+-------+--------+

The above are served out by full weights and measures.

When flour, suet and raisins are put on board, they are to be served out in equal proportions with beef, viz. half in beef; the other half in flour, suet, and raisins, on each beef day.

4 lbs. of flour, or 3 lbs. of flour with ¹⁄₂ lb. of raisins, (or ¹⁄₄ lb. of currants) and ¹⁄₄ lb. of suet, are equal to 4 lbs. of beef, or 2 lbs. of pork with peas, but are not to be issued in lieu of the latter, except unavoidable, and then the quantities must be certified.

¹⁄₂ lb. of rice is equal to a pint of oatmeal; ¹⁄₂ lb. of sugar is equal to ¹⁄₂ lb. of butter; and 1 lb. of rice is equal to 1 lb. of cheese; 1 pint of oil is equal to 1 lb. of butter, or 2 lbs. of cheese, that is, a pint of oil for the proportion of butter and cheese.

A pint of wine, or half a pint of brandy, rum, or arrack, is equal to a gallon of beer; 1 lb. of fresh beef is equal to 1 lb. of salt beef; and 1¹⁄₂ lb. of fresh beef is equal to 1 lb. of pork.

No wine or spirits are to be issued to the troops while in port, nor at sea, till after all the beer is expended.

The masters of transports are to produce a certificate from the commanding officer of the troops on board, of the quantity expended. If any doubt be entertained of the provisions being full weight, a cask must be weighed in the presence of the commanding officer, the master, and the mate, and the master may upon the certificate of the commanding officer, and the oath of the mate, issue as much beef and pork as will make up the deficiency.

The weight of each must be as follows: 14 pieces of beef, cut for 8 pound pieces taken out of the cask as they rise, and the salt shaken off, are to weigh 112 lbs. avoirdupois. 28 pieces of pork cut for 4 lb. pieces, are also to weigh, under like circumstances, 112 lbs.

The deductions to be taken for provisions from the pay of officers, non-commissioned officers, or men, are the same for all ranks, and in all corps, under the like circumstances of service, when serving out of Great Britain, on stations where provisions are supplied by the public: also, when embarked in transports or other vessels, (except when serving as marines;) also when prisoners of war, are maintained at the expence of Great Britain; also when in general hospitals, whether at home or abroad, a deduction of _sixpence per day_.

A deduction of _three-pence halfpenny_ from the pay of every non-commissioned officer and private in Jamaica, in New South Wales, or Gibraltar. Non-commissioned officers and soldiers serving as marines shall not be liable to any deduction from their full pay on account of provisions.

Ration for a horse on home service in 1796: 14 lbs. of hay, 10 lbs. of oats, 4 lbs. of straw; for which a stoppage is made of _sixpence_.

The French use the same term, viz. _Ration de foin_, a ration of hay. _Double ration_, double ration. _Demi-ration_, a half ration.

RATION _d’un fantassin_, _Fr._ the ration or allowance which is given to a foot soldier. During the French monarchy it consisted of twenty-four ounces of ammunition bread, one pint of wine or beer, Paris measure, one pound of beef, veal, or mutton.

RATION _pour les troupes de la maison du roi_, _Fr._ the ration for the household troops, during the French monarchy, consisted of two brown loaves of 22 ounces each, two pints of wine, or two pints of cyder or beer, Paris measure, and two pounds and a half of beef, veal, or mutton.

RATION _de cavalrie_, _Fr._ Each man belonging to the old French cavalry, received daily one ration, consisting of thirty-six French ounces of ammunition bread, one pint and a half of wine, cyder, or beer, Paris measure, and two pounds of beef, veal, or mutton.

RATION _de dragons_, _Fr._ the ration allowed to each dragoon in the old French service, consisted of twenty-four French ounces of ammunition bread, one pound and a half of meat, one pint of wine, Paris measure, or one pot of cyder or beer, ditto.

RATION _de fourrage_, _Fr._ A ration of forage in the old French service, consisted of one pound of hay, and one bushel of oats, Paris measure.

RATIONS _des officiers du regiment des gardes Francoises_, _Fr._ rations allowed in a regiment of French guards during the monarchy. These rations differed very considerably from those already stated. The particulars may be found in the third volume of the Dictionnaire Militaire, page 255.

RATISSOIRS, _Fr._ Graters used by the men employed in making saltpetre.

RAVAGES _of War_, the spoil, plunder, or waste, made by contending armies in the theatre of war.

RAVELIN, _Fr._ See FORTIFICATION.

RAVELINS, in _fortification_, are works raised on the counterscarp before the curtain of the place, and serve to cover the gates of a town, and the bridges. They consist of two faces, forming a saliant angle, and are defended by the faces of the neighboring bastions. They are the most in use of all out-works, and are by the soldiers most commonly called half moons, or _demi-lunes_. They should be lower than the works of the place, that they may be under the fire of the besieged. Their parapets, as those of all other out-works, should be cannon proof; that is, about 18 feet thick.

RAVINE, in _field fortification_, a deep hollow, usually formed by a great flood, or long continued running of water; frequently turned to advantage in the field.

RAVITAILLER _une place_, _Fr._ To throw stores, ammunition, and provisions into a fortified place.

RAY See ARRAY.

RAYE, _Fr._ rifled.

_Canon_ RAYE, _Fr._ rifle barrel.

RAYON, _Fr._ in geometry, _Radius_.