Part 132

Chapter 1322,864 wordsPublic domain

14. _Bridges._ Remark their situation; their length and breadth; the materials of which they are built; their strength, whether sufficient to bear artillery; the roads leading to them; their situation, as to the turnings of the river: their purpose; if to connect towns and villages, the nature, direction, and breadth of the streets leading to them. Observe the country around, whether flat or commanding: study the best means of fortifying the bridge head; and observe the best and most expeditious mode by which the bridge may be destroyed, if necessary.

15. _Mountains, hills._ Amongst high mountains, such as the Alps, roads are very rare; it is seldom more than the vallies that are inhabited and accessible for troops; observe their slopes, if steep or rugged. Examine the positions: means of gaining the summits: and note the state of cultivation and general appearance of the vallies; the pasturage, forage, cottages, villages, castles, roads, paths, and passes. Distinguish the principal chains of hills and their direction. Their relative heights; whether they are sufficiently extensive to form a line of defence; their communications; their strong points; positions proper for batteries, &c. Whether practicable for cavalry and artillery.

16. _Coasts._ Their nature; whether bordered by sand hills; surrounded by rocks, which render their approach dangerous; or by shoals, which make their access impracticable; note the points and headlands proper for the forts and batteries to defend the anchorage, ports, harbors, or other accessible parts. If there are any adjacent isles, perhaps they will serve for the erection of advanced batteries, to form a barrier to the efforts of an enemy. Observe the nature of the shores, bays, roads for shipping, &c. with the winds required to go in and out the harbors; and whether they are of easy access; their advantages and disadvantages, their size and depth of water. If a river empties itself on the coast, observe the particular channel for shipping, and whether it can be defended by any of the batteries. If the coast is already fortified, observe all the batteries, forts, or intrenchments, established for its defence, and the protection of the anchorage, &c. Examine the camps and other military posts, which cover the principal points, and the interior of the country. Estimate all the dangers to be run, and all the obstacles to be overcome in a descent, and point out the means of augmenting them. Observe the time of the tide most favorable for approaching the coast. Ascertain the number of artillery and other troops constantly on the coast, and the force that can be collected at a short notice; and how soon they can be drawn to any particular point attacked. Examine the system of defence adopted, and endeavor to improve it.

17. _Forts, redoubts._ Remark their form, whether ancient or modern; whether they are permanent or temporary; elevated or low; revetted or demi-revetted, with stone, brick or turf. Whether the ditch is wet or dry; fraized or palisaded; natural or artificial. Observe their situation; the face of the adjacent country; whether they effectually command the passes, or protect the country intended. The defence they are capable of making in their present state, and the improvements of which they are susceptible.

18. _Castles, citadels._ Their situation; their form; their extent; their object; the protection they give the city; their connection and communication with it. The present state of their defence, and the improvements of which they are susceptible. Their _Souterraines_.

19. _Villages._ Observe their situation: ascertain the number of families they contain; the nature of the land; the quality and quantity of their crops: their markets; the suburbs that supply these markets; their beasts of burthen: their flocks, herds, poultry, &c. The number of their ovens; quality of the water; stile of houses, barns, stables, and sheep walks. The situation of the church; the nature of the church yard, and its inclosures. The wind and water mills. Observe whether the village is surrounded by hedges, ditches, banks, or walls; whether it can be easily intrenched. Its streets; roads leading to it; and the face of the surrounding country.

20. _Cities not fortified._ Their situation; population; commerce; commodities; manufactures; the succors that may be drawn from them, as to men, horses, &c. Their squares and principal buildings. The defence they are susceptible of; whether they are surrounded by walls, old towers, ditches, &c. Their gates, and the roads leading to them. The face of the surrounding country.

21. _Fortified towns._ Their situation with respect to their position, and with respect to other towns in the neighborhood, whether in the first or second line; the assistance which they can afford each other. The succors that may be drawn from them, or that may be thrown into them in case of a siege. The direction which such relief, whether of men or provisions, ought to take, according to the side attacked; whether they will serve as depots or hospitals. The state of the fortifications (see the word _fortification_ in the alphabet;) their nature; the strength of each front. The rivers in the neighborhood; the surrounding country within the range of the guns. The form of investment; what lines will be required considering the nature of the country, and the positions; and the means the country affords of executing them. The advantages which the ground would afford between the glacis and the lines, either to the besiegers or besieged; the means of establishing the most certain communications between the different quarters of the army, and the means of cutting them off.

22. _Positions._ Every military position ought to possess decided advantages of situation, and ought to be commanded in no part of its front, flank, or rear. All commanding grounds ought to be without the range of cannon. There are four principal objects to be attended to in the choice of a position: 1st. The advantages of the ground; 2d. the ground; 3d. the objects to be attained; and, 4th. the communications with the rear. The front of a position should be intersected by rivers, ravines, or broken ground, or any other obstacles which can prevent the enemy advancing in order of battle, and oblige him to pass through defiles; but a position becomes useless when the front is so covered by obstacles that the army cannot advance or move out of its camp when necessary; but no obstacles can be too great on the flanks. All obstacles which cover a position, or passes which lead to it, must be within the range of the artillery, or the enemy will pass them unmolested. In a flat country, where the ground does not afford commanding situations, a position is only more or less eligible, as being covered or protected by obstacles; these are very thick woods, in which there are very few roads; large rivulets which cannot be forded or passed without bridges; narrow roads; deep and broken ravines; ground much intersected with hedges, ditches, &c. but it is essential that all these obstacles should be under the fire of the artillery. It is always dangerous to occupy a position, which has its rear so covered by swamps, crossed by rivers or ravines, &c. as to render the retreat of the army difficult. The number of passes by which an army can retire must be examined and secured, and should never be less than 5 or 6. The rivers, brooks, &c. in front of a position, should never be depended upon for a supply of water, as the enemy may cut them off. The ground for a camp should not be too much intersected by hedges, ditches, or ravines, which occasion great intervals in the line, and obstruct the communications through the camp.

In an offensive position it is absolutely necessary that the army should not be too much confined by obstacles, but be at liberty to act in every direction; but in a defensive position, the fewer accessible points there are the better: and if the natural difficulties in front and flank are not sufficient to render an enemy’s attack dangerous, they must be increased by redoubts, intrenchments, abbatis, inundations, &c. The obstacles on the flanks, should also be of such extent that they cannot be easily turned, without the enemy makes a very great circuit; and consequently expose his own flank, and weakens his line of communication. In case the enemy detaches a body to attack a defensive position in the rear; the front must be sufficiently strong to enable the general to oppose the enemy’s detachment, by a strong body from his own army. In short, the enemy must not be able by any manœuvre to force the army to quit its position. The want of wood or water, or other supplies absolutely necessary for an army, renders every other advantage of a position useless; nor, can a position be long tenable, that is far removed from its depots; and has not its intermediate posts perfectly secure from the attacks of an enemy. These principles like all others in the ordinary affairs of war, are subject to those exceptions which the creative genius of the general may devise. Thus the first campaign of Bonaparte in Italy, was undertaken by an inferior force without magazines; the general determination was to seize those of the enemy; the same took place in the campaign in 1809, the force hastily collected had no magazines, but by the first battle he penetrated the centre, and cut off two of the corps of the Austrians, and took magazines adequate to six months subsistence from the Austrians. The general principles are nevertheless to be constantly regarded. For further remarks upon positions, see ARTILLERY IN THE FIELD, and _Amer. Mil. Lib._ Article RECONNOITRING.

_To_ RECOVER _arms_, a position of the firelock when the piece is held with the lock in front of the left shoulder, and the sling to the front. The steadiness of soldiers is frequently proved by bringing them to the recover, after the word _take aim_.

_To bring to the_ RECOVER. See RECOVER ARMS.

RECRUITS, (_Recrues_, _Fr._) men raised for military purposes on the first formation of corps, or to supply the places of such as are disabled, or have lost their lives in the service. For particulars respecting the enlistment of recruits, see REGULATIONS.

RECRUITING, a term prefixed to certain corps and districts, which are specifically established for the recruiting service. Hence recruiting districts.

All recruits made for the regular army of the U. States, are inlisted for five years. In almost every service in Europe men are enlisted for a certain number of years, except the British, who inlist for life. Experience has convinced the powers upon the continent of Europe, that the system of binding a man during the whole course of his life to military subjection, is contrary to every sound principle of œconomy, and effective service.

The following are the established forms and instructions for the recruiting service, established by the United States.

_Instructions to Recruiting Officers, respecting the rendering and settlement of their accounts of bounties and premiums for recruits._

I. Every recruit shall be inlisted, and receive the first payment of his bounty according to the form marked (A.)

II. Every officer employed in recruiting, shall, at the expiration of each calendar month, make musters according to the form marked (B.) embracing all the recruits inlisted by him; one set of which muster rolls he is regularly to transmit to the office of the paymaster of the army of the United States, at the seat of government.

III. Every officer on quitting the recruiting service, or before, if it is by proper authority required of him, shall state his accounts according to the form marked (C.) (D.) and transmit the same without delay to the office of the paymaster of the army of the United States, at the seat of government, or to the paymaster of the district in which he held his rendezvous; who shall with all possible dispatch examine and adjust them.

(A.)

_STATE_ I _____________ born in __________ aged years, ____ feet ____ inches high, of _____ complexion, ______ eyes, ________ hair, and by profession a ____________ do hereby acknowlege to have this day voluntarily inlisted as a soldier in the army of the United States of America, for the period of five years unless sooner discharged by proper authority; do also agree to accept such bounty, pay, rations, and clothing as is, or may be established by law. And I ____________ do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against their enemies or opposers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the rules and articles of war.

Sworn and subscribed to, ____________ at ____________ this _________ day of ____________ 18____ before ____________

_Received of_ ____________ _of the United States army, this_ ________ _day of_ ____________ 18____ _dollars, in part of my bounty for inlisting into the army of the United States for five years_.

_Signed duplicate receipts._

_DOLLS._ --- 100

_Witness_,

(B.)

_MUSTER ROLL of a Company of_ _under the command of_

_in the_ _of the United States, commanded by_

_from_ _when last mustered, to_

---+-------------+-----+-----------+---------+---------+------------- | | | Dates of | To what | |_Remarks and | | | appoint- | time en-| |alterations | | | ment or | gaged or| _NAMES | since the No.| NAMES. |RANK.|inlist-m’t.|inlisted.|Present._|last Muster._ ---+-------------+-----+-----------+---------+---------+------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | ---+-------------+-----+-----------+---------+---------+------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | ---+-------------+-----+-----------+---------+---------+------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | ---+-------------+-----+-----------+---------+---------+------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | ---+-------------+-----+-----------+---------+---------+-------------

RECAPITULATION.

+------------------------------------------------+ |Captain. | | |Lieutenants. | | | |Ensigns. | | | | |Serjeants. | | | | | |Corporals. | | | | | | |Musicians. | | | | | | | |Privates. | | | | | | | | |TOTAL.| -------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+ _Present fit for | | | | | | | | | duty_, | | | | | | | | | _Sick present_, | | | | | | | | | _Sick absent_, | | | | | | | | | _On detachment_, | | | | | | | | | _On command_, | | | | | | | | | _On extra service_,| | | | | | | | | _On furlough_, | | | | | | | | | _In confinement_, | | | | | | | | | _Missing_, | | | | | | | | | _Deserted_, | | | | | | | | | _Dead_, | | | | | | | | | -------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+

[_This recapitulation goes on the back of the Return, and should properly appear on the head of the quarter-fold._]

(C.)

_RECRUITING ACCOUNT of_ _in the_

+---------+-------+-------+--------+---------------+ | Names of| | | | | | recruits| | | | | |(arranged| | | | | Number| in | Dates |Periods| Bounty | Bounty | of | alpha- | of | of |allowed.| paid. | vouch-| betical |inlist-|inlist-+--------+---------------+ ers. | order.) | ment. | ment. |_dolls._|_dolls._|_cts._| ------+---------+-------+-------+--------+--------+------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ------+---------+-------+-------+--------+--------+------+

+---------------+--------+---------------+--------------------- | | | | When, and in what | | | Bounty |company or detachment | Balances | | paid, and | these recruits Number| of |Premium | premium | were first mustered of | bounty. |allowed.| allowed. | present after their vouch-|---------------+--------+---------------+ inlistment. ers. |_dolls._|_cts._|_dolls._|_dolls._|_cts._| Remarks, &c. ------+--------+------+--------+--------+------+--------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ------+--------+------+--------+--------+------+---------------------

☞ _The paper (D.) next page, is usually prepared or printed on the back of (C.)_

(D.)

I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, upon my word and honor, as an officer and a gentleman, that this recruiting account exhibits a faithful, accurate, and true statement of all monies received and paid away by me, on account of bounties and premiums to recruits, not heretofore accounted for; and that the balance of ______ dollars, ____ cents, stated in the above account current, is due from ________ to ________

Given at ________________ in the state of ________________ this __________ day of __________ 18__

RECRUIT-_horses_, are the horses brought up for completing the regiments of horse, and dragoons, &c.

RECTANGLE, _Fr._ rectangle.

RECTANGLE, RECTANGULAR, See ANGLE.

RECTILIGNE, _Fr._ rectilinear, or right lined.

RECTILINEAR, RECTILINEOUS, after the manner, or consisting of right lines.

RECUIT, _Fr._ A term used its the French foundaries of artillery, signifying the annealing or hardening of a cannon-mould.

RECUL _du canon_, _Fr._ The recoil of a piece of ordnance. See RECOIL.

RECULADE, _Fr._ The act of recoiling or falling back.

RECULER, _Fr._ To fall back. This expression is used by the French in a figurative sense, viz.

RECULER _pour mieux sauter_, _Fr._ To fall back or retreat, in order to return and advance with more energy.

RED _hot shot_, shot made red hot, and in that state thrown out of cannon, against the vessels or magazines of an enemy.

REDCOAT, a familiar term for a British soldier.

REDANS, in _field fortification_, are a kind of indented works, lines, or faces, forming sallying and re-entering angles, flanking one another; generally constructed on the sides of a river which runs through a garrison town. They were used before bastions were invented, and are by some thought preferable to them. They are likewise called _Ouvrages à scie_, from their resemblance to a saw.

REDDITION _d’une place_, _Fr._ The surrender of a besieged place.

REDIGER, _Fr._ To draw out.

REDIGER _des memoires_, _Fr._ To draw out memorials.

REDINTEGRATION, the act of restoring any single substance, from a damaged mixed body, to its former nature and properties. Thus col. Congreve, of the British artillery, by the _redintegration_ of nitre from damaged gunpowder, has effected a vast saving in that article.

REDOUBT, (_Redoute_, _Fr._) in _fortification_, a square work raised without the glacis of the place, about musquet shot from the town; having loop-holes for the small arms to fire through, and surrounded by a ditch. Sometimes they are of earth, having only a defence in front, surrounded by a parapet and ditch. Both the one and the other serve for detached guards to interrupt the enemy’s works; and are sometimes made on the angles of the trenches for covering the workmen against the sallies of the garrison. The length of their sides may be about 20 toises; their parapets must have two or three banquettes, and be about nine or ten feet thick. They are sometimes (in a siege) called places of arms.

REDOUBT, is also the name of a small work made in a ravelin, of various forms. See FORTIFICATION.

REDOUBT, _castle_ or _donjon_, a place more particularly intrenched, and separated from the rest of a ditch. There is generally in each of them a high position, from whence the country round the place may be discovered.

_Detached_ REDOUBT, is a work made at some distance from the covert-way, much in the same manner as a ravelin with flanks. See ARROW.