Part 139

In order to effect a passage for his army over the river Segre, Cæsar gave directions that ditches, thirty feet broad, should be dug in such parts of the banks as might with ease receive the water out of the stream, and render it fordable. Having accomplished this object, he found no difficulty in reaching Petréius, who, being in the daily fear of wanting provisions and forage for his men, was on the eve of quitting his position and marching forwards.

The passage of the Granicus by Alexander the great, is likewise mentioned in history, as an instance of bold enterprise. But however celebrated that act may be in ancient records, we shall not be thought partial to the moderns when we state, that the passage of the river Holowitz by Charles XII. of Sweden, was equally bold and well managed.

The passage of the Tagliamento by Bonaparte during his campaign in Italy, would be the most celebrated of modern times, had not the passage of the Danube in 1809, eclipsed all similar achievements by the magnitude of the difficulties to be overcome, and the astonishing success of the means by which they were overcome.

RIVET, a fastening pin clenched at both ends, so as to hold an intermediate substance with more firmness.

RIVETING-_plates_, in _gun carriages_, small square thin pieces of iron, through which the ends of the bolts pass, and are riveted upon them.

RIZAMEDAR, _Ind._ An officer commanding a small body of horse.

RO, _Ind._ In Indian music means quick.

ROBE-_courte_, _Fr._ literally means a short gown. Provost-marshals, under-bailiffs, vice-seneschals, then lieutenants, and various other persons, occasionally employed in camps and garrisons, to assist the military in maintaining internal good order and discipline, were formerly called in France _officiers de robe-courte_.

ROC, _Fr._ A rock.

ROC _de lance_, _Fr._ In tournaments the wooden part of a lance is so called.

ROCHER, _Fr._ a large rock; derived from _roc_, and generally bearing the same import.

ROCHE _à feu_, _Fr._ a solid composition, which gradually consumes when it has been lighted, but which emits a very broad and lively flame, and is not extinguished by water.

ROCKETS. _Composition._

_Old proportion._ _New proportion._ lbs. oz. lbs. oz.

Saltpetre 4 0 -- 4 4 Sulphur 1 0 -- 0 12 Charcoal 1 8 -- 2 0

_Composition for the Stars._

Mealed powder 0 lb. 8 oz. Saltpetre 8 0 Sulphur 2 0 Antimony 2 0 Isinglass dissolved 0 3¹⁄₂ Spirits of wine 1 pint. Vinegar 1 quart.

Composition for rain to head sky rockets, is the same as the above for the rockets.

_General Table of Sky Rockets._

+------------------------------+------+-------+------+------+ | | 2 | 1 | ¹⁄₂ | ¹⁄₄ | | |Pound.| Pound.|Pound.|Pound.| +------------------------------+------+-------+------+------+ | | Inch.| Inch. | Inch.| Inch.| | {Exterior diameter | 2.13 | 1.69 | 1.34 | 1.06 | |Case{Interior diameter | 1.529| 1.214 | 0.961| 0.761| | {Length before driving |15.97 |12.67 |10.05 | 8.25 | |Length of guage for the choke | 1.5 | 1.25 | 1.0 | 0.75 | |Cylinders for heading{Diameter| 2.84 | 2.25 | 1.79 | 1.39 | | {Length | 4.26 | 3.38 | 2.68 | 2.12 | |Cones for heading { Diameter| 2.84 | 2.25 | 1.79 | 1.39 | | { Height | 4.36 | 3.38 | 2.68 | 2.18 | |Mallet for driving--Weight | 1lb. | 3 8oz.| 2 1 | 1 10 | |No. of Strokes | 31 |21 |18 |13 | +------------------------------+------+-------+------+------+

_Copper Ladles for filling Sky Rockets._

_Length_, 1¹⁄₂ the exterior diameter of the case.

_Diameter_, equals the interior diameter of case.

_Circumference_, ³⁄₄ the interior calibre of the case.

Sky rockets are driven with composition up to 4¹⁄₂ exterior diameters of the case from the choke; and ¹⁄₅ of a diameter above the composition with good clay. They are bored and reamed up to 3¹⁄₂ diameters.

_Dimensions of Sticks for Rockets._ General rules.

For rockets from ¹⁄₂ an ounce to one pound, the stick must be 60 diameters of the rocket in length: for rockets from one pound and upwards fifty or fifty-two diameters. Their thickness at top about ¹⁄₂ a diameter, and their breadth very little more. Their square at bottom equal to ¹⁄₂ the thickness at top.

+------------+-------+------+------+------+--------+-------+-------+ |Kind of | | | | | | | | |Rockets. | 6 Pr. | 4 Pr.| 2 Pr.| 1 Pr.| ¹⁄₂ Pr.|¹⁄₄ Pr.|¹⁄₈ Pr.| +------------+-------+------+------+------+--------+-------+-------+ | |ft.in. |ft.in.|ft.in.|ft.in.|ft.in. | ft.in.| ft.in.| |Distance of | | | | | | | | |poise from | | | | | | | | |the point of| | | | | | | | |the cone | 4 1¹⁄₂| 3 9 | 2 9 | 2 1 | 1 10¹⁄₂| 1 8 | 1 3 | +------------+-------+------+------+------+--------+-------+-------+

Rockets of between 3 and 4 inches diameter have been observed to ascend as high as 1000 or 1200 yards; but the height of common rockets is between 450 and 600 yards; and their flight usually short of 7 seconds.

ROCKET _as used in India_. A most formidable weapon against cavalry; they are made of the hollow tube of the bamboo, of a very large size, filled with the usual composition of rockets. The rod is only a part of the same bamboo, the six eighths or seven eighths of which is cut away, leaving the rod. See FOUGETTE.

ROCKETS. See LABORATORY.

ROD. See MEASURING.

RODS, or _rammers_, either of iron or wood, to drive home the charges of musquets, carabines, and pistols.

RODS, or _sticks_, fastened to sky-rockets, to make them rise in a straight line.

RODOMONT, _Fr._ A bully. An unmilitary character.

_Raire le_ RODOMONT, _Fr._ To bully, to talk loudly without possessing the real spirit of a man or soldier.

RODOMONTADE, _Fr._ Rodomontade. The act of bullying, vain boasting or arrogating to ourselves qualities which we do not possess. A French writer has very justly observed, that there cannot be a greater defect in the character of an officer than an overweening display of real or fictitious talents. The word is derived from one Rodomont, the hero or principal character in an old romance, who makes himself conspicuously ridiculous in this way. Sir John Falstaff and Bobadil in English comedy, are specimens of this character.

ROGUE’S _March_. See MARCH.

ROHILLAS, _Ind._ A tribe of Afghans inhabiting the country north of the Ganges, as tar as Oude to the eastward.

ROI, _Fr._ King.

ROI _d’armes_, _Fr._ See KING AT ARMS.

ROKER, _Ind._ Cash.

ROLE, _Fr._ A muster roll, state, or return. The word _Role_ is used among the French indiscriminately, to signify either the effective force of an army, or the actual quantify of stores and ammunition which the magazines contain.

_To_ ROLL _in duty_, is when officers of the same rank take their turns upon duty pursuant to some established roster, as captains with captains, and subalterns with subalterns, and command according to the seniority of their commissions.

_To_ ROLL. To continue one uniform beat of the drum, without variations, for a certain length of time. When a line is advancing in full front, or in echellons, for any considerable distance, the music of one regulating battalion may, at intervals, be permitted to play for a few seconds at a time, and the drums of the other battalions may be allowed occasionally to _roll_; drums, likewise _roll_ when troops are advancing to the charge.

_Long_ ROLL. A beat of drum by which troops are assembled at any particular spot of rendezvous or parade.

_Muster_-ROLL, is a return, given by the muster-master, on which are written the names of both officers and soldiers of the regiment, troop, or company, with their country, age, and service.

_Squad_ ROLL. A list containing the names of each particular squad. Every non-commissioned officer and corporal, who is entrusted with the care and management of a squad, must have a roll of this kind.

_Size_-ROLL. A list containing the names of all the men belonging to a troop or company, with the height or stature of each specifically marked. Every serjeant keeps a regular size-roll, and every captain of a troop or company ought to have one likewise.

ROLL-_Call_. The calling over the names of the several men who compose any part of a military body. This necessary duty is done by the serjeants of companies morning and evening, in every well regulated corps. Hence _morning roll-call_, and _evening roll-call_. On critical occasions, and in services that require promptitude and exertion, frequent roll-calls should be made.

ROLLER. A small wheel placed at the foot of the hammer of a gun, or pistol lock, in order to lessen the friction of it against the hammer or feather spring.

ROLLER likewise means a long piece of wood which is rounded and made taper to suit the regulated size of a military trail.

ROLLER. In surgery, a long and broad ligature, usually made of linen cloth, for binding, surrounding, and containing the parts of the human body, and keeping them in their proper situation, thereby disposing them to a state of health and redintregation.

ROLLERS, are round pieces of wood of about nine inches diameter, and four feet long, used in moving pieces of artillery from one place to another.

ROMAINE, _Fr._ A steelyard or balance for weighing things of various weights by one single weight, as from one single pound to 112 pounds.

ROMPRE, _Fr._ To break.

ROMPRE _un battaillon_, _Fr._ In military evolutions to break a battalion into a given number of parts for the purpose of defiles, &c.

ROMPRE _en colonne_, _Fr._ To break into column.

RONDACHE, _Fr._ A sort of shield which the French formerly used, and which is still carried by the Spaniards.

RONDEL, in _fortification_, a round tower, sometimes erected at the foot of a bastion.

RONDES, _Fr._ See ROUNDS.

RONDE _Major_, _Fr._ Town-majors round. So called from the town-major visiting the different quarters of a garrison during the night. This round, in some degree, corresponds with our grand round.

RONDES _roulantes_, _Fr._ Rounds that are made by officers, serjeants, or corporals, over a certain part of the ramparts. These agree with our visiting rounds. The French say, _qui va la?_ Who goes there? technically with us, Who comes there?

RONDE _d’officier_. Officer’s round.

_Chemin des_ RONDES, _Fr._ A path marked out for the convenience of the rounds.

RONDE _de gouverneur_, _Fr._ The governor’s rounds.

The French method of ascertaining the nature of the several rounds is by challenging in the same manner that we do, viz. _qui va la?_ Who comes there? This must be said sufficiently loud for the main guard to hear. He is instantly answered: _ronde de gouverneur_, governor’s rounds; _ronde major_, major’s round, or grand round, and so on, according to the nature of the rounds. The sentry, who stands posted near the guard-house, after having cried out--_Demure là_; stop there: or as we say, stop round; cries out again, _Caporal hors de la garde_, corporal turn out the guard. The corporal or officer of the guard with his sword drawn, according to the French custom, repeats, _qui va la?_ Who comes there? He is answered ronde, round. He then says, _avance qui a l’ordre_; let him advance who has the parole or countersign; or, as we say, advance one, and give the countersign.

RONDE _des officiers de picquet_, _Fr._ Piquet rounds.

RONDES _chez les Turcs_, _Fr._ See TURKISH ROUNDS.

RONDELLE, _Fr._ a small round shield, which was formerly used by light armed infantry. It likewise means a part of the carriage of a gun.

RONDELIERS, _Fr._ Soldiers who were armed with rondelles, or small wooden shields, covered with leather, were anciently so called.

ROPE. A cord; a string; a halter; a cable; a haulser.

Rope is always distinguished by its circumference: thus a two inch rope means a rope of 2 inches in circumference.

_Rule for finding the weight of Ropes._

Multiply the square of the circumference in inches, by the length in fathoms; and divide the product by 480 for the weight in cwt. See also DRAG ROPES.

ROPE _of sand_. A phrase in familiar use to signify disunion, want of adhesion and continuity. Thus the colonel and the captains of a regiment disagreeing may be called a _rope of sand_.

ROPES, of various lengths and thickness, according to the uses they are made for; such as drags for the gin, for the sling cart and waggon, &c.

_Drag_-ROPES, according to the old practice in the _artillery_, by which the soldiers pulled the guns backwards or forwards, both at practice and in an engagement, were of the following dimensions, viz.--For a 24-pounder, 54 feet long, with the loop-holes for the pegs included, and 5³⁄₄ inches in circumference; for 18 and 12-pounders, 48 feet long, and four inches in circumference; for 6 and 3-pounders, 39 feet long, and 1⁷⁄₈ inches in circumference. For 13 and 10-inch howitzers, 45 feet long, and 6³⁄₄ inches in circumference; for 8-inch howitzers, 48 feet long, and four inches in circumference; for all other howitzers, 35 feet long, and two inches in circumference. These awkward and cumbersome ropes are now superceded by the more improved and powerful method, of the _bricoles_, which instead of drag ropes held each by several; there is attached a single bricole or rope with a hook and belt to each of several artillerists; the number of bricoles is in proportion to the calibre. See BRICOLES and PROLONGE, See _Amer. Mil. Lib._

ROSETTE, an ornamental bunch of ribands, or cut leather, which was worn both by officers and soldiers in the British service, on the upper part of their cues.

ROSETTES. Two small bunches of ribands that are attached to the loops by which the gorget of an officer is suspended upon his chest. The color of the riband must correspond with the facing of the uniform. The French use the same word.

ROSE-_buds_. See NAILS.

ROSTER, in _military affairs_, is a plan or table, by which the duty of officers, entire battalions, squadrons, or parts of a company are regulated.

ROOM. Space; extent of space, great or small. Any part of a building for the accommodation of individuals; as barrack room, orderly room; viz. the orderly room, mess room, guard room, soldier’s rooms, and store-room, for the duty of the regiment.

ROOMS. In a military sense are those parts of a building or barrack which by specific instructions, the different barrack masters must provide, and furnish for the accommodation of the troops. A schedule as published by authority describes the number of rooms allowed in barracks for the commissioned, warrant, and non-commissioned officers, and private men, in the British service, to be as follows:

_Cavalry rooms._ Field officers, each two rooms; captains, each one ditto; subalterns, staff and quarter-masters, each one ditto; the serjeants of each troop of dragoons, and the corporals of each troop of horse, one ditto; eight rank and file, one ditto; officer’s mess, two ditto.

_Infantry rooms._ Field officers, each two ditto; captains, each one ditto; two subalterns, one ditto; staff, each one ditto; twelve non-commissioned officers, and private men, one ditto; officer’s mess, two ditto; serjeant-major, and quarter-master serjeant, one ditto. When there are a sufficient number of rooms in a barrack, one may be allowed to each subaltern of infantry. See REGULATIONS.

ROSTRAL _Crown_, _Couronne Rostrale_, _Fr._ A crown which was bestowed upon that Roman sailor who should first leap on board an enemy’s ship.

ROSTRUM. A Latin word which literally means the beak or bill of a bird, and figuratively the prow of a vessel. There was in a public place in ancient Rome, a tribunal ornamented with various prows of ships, which the Romans had taken from the Antiati. The orators who harangued the people in public, mounted this _rostrum_. Hence the Roman phrase: To speak from above the rostra or prows.

ROUAGE, _Fr._ The wheel-work of a carriage, &c.

_Bois de_ ROUAGE, _Fr._ Timber to make wheels with.

ROUANNE, _Fr._ A concave iron instrument, which is used for the purpose of enlarging the hollow of a pump. It likewise signifies a mark. An auger.

ROUANNER, _Fr._ To bore; also to make casks.

ROUE, _Fr._ a licensed libertine. One whose principles of morality are considerably relaxed, but who is not sufficiently vitiated in his manners to be excluded from society. The French make a familiar use of the term, and do not affix any degree of stigma to it. They say, on the contrary, _c’est un aimable roué_, he is an agreeable gay fellow.

ROUE, _Fr._ Wheel.

ROUE _de feu_, _Fr._ An artificial firework. See SOLEIL TOURNANT.

ROUET, _Fr._ A small solid wheel made of steel, which was formerly fixed to the pans of blunderbusses and pistols, for the purpose of firing them off.

_Arquebuses et Pistolets à_ ROUET, _Fr._ Blunderbusses and pistols to which a small wheel was attached. These firearms are very little known; some, however, are still to be found in European arsenals, kept merely for curiosity.

ROUGES, _boulets Rouges_, _Fr._ Red-hot balls.

ROUGH _Rider_. A person who is indispensably necessary in every cavalry regiment. He is a sort of non-commissioned officer, and should always associate with the serjeants in preference to the private men.

_Rough Riders_ are the assistants of the riding master, and one should always be appointed to each troop. The necessary qualifications, for every _Rough Rider_ (independently of a thorough knowlege of horsemanship) are activity, zeal, and good conduct.

Every _rough rider_ must provide himself with a proper jacket for the riding school business, according to the pattern fixed upon in the regiment.

_To_ ROUGH _horses_, a word in familiar use among the dragoons to signify the act of breaking in horses, so as to adapt them to military purposes.

_To_ ROUGH _it_, a cant word used among military men, signifying to face every sort of hardship.

ROULEAU, _Fr._ A cylindrical piece of wood with iron ferrels at both ends, and with mortises fitted to the end of the lever.

ROULEAU _de cartouche_, _Fr._ A cylindrical solid piece of wood, which is used in making cartridges; by us called a FORMER, as it give the form to the cartridge.

ROULEAUX, _Fr._ Round bundles of fascines which are tied together. They serve to cover men, when the works are pushed close to a besieged town, or to mask the head of a work.

ROULEMENTS, _Fr._ The several rolls which are beat upon a drum, as preparations for exercise, &c.

ROULER, _Fr._ To be subject to a fixed roster according to rank and precedence.

ROUND. From the French _ronde_. In _military matters_, a visitation; a personal attendance through a certain circuit of ground, to see that all is well. A round consists, in the ordinary way, of a detachment from the main-guard, of an officer or a non-commissioned officer and 6 men, who go round the rampart of a garrison, to listen if any thing be stirring without the place, and to see that the sentinels be diligent upon their duty, and all in order. In strict garrisons the rounds go every half hour. The sentinels are to challenge at a distance, and to port their arms as the _round_ passes. All guards turn out, challenge, exchange the parole, and present arms, &c.

ROUNDS, are ordinary and extraordinary. The ordinary rounds are three: the _town major’s round_, the _grand round_, and the _visiting round_.

_Manner of going the_ ROUNDS. When the town major goes his _round_, he comes to the main-guard, and demands a serjeant and four or six men to escort him to the next guard; and when it is dark, one of the men is to carry a light.

As soon as the sentry at the guard perceives the _round_ coming, he shall give notice to the guard, that they may be ready to turn out when ordered; and when the round is advanced within about 20 or 30 paces of the guard, he is to challenge briskly; and when he is answered by the serjeant who attends the round, _town major’s round_, he is to say, _stand, round!_ and port his arms: after which he is to call out immediately, _serjeant, turn out the guard! town major’s round_. Upon the sentry calling the serjeant to turn out the guard, he immediately draws up the men in good order with shouldered arms, and the officer places himself at the head of it, with his sword drawn. He then orders the serjeant and four or six men to advance towards the _round_, and challenge: the serjeant of the _round_ is to answer, _town major’s round_; upon which the serjeant of the guard replies, _advance, serjeant, with the parole!_ at the same time ordering his men to rest their arms. The serjeant of the _round_ advances alone, and gives the serjeant of the guard the parole in his ear, that none else may hear it; during which period, the serjeant of the guard holds the point of his bayonet or sword at the other’s breast. The serjeant of the _round_ then returns to his post, whilst the serjeant of the guard, leaving his men to keep the _round_ from advancing, gives the parole to his officer. This being found right, the officer orders his serjeant to return to his men; says, _advance, town major’s round!_ and orders the guard to port their arms; upon which the serjeant of the guard orders his men to wheel back from the centre, and form a lane, through which the town major is to pass (the escort remaining where it was) and go up to the officer and give him the parole, laying his mouth to his ear. The officer holds the point of his sword at the town major’s breast while he gives him the parole.

_Grand_ ROUNDS. The rounds which are gone by general officers, governors, commandants, or field officers. When there are no officers of the day on piquet, the officer of the main guard in garrison may go the grand rounds.

_Visiting_ ROUNDS. Rounds gone by captains, subalterns, and the town majors of garrisons.

The grand rounds generally go at midnight; the visiting rounds at intermediate periods, between sunset and the reveille. The grand rounds receive the parole, and all other rounds give it to the guards.

There is also a species of subordinate rounds which are performed by a corporal and a file of men; and which are in reality nothing more than a _patrole_. When challenged they answer _patrole rounds_.

The governor of a garrison can order the rounds to go as often as he may judge expedient. Extraordinary rounds are resorted to when any particular event or occurrence is expected, and in cases of tumult, &c.

The going the rounds, though generally considered among the inferior duties of military discipline, ought to be most scrupulously attended to.

_Turkish_ ROUNDS. The Turks are in the habit of going the rounds like other nations, for the purpose of ascertaining, whether sentries are alert and vigilant on their posts. They call the rounds _rol_. They start from the guard-house, and the person who goes them has no other weapon of defence than a stick in his hand. He is accompanied by a corporal who carries a lantern. He observes whether at his approach the sentry instantly cries out, _jedger Allah_, which signifies _good God!_ If any sentry should be found asleep, or be backward in crying out _jedger Allah_, good God, he is put in prison, and there severely bastinadoed. The Turks never give a parole or countersign, in camp or in garrison.

The design of _rounds_ is not only to visit the guards, and keep the sentinels alert, but likewise to discover what passes in the outworks, and beyond them.