Part 150

_Quick_ STEP, a military step, consisting of 24 inches, (of which 108 are to be taken in a minute, making 216 feet in a minute) which constitutes what is _now_ called _common time_ in marching. The command _quick march_ being given with a pause between them, the word _mark time_, is to be considered as a caution, and the whole are to remain on the ground dressed in ranks, with the feet in motion at _quick_ time; on the word _march_, they step off with the left feet, keeping the body in the same posture, and the shoulders square to the front; the foot to be lifted off the ground, that it may clear any stones, or other impediments in the way, and to be thrown forward, and placed firm; the whole of the sole to touch the ground, and not the heel alone: the knees are not to be bent, neither are they to be stiffened, so as to occasion fatigue or constraint. These instructions can only be complied with by means of a sedulous attention not only in the instructor at the drill, but by a constant application of that solid principle which directs, that all movements of the legs should come from the haunches. The knees, indeed, must bend, and the fore parts of the feet must unavoidably be lifted up, but both these natural actions may be done in so correct and quick a manner, that they will scarcely be perceptible. The elasticity of the instep, if properly managed, will always give a firmness to the tread. The arms are to hang with ease down the outside of the thigh; and a very small motion may be occasionally permitted, to prevent constraint. The head is to be kept to the front, the body to be well up, and the utmost steadiness to be preserved. The quick step is the pace to be used in all filings of divisions from line into column, or from column into line; and by battalion columns of manœuvre, when they change position, independently of each other. It must always be used in the column of march of small bodies, when the route is smooth, or the ground unembarrassed, and no obstacles occur; but in a long march in line of a considerable body, it is not to be required; otherwise fatigue must arise to the soldier, and more time will be lost by hurry, and inaccuracy (the natural consequence of hurry) than is attempted to be gained by quickness.

_Quickest_ STEP, (_Pas accelere_, _Fr._) A step measuring 24 inches, which indicates _quickest time_, or _wheeling march_, and of which 130, making 260 feet, should be taken in a minute.

This step is applied chiefly to the purpose of wheeling, and is the rate at which all bodies accomplish their wheels; the outward file stepping 24 inches, whether the wheel is from line into column, during the march in column, or from column into line. In this time also, and by this step, should divisions double, and move up, when they pass obstacles in line; or when in the column of march, the front of divisions is increased, or diminished.

_To_ STEP _between_. To interfere.

_To_ STEP _forth or forward_. To take an active part in any thing. Thus, when the circle was formed, the grenadiers _stepped forward_ to beg off their comrade, &c. The officers stepped forward, and remonstrated against their colonel.

STEP is likewise figuratively used to signify promotion. As the next step from a lieutenancy is a troop or company, and from that to a majority; except in the British guards, who have the exclusive privilege of going over this intermediate rank, and _stepping_ into a lieutenant-colonelcy at once.

_To_ STEP _over_. To rise above another. This term is generally used in a bad sense. As, young men of interest and connection frequently _step over_ old soldiers.

STEWARD. One who manages the affairs of others. In all well conducted messes belonging to military corps, certain officers are named to act as stewards, for some specific period. These act conjointly with the treasurer and pay master for the good of the whole.

STERE, _Fr._ A measure for firewood, which has been adopted by the French, since the revolution. The stere is equal to the cubic metre. It is used instead of the _voie_, and is about half of that measure. The _Corde_, in decimals, answers 3,335 steres.

STEREOGRAPHY. The art of drawing the forms of solids upon a plane.

STEREOMETRY. The art of measuring all sorts of solid bodies.

STICK. The same as Baton, an instrument of dignity, which is occasionally carried by persons and officers in high situations, particularly by such as are in waiting near the royal person.

STICKLER. A sidesman to fencers: or second to a duellist.

STILETTO. A small dagger, with a round blade, and sharp point.

STINKPOT. A firework made of offensive combustibles, which is used at sieges, &c. See LABORATORY.

STIRRUPS. Iron hoops suspended by straps to each side of the saddle, in which the horseman sets his feet in mounting or riding.

STOCCADO. A push or thrust with a rapier.

STOLE. See ORDER OF THE STOLE.

STOCK. The wooden part of a musquet or pistol.

STOCK. A part of an officer’s dress, which consists generally of black silk or velvet, and is worn round the neck instead of a neckcloth. The soldier’s stock is of black ribbed leather, and is part of his small mounting. Red stocks were formerly worn in the British guards; they are still so in some Prussian regiments.

STOCK _Purse_. A certain saving which is made in a corps, and which is applied to regimental purposes. In some corps this fund is so honestly managed, that, without encroaching upon the public, the most beneficial effects are produced: in others again, it is so mysteriously handled between commanding officers and paymasters, that it becomes a perpetual source of discontent and jealousy.

STOMPER, _Fr._ To sketch out a design, or to draw with colors that have been pounded into dust. Instead of the pencil or crayon, a roll of paper which is dipped into the colored dust, serves to put on the different colors.

STONES, in _military architecture_, may be distinguished into two sorts; that is, into hard and soft: hard stone is that which is exposed to the open air, such as rocks, and which lie loose upon the surface of the earth: the soft stone is that which is found in quarries, and underground. It is undoubtedly true that the hardest stones make the most durable works; but as there is seldom a sufficient quantity to build the whole fortification, the best serve in the facings of the work, in the foundations, and where the works are exposed to the violence of the waves.

The stones of some quarries are very soft, and easily worked, when first cut out; but, when exposed for some time to the open air, become very hard and durable.

As there is undoubtedly a kind of sap in stones as well as in timber, by which the same sort of stone, taken out of the same quarry, at one season, will moulder away in a few winters, but, when dug out in another season, will resist the weather for many ages: stones should always be dug in the spring, that they may have time to dry before the cold weather comes in; for the heat of the sun will extract the greatest part of the moisture, which otherwise expands in frosty weather, and causes the stone to splinter, although it be otherwise hard and good.

As stones lie in the quarries in horizontal beds or strata, (that is, they cleave in that direction) and have likewise a breaking vein, which is perpendicular to the former; both these directions must be observed in cleaving, as well as in raising them out of their beds. Stones that will not easily cleave must be blown up by gunpowder.

_Marble_, is of various sorts and colors; the most beautiful of which is exported from Italy. The marble found in England is mostly blackish, and so very hard and difficult to polish, that very little use is made of it, except to burn and make lime. The American marbles are various, and every day produces new discoveries of marbles of the most beautiful colors.

_Fire_-STONE, or _Soap Stone_, serves chiefly for chimneys, hearths, ovens, furnaces, and stoves; being a dry, porous, gritty stone, which bears the heat without breaking: on account of this quality, it is called _fire-stone_.

_Purbeck_-STONE, is a hard, greyish stone, and serves chiefly for paving, coping of walls, and for all such other uses where strength is required, it being the most hard and durable stone.

_Rag_-STONE, is of a bluish color, and commonly used in paving: but there is a stone called _Kentish rag_, that is very useful in building: it splits very easily, and yet is very hard.

_Free_-STONE, more generally called _Portland stone_: it is a fine whitish stone, without any veins. This stone is very soft when it comes out of the quarry, is easy to be worked, and becomes very hard in time. Hence it is very fit for military works.

_Gypsum_, is a clear whitish stone, not unlike coarse marble. It is plentiful in some parts of Italy; in France; and very abundant in Nova Scotia, whence it has been lately imported to a vast amount to be pulverised for manure; it is to be had in great abundance in Scotland, and makes the very best lime.

_Whin_, or _Aberdeen whin_, is of a greyish color, intermixed with veins, not unlike coarse marble. This stone is the fittest of any for military works: because it withstands the weather, and the violence of the waves, better than any stone found in England.

STOPPAGES, in the British service, deductions from a soldier’s pay, the better to provide him with necessaries, &c. A soldier should never be put under a greater weekly stoppage from his pay, than what will afterwards leave him a sufficiency for messing.

There shall be stopped out of the pay of an artillery soldier, (beer money included) the sum of 5 shillings and one penny per week, to be applied towards the expence of his mess, (including vegetables &c.) A sum not exceeding one shilling and six pence per week shall be retained for necessaries, to be accounted for, as usual, monthly. The remainder, amounting to 3_s._ 10³⁄₄_d._ per week, shall be paid to the soldier, subject to the accustomed deduction for washing, &c. or articles for cleaning his clothes and appointments. Stoppages for rations for man and horse. See the word RATION.

STOPPAGE, for the subsistence of the _sick_ in the British army. In the regulations for the better management of the sick in regimental hospitals, it is particularly laid down, under the head subsistence, page 16, that sufficient funds should be established for the support of the sick without any additional charge to government; and at the same time, that the sick soldier should be provided with every reasonable comfort and indulgence that can be afforded. The sum of four shillings per week from the pay of each soldier will, under proper regulations, and with strict economy, be sufficient for this purpose; which sum is to be retained by the paymaster of the regiment.

The sick are to be furnished with bread made of the finest wheat flour, and fresh meat, perfectly good and wholesome.

That the greatest economy may be used in laying out the money for the sick, every article ought to be purchased by the surgeon, who is required to keep a book, in which he is to enter the amount of the weekly consumption of each man according to the diet table; and this book, with the diet table, is to be laid before the commanding officer and paymaster every week to be examined and signed by each; and it is of the utmost importance to the welfare of the service, that every commanding officer, and every regimental paymaster, should superintend the expenditure.

STOPPER. A piece of wood or cork, made to fit the bore of a musquet barrel, which soldiers use in wet weather; and on other occasions, when the piece is not loaded, to prevent moisture and dust from getting into the barrel.

STORE-_keeper_, in _war time_, must take care of the stores in the magazines, such as the provisions, forage, &c. receive the same from contractors, and deliver them out to the troops. He has several clerks under him, appointed to the different departments, of provisions, hay, straw, oats, &c. In time of peace he has charge of all the public stores, belonging both to land and sea service.

STOREHOUSE. See MAGAZINE.

STORES, _Military_, are provisions, forage, arms, clothing, ammunition, &c.

_Medical_ STORES _on board transports_.--Certain articles of diet which are put on board each transport, are so called. These are to be considered as intended solely for the use of the sick, or convalescents; they are to remain in the charge of the master of the transport, and only to be issued upon demand in writing made by the surgeon from time to time as he shall judge proper; or, when there is no surgeon, upon demand of the commanding officer. And the surgeon or commanding officer is to give the master at the end of the voyage, a certificate that his demands for the said medical stores have been made only upon proper occasions, and have not been expended for any other use, than that of the sick, or convalescent.

_To_ STORM, in _military matters_, to make a violent assault on any fortified place, or works.

STORMING _party_. A select body of men, consisting generally of the grenadiers, who first enter the breach, &c.

STRAGGLERS. Men who wander from the line of march. It is the business of the rear guard to pick up all stragglers, &c.

STRAPONTIN, _Fr._ A sort of hammock which is used in hot countries, &c. See HAMMOCK.

STRATAGEM, in _war_, any scheme or plan for the deceiving and surprising an army, or any body of men. See SURPRISE.

STRATAGEMS _in war_, (_Stratagêmes de guerre_, _Fr._) Certain feints which are resorted to by able generals, &c. to cover their real designs during the operations of a campaign. It is impossible to lay down any specific rules on this head, as every general, according to the capacity and activity of his mind, makes use of the various means and expedients which grow out of times, circumstances, and occasions. It has been asserted by some writers, that all sorts of stratagems, even those which are connected with treachery may be adopted for the accomplishment of any design. This maxim is, however, strongly combated against by those who have written upon the law of nations. Probity, in fact, and elevation of mind, (which are superior to the pitiful measures of treacherous affiliation or intercourse,) should always bear the ascendancy in human actions. There are stratagems which may be practised and carried on, without the least deviation from honor and good faith. Many distinguished generals have had recourse to these; but none ever succeeded so well as Hannibal. Wishing to cross the river Rhone, and being in want of almost every article that was necessary to effect the passage in the presence of an enemy who was diligently watching his motions, he caused him to imagine that it was his intention to keep the ground he occupied. He ordered large fires to be lighted up in different quarters of his camp, and directed some of his troops to shout and make loud noises, as if they were perfectly stationary. During this apparent state of inactivity, he broke up his camp, marched up the river side, and crossed it at a place where it was least expected he would make the attempt.

General Washington executed a similar stratagem with success on the British at Trenton; and a very memorable stratagem in baking bread at King’s bridge and amusing the British at New York, while he made forced marches with his army for Yorktown, to capture Cornwallis.

Among other good qualities which are indispensibly necessary in an able general, that of knowing how to conceal a projected march, and to anticipate the motions of an enemy, is not the least important.

The army under the command of the duke of Saxe-Weimar, having laid siege to Brisac in 1638, the imperialists went to the relief of that place. The duke, on receiving intelligence of their approach, instantly marched against them, with a body of forces composed of Swedes and French allies. The imperialists, who had advanced by rapid marches, had gained possession of an eminence by means of which they would have enjoyed all the advantages of local superiority, had not the count de Guebriant, who was then a lieutenant-general in the Swedish service, suggested a stratagem to dislodge the enemy. The plan was adopted, and it succeeded to the full extent of his design.

The drums and trumpets of the different corps were collected together, and stationed in a neighboring wood, so as to draw the whole of the enemy’s attention away from the quarter proposed to be carried. The imperialists being naturally led to believe, from the noise and concurrence of so many military instruments, that they were going to be attacked from that quarter, beat to arms, and left their position in complete order of battle. They had scarcely quitted the eminence, before the duke of Saxe-Weimar appeared in their rear, took possession of the ground which they had so imprudently abandoned, and became master of all the advantages which his enemy would otherwise have enjoyed. An interesting account of this ingenious manœuvre may be found in the History of Le Marechal de Guebriant.

Stratagems of this description have been frequently used by the French during the present war, particularly in Italy. Stratagems, in fact, constitute one of the principal branches in the art of war. They have been practised in all ages by the most able generals, and have contributed in a great degree, to their military reputation. Virgil, in his Æneid, book II. says--

_Dolus an virtus, quis in hoste requirat._

The history of France abounds with instances in which stratagems of every kind have been successfully practised.--It seems the peculiar talent of the inhabitants of that country to derive advantages from well concerted feints, &c. in war, and to secure their victories more by science than by downright hardihood.

It has been wisely observed, by a French writer, under the article of _Stratagêmes de guerre_, that a general who is defeated in a general action, may attribute his failure to fortune, although it is universally acknowleged, that chance or fortune has a very trifling share indeed in pitched battles, while art and science regulate the different movements, and finally determine their issue. Whoever, therefore, suffers himself to be surprised by his enemy, cannot be said to stand wholly exculpated from ignorance or neglect, since it must have been in his power to have avoided the snares laid for him, by means of vigilant spies, and unremitting attention. This remark appears to us not only to be generally correct, but it seems more immediately applicable to all generals that have secret service money at command. The influence of that commodity, (upon which no embargo can be laid) will be felt in every garrison, town, or sea-port; and those who have the management of it must be dull indeed, if they do not feel their way into the secret preparations of an enemy, before they hazard an attack against him.

Besides the different stratagems which may be used by an able general, to bring about the overthrow of the whole or part of an army, by leading it into an ambuscade, there are various ones which may be practised against a fortified place. To effect the latter purpose, you may contrive to get soldiers in disguise through the gates at unguarded hours; to introduce them through subterraneous passages, or by any other means that may offer. Before any attempt of this sort is made, every part of the fortifications should be narrowly reconnoitred, and as much knowlege be obtained of the interior situation of the place as can be procured by means of good spies, or from deserters. You must, above all things, be well assured, that the garrison does not strict duty; that the different guards are negligently attended to; that the soldiers who compose them are in the habits of drinking or gaming; that their officers miss their rounds, or go them without system or regularity; that the gates are ill guarded, and the avenues to them ill watched; and that there are certain places or entrances which are not watched at all; for it would be impossible to surprize any place that has been regularly fortified, while the garrison did its duty.

If it should appear practicable to surprise a town by taking advantage of the negligence of the sentries, &c. at some particular gate, previous means must be taken to introduce some soldiers dressed like market women, or in the garb of some religious order. You may then contrive to get a waggon or cart, seemingly loaded with hay or straw, but with soldiers concealed beneath it, so placed in the entrance of the gate that it will serve as an obstacle when it may be found necessary to shut it. In order to do this effectually, let a pin be taken out, so that the wheel comes off, or the axle tree gets broken. The instant this is done, the soldiers who had entered the town in disguise must join the drivers, the men that have been concealed in the waggon get out, and the whole must rush upon the port-guard. While this happens, the troops that have been placed in ambush round the fortifications, will advance with promptitude and firmness, and endeavor to get possession of the town before a sufficient force can be collected to repel the attack. In the year 1789, a rabble from Courtray took advantage of the carelessness of the imperial troops who were in garrison at Gand, in Flanders, and by seizing upon the gate and port-guard, brought about a temporary rebellion in the country. This indeed was done without stratagem; but the circumstance proves, that when the centries of a fortified place are negligent in their duty, a surprise is always practicable. We are precluded by the limits of our undertaking from going more fully into this important branch of military science. Several treatises have been written on the subject. Among others one appeared in 1756, intitled _Stratagêmes de Guerre_, illustrating from history the various stratagems which had been practised by some of the ablest generals during a long period of time down to the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. It was published by M. Carlet de la Rousiere, an officer in the French service, and acting engineer in the isles of France and Bourbon. It contains much curious matter. See _Am. Mil. Lib._

STRATAGEM _and force united_. Count Turpin, page 43, vol. I. in his essay on the Art of War, judiciously remarks, that when an enemy, superior in force, is in possession of a pass, from which he cannot be dislodged but by art, stratagem and force should be blended together as often as possible. Onosander, the Greek general, set fire to a wood which was at the foot of a mountain in the enemy’s possession, and which he wanted to go over; the flames and smoke forced the enemy to abandon it, and leave the passage free for him.

STRATARITHMOMETRY. In _war_, the art of drawing up an army, or any part of it, in any given geometrical figure; and of expressing the number of men contained in such a figure, as they stand in order of battle, either at hand, or at any distance assigned.

STRAW. According to the British regulations, published by authority in 1799, relative to the forage, &c. which troops are to receive in the home encampments, it is directed, that straw is to be allowed at the rate of one truss of 36 pounds to each paillasse for two men, _being a full bedding_; at the expiration of sixteen days to be refreshed with half a truss to each paillasse; at the expiration of 32 days to be removed, and a fresh bedding of one truss is to be given, and so on every succeeding period of sixteen and thirty-two days.

For the sick, in the hospital, the straw is to be changed as often as it may be deemed necessary.

Two trusses per troop or company are to be allowed for batmen, or servants, not soldiers; and three trusses per troop or company for the washerwomen, to be changed every sixteen days, not having paillasses.