Part 155

_Aux champs, ou le premier_, is beat when any particular corps of infantry is ordered to march; but if the order should extend to a whole army, it is then called _La générale_, the general. They do not make this distinction in the British service, but omit the _premier_ or first beat when one regiment, detachment, or company, marches out of a camp or garrison where there are other troops.

_Le second, ou l’assemblée_, is to give notice that the colors are to be sent for.

_La marche_ is beat when troops march off their parade.

_Battre la charge, ou battre la guerre._ To beat the charge, or the point of war. This occurs when troops advance against an enemy. This beat may be conceived by repeating in seconds of time the sound--_bom! bom! bom! bom!_ _Battre la rétraite_ is to beat the retreat, to cease firing, or to withdraw after the battle. It is likewise used in garrisons to warn soldiers to retire to their quarters.

_Battre la fricassée._ To beat the long roll. A beat which is practised to call soldiers suddenly together.

_Battre la diane._ To beat the reveille. This is done in a camp or garrison at break of day. When an army besieges a town, the reveille is confined to those troops belonging to the infantry that have mounted guard, particularly in the trenches; and it is then followed by the discharge of those pieces of ordnance which had ceased firing on account of the darkness of the night, that prevented their being properly pointed against the enemy’s works.

TAMBOUR _de basque_, _Fr._ A tabor.

TAMBOUR _battant_, _Fr._ Drums beating.

_Sortir_ TAMBOUR _battant, enseignes deployées_, _Fr._ To go out drums beating and colors flying.

TAMBOUR in architecture. A term applied to the Corinthian and composite capitals, as bearing some resemblance to a drum, which the French call _Tambour_.

TAMBOUR likewise denotes a round course of stone, several whereof form the shaft of a column not so high as a diameter.

_Un_ TAMBOURIN, _Fr._ A timbrel.

TAMBOURINE. A drum, somewhat resembling the tabor, but played in our military bands without either stick or pipe.

TAMIS, _Fr._ A sieve.

TAMPIONS, or TOMBIONS, are wooden cylinders to put into the mouth of the guns, howitzers, and mortars, in travelling, to prevent the dust or wet from getting in. They are fastened round the muzzle of the guns, &c. by leather collars.

They are sometimes used to put into the chambers of mortars, over the powder, when the chamber is not full.

TAMPIONS, in sea-service artillery, are the iron bottoms to which the grape-shot are fixed, the dimensions of which are as follows, viz.

_Diameter._

42 pounders, 6⁶⁄₁₀ths inches. 32 ditto 6 24 ditto 5⁴⁄₁₀ths 18 ditto 4⁹⁄₁₀ths 12 ditto 4³⁄₁₀ths 9 ditto 3⁹⁄₁₀ths 6 ditto 6³⁄₄ths 4 ditto 2⁹⁄₁₀ths 1¹⁄₂ ditto 2¹⁄₁₀th ¹⁄₂ ditto 1⁴⁄₁₀ths

TAMPON, _Fr._ A wooden peg or instrument which is used to plug up cartridges, petards, &c. A stopper.

TAMPONS, _Fr._ In mason-work are wooden pegs by which beams and boards for floors are fastened together.

TAMPONS, _Fr._ Flat pieces of iron, copper, or wood, which are used by the French on board their men of war, to stop up holes that are made by cannon-balls during a naval engagement.

TAMPONS _de canon_, _Fr._ The apron made of cork or lead, which is put over the vent of any piece of ordnance.

TANGENT, (_Tangente_, _Fr._) In trigonometry, is a right line raised perpendicularly on the extreme of the diameter, and continued to a point, where it is cut by a secant, that is, by a line drawn from the centre, through the extremity of the arch, whereof it is the tangent.

TANGENT. See GUNNERY.

TANGENT _scale_.--·21 of an inch is the tangent of 1 degree to every foot of a gun’s length, from the base ring to the swell of the muzzle: Therefore, if the distance in feet, between these two points be multiplied by ·21, the product will be the tangent of 1 degree; from which the dispart being subtracted, will give the length of the tangent scale above the base ring for one degree of elevation for that particular gun. If the scale is to be applied to the quarter sight of the gun, of course the dispart need not be subtracted.

_Tangent of one degree to the following British ordnance._

+--------+---------+-------- | | Tangent,| | Length.| 1°. |Dispart. ----------------+--------+---------+-------- |Ft. In. | In. | In. 12 pr. medium | 6 6 | 1·365 | 1·475 12 pr. light | 5 -- | 1·05 | 1· 6 pr. heavy | 7 -- | 1·47 | 1·32 6 pr. light | 5 -- | 1·05 | 1· 3 pr. heavy | 6 -- | 1·26 | 1·08 10 inch howitzer| 3 11¹⁄₂| ·84 | -- 8 do. howitzer | 3 1 | ·64 | -- 5¹⁄₂ do. light | 2 2³⁄₄| ·47 | -- 4²⁄₅ do. | 1 10 | ·384 | -- ----------------+--------+---------+--------

_Tangent of one degree to the following French guns._

+---------------------+--------------------- | Siege. | Field. +----------+----------+----------+---------- | Tangent | | Tangent | Kind. | of 1°. | Dispart. | of 1°. | Dispart. -------+----------+----------+----------+---------- |in. li. p.|in. li. p.|in. li. p.|in. li. p. 24 pr. | 2 1 5 | 1 2 4 | -- | -- 16 -- | 2 - - | 1 1 - | -- | -- 12 -- | 1 10 6 | 1 - - | 1 4 - | 1 3 2 8 -- | 1 8 3 | 1 - - | 1 2 ¹⁄₂| 1 2 - 4 -- | -- | -- | 1 - - | 1 - - 6 in.}| -- | -- | 0 5 6 | -- how’r.}| | | | -------+----------+----------+----------+----------

As the French tangent scales are marked off in inches and lines, the above dimensions are given in the same, for the more ready turning the French elevations into degrees, and thereby comparing their ranges with the English.

TANK, _Ind._ A pond or pool of water. A reservoir to preserve the water that falls in the rainy season.

TANNADAR, _Ind._ A commander of a small fort, or custom house.

TAP. A gentle blow, as a tap of the drum.

TAPABORD, _Fr._ A sort of cap or slouched hat made in the English fashion which the French sailors wear. Its sides hang over the shoulders, and shield them from rain in wet weather. It likewise signifies a riding-cap, a montero.

TAPE-_cul_, _Fr._ That part of a swipe or swinging gate which serves to raise and let down a draw-bridge.

TAPE-_cul_, _Fr._ A falling gate.

_En_ TAPINOIS, _Fr._ Slyly, secretly.

_Se_ TAPIR, _Fr._ To lie squat.

TAPIS, _Fr._ This word literally means carpet, and is used by the French in a figurative sense, viz.

_Amuser le_ TAPIS, _Fr._ To trifle.

_Mettre une affaire sur le_ TAPIS, _Fr._ To open any particular transaction, to move a business.

_La_ TAPE, _le_ TAPON, _ou_ TAMPON, _Fr._ The tampion.

TAPER _ou_ TAMPONNER _un Canon_, _Fr._ To put in the tampion. _Détaper un Canon_, _Fr._ To take out the tampion.

TAPPEE, _Ind._ The post letter carrier on the coast of Coromandel. An express.

TAPROBANE, _Ind._ The ancient name for the island of Ceylon. It is derived from _tapoo_ an island, and _bany_, a ferry.

TAP-TOO. TAT-TOO. See DRUM.

TAR. A kind of liquid pitch used in the composition of some sorts of fireworks.

TAR and FEATHERS. A method of punishment invented in the American revolution, which consisted in pouring a bucket of tar over the head of the culprit, and loosing a bag of feathers over it. See the poem of _M‘Fingal_.

TARANTHE, _Fr._ A thick iron peg which is used to turn the screw in a press.

TARAU, _Fr._ An instrument which is used in making the nut of a screw. It is a round piece of steel with a spiral shape.

TARAUDER, _Fr._ To make a hole like that which is effected by the operation of the _Tarau_.

TARE, _Fr._ A word adopted by the French from the English term Tar.

TAREAU, _Fr._ A screw-tap.

TARGE, _Fr._ See TARGET. It is generally pronounced _Targue_, from whence is derived the figurative expression _Se targuer_, to plume one’s-self, or to be self-sufficient. _Le poltron se targue du courage de son père_--The coward plumes himself upon the courage which his father possessed.

TARGET, a sort of shield, being originally made of leather, wrought out of the back of an ox’s hide.

TARGET, is also a mark for the artillery, &c. to fire at in their practice.

TARIERE, _Fr._ Auger, wimble, gimlet. The French make a distinction with respect to the gender of this word. When they express a large sized auger or wimble, they say, _Un gros Tarière_, making it masculine, and when they mean a small sized one, they say, _Une petite tarière_, making it feminine.

TARIERE, _Fr._ Likewise signifies a miner’s tool with which he bores into the earth. It is used to force a lighted match into the chamber of a countermine, and to make it explode.

TARPAULINGS, are made of strong canvas, thoroughly tarred and cut into different sizes, according to their several uses in the field; such as to cover the powder-waggons and tumbrels (carrying ammunition) from rain: each field-piece has likewise one to secure the ammunition-boxes.

_To be_ TARRED. A cant word used among soldiers to signify the punishment which privates undergo among themselves, when they have been tried and sentenced by their own comrades.

TARTARES, _Fr._ A word used in the French army to distinguish officers’ servants and batmen from the soldiers that serve in the ranks. _Tartare_ likewise means a groom.

TARTARS, (_Tartares_, _Fr._) Asiatics, whose principal arms are the bow and arrow, and sabre or pike. Some few have firelocks and pistols.

_Calmuc_ TARTARS. A free people inhabiting the borders of the Caspian Sea, and the banks of the river Wolga. They are under the immediate protection of Russia, and in consideration of the security they enjoy, they are obliged to serve when called upon. They consist of wandering hordes, live in tents, and are armed with bows and arrows. Some have rifle guns, with one or two pistols. But they are extremely cruel, and worse disciplined than the Cossacks.

TARTES, _Fr._ Bogs.

TAS, _Fr._ A heap. When the works of a fortification are lined with turf and fascines, &c. small beds of earth are previously prepared and laid one over another, till the necessary thickness is obtained; when completed it is called _Tas de gazon_ ou _de placage_. A heap of turf or a placage, which see. _Tas_ is likewise used in a sense of contempt to signify a croud--_Un tas de fainéans_. A heap or croud of parasites.

_Un_ TAS _de mensonges_. A heap of lies.

TASA, _Ind._ A kind of drum, formed from a semisphere of copper, hollowed out and covered with goat skin. It is hung before from the shoulders, and beat with two rattans.

TAS _de charge_, _Fr._ An arch made in a particular manner. It is generally found in Gothic buildings.

TASSEAU, _Fr._ A small anvil. It likewise signifies a bracket.

TASSES. Armor for the thighs, so called.

TASSETTE, _Fr._ A tass in armor.

TATTEE, _Ind._ A bamboo frame; which encloses an herb called jawassea or kuskus. Frames of this sort are made to put to the different openings of a room; they are shaped like a sash, and one being laid on a floor and covered with the kuskus grass, the other is laid upon it, and the two are tied together at the angles, which correspond with the panes; by throwing water against them, the hottest wind in passing through becomes cool, and the air is made fragrant by the kuskus.

TAUGOUR, _Fr._ A small lever which is used for various purposes.

TAUPINS, _Francs-Taupins_, _Fr._ A name which was formerly given to a body of free-archers, or Francs-archers, in France. This body consisting chiefly of countrymen and rustics, they were probably so called from _taupe_, a mole; of which there are great quantities in the fields. Taupin likewise signifies swarthy.

TAX. A tribute or duty rated on land, &c.

TE, _Fr._ A term used among miners to express a figure which greatly resembles the letter T, and which consists of a certain arrangement and disposition of the furnaces, chambers, or lodgments that are made under any particular part of a fortification, in order to blow it up. The Té has four lodgments; the double Té has eight; and the triple Té has twelve.

TECHNICAL, (_Technique_, _Fr._) All terms, or words which have been invented for the purpose of expressing particular arts, are called _technical_.

_Mots_ TECHNIQUES, _Fr._ Technical words.

TE DEUM. As far as it concerns _military matters_, is a religious hymn sung in thanksgiving for any victory obtained.

TEEP, _Ind._ A contract or note of hand.

TEFTERDAR _Effendi_. The commissary general is so called among the Turks.

TEINT, _Teinte_, _Fr._ In painting, an artificial or compound color, or the several colors which are used in a picture, considered as more or less, high or bright, or deep or thin, or weakened, &c.; to give the proper relievo, or softness, or distance, &c. of several objects.

TEINT, _which is used to draw a plan_, _Teinte dont on se sert pour lever un plan_, _Fr._ Teint, in a general acceptation of the word, means any shade that is given to an object which is raised from the canvas, paper, &c. and placed in perspective.

TELAMONES. A term used in ancient architecture, to express the figures of men supporting entablatures, and other projections, the same as _Cariatides_.

TELESCOPE, (_Télescope_, _Fr._) An optical instrument, composed of lenses, by means of which remote objects appear as if near at hand. The telescope was invented by Galilæo.

TELINGHI, _Ind._ The mountaineers on the Coromandel coast are denominated _Telinghis_; which is also the name of their nation, language or dialect.

_To_ TELL _off_. A term used in military formations, to designate the relative proportions of any given body of men. Thus a battalion may be told off into wings, grand divisions, divisions, companies, platoons, half platoons, sub-divisions, and sections. It is the peculiar duty of every adjutant, and serjeant major to be particularly expert at telling off. Squadrons of horse are told off by half squadrons, divisions, sub-divisions, ranks of threes, and files right and left. But all troops, whether infantry or cavalry, should be accustomed to _tell themselves_ off; that is to move off at the word of command, without delaying to be _told off_. The skilful officer will understand this, the unskilful cannot.

TEMOIN, _Fr._ A witness. It likewise signifies the second in a duel.

TEMOINS, _Fr._ In civil and military architecture, are pieces of earth left standing as marks or witnesses in the fosses of places which the workmen are emptying, that they may know exactly how many cubical fathoms of earth have been carried.

TEMPER. A state of steel or other metal, that best fits it for the use to which it is to be applied. Thus, the blade of a sword should be so tempered as to admit of considerable flexure without breaking, yet so elastic as to return to its shape, on the pressure being removed.

_To_ TEMPER. In a military sense, to form metals to a proper degree of hardness.

TEMPEST, (_Tempête_, _Fr._) According to Dr. Johnson, the utmost violence of the wind: the names by which the wind is called according to the gradual increase of its force seem to be, a breeze; a gust; a gale; a storm; a tempest.

TENABLE, (_Tenable_, _Fr._) Such as may be maintained against opposition; such as may be held against attacks.

TENAILLE, _Fr._ (This word literally means _shears_.) A military evolution which was performed in the times of the ancients.

A phalanx, attacked by a lozenge or triangular wedge, bent its right and left forward by a half-quarter wheel each wing on their common centre; and when they found themselves opposite the sides of the enemy’s arrangement, they each marched on their own side, perpendicular to their line; by which means they both inclosed and attacked the enemy together, at the same time, while the head was engaged and at blows with the centre of the phalanx that had kept its ground. Such is the description authors have left us of the design and effects of this manœuvre.

The tenaille had considerable advantage over the triangular wedge; but, according to Chevalier Folard, it was not equally efficacious against the column. The latter could alter the direction of its march, and fall upon one of the wings, whether in motion or not, or detach the section of the tail or rear to take its wings in flank, while it was occupied in making the quarter conversion. The column and _tenaille_ were formed for acting against each other, and could only be victorious over one another by the superior abilities of their commander. However, the column was always exposed to less danger than the _tenaille_, for the latter could not pursue the column without changing its order; whereas the column must destroy, and in a manner annihilate the _tenaille_, in case it should once break it.

The tenaille is unquestionably an excellent manœuvre, and strictly conformable to a very wise maxim, which directs us to multiply our strength and efforts as much as possible against one point. It is sometimes made use of in war without being sensible of its advantages; turning a flank with a longer line, is in fact the _tenaille_. This, however, does not hinder the manœuvre from being well performed; for the nature of ground not being level like a sheet of paper, the commander in ranging his troops, according to the advantages of the situation, does not form a perfect _tenaille_, such as may be drawn or sketched out, but one of an irregular kind, which produces the same effects; and this is what should be sought on all occasions. This order is also called a _potence_.

TENAILLES, in fortification, are low works made in the ditch before the curtains. There are three sorts: viz. the first are the faces of the bastions produced till they meet, but much lower; the second have faces, flanks, and a curtain; and the third have only faces and flanks.

_Single_ TENAILLE, (_Tenaille simple_, _Fr._) is a work whose front is advanced towards the country, having two faces, forming a re-entering angle: its two long sides terminate on the counterscarp, opposite to the angle of the shoulder.

_Double_ TENAILLE (_Tenaille double, ou flanquée_, _Fr._) is a work whose front, having 4 faces, forms 2 re-entering, and 3 salient angles: its long sides are likewise parallel, and terminate on the counterscarp, opposite to the angle of the shoulder. Both the single and double tenailles have this fault, viz. that they are not flanked or defended at the re-entering angle, because the height of the parapet hinders the soldiers from discovering before that angle. Therefore tenailles should only be made when there is not room enough to make horn-works. The ramparts, parapets, ditches, covert-way, and glacis of tenailles, are the same with other out-works.

TENAILLE _of a place_, is what is comprehended between the points of two neighboring bastions; as the faces, flanks, and curtains. Hence it is said, the enemy attacked the whole tenaille of a place, when they made two attacks on the faces of the two bastions.

TENAILLES, _Fr._ Pincers, nippers, sheers, tenails.

TENAILLER, _Fr._ To tear off the flesh with red hot pincers. This punishment existed in civilized Europe, until the French revolution.

TENAILLON, _Fr._ This is sometimes called among the French _grande lunette_. It is a work composed of two parts, each of which covers the faces of the half-moon; in whose front the tenaillon is constructed.

_Un_ TENAILLON, _Fr._ A little tenaille. See FORTIFICATION.

TENDELET, _Fr._ An awning; such as is used on board of ship, and over carriages, in hot countries.

TENDRE, _Fr._ To stretch; to spread. This word has various significations in the French language. In military matters, it is common to say,

TENDRE _un piège à quelqu’un_, _Fr._ To lay a snare for any body.

TENDRE _une marquise_, _une tente_, _Fr._ To pitch a marquee, a tent.

TENIR, _Fr._ To hold, to keep, &c.

TENIR _tête à quelqu’un_, _Fr._ To cope with any body.

_Se_ TENIR, _Fr._ To remain; to stay; to hold fast.

_Se_ TENIR _bien à cheval_, _Fr._ To sit well on horseback, to have a good seat.

TENON, (_Tenon_, _Fr._) Any thing that holds or keeps fast; that part of a frame work which is cut to fit a mortise.

TENON _d’arquebuse_, _Fr._ Loop of a gun.

TENT, (_Tente_, _Fr._) This word is originally derived from the Latin _tendo_, I stretch; whence _tendre_, to stretch. A soldier’s moveable lodging place, commonly made of canvas, and extended upon poles.

The sizes of the officers tents are not fixed; some regiments have them of one size, and some another. A captain’s tent and marquee should be 10¹⁄₂ feet broad, 14 deep, and 8 high: those of the subalterns are a foot less: the major’s and lieutenant-colonel’s, a foot larger; and the colonel’s 2 feet larger.

The subalterns lie two in a tent, those of engineers but one.

The tents of private men should be 6¹⁄₂ feet square, 6 feet high, and hold 5 soldiers each.

The tents for the horse seven feet broad, and 9 feet deep: they hold likewise 5 men and their horse accoutrements.

_Common Infantry_ TENT. Length of ridge pole is 7 feet; length of standards 6 feet. They hold only 5 men each. Weight complete 27 lbs. Great alterations have taken place in tents since the French revolution.

_Bell_ TENT. This was the name of a small tent that was formerly in use, also called a tent of arms, being used only for holding arms in the front of the line; the use of it is now exploded; and the form being given to those now used for infantry or cavalry; weight, complete with poles, 43 lbs. length of pole 9 feet, contain 12 men each, require 40 pegs.

_Marquee._ Weight complete, 1 cwt. 17 lbs. ridge pole 9 feet; standard 8 feet.

_Round_ TENT. A circular tent which contains 12 men; the weight complete, with poles, 43 lbs. Length of pole 10 feet.

_Hospital_ TENT. A large commodious tent, which is appropriated for the sick. It sometimes happens, that when a contagious disorder breaks out in a camp, or in barracks, the persons infected are removed from the hospital and lodged in a tent, which is pitched for that purpose in the neighborhood. It is usual for the commanding officer of the regiment to order one or more sentries to be furnished to the regimental hospital, and the same to the hospital tent, which sentries are directed to permit no person to enter but those concerned in the hospital, the staffs and officers of the regiment. They are to be particularly careful in preventing liquor, or any thing improper, from being carried into the hospital; nor are they to permit any patient to go out (to the necessary excepted) without a ticket of leave from the attending surgeon.

_Laboratory_ TENT, in artillery, a large tent which is sometimes carried to the field for the convenience of fire-workers and bombardiers. The weight complete, with poles, pins, &c. 3 cwt. 24 lbs. length of ridge pole 18 feet, length of poles 14¹⁄₂ feet.

TENT _bedstead_. A small portable bedstead, so contrived as to correspond with the shape of an officer’s tent.

TENT-_Pins_, pieces of wood, which are indented at the top, and made sharp at the bottom, to keep the cords of a tent or marquee firm to the earth. There are four large ones which serve for the weather cords.

TENT-_Poles_. The poles upon which a tent or marquee is supported.

TENT _walls_. See WALL.

TENT likewise means lint to put in a wound.

TENTED. Having tents pitched on it. Hence “the tented field.”

TERRAIN, _Fr._ This word is sometimes written _terrein_, and signifies, generally, any space or extent of ground.

_Gagner du_ TERRAIN _peu-à-peu_, _Fr._ To gain ground little by little.

_Perdre du_ TERRAIN, _Fr._ To lose ground.