Part 156

_Menager son_ TERRAIN, _Fr._ To make the most of your ground. It is likewise used in a figurative sense, viz. _Un homme est fort quand il est sur son terrain_, _Fr._ A man always speaks with great confidence when he is thoroughly master of the subject.

TERRAIN _du camp_, _Fr._ The ground within the lines of encampment.

_Lever le_ TERRAIN, _Fr._ To reconnoitre, to take a survey of ground.

_Chicaner le_ TERRAIN, _Fr._ To dispute the ground; to fight it inch by inch.

_Tenir un grand_ TERRAIN, _Fr._ To take up much ground.

TERRASS. See MORTAR.

TERRASSE, _Fr._ Terrace, platform.

_Contre_-TERRASSE, _Fr._ A terrace that is raised above another.

TERRASSER, _Fr._ To throw down, to rout completely.

TERRASSIER, _Fr._ This word is used among the French not only to signify the person who undertakes to see heaps of earth removed, &c. for any specific purpose, but likewise the man who actually carries it.

TERRE, _la_ TERRE, _Fr._ Earth, the earth.

TERRE-PLEIN, _Fr._ See FORTIFICATION.

TERRER, _se Terrer_, _Fr._ To hide under ground. The French say, _des gens de guerre se sont bien terres_; meaning thereby, that they had thrown up entrenchments with earth, so as to be covered from the enemy’s fire. _Terrer une artifice_, to cover the head of any fire-work with earth.

TERRES-_Amendees_, _Fr._ Earths that have been used in the cleansing of saltpetre. Saltpetre-men call these earths _Terres reanimees_.

TERREUR, _Fr._ Fear, apprehension.

TERREUR _panique_, _Fr._ See PANIC.

TERTIATE, in gunnery, is to examine the thickness of the metal of a piece of artillery, in order to judge of its strength. This is usually done with a pair of calliper compasses.

TERTIATING _a piece of ordnance_, is to find whether it has its due thickness, at the vent, trunnions, and neck; if the trunnions and neck are in their due order, and the chase straight, &c.

TERTRE, _Fr._ A small rising ground that stands unconnected with any other.

TESSONS, _Fr._ Potsherds.

TESTAMENT _Militaire_, _Fr._ Among the French, a will which is made in the presence of two witnesses only, and is not committed to paper.

TESTIMONY. Verbal declaration given upon oath or honor before any court martial. The testimony of a witness should neither be influenced nor interrupted, and the precise words used by him should be written down in the proceedings without any alteration.

TESTUDO, in the military art of the ancients, was a kind of cover or screen, which the soldiers of each company made themselves of their bucklers, by holding them up over their heads, and standing close to each other. This expedient served to shelter them from darts, stones, &c. thrown upon them, especially those from above, when they went to the assault.

TESTUDO, was also a kind of large wooden tower, which moved on several wheels, and was covered with bullocks’ hides: it served to shelter the soldiers when they approached the walls to mine them, or to batter them with rams.

TETE, _Fr._ Head.

TETE _du Camp_, _Fr._ The head of the camp, or the front ground which looks towards the country; and where troops bivouac.

TETE _de la Sappe_, _Fr._ Head of the sap.

TETE _de Chevalement_, _Fr._ A cross beam which lies upon two upright stays, and supports any part of a wall, &c. whilst it is in repair.

_Faire (ou tenir)_ TETE _à quelqu’un_, _Fr._ To oppose a person; to keep him at bay.

_Avoir quelqu’un en tête_, _Fr._ To have any person opposed to one, viz. _Turenne avoit en Tête Montecuculli_; Turenne was opposed by Montecuculli.

TETES, _Fr._ In the plural number, are the same as men or lives, viz. _La prise d’une place a coute bien des Tetes_. The reduction or taking of a place has cost many lives or men.

_Avoir la Tete de tout_, _Fr._ To be the most advanced.

TETE _de Pont_, _Fr._ That part of a bridge which is on the enemy’s side. When the bridge is fortified on both sides, the French say, _Les deux tetes de pont_.

TETE _de Porc_, _Fr._ This word means literally a hog’s head. It is used to denote a military arrangement of the triangular kind. Those mentioned under the term wedge, were composed of ranks, greater one than another, in a regular progression from the incisive angle to the base. The tete de porc was formed of small bodies ranged in lines in the same sense, and in the same progression as the ranks in the preceding wedges; that is to say, a small body (probably square) was placed at the head, another of the same size was posted behind it, having two others, one on its right, the other on its left, both extending the full length of their front beyond the wings of the first. Behind those three, five others were ranged in the same order, and so on successively until all were placed.

This arrangement is equal to the former (viz. that of the wedge) with regard to defects; as to advantages it has but one only, which will never be of weight enough to gain it any degree of reputation; it is this, that being composed of small bodies, each having its leader or commander, all the different parts are more or less capable of defence should they be attacked at the time they are forming or dividing; and if the enemy attempted to form the _Tenaille_, they might detach some of those small bodies to interrupt their motions, or to attack them in flank.

This disposition corresponds with the movement by echellons from the centre, or both wings thrown back; it is in the modern mode a most imposing and important disposition, where the force that uses it is inferior in number, and well disciplined to rapid evolution.

TETHER. A string by which horses are held from pasturing too wide. We say, figuratively, to go the length of one’s tether; to speak or act with as much freedom as circumstances will admit.

TETRAEDRON, (_Tetraëdre_, _Fr._) In geometry, one of the five regular bodies. It is a pyramid which is terminated by four equilateral triangles, that are equal to each other; in the same manner that the tetragon is a recontilineal figure of four equal sides, which has four right angles.

TETRAGONAL. Square, having equal sides and angles.

TETRARCH. A Roman governor of the fourth part of a province.

TEUTONIC, (_Teutonique_, _Fr._) See ORDERS.

TEVEEL, _Ind._ The treasury.

TEVEELDAR, _Ind._ The treasurer.

THANE. An ancient military title of honor, now obsolete.

_To_ THANK. In military matters, to make honorable mention of a person or persons for having behaved gallantly in an action, or otherwise rendered a public service.

_To be_ THANKED. To receive a public testimony of good conduct. Officers, &c. are generally thanked in public orders.

THANKS. Public acknowlegements for gallant actions.

_Vote of_ THANKS. It has been customary in all civilized countries for the legislature to pay a public tribute of applause to those warriors who have fought their country’s battles with success, and have otherwise distinguished themselves by particular feats of gallantry and good conduct. The French, during the progress of their revolution, have had frequent recourse to this mode of adding new zeal and fresh courage to their armies, and of expressing national gratitude.

THEATRE _of war_. Any extent of country in which war is carried on may be so called. The French say _Théatre de la guerre_. It signifies the same with us as seat of war. According to Turpin, page 21, in his essay on the Art of War, there are but three sorts of countries which may become the theatre of war; an open country divided by rivers, a woody, or a mountainous one. The dispositions for a march must of course be varied as the situation of places differ.

THEODOLITE. A mathematical instrument useful to engineers and artillerists, in taking heights and distances.

THEOREM, (_Théoreme_, _Fr._) In mathematics, a proposition which is purely speculative and tends to the discovery of some hidden truth.

_An universal_ THEOREM, in mathematics, is one that extends universally to any quantity without restriction; as that the rectangle of the sum, and difference of any two quantities, is equal to the difference of their squares.

_A particular_ THEOREM is when it extends only to a particular quantity.

_A negative_ THEOREM is one that demonstrates the impossibilities of an assertion, as that the sum of two biquadrate numbers cannot make a square.

_A local_ THEOREM. That which relates to surface; as the triangles of the same base and altitude are equal.

THEORETICAL, (_Théorique_, _Fr._) What appertains to theory.

THEORY, (_Théorie_, _Fr._) The speculative part of any particular science, in which truths are demonstrated without being practically followed. Or more distinctly; a theory is an opinion formed in the mind, that certain effects must arise from certain combinations of matters or circumstances; the matters or circumstances being known, the result or consequence not yet demonstrated by experiment.

_School of_ THEORY. In order to secure to the army intelligent and well informed officers, it has been wisely suggested, that there should be a school of military theory in each regiment. The persons selected for this purpose are to pass an examination before competent persons, whenever the vicinity of regimental quarters will allow them to attend.

_Order of_ MARIA THERESA. A military order of knighthood, which was founded and established by the house of Austria on the 18th of June, 1757, and was distinguished by the name of the reigning queen and empress, being called the Imperial Military Order of Maria Theresa.

THERMES, _Fr._ Small barges or boats in which persons formerly bathed.

THERMOMETER, (_Thermometre_, _Fr._) An instrument for measuring the heat of the air, or of any matter.

THERMOSCOPE, (_Thermoscope_, _Fr._) An instrument by which the degrees of heat are discovered; a thermometer.

THIEF. Any person that robs another. The character of a thief is of so foul a cast in a military life, that the least imputation of dishonesty incapacitates either officer or soldier from remaining in the service.

_Soldier’s_ THIGH. A well-known part of the human frame which takes its peculiar military application from the notorious poverty of army men in general. Hence, Soldier’s Thigh figuratively means an empty purse, or, speaking familiarly, a pair of breeches that fit close and look smooth, because the pockets have nothing in them.

THILL. The shafts of a waggon; hence, the horse which goes between the shafts is called the thill horse, or thiller.

_To_ THIN. To make less numerous. As to thin the ranks by a heavy discharge of ordnance and firearms.

THIRTEEN. A shilling is so called in Ireland; thirteen pence of that country’s currency being only equal to twelve pence English.

THREE DEEP. Soldiers drawn up in three ranks, consisting of front, centre, and rear, are said to be _three deep_. It is the fundamental order of the infantry, in which they should always form and act in close order, and for which all their operations and movements are calculated.

THREES. A term used in the telling off in squadron, because the front of three horses in rank, is equal to the length of one horse from head to tail.

_Ranks by threes._ Each half squadron is told off by threes. See CAVALRY, _Mil. Library_.

_To_ THROW. To force any thing from one place to another; thus artillerists say, to _throw_ a shot or shell, or so many shot or shells were thrown.

THRUST. Hostile attack with any pointed weapon, as in fencing. When one party makes a push with his sword to wound his adversary with the point it is called a thrust.

THUMBSTALL. A piece of leather which every careful soldier carries with him to secure the lock of his musquet from moisture.

THUNDERING-_legion_, was a legion in the Roman army consisting of Christian soldiers, who, in the expedition of the emperor Marcus Aurelius against the Sarmatæ, Quadi, and Marcomanni, saved the whole army, then ready to perish from thirst, by procuring, by their prayers, a very plentiful shower thereon, and at the same time a furious storm of hail, mixed with lightning and thunderbolts, on the enemy.

This is the account commonly given by ecclesiastical historians, and the whole history is engraven in bass-relievos on the Antonine column.

TIDEGATE. See SLUICE-GATE.

TIERCE. A thrust in fencing, delivered at the outside of the body over the arm.

TILE, TYLE, _in military building_, a sort of thin, factitious, laminated brick, used on the roofs of houses; or more property a kind of clayey earth, kneaded and moulded of a just thickness, dried and burnt in a kiln, like a brick, and used in the covering and paving of different kinds of military and other buildings. The best brick earth should only be made into _tiles_.

The _tiles_ for all sorts of uses may now be comprised under 7 heads, viz. 1. The _plain-tile_, for covering of houses, which is flat and thin. 2. The _plain-tile_, for paving, which is also flat, but thicker; and its size 9, 10, or 12 inches. 3. The _pan-tile_, which is also used for covering of buildings, and is hollow, and crooked, or bent, somewhat in the manner of an S. 4. The _Dutch glazed pan-tile_. 5. The _English glazed pan-tile_. 6. The _gutter-tile_, which is made with a kind of wings. 7. The _hip_, _ridge_, or _corner-tile_.

_Plain_-TILES, are best when they are firmest, soundest, and strongest. Some are duskier, and others ruddier, in color. The dusky-colored are generally the strongest. These _tiles_ are not laid in mortar, but pointed only in the inside.

_Paving_-TILES, are made of a more sandy earth than the common or _plain-tiles_: the materials for these last must be absolutely clay, but for the others a kind of loam is used. These are made thicker and larger than the common _roof-tiles_; and, when care has been taken in the choice of the earth, and the management of the fire, they are very regular and beautiful.

_Pan_-TILES, when of the best kind, are made of an earth not much unlike that of the _paving-tiles_, and often of the same; but the best sort of all is a pale-colored loam that is less sandy; they have about the same degree of fire given them in the baking, and they come out nearly of the same color. These _tiles_ are laid in mortar, because the roof being very flat, and many of them warped in the burning, will not cover the building so well as that no water can pass between them.

_Dutch glazed Pan_-TILES, get the addition of glazing in the fire. Many kinds of earthly matter running into a glassy substance in great heat, is a great advantage to them, preserving them much longer than the common _pan-tiles_, so that they are very well worth the additional charge that attends the using them.

_English glazed Pan_-TILES, are in general not so good as the Dutch ones under that denomination; but the process is nearly the same.

_Dutch_ TILES, for chimnies, are of a kind very different from all the rest. They are made of a whitish earth, glazed and painted with various figures, such as birds, flowers, or landscapes, in blue or purple color; and sometimes quite white: they are about 6.5 inches each way, and three quarters or an inch thick. They are seldom used at present.

_Gutter_-TILES, are made of the same earth as the common _pan-tiles_, and only differ from them in shape; but it is adviseable that particular care be taken in tempering and working the earth for these, for none are more liable to accidents. The edges of these _tiles_ are turned up at the larger ends for about 4 inches. They are seldom used where lead is to be had.

_Hip_ or _Corner_-TILES, are at first made flat like _pan-tiles_ of a quadrangular figure, whose two sides are right lines, and the ends arches of circles; the upper end concave, and the lower convex; the latter being about 7 times as broad as the other: they are about 10.5 inches long; but before they are burnt are bent upon a mould in the form of a _ridge-tile_, having a hole at the narrow end, to nail them on the hip corner of the roof.

_Ridge_-TILES are used to cover the ridges of houses, and are made in the form of a semi-cylindrical surface, about 13 inches in length, and of the same thickness as _plain-tiles_; their breadth at the outside measures about 16 inches.

TILLAC, _Fr._ The same as _pont_, which signifies the deck of a ship.

_Franc_-TILLAC, _Fr._ The lower deck.

TILT, a thrust, or fight with rapiers; also an old military game. See TOURNAMENT.

TILTER, one who fights or contests in a tournament.

TIMBALE, _Fr._ A brass kettle-drum, such as is used by European cavalry. French soldiers say figuratively, _Faire bouillir la timbale_; to make the pot boil.

TIMARIOT, a Turkish soldier who has a certain allowance made him, for which he is not only obliged to arm, clothe, and accoutre himself, but he must likewise provide a certain number of militia-men. The allowance is called Timar.

The Timariots are under the immediate command of the Sangiack or Bey, according to their particular distribution. When the Timariots belonging to Natolia, do not join the standard, they forfeit a whole year’s allowance, which is deposited in a chest or stock-purse called _mankafat_. But the Timariots in Europe or Turkey, are not liable to this fine. When they refuse to serve, they are suspended for two years. The income of a Timariot amounts to five thousand aspres, and the Timariots of Hungary have six thousand. When an Hungarian Timariot dies, the Bashaw of Buda has the power of dividing his property into two parts, which is placed to the account of the Ottoman government, and enables it to pay two soldiers.

There are different classes among the Timariots. Some are called _Ikmalers_, some _Isels_, and others _Bernobets_.

The _Ikmalers_ are in possession of that species of Timar which cannot be divided for the benefit of government after the decease of the individual.

The _Isels_ are subject to a division of property among two or three persons, at the will of the Porte.

The _Bernobets_ are in possession of that kind of Timar which may become the property of three or four individuals who serve together, or relieve each other alternately, on condition that the one who takes the field enjoys the whole benefit of the Timar during his stay with the army. There are many of this kind in Natolia. Every thing which appertains to the Turkish cavalry, known by the name of Topachly, and which is regularly clothed, armed, accoutred, and paid by certain officers, belonging to the Ottoman empire, out of revenues called maly-mukata, may be ascertained and known under the several appellations of _Timariots_, _Zaims_, _Begliers_, and _Beglierbeys_.

TIMARS, certain revenues, in Turkey, growing out of lands which originally belonged to Christian clergy and nobility, and which the sultans seized, when they conquered the countries they inhabited.

By means of these _Timars_ and _Ziamets_ the Grand Signor is enabled to support the greatest part of his cavalry.

The Timars differ in value. The richest, however, do not exceed twenty thousand aspres annually, which may be considered as equal to about three hundred and fifty dollars; and the _Ziamets_ receive full as much. Those who are entitled to _Timars_, are called _Timariots_, and those who have _Ziamets_ are named _Zaims_.

TIMBER, in military architecture, includes all kinds of felled and seasoned wood used in the several parts of building, &c.

_Oak_, of all the different kinds of timber known for building, is preferred by the European nations; because, when well seasoned and dry, it is very tough and hard: it does not split so easy as other timber, and bears a much greater weight than any other. When it is used under cover, it never perishes, no more than in water; on the contrary, the older it grows the harder it becomes; and when it is exposed to the weather, it exceeds all other timbers for durability. English oak is said to be the best, American the next, then Norway, and lastly Germany. But there are various kinds of American oaks.

_Elm_, if felled between November and February, is all spine, or heart, and no sap, and is of singular use in places where it is always wet or dry. It is very tough and pliable; it is easily worked, and does not readily split: it bears driving of bolts and nails into it better than any other wood; for which reason it is prepared for artillery uses.

_Beech_ is likewise a very useful wood; it is very tough and white when young, and of great strength, but liable to warp very much when exposed to the weather, and to be worm eaten when used within doors. It is frequently used for axle-trees, fellies, and all kinds of wheelwright work: but where it is kept constantly wet, and free from air, it will outlast oak.

_Ash._ Its use is almost universal. It serves in buildings, or for any other uses where it is skreened from the weather: hand-spikes and oars are chiefly made of it; and indeed it is the wood that is most fit for this, or any other purpose, which requires toughness and pliability.

_Fir_, commonly known by the name of pine is much used in building, especially within doors. It wants but little seasoning, and is much stronger while the resinous particles are not exhausted, than when it is very dry: it will last long under water.

_Chesnut-tree_, especially wild chesnut, is by many esteemed to be as good as oak.

But the best of all timber for shipbuilding is the _Teak_ of Asia; it endures water four times as long as oak, is much more easily wrought; iron spikes drove into it do not rust.

There are many other kinds of wood, used in military works, not mentioned here.

_Preserving of_ TIMBER. When boards, &c. are dried, seasoned, and fixed in their places, care is to be taken to defend and preserve them: to which the smearing them with linseed oil, tar, or the like oleaginous matter, contributes much.

The Dutch preserve their gates, portcullices, draw-bridges, sluices, &c. by coating them over with a mixture of pitch and tar, whereon they strew small pieces of cockle and other shells, beaten almost to powder, and mixed with sea sand, which incrusts and arms it wonderfully against wind and weather.

_Seasoning of_ TIMBER. As soon as felled, it should be laid in some dry airy place, but out of reach of too much wind or sun, which, in excess, will subject it to crack and fly. It is not to be set upright, but laid along, one tree upon another, only with some short blocks between, to give it the better airing, and prevent it becoming mouldy, which will rot the surface and produce mushrooms on it. Some persons daub the trees all over with cow-dung, which occasions their drying equally, and prevents their cracking, as they are otherwise very apt to do.

Some recommend the burying timber in the earth, as the best method of seasoning it; and others have found it a fine preservative to bury their timber under the wheat in their granaries; but this cannot be made a general practice. In Norway they season their deal planks, by laying them in salt water for three or four days, when new sawed, and drying them in the sun: this is found a great advantage to them; but neither this, nor any thing else, can prevent their shrinking.

Timber should always be seasoned, when it is intended for piles and other pieces that are to stand under the earth or water. The Venetians first found out this method; and the way they do it is this: they put the piece to be seasoned in a strong and violent flame, turning it continually round by means of an engine, taking it out when it is every where covered with a black coaly crust: by this means the internal part of the wood is so hardened, that neither earth nor water can damage it for a long time after.

TIME. The measure of duration, by which soldiers regulate the cadence of a march: as _slow_, _ordinary_, or _quick_, and _quickest_ time or step, _which see_.

TIME, in manœuvring. That necessary interval betwixt each motion in the manual exercise, as well as in every movement the army or any body of men make.