Part 24

_To_ CLUB _a Battalion_ implies generally a temporary inability in the commanding officer to restore any given body of men to their natural front in line or column. This occurs after some manœuvre has been performed, and is occasioned by false directions being given to the different component parts. Ignorant and inexperienced officers may frequently commit this error; sometimes however, the circumstance may arise from an erroneous movement of a division or company, notwithstanding that the word of command was correct. An able officer in that case will instantly know how to unravel the several parts. The less informed and the less capable may find a relief in sounding the _disperse_, which see. It does not, however, always follow, that because an officer may occasionally commit this error with respect to the minute movements of a battalion, he must therefore be unequal to the superior functions of command; or that when a man, who has risen from the ranks, is perfectly master of the mechanical arrangement of inferior movements, he should be able to act upon the enlarged scale of locality and position. The military science which is required in each of these cases essentially differs in its appropriate exercise, but both are necessary. In the confusion of a manœuvre, the best mode would be to halt those parts which are not disordered, and bring the rest either forward in line--under separate officers in detachments different ways, or to rear, right, and left: and halt each as they recover some order; and then marching the parts to the positions analogous to those from which they had been deranged; it would be a useful exercise to create this disorder, in order to be ready at correcting it.

CLEY-MORE, (_Celtic_, the _large sword_) a great sword, formerly in use among the highlanders, two inches broad, doubly edged: the length of the blade, 3 feet 7 inches; the handle, 14 inches; of a plain transverse guard, 1 foot; the weight, 6 pounds and a half. These swords were the original weapons of England, as appears by the figure of a soldier found among the ruins of London, after the great fire in 1666.

COALITION, see CONFEDERACY.

COAT of _Mail_, armor made of scales or iron rings.

COCK, that part of the lock of a musket, which sustains the two small pieces of iron called jaws, between which the flint is fixed.

_To_ COCK, to fix the cock of a musquet or pistol, so as to have it ready for an instant discharge.

COCKADE, a ribbon worn in the hat. This military mark succeeded the scarf that was formerly worn by the officers and soldiers belonging to European nations, which are principally distinguished in the following manner. In the army and navy of Great Britain, black silk riband for the officers, and hair cockades for the non-commissioned officers, private soldiers and mariners; light blue, pink and white ribands mixed, called tricolor or three-colored, distinguish the French; red marks the Spaniard, black the Prussian and Austrian, green the Russian, &c. Under the old government of France, officers were not permitted to wear a cockade, unless they were regimentally dressed; and, singular as it may appear, the officers and men belonging to a certain number of old regiments in the Prussian service do not wear any mark in their hats. In the United States the cockade is worn, in and out of regimentals, by every species of military character.

COFFER, in _fortification_, a hollow lodgment sunk in the bottom of a dry ditch, from 6 to 7 feet deep, and from 16 to 18 feet broad, and the length of it, the whole breadth of the said ditch, from side to side. The besieged generally make use of these coffers to repulse the besiegers, when they attempt to pass the ditch: they are distinguished only by their length from _Caponiers_; the difference between coffers and the traverse and gallery, consists in this, that the latter are made by the besiegers, and the former by the besieged. They are covered with joists, hurdles, and earth, raised 2 feet above the bottom of the ditch; which rising serves instead of a parapet, with loop-holes in it.

COFFRE. See COFFER.

COGNIZANCE. Judicial notice, trial, judicial authority. In a military sense, implies the investigation to which any person or action is liable. During the suspension of civil authority, every offence comes under military cognizance, is subject to military law, and may be proceeded upon according to the summary spirit of its regulation. Hence, a drum-head court-martial is the strongest instance of military cognizance.

COHORT, in _Roman antiquity_, a name given to part of the Roman legion, comprehending about 600 men.

COINS, in gunnery, are a kind of wedges to lay under the breech of a gun, to raise or depress the metal.

COLLET, _Fr._ that part of a cannon which is between the astragal and the muzzle.

COLONEL, the commander in chief of a regiment, whether of horse, foot, dragoons, or artillery: but in France, Spain, and some other southern nations, the colonels of horse are called _Mâitres de Camp_; in Germany, and most northern nations, they are called _Ritmeesters_. Colonels of foot in the English army take place, and command one another, according to the seniority of their regiments, and not of their commissions; but those of horse, on the contrary, according to the dates of their commissions.

COLONEL _of horse_, who is the first officer of the regiment; hence his attention ought to be given to keeping the regiment complete, to have it composed of both men and horses fit for service, and to take particular care to have them well exercised and taught the different evolutions; to be able on all occasions to form themselves according to the ground, or manner in which they may attack, or be attacked.

COLONEL _of foot_, or _infantry_. His functions are more extensive than those of the cavalry, as the infantry are employed to more and different purposes. A colonel of infantry should understand something of fortification, and be well acquainted with field engineering. He cannot be too careful to maintain union and harmony among his officers; and, to succeed in this, he must acquire their esteem and confidence, and make himself to be respected. The true way to succeed in this, is to keep up subordination with unalterable firmness; to do justice to every one, to employ all his credit to procure favors to the corps in general, and to the officers in particular, without ever losing sight of the health, comfort, and contentment of his men.

COLONEL _of dragoons_ is nearly connected with that of horse, to which word we refer the reader.

COLONEL _of artillery_. The commander of a battalion of artillery is one of the most laborious employments both in war and peace, requiring the greatest ability, application, and experience. He is supposed to be a very able mathematician and engineer, to be thoroughly acquainted with the power of artillery, to understand the attack, and defence of fortifications in all the different branches; to be able on all occasions to form the artillery according to the ground or manner in which they may attack or be attacked; in short, he should be master of every thing belonging to that important corps.

COLONEL _of engineers_, should be a very able mathematician and mechanician, he should be master of fortification, and be correctly versed in the art of planning, constructing, attacking, and defending. See ENGINEER.

_Lieutenant_ COLONEL, is the second person in command of a regiment. Under his direction all the affairs of the regiment are conducted. His military qualifications should be adequate to the size and the importance of the corps in which he has the honor to serve.

COLONEL _general of the French infantry_. An appointment of great trust and authority, which was suppressed during the old government of France. A colonel-general was formerly entitled to the nomination of every commission and place of trust in the infantry. He could order courts-martial, and enforce the sentences awarded by them without ulterior reference; and he had a company in every regiment which was called the colonel-general’s company.

This appointment was created during the reign of Francis I. in 1544, and became an immediate gift of the king, under Henry III. in 1584.

There was likewise a colonel-general of the cavalry; which appointment was entrusted to two officers under the reign of Louis XIII. One commanded the French and the other the German cavalry.

The appointment of colonel-general of dragoons was created by Louis XIV. in 1688.

COLONELLE, _Fr._ was formerly the first company in a French regiment. _Madame la Colonelle_ is still the colonel’s wife.

COLORS in the military art, are large silk flags fixed on half pikes, and carried by the ensigns; when a battalion is encamped, they are placed in its front; but in garrison they are lodged with the commanding officer.

The size of the colors to be 6 feet 6 inches flying, and 6 feet deep on the pike. The length of the pike (spear and ferril included) to be 9 feet 10 inches. The cords and tassels of the whole to be of the standard color, mixed with gold or silver; silver for the infantry and cavalry; gold for the artillery, rifle corps, and engineers.

_Camp_-COLORS, are a small sort of colors placed on the right and left of the parade of a regiment when in the field; one or two to each company; they are 18 inches square, and of the color of the facing of the regiment, with the number of the regiment upon them. The poles to be 7 feet 6 inches long, except those of the quarter and rear-guards, which are to be 9 feet. See BANNEROLLS.

COLOR-_guard_. See GUARD.

COLORS, _used in the drawings of fortification_. It is necessary to use _colors_ in the drawings of plans and profiles of a fortification, in order to distinguish every particular part, and separate, as it were, the one from the other, so as to make their difference more sensible. The different sorts of _colors_, generally used in these kinds of drawings, are, _Indian-ink_, _carmine_, _verdigrease_, _sap-green_, _gum-bouge_, _Prussian blue_, _indigo_, and _umber_.

_Indian-ink_ is the first and most necessary thing required in drawing; for it serves, in drawing the lines, to express hills or rising grounds, and, in short, for all what is called shading in drawings. The best sort of _Indian ink_ is of a bluish black, soft and easily reduced into a liquid, free from sand or gravel. It is made in oblong squares. The manner of liquefying it, is by putting a little clear water into a shell or tea-cup, and rubbing it gently ’till the water is black, and of a consistence much like common ink: when it is used for drawing lines, it must be made very black, though not too thick, otherwise it will not easily flow out of the camel hair pencil; but when it is for shading, it must be pale, so as to go over the same shade several times, which adds a beauty to the shading.

_Carmine_, is an impalpable powder, and the fairest red we know of: it serves for coloring the sections of masonry, the plans of houses, and all kinds of military buildings; as likewise their elevation; but then it is made of a paler color. It is also used for drawing red lines in plans, to represent walls. It is of a high price, but a little will go a great way. It must be mixed with a little gum-water.

_Verdigrease_, or _sea-green_, used in drawings, is either liquid in small phials, or mixed in little pots or shells, &c. it serves to color wet ditches, rivers, seas, and in general to represent all watery places; it is most soluble in vinegar; and mixed with vinegar makes a fine green ink.

_Sap-green_, is a stone of a faint yellowish green, when liquefied with clear water: but when mixed with a little sea green, it makes a beautiful grass-green; but, as all mixed _colors_ are liable to fade, if _verdigrease_ can be had, it will be much better. _Sap-green_ is very cheap.

_Gum-bouge_, is a fine yellow gum. It may be dissolved in water, but requires no other gum: it serves to color all projects of works; as likewise to distinguish the works unfinished from those that are complete. It serves also to color the trenches of an attack.

_Indigo_, is in small cakes, and very cheap; it serves to color iron, and roofs of buildings which are covered with slates: it must be well ground upon a smooth stone or glass, and mixed with a little gum-water.

_Prussian blue_, is a kind of friable substance of an exceeding fine blue: it is used to represent the color of blue cloth in drawing encampments, battles, &c. It must be well ground, and mixed with a little gum-water.

_Smalt_, also a good sort of blue, and may be used for the same purposes.

_Ultramarine_, is an impalpable powder, and of a very delicate sky-blue. It is a _color_ of high price.

_Umber_, is a yellowish brown _color_ in powder: when it is mixed with gum-water, it serves to color dry ditches, sand, and all kinds of earth. By mixing a little red ink with it, it will make a wood _color_.

If some tobacco-leaves be steeped in clear water for several hours, and filtered through a woollen cloth, or brown paper, with a little red ink mixed with it, it will make the best earth or wood _color_, as lying smoother than any other.

_Gum-water_, is best when it is made some time before it is used; for which purpose take some _gum arabic_ and steep it in clear water for some hours, ’till it is dissolved; then strain it through a woollen cloth or brown paper, and preserve it in phials, well stopped, ’till wanted.

COLUMN, in the art of war, a long, deep file of troops or baggage. The advantages and disadvantages of columns are so numerous, that we shall only mention, that columns ought to be able to form near the enemy; and in such a position, as not to suffer much from the artillery; that their motions be quick, so as not to suffer much during the operation; and that the divisions, in short, which compose each column, be so arranged as to afford each other a mutual defence and assistance, in case they should be attacked. Such are the principles that should guide, in forming of columns judiciously, and of freeing them from that multiplicity of inconveniencies which make them liable to the most melancholy accidents. The chevalier Folard has written a treatise on the disposition of the column as the best order of battle; after his death the theory sunk into disregard; but the French revolution has revived and realized all the advantages, held forth by Folard.

_Close_-COLUMN, a compact, solid column, with very little space between the divisions of which it is composed.

_Open_-COLUMN, a column with intervals between the divisions equal to their respective fronts.

COMBAT, a battle or duel. Anciently it was not uncommon for contending powers to adjust their disputes by single combat, when each party chose for itself a champion who contested the point in presence of both armies.

COME-_in_, soldiers are said to come in, as volunteers, recruits, &c. when invited to join any particular standard.

COME-_over_, when men desert from an enemy, and join the army that opposes them, they are said to come over. This term is opposed to _go over_.

_To_ COME-_in to_, to join with, to bring help. “They marched to Wells, where the Lord Audley, with whom their leaders had before secret intelligence, _came in to_ them.” _English History._

_To_ COME-_up_, to overtake. To come up with an enemy, is a military phrase much in use.

COMINGE, _Fr._ a shell of extreme magnitude, which takes its name from the person who originally invented it.

COMMAND, generally called _the word of command_, is a term used by officers in exercise, or upon service.

COMMAND, in military matters. All _commands_ fall to the eldest in the same circumstances, whether of horse, dragoons, artillery, foot, or marines.

COMMANDE, a rope made use of in boats and pontoons.

COMMANDS, _in fortification_, are:

_A command in front_, when any eminence is directly facing the work which it commands.

_A command in rear_, when any eminence is directly behind the work which it commands.

_A command by enfilade_, when an eminence is situated in the prolongation of any line of a work, and a considerable part of it may be seen from thence.

COMMANDANT, is that person who has the command of a garrison, fort, castle, regiment, company, &c. called also commander.

COMMANDEMENT _Fr._ in a military sense, means any spot which is higher than another. A commandement is called _simple_, when the difference between two heights is only 9 feet. It is called _double_, when the difference is 18 feet; triple when 27, and so progressively, taking 9 feet invariably, for the height of each commandement. A commandement may be considered in three lights. In _front_, in _enfilade_, and in _reverse_. The commandement in _front_, is when you see all the persons who are employed in protecting a work; in _enfilade_, when you only see them from a flank; and in _reverse_, when you see them obliquely from behind.

COMMANDING-_ground_, implies in a military sense, a rising ground which overlooks any post, or strong place. There are, strictly speaking, three sorts of commanding grounds; namely,

_Front_ COMMANDING-_ground_, Every height is called so, that lies opposite to the face of the post which plays upon its front.

_Reverse_ COMMANDING-_ground_, an eminence which plays upon the rear of a post.

_Enfilade_ COMMANDING-_ground_, or _Curtain_ COMMANDING-_ground_, a high place, which, with its shot, scours all the length of a line, &c.

COMMANDERY, a certain benefice belonging to a military order. A body of the knights of Malta, were so called. They have now only a nominal existence.

COMMIS, _Fr._ Clerk or inferior person, who is employed in any of the French war-departments.

COMMISSAIRE, _Fr._ Commissary. This term was used in the old French service, to express a variety of military occupations. The following are the principal designations.

COMMISSAIRE-_général des armées_. Commissary-general of the armies. His duties were correspondent to those of a quarter master, forage master, or agent for supplying an army with provisions and stores.

COMMISSAIRE-_général de la cavalerie légère_. _Fr._ Commissary general of light cavalry.

COMMISSAIRE _d’artillerie_. _Fr._ Commissary of artillery. One commissary general superintended in each department of the ordnance, and had one of the three keys which belonged to the general magazine. This officer had the power of giving directions respecting the cleanliness and the general government of the magazines.

COMMISSAIRES _provinciaux d’artillerie_, _Fr._ Provincial commissaries attached to the ordnance.

COMMISSAIRES _ordinaires d’artillerie_, _Fr._ Commissaries in ordinary attached to the ordnance. These were subordinate to the provincial commissaries, and were distributed among the navy, forts, and garrison towns.

COMMISSAIRES _extraordinaires d’artillerie_, _Fr._ Extraordinary commissaries attached to the ordnance. These formed the third class of commissaries under the monarchial government in France. They likewise did duty on board the king’s ships, or in garrisoned towns.

COMMISSAIRE _provincial en l’Arsenal de Paris, au départment de l’Isle de France_. Provincial commissary belonging to the arsenal in Paris. This officer received his commission from the grand master, in whose gift the situation lay, and had the exclusive privilege of being rendered privy to every alteration or movement that was made in the arsenal.

COMMISSAIRE _général des poudres et salpêtres_, _Fr._ Commissary general of gun-powder and saltpetre.

COMMISSAIRE _général des fontes_, _Fr._ Commissary general of the Founderies.

COMMISSAIRES _des guerres_, _Fr._ Commissaries of the war departments or muster masters general.

COMMISSAIRES _ordinaires des guerres_, _Fr._ Commissaries in ordinary, or deputy muster masters. These were subordinate to the former, and were entrusted with the superintendance of hospitals, to see that proper provisions were procured for, and distributed among the sick. They likewise gave proper vouchers to account for the absence of soldiers, and regulated what number of extraordinary waggons should be furnished to the troops on marches.

COMMISSAIRES _provinciaux et ordinaires des guerres_, _Fr._ Provincial or ordinary commissaries of war. Specific duties were attached to their appointments, the discharge of which was principally confined to the different provinces.

COMMISSAIRES _des guerres entretenus dans l’hotel des invalides_, _Fr._ Commissaries of war, specifically attached to, and resident in the hotel des invalides. It was their duty to keep a regular roll, containing all the names of the different officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers who might be detached on garrison duty, &c. which return was made monthly by them to the secretary at war. Each commissary at every review or inspection of the corps of invalids, had particular directions to mark out those men who appeared capable of serving; and a regular return to that effect was made to the secretary at war.

COMMISSAIRE _des vivres_, _Fr._ Commissary of stores. The commissary of stores had several deputies, who acted immediately under, and were in every respect accountable to him for the management of their trust.

COMMISSAIRE _general des fortifications_, _Fr._ Commissary general of Fortifications. This was a very important situation during war, as it was the duty of the commissary general to trace the lines of circumvallation, &c. at the siege; to determine upon the mode of attack and defence, and to see, that the necessary repairs were made.

COMMISSARY, in military affairs, is of various denominations, though generally a civil officer appointed to inspect the musters, stores, and provisions for the army. In war-time their number is proportioned to the service required.

COMMISSARY-_general of the musters_, or _muster-master general_. He takes account of the strength of every regiment as often as he pleases; reviews them, sees that the horse are well mounted, and all the men well armed and clothed. He receives and inspects the muster rolls, and knows exactly the strength of the army. The British have created an _inspector general of cavalry_, which answers every purpose for which that of muster master general was intended.

COMMISSARY-_general of stores_, a civil officer in the artillery, who has the charge of all the stores, for which he is accountable to the office of ordnance. He is allowed various other commissaries, clerks, and conductors, especially in war-time.

COMMISSARY _of the train horses_, a civil officer likewise of the artillery, who has the inspection of all horses belonging to the train, the hospital, and the bakery; having under him a number of conductors, drivers, &c.

COMMISSARY _of accounts_ is a responsible person who attends each army, where the numbers are of sufficient importance, with a proper establishment, for the purpose of examining and controlling accounts on the spot. All commissaries of accounts make returns of their examination, and on these documents the comptrollers of the army accounts found the best enquiry into the expenditure which the nature of the subject admits of.

COMMISSARY-_general of provisions_, has the charge of furnishing the army in the field with all sorts of provisions, forage, &c. by contract; he must be very vigilant and industrious, that the troops may never suffer want. He has under him various commissaries, store-keepers, clerks, &c.

COMMISSION, in a military sense, any situation or place which an individual may hold in the army, or militia. In the United States the President nominates the officer, who enters upon service and pay immediately on his acceptance, but the appointment must be submitted to the senate, and approved by a majority, before the commission issues.