Part 26

CORBEILLES, _Fr._ Large baskets, which being filled with earth, and placed one by another along the parapet, serve to cover the besieged from the shot of the besieging enemy. They are made wider at top than at the bottom, in order to afford loop-holes, through which the men may fire upon the besiegers. Their usual dimensions are one foot and a half high, as much in breadth at the top, and eight or ten inches at the bottom. See GABION.

CORDE, _Fr._ Cord, in geometry and fortification, means a straight line which cuts the circumference into two parts, without running through the centre.

CORDEAU, _Fr._ a cord which is used in measuring ground. It is divided into toises, feet, and inches, for the purpose of ascertaining with precision, the opening of angles and the extent of lines. In wet weather a small chain made of wire is substituted to prevent mistakes that would necessarily occur, from the cord becoming shorter or longer, according to the influence of the weather. The technical terms among French Engineers, are Manier le _cordeau_, Pendre le _cordeau_, Travailler au _cordeau_.

CORDON, in fortification, is a row of stones made round on the outside, and placed between the termination of the slope of the wall, and the parapet which stands perpendicular, in such a manner, that this difference may not be offensive to the eye; whence those cordons serve only as ornaments in walled fortifications.

_The_ CORDON of the revetement of the rampart is often on a level with the terre pleine of the rampart. It has been observed in a late French military publication, that it might be more advantageously placed some feet lower; especially when there is a wall attached to the parapet, to shield the rounds from the enemy’s fire.

CORDON, in military history, is a chain of posts, or an imaginary line of separation between two armies, either in the field or in winter quarters.

CORIDOR, the covert way which is formed between the fossé and the pallisade on the counterscarp. See COVERT-_way_. This word is becoming obsolete as a military term, and is chiefly confined to domestic buildings.

CORNAGE, an ancient tenure, which obliged the land-holder to give notice of an invasion by blowing a horn.

CORNE, _ou_ OUVRAGE _a_ CORNE, _Fr._ See HORNED WORK.

CORNET, in the military history of the ancients, an instrument much in the nature of a trumpet: when the cornet only sounded, the ensigns were to march alone without the soldiers; whereas, when the trumpet only sounded, the soldiers were to move forward without the ensigns. A troop of horse was so called.

CORNET, in the military history of the moderns, the junior commissioned officer in a troop of horse or dragoons, subordinate to the captain and lieutenants, equivalent to the ensign amongst the foot. His duty is to carry the standard, near the centre of the front rank of the squadron.

CORNETTE-BLANCHE, _Fr._ an ornament which in ancient times, served to distinguish French officers who were high in command. It was worn by them on the top of their helmets. It likewise meant a royal standard, and was substituted in the room of the Pennon Roïal. The cornette-blanche was only unfurled when the king joined the army; and the persons who served under it were princes, noblemen, marshals of France, and old captains, who received orders from the king direct.

CORNETTE, _Fr._ See CORNET.

_The_ CORNETTES or _Cornets_, of the colonel general of cavalry, in the old French service, as well as those attached to the quarter-master general and commissary general, ranked as lieutenants, and the cornettes of la colonelle général des dragons ranked as youngest lieutenants, and commanded all other cornets.

CORNETTE, _Fr._ was likewise the term used to signify the standard peculiarly appropriated to the light cavalry. Hence cornettes and troops were synonimous terms to express the number of light-horse attached to an army. The standard so called was made of taffeta or glazed silk, one foot and a half square, upon which the arms, motto, and cypher of the officer who commanded the cavalry were engraved. A sort of scarf or long piece of white silk, (the old French colors) was tied to the cornette whenever the cavalry went into action, in order to render the standard conspicuous, that the men might rally round it.

CORNISH _ring_, in gunnery, the next ring from the muzzle backwards. See CANNON.

CORPORAL, a rank and file man with superior pay to that of common soldiers, and with nominal rank under a serjeant. He has charge of one of the squads of the company, places and relieves centinels, and keeps good order in the guard. He receives the word of the inferior rounds that pass by his guard. Every company should have a corporal for every ten men.

_Lance_-CORPORAL, one who acts as corporal, receiving pay as a private.

CORPS, any body of forces, destined to act together under one commander.

CORPS _de garde_, _Fr._ an inferior post which is sometimes covered in, and at others is in the open air, garrisoned and defended by troops who are occasionally relieved, and whose immediate duty is to prevent a post of greater consequence from being surprised. _Corps de garde_, in the French acceptation of the word, signifies not only the place itself, but likewise the men who are stationed to protect it.

CORPS _de garde avancés_, _Fr._ These posts are occupied by cavalry and infantry, according to the exigency of the service, and the peculiar nature of the ground. When a camp is secured by entrenchments, and has one line of defence, the corps de garde, or advanced post of the cavalry is on the outside of the line, and each part has its quarter and main guard. These guards are always within sight of the same line, unless the unevenness of the ground should obstruct the view. The quarter guard or petit corps de garde is more in front, but still in sight of the main guard, and the _vedette_ is still further in advance for the security of both.

CORPS _de battaille_, _Fr._ the main body of an army, which marches between the advanced and the rear guard.

CORPS _de reserve_, See REAR GUARD.

CORRESPOND, an officer or soldier who corresponds with the enemy, is liable to suffer death, by the articles of war.

CORSAIR, in naval history, a name given to the piratical cruisers of Barbary, who frequently plunder the merchant ships of countries with whom they are at peace.

CORSELET, a little cuirass; or according to others, an armor, or coat made to cover the whole body, anciently worn by the pike-men, who were usually placed in the fronts and flanks of the battle, for the better resisting the enemy’s assaults, and guarding the soldiers posted behind them.

COSECANT, the secant of an arch which is the complement of another to 90°.

COSINE, the right sine of an arch which is the complement of another to 90°.

COSSACS, in military history, a wild irregular people, who inhabit the Ukraine, and live by plunder and piracy, in small vessels on the Black Sea. A scythe fixed on the end of a pole was their ancient weapon. They are now a regular militia, and use the same arms as the Croats and Pandours.

COTANGENT, the tangent of an arch which is the complement of another to 90°.

COTE _extérieur du poligone_, _Fr._ exterior side of the polygon. The line which is drawn from the capital of one bastion to another.

COTE _intérieur du poligone_, _Fr._ interior side of the polygon. The line which is drawn from the angle of one gorge to the angle of the gorge most contiguous to it. See sides of the POLYGON.

COUNCIL _of war_, in military affairs, is an assembly of principal officers of an army or fleet, called by the general or admiral who commands, to concert measures for their conduct.

COUNTER-APPROACHES, lines or trenches made by the besieged, when they come out to attack the lines of the besiegers in form.

_Line of_ COUNTER APPROACH, a trench which the besieged make from their covered way to the right and left of the attacks, in order to scour or enfilade the enemy’s works.

COUNTER-_Battery_, a battery used to play on another in order to dismount the guns. See BATTERY.

COUNTER-_breastwork_. See FAUSSE-BRAYE.

COUNTER-_forts_, in fortification, are certain pillars and parts of the wall, distant from 15 to 20 feet one from another, which are advanced as much as may be in the ground, and are joined to the height of the cordon by vaults, to sustain the chemin de rondes, and the part of the rampart, as well as to fortify the wall, and strengthen the ground. See BUTTRESSES.

COUNTER-_guards_, in fortification, are small ramparts, with parapets and ditches, to cover some part of the body of the place. They are of several shapes, and differently situated. They are generally made before the bastions, in order to cover the opposite flanks from being seen from the covert way; consisting then of 2 faces, making a salient angle, and parallel to the faces of the bastion. They are sometimes made before the ravelins. See FORTIFICATION.

COUNTER-_round_. See ROUNDS.

COUNTER-_mines_. See MINES.

COUNTER-_trenches_. See SIEGE.

COUNTER-_working_, is the raising of works to oppose these of the enemy.

COUNTER-_swallow’s-tail_, in fortification, is a kind of an out-work very much resembling a single tenaille.

_To_ COUNTERMAND, is to give contrary orders to those already given; to contradict former orders, &c.

COUNTERMURE, a wall built up behind another in order to increase the strength of any work.

COUNTERMARCH, a change by wings, companies, subdivisions, sections, or files, whereby those who were on the right take up the ground originally occupied by the left; generally used in changing the front. See MARCH.

COUNTERSCARP, in fortification, is properly the exterior _talus_, or slope or the ditch, on the farther side from the place, and facing it. Sometimes the covert way and glacis are meant by this expression. See FORTIFICATION.

COUNTERSIGN, in a general acceptation of the term means any particular word, such as the name of a place or person, which, like the parole, is exchanged between guards, entrusted to persons who visit military posts, go the rounds, or have any business to transact with soldiers in camp or garrison. It ought always to be given in the language most known to the troops.

COUNTERVALLATION, or line of countervallation, a trench with a parapet, made by the besiegers, betwixt them and the place besieged, to secure them from the sallies of the garrison; so that the troops which form the siege, are encamped between the lines of circumvallation and countervallation. When the enemy has no army in the field, these lines are useless.

COUP-DE-MAIN, in military affairs, implies a desperate resolution in all small expeditions, of surprise, &c. The favorable side of the proposed action must ever be viewed; for if what may happen, arrive, or fall out, is chiefly thought upon, it will, at the very best, not only greatly discourage, but, in general, it will produce a total failure. The very name of an expedition implies risk, hazard, precarious warfare, and a critical but desperate operation, or _Coup-de-main_.

COUP-_d’œil_, _Fr._ in a military sense, signifies that fortunate aptitude of eye in a general, or other officer, by which he is enabled at one glance on the ground or on a map to see the weak parts of an enemy’s country, or to discern the strong ones of his own. By possessing a ready _coup d’œil_, a general may surmount the greatest difficulties, particularly in offensive operations. On a small scale this faculty is of the greatest utility. Actions have been recovered by a sudden conception of different openings upon the enemy, which could only be ascertained by a quick and ready eye, during the rapid movements of opposing armies. See _Am. Mil. Lib._ articles RECONNOITRING, and COUP D’OEIL.

COUPURE, in fortification, are passages, sometimes cut through the glacis, of about 12 or 15 feet broad, in the reentering angle of the covert way, to facilitate the sallies of the besieged. They are sometimes made through the lower curtain, to let boats into a little haven built on the rentrant angle of the counterscarp of the out works.

COURANTIN, _Fr._ a squib; a term used among French artificers.

COURCON, _Fr._ a long piece of iron which is used in the artillery, and serves to constrain, or tighten cannon.

COURIER, in a military sense, means a messenger sent post, or express, to carry dispatches of battles gained, lost, &c. or any other occurrences that happen in war.

COURIERS _des vivres_, _Fr._ were two active and expert messengers attached to the French army, whose duty consisted wholly in conveying packets of importance to and fro, and in taking charge of pecuniary remittances.

COURONEMENT, or _Couronnement_, in fortification, implies the most exterior part of a work when besieged.

COURSER. See CHARGER.

COURSIER, _Fr._ a gun which was formerly placed in the forecastle of a galley for the purpose of firing over the ship’s beak. The weight of its ball was from 33 to 34 lb.

COURT-_martial_, a court appointed for the investigation and subsequent punishment of offences in officers, under-officers, soldiers, and sailors; the powers of which are regulated by the articles of war for the government of the armies of the United States, passed in the year 1806.

Art. 64. General courts martial may consist of any number of commissioned officers from five to thirteen inclusively, but they shall not consist of less than thirteen, where that number can be convened, without manifest injury to the service.

Art. 65. Any general officer commanding an army, or colonel commanding a separate department, may appoint general courts martial whenever necessary. But no sentence of a court martial shall be carried into execution until after the whole proceedings shall have been laid before the officer ordering the same, or the officer commanding the troops for the time being; neither shall any sentence of a general court martial, in time of peace, extending to the loss of life, or the dismission of a commissioned officer, or which shall, either in time of peace or war, respecting a general officer, be carried into execution, until after the whole proceedings shall have been transmitted to the secretary of war, to be laid before the President of the United States, for his confirmation or disapproval and orders in the case. All other sentences may be confirmed and executed by the officer ordering the court to assemble, or the commanding officer for the time being, as the case may be.

Art. 66. Every officer commanding a regiment, or corps, may appoint, for his own regiment or corps, courts martial, to consist of three commissioned officers, for the trial and punishment of offences, not capital, and decide upon their sentences. For the same purpose all officers, commanding any of the garrisons, forts, barracks, or other places where the troops consist of different corps, may assemble courts martial, to consist of three commissioned officers, and decide upon their sentences.

Art. 67. No garrison, or regimental court martial shall have the power to try capital cases, or commissoned officers; neither shall they inflict a fine exceeding one month’s pay, nor imprison, nor put to hard labor, any non-commissioned officer or soldier, for a longer time than one month.

Art. 68. Whenever it may be found convenient and necessary to the public service, the officers of the marine shall be associated with the officers of the land forces, for the purpose of holding courts martial and trying offenders belonging to either; and in such cases the orders of the senior officers of either corps who may be present and duly authorised, shall be received and obeyed.

Art. 69. The judge advocate, or some person deputed by him, or by the general, or officer commanding the army, detachment, or garrison, shall prosecute in the name of the United States, but shall so far consider himself as council for the prisoner, after the said prisoner shall have made his plea, as to object to any leading question to any of the witnesses, or any question to the prisoner, the answer to which might tend to criminate himself; and administer to each member of the court before they proceed upon any trial, the following oath, which shall also be taken by all members of the regimental and garrison courts martial.

“You A. B. do swear that you will well and truly try and determine, according to evidence, the matter now before you, between the United States of America, and the prisoner to be tried, and that you will duly administer justice, according to the provisions of “An act establishing rules and articles for the government of the armies of the United States,” without partiality, favor or affection; and if any doubt shall arise, not explained by said articles, according to your conscience, the best of your understanding, and the custom of war, in like cases; and you do further swear, that you will not divulge the sentence of the court until it shall be published by the proper authority; neither will you disclose or discover the vote or opinion of any particular member of the court martial, unless required to give evidence thereof as a witness, by a court of justice, in a due course of law. _So help you God._”

And as soon as the said oath shall have been administered to the respective members, the president of the court shall administer to the judge advocate, or person officiating as such, an oath in the following words:

“You A. B. do swear, that you will not disclose or discover the vote or opinion of any particular member of the court martial, unless required to give evidence thereof as a witness, by a court of justice in due course of law. Nor divulge the sentence of the court to any but the proper authority, until it shall be duly disclosed by the same. _So help you God._”

Art. 70. When any prisoner arraigned before a general court martial shall, from obstinate and deliberate design, stand mute or answer foreign to the purpose, the court may proceed to trial and judgment as if the prisoner had regularly pleaded not guilty.

Art. 71. When a member shall be challenged by a prisoner, he must state his cause of challenge, of which the court shall, after due deliberation determine the relevancy or validity, and decide accordingly; and no challenge to more than one member at a time shall be received by the court.

Art. 72. All the members of a court martial are to behave with decency and calmness; and in giving their votes, are to begin with the youngest in commission.

Art. 73. All persons who give evidence before a court martial, are to be examined on oath or affirmation in the following form:

“You swear or affirm (as the case may be) the evidence you shall give in the cause now in hearing, shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. _So help you God._”

Art. 74. On the trials of cases not capital, before courts martial, the deposition of witnesses not in the line or staff of the army, may be taken before some justice of the peace, and read in evidence; provided, the prosecutor and person accused are present at the taking the same, or are duly notified thereof.

Art. 75. No officer shall be tried but by a general court martial, nor by officers of interior rank, if it can be avoided. Nor shall any proceedings or trials be carried on excepting between the hours of eight in the morning, and three in the afternoon, excepting in cases, which, in the opinion of the officer appointing the court martial, require immediate example.

Art. 76. No person whatsoever shall use any menacing words, signs, or gestures, in presence of a court martial, or shall cause any disorder or riot, or disturb their proceedings, on the penalty of being punished at the discretion of the said court martial.

Art. 77. Whenever any officer shall be charged with a crime, he shall be arrested and confined in his barracks, quarters, or tents, and deprived of his sword, by the commanding officer. And any officer who shall leave his confinement before he shall be set at liberty by his commanding officer, or by a superior officer, shall be cashiered.

Art. 78. Non-commissioned officers and soldiers, charged with crimes, shall be confined until tried by a court martial, or released by proper authority.

Art. 79. No officer or soldier who shall be put in arrest, shall continue in confinement more than eight days, or until such time as a court martial can be assembled.

Art. 80. No officer commanding a guard, or provost martial, shall refuse to receive or keep any prisoner committed to his charge by an officer belonging to the forces of the United States; provided the officer committing, shall, at the same time, deliver an account in writing, signed by himself, of the crime with which the said prisoner is charged.

Art. 81. No officer commanding a guard, or provost martial, shall presume to release any person committed to his charge, without proper authority for so doing, nor shall he suffer any person to escape, on the penalty of being punished for it by the sentence of a court martial.

Art 82. Every officer or provost marshal, to whose charge prisoners shall be committed, shall within twenty-four hours after such commitment, or as soon as he shall be relieved from his guard, make report in writing, to the commanding officer, of their names, their crimes, and the names of the officers who committed them, on the penalty of being punished for disobedience or neglect, at the discretion of a court martial.

Art. 83. Any commissoned officer convicted before a general court martial of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, shall be dismissed the service.

Art. 84. In cases where a court martial may think it proper to sentence a commissioned officer to be suspended from command, they shall have power also to suspend his pay and emoluments from the same time, according to the nature and heinousness of the offence.

Art. 85. In all cases where a commissioned officer is cashiered for cowardice or fraud, it shall be added in the sentence, that the crime, name, and place of abode, and punishment of the delinquent, be published in the newspapers, in and about the camp, and of a particular state from which the offender came, or where he usually resides, after which it shall be deemed scandalous for an officer to associate with him.

Art. 86. The commanding officer of any post or detachment, in which there shall not be a number of officers adequate to form a general court martial, shall, in cases which require the cognizance of such a court, report to the commanding officer of the department, who shall order a court to be assembled at the nearest post or detachment, and the party accused, with necessary witnesses, to be transported to the place where the said court shall be assembled.

Art. 87. No person shall be sentenced to suffer death but by the concurrence of two thirds of a general court martial, nor except in the cases herein expressly mentioned; nor shall more than fifty lashes be inflicted on any offender, at the discretion of a court martial, and no officer, non-commissioned officer, soldier, or follower of the army, shall be tried a second time for the same offence.

Art. 88. No person shall be liable to be tried and punished by a general court martial for any offence which shall appear to have been committed more than two years before the issuing of the order for such trial, unless the person by reason of having absented himself, or some other manifest impediment, shall not have been amenable to justice within that period.