Part 35
_Line of march._ Nos. 2, 4, 6, and 8, are on the left, which numbers correspond with the second gunner, the first, second, and third aids of the left; so on the right of the gun, are the Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9, answering to the first gunner of the right, and the first, second, third, and fourth aids of the right, making in all nine. The other six aids, that is to say, the fourth aid of the left, the fifth aids of right and left, the sixth aids of right and left, and the thirteenth aid, are thus dispensed with, and may be thus dispensed with, unless the men are required with their bricoles to manœuvre the gun; if this is done with horse, their aid is only required with the horses, and it exemplifies the excellent adaptation of the means of this new discipline to its proposed end.
The third rule is, to find the men, and their stations by their numbers, it is only requisite to refer to the preceding table of numbers, 1 and 2 are stationed opposite the trail, they are the two gunners; 3 and 4 are opposite the muzzle in the march, they load and ram the cartridge and shot; 5 and 6 are opposite the breech; they have charge of the port fire and priming; 7 and 8 march opposite the axletree of the limber; they are the third aids of right and left, and have to supply ammunition, and move the tumbril on unlimbering; they are purveyors of the gun; 9 leads the limber horse, and takes charge of the tumbril when the gun is in battery.
_Duties of nine men as numbered in battery._
_Light Artillery duties._
1 Commands the gun. 2 Stops the vent, and elevates the gun. 3 Rams and spunges. 4 Loads with cartridge and shot. 5 Fires the gun. 6 Clears the vent and primes. 7 {Supply 8 {cartridge. 9 Takes charge of the tumbril or caisson.
_Positions._
1 At the right handspike. 2 At the left handspike. 3 Outside of the right wheel, in front. 4 Outside of the left wheel, in front. 5 }Covering 3 and 4, and dressing 6 }with the rear of the wheels. 7 {Cover the aids in front, at a distance 8 {of 5 yards in their rear. 9 Is posted with the tumbril or caisson, 25 yards in the rear.
_Heavy guns._--The duties and positions are the same, only that 4 aids 3 in ramming home the charge.
_Howitzers._--The positions and duties are nearly the same as at the heavy guns; only that 3 spunges, uncaps the fuze, and puts in the shell; 4 takes the sheep-skin out of the piece, lays it on the ground, with the woollen side up, loads with cartridge, wipes the bottom of the shell, (when 2 holds it up) puts in the sheep-skin again, and pulls it out with his left hand, on the word _Ready_: He stops the muzzle with it immediately, when the piece is fired; 6 serves the vent; 5 fires; 1 commands; 7 carries the slow match and bucket; 8 serves 4 with cartridges from a cartouch; 9 serves 3 with shells from the limber, which he lays on the sheep-skin. As from unavoidable accidents, the number of men attached to a gun may be reduced, it will be necessary, if the vacancies happen amongst those doing the most essential duties, to immediately replace them by those doing the most subordinate duties.
_The following method of distributing the duties amongst a smaller number of men, will be equally applicable to all kinds of field ordnance._
+----+---------------------------------------------------------------+ | No | | | of | | |men.|KIND. Numbers retained. The vacancies, how supplied. | +----+---------------------------------------------------------------+ | 9 {Gun. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9{Complete. | | {How’r. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9{ | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 8 {Gun. 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9{No. 6 being dropt, No 8 does his | | {How’r. 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9{duties. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 7 {Gun. 1 2 3 4 5 7 9{No. 8’s pouch is laid on the ground; | | { {2 carries it when moving. | | {How’r. 1 2 3 4 5 7 9{No. 3 serves himself with ammunition. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 6 {Gun. 1 2 3 5 7 9{2 serves the vent with his left hand, | | { {pricks, primes, and carries tube box on the | | {How’r. 1 2 3 5 7 9{left side. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 5 {Gun. 1 2 6 7 9{No. 1 does all the duties of 5 like 2 in the | | { {last change, his own duties, and those of 2 | | {How’r. 1 2 6 7 9{at trail. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 4 {Gun. 1 2 6 9{No. 9 brings the ammunition; 6 serves the | | {How’r. 1 2 6 9{shells. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 3 {Gun. 1 6 9{No. 6 serves and loads all the ammunition. | | {How’r. 1 6 9{No. 6 and 9 must change duties occasionally. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+
_To limber up, light Guns and Howitzers._
The whole of the men face towards the gun; 1 unships the traversing handspikes; the limber is brought up by 9, rather to the sight of the gun, and then turned to the left about; 7 and 8 raise the trail, and place it on the limber, in which they are assisted by 3 and 4 bearing down on the muzzle, and 5 and 6 at the wheels; 2 chains the limber.
_Heavy Field Guns, or Howitzers._--The only difference from the above is, that 3 and 4 assist 7 and 8 to raise the trail, and 9 aids 5 and 6 at the wheels; 1 stands to the carriage wheels.
_To unlimber, Light Guns and Howitzers._
The whole face towards the gun; 1 unchains the limber; 2 and 7 lift the trail off the pintle, and set it on the ground, in which they are assisted, as in limbering up, by 3, 4, 5, and 6; 2 ships the traversing handspikes, and the whole assume the position for action. The limber is led by 9 and the driver, 25 yards to the rear, and there turned to the left about. The leading horse is unhooked by the driver, and tied to the rear of the limber.
_Heavy Field Guns, and Howitzers._--The same as the light ones, except that 5 and 6 assist 2 and 7 to raise the trail, and 8 and 9 stand to the gun wheels.
It must be understood, that simply to _limber up_, or to _unlimber_, means that the gun is to be placed upon its limber, or lifted off, without changing its direction: but, guns may be limbered up to the _front_, to the _right_, or to the _left_, according as it is intended to advance in any of those directions; and unlimbered to the _rear_, to prepare for action to the _front_, to the _left_ for action to the _right_, and to the _right_ for action to the _left_. To limber up, or to unlimber, in any of these situations, is exactly the same as those already given, except that in the first, previous to limbering up, the trail is thrown round by No. 1, assisted by 2, if necessary, into the direction specified by the word of command, and the limber is brought up to that side to meet it; and in the second, the trail, after being taken off the limber, is carried round to the _rear_, _right_, or _left_, according as the word of command expresses, before it is put to the ground, and the limber goes round to the rear of the gun.
It must be constantly kept in mind, that the _front_ of a gun, or line of guns, or column of guns, is that to which the men at the gun front, without any respect to the situation of the gun or carriage. The trail of the carriage, when moved round to the rear, or the contrary, whether in limbering up, or unlimbering, must always be carried round to the _right_, and the limber, or a horse, when brought up to advance or retire a gun, must always be brought up on the _right_ side, and go off on the _left_; and whenever the limber is turned about, it must be to the _left_ about. By attending to these precautions, the greatest confusion is avoided.
_Prepare to advance with a horse and prolonge._
_Light pieces._--3 gives his spunge to 5; 3 and 4 unhook the chain traces from the breast of the carriage, and lay them over the spokes of the wheels; the driver brings up a horse to the front, by the right; 3 and 4 unhook the horses traces from the back band, and hook them to the gun, and then take post outside the wheels; 3 takes his spunge; 7 and 8 hook the traces to the swingle-trees.
_Heavy pieces._--This is done with two horses, one before the other; 3 and 4 hook the horses, the driver rides to the rear horse, and 6 and 8 hook the rear horse to the gun; 1 and 9 look to the unfixing length and fastening of the prolonge.
_Prepare for action._--The different numbers exactly undo what they had just done; 1 and 9 beginning to loose the prolonge as soon as the gun is fronted or about to be limbered.
_Prepare to advance with a limber._
The only difference between this and advancing with a horse, is, that the limber is brought up to the front; and 9 or 15 brings up the prolonge, and, takes a turn on the lashing rings of the trail; or if the gun is to be limbered, it is laid on as in the drill.
_Exercise with heavy ordnance in a Battery._
_32, or 42 Pounder._
_10 Men._
3 spunges; 4 loads. 7 and 8 run the gun up. 5 and 2 run up and elevate. 6 serves the vent, traverses, primes, and runs up. 5 fires. 8 brings cartridges. 1 points and commands.
_9 Men._
3 spunges; 4 loads. 7 and 8 run up. 2 brings cartridges. 6 serves the vent, runs up, and primes. 3 runs up, traverses, and fires. 1 points and fires. 2 traverses and elevates.
_8 Men._
3 spunges; 4 loads and runs up. 8 runs up. 5 and 6 run up and elevate. 7 brings cartridges, runs up, and traverses. 2 serves the vent, runs up, traverses, and primes. 1 points, fires, and commands.
_7 Men._
3 spunges and runs up. 4 loads and runs up. 7 runs up and elevates. 6 brings cartridges, runs up, and elevates. 2 serves the vent, runs up, traverses, and primes. 5 runs up, traverses, and fires. 1 points and commands.
_6 Men._
3 Spunges and runs up. 4 loads, runs up, and elevates. 6 runs up and elevates. 5 brings cartridges, runs up, and traverses. 2 serves the vent, runs up, traverses, and primes. 1 runs up, points, fires, and commands.
_5 Men._
3 and 4 load and run up. 2 and 3 prime, fire, and run up. 1 elevates, points, and commands.
_24 Pounder, &c._
_8 Men._
3 spunges; 4 loads. 6 and 7 run up and elevate. 2 serves the vent, runs up, traverses, and primes. 5 runs up, traverses, and fires. 8 brings cartridges. 1 points and commands.
_7 Men._
3 spunges; 4 loads. 7 runs up and elevates. 6 brings cartridges, runs up, and elevates. 2 serves vent, traverses, and primes. 5 runs up, traverses, and fires. 1 points and commands.
_6 Men._
3 spunges, runs up, elevates. 4 loads, runs up, and elevates. 2 serves the vent, runs up, traverses, and primes. 5 runs up, traverses, fires. 6 brings cartridges. 7 points and commands.
_5 Men._
3 spunges, runs up. 4 brings cartridges, loads, runs up. 2 serves vent, runs up, elevates, and primes. 5 runs up, traverses, fires. 1 points and commands.
_4 Men._
3 spunges, runs up, points. 4 brings cartridges, loads, runs up, and elevates. 2 serves vent, runs up, traverses, elevates, and primes. 1 runs up, traverses, fires.
_3 Men._
1 spunges, runs up, points, and fires. 2 brings cartridges, loads, runs up, elevates, traverses. 3 serves vent, runs up, elevates, traverses, and primes.
_4²⁄₅, or 5¹⁄₂ Inch Mortar._
_2 Men._
1 spunges, runs up, brings shells, puts them in, traverses, and primes. 2 serves the vent, runs up, brings cartridges, puts them in, points, and fires.
_3 Men._
2 spunges, runs up, traverses, brings shells, and puts them in. 3 brings cartridges, puts in, serves the vent, runs up, primes, and fires. 1 points, elevates, and commands.
_8 Inch Mortar, or Howitzer._
_5 Men._
3 spunges, runs up, dredges. 5 runs up, brings cartridges, and puts them in. 4 runs up, brings cartridges, and puts them in. 4 runs up, brings shells, puts them in, elevates, primes. 2 runs up, traverses, fires. 1 serves vent, points, and commands.
_4 Men._
3 spunges, runs up, dredges. 4 runs up, brings cartridges, and puts them in. 2 serves the vent, brings shells, and puts them in, runs up, traverses, and fires. 1 runs up, points, elevates, and commands.
_10, or 13 Inch Mortar._
_10 Men._
3 spunges, runs up, puts in shells, and dredges. 4 runs up, brings cartridges, puts them in, and puts in the shells. 6 brings cartridges. 7 and 8 bring shells. 9 and 10 run up and traverse. 2 serves vent and primes. 5 fires; 1 points, elevates and commands.
_6 Men._
3 spunges, runs up, puts in shells, dredges, and traverses. 4 runs up, brings cartridges, and puts them in, puts in shells, and traverses. 5 and 6 run up, bring shells, and traverse. 2 runs up, serves vent, and primes. 1 runs up, points, elevates, fires, and commands.
_Of the exercise of auxiliary machines._
_Exercise of the Gin._
The complement of men for a gin is usually 1 non-commissioned officer and 10 men; they are numbered from 1 to 10, the non-commissioned officer being 11.
_To carry a Gin._
1 and 2 carry a pry-pole, 3 and 5 the right cheek, 4 and 6 the left, 7 the windlass and side, 8 and 9 the blocks and tackles, 10 the handspikes, &c.
_To set up a Gin._
1 and 2 put a common handspike through the ring, near the foot of the pry-pole, at which they lift; 3 and 4 steady the cheeks, by placing each a handspike against the lower cross bar; 5, 7, and 9, lift the right cheek; 6, 8, and 10, the left cheek; 11 gives directions. The tackles must be hooked on before the gin is raised.
_To work a Gin._
1 and 3 man the right handspikes of the gin: 2 and 4 the left; 5, 6, 7, and 8, hold on the fall, and pull in the slack; 9 and 10 steady the gun, 9 at the muzzle, 10 at the breech. The tackle hook must be fixed directly over the dolphins, if any, or a little behind the trunnions.
In heaving, when the ends of 1 and 4’s handspikes come as low as their knees, 2 and 3 put theirs into the upper holes of the windlass, and 3 gives the word _Bear_, upon which 1 and 4 clear their handspikes from the windlass, and 1 gives the word _Heave_; 2 and 3 then bear down their handspikes, and remain fast till 1 and 4 having taken their fresh purchase, 1 gives the word _Bear_, when 2 and 3 clear their handspikes, and 3 gives the word _Heave_; and so on alternately, till the gun is at its proper height, when the handspikes in the upper holes are made to rest against the upper cross bar, and 5 makes fast the fall to the lower cross bar; and if required to lower the gun, eases the fall off from the windlass; 5, 6, 7, and 8, move the carriage, as required, under the gun.
_Exercise of the Sling Cart._
The men for the service of the sling cart are numbered from 1 to 7; the non-commissioned officer being No. (1); Nos. 2 and 3 sling the gun. The gun must be laid with one trunnion touching the ground, and the sling passes diagonally round the gun, being before one trunnion, and behind the other; and that end of the sling which goes round the lower side of the gun, must be the end to be acted on by the windlass; as by that means the trunnions become horizontal when the gun is raised; Nos. 4, and 6, man the right lever; 5, and 7, the left lever; and upon the word from the non commissioned officer, then directs, _left hand lever hold on, right lever bear_; the right lever takes a fresh purchase: then, _right lever hold on, left lever bear_; the left lever takes a fresh purchase; they then heave together again. When the gun is high enough, (1) puts in the pall; 2 and 3 take out the levers, and put in the pry-pole; 4 and 5 raise the breech of the gun with two common handspikes, and 6 and 7 lash it to the pry-pole: 2 and 3 then lay their levers along side the pry-pole, and 4 and 5 their handspikes on the top of them, which 6 and 7 lash all fast together.
EXERCISES, are also understood of what young gentlemen or cadets learn in the military academies and riding schools; such as fencing, dancing, riding, the manual exercise, &c.
EXHORT. See ANIMATE.
EXPEDITION, in a general sense, signifies haste, speed, rapidity. In a military sense, it is chiefly used to denote a voyage or march against an enemy, the success of which depends on rapid and unexpected movements. It is out of the nature of the thing itself to lay down fixed rules for the minute conducting of small expeditions; their first principles only can be with certainty fixed, and men will often disagree about preparations, and differ in their conduct, though they acknowlege the same principles.
One of the principles of many small expeditions, is surprise; and 6 battalions, without much accompaniment, may sometimes do that which 24, and a great fleet, would not succeed in.
There is no part of war so interesting to an insulary soldier as an expedition; nor can there be any part more worthy of attention.
EXPEDITIONS have heretofore had no rules laid down for their conduct, and that part of war had never been reduced to a system. The slow rules of a great war will not do in expeditions; the blow must be struck with surprise, and intimidation be produced in the invaded enemy, before succors can arrive. Debate is out of season, and all slow proceedings are ruin. Not to advance, is to recede; and not to be on the road to conquest, is to be already conquered. There must be that glance, which sees certainly, though instantly; that rapidity, which executes on the surest rules, when it seems least to act on any. The French have given all their campaigns the characters of expeditions.
In all small expeditions, such as expeditions of surprise, or _coup-de-main_, the favorable side of the proposed action must ever be viewed; for if what _may_ happen, what _may_ arrive, what _may_ fall out, is chiefly thought upon, it will, at the very best, greatly discourage, but in general end in a total failure. Hence the very name of an expedition implies risk, hazard, precarious warfare, and a critical operation.
_An expedition_ is governed by five principal maxims.
1st, A secrecy, if possible, of preparation, and a concealment of design, &c.
2dly, That the means bear proportion to the end. In this there will ever be a difference in opinion.
3dly, A knowlege of the state and situation of the country, where the scene of action is, or the place or object that is to be attacked.
4thly, A commander who has the particular turn of mind, which is most adapted to such particular sort of warfare.
Lastly, The plan of an expedition, great or small, is ever to be arranged as much as possible before setting out, and then any appearances that may vary a little from what might have been expected, will not perplex.
EXPEDITION, _Fr._ See EXPEDITION. The French likewise use this word, to express any particular military quality, which an officer or soldier may possess. As, _cet officier est un homme d’expedition_, this officer is a man of enterprise, is courageous and daring.
EXPLOIT. See ATCHIEVEMENT.
_To_ EXPLODE, burst or blow up.
EXPLOSION, the discharge of a gun, the blowing up of a mine, or the bursting of a shell.
EXPRESS. A messenger sent with direct and specific instructions.
_To send by_ EXPRESS, to send any thing by extraordinary conveyance.
EXPUGN, EXPUGNATION, the taking any place by assault.
EXPERIMENTS, in a military sense, are the trials, or applications of any kind of military machines, in order to ascertain their practical qualities and uses.
EXTEND, when the files of a line, or the divisions of a column are to occupy a greater space of ground, they are said to extend their front or line. Extended order is applicable to the light infantry.
EXTORTION, the act of obtaining money or property by violence or unjust means: taking advantage of the ignorance or peculiar circumstances of a purchaser, to demand more than a fair price for an article. All sutlers, or camp followers, who are guilty of extortion in the sale of necessaries, are punishable by a general or regimental court-martial.
EXTRADOS, _Fr._ The exterior surface of a regular arch, used in the construction of powder magazines.
EXTRAORDINARIES _of the army_. The allowances to troops, beyond the gross pay in the pay office, come under the head of extraordinaries to the army. Such are the expences for barracks, marches, encampments, staff, &c.
EXTRAORDINARII, among the Romans, were a body of men consisting of a third part of the foreign horse, and a fifth of the foot, which body was separated from the rest of the forces borrowed from the confederate states, with great caution and policy, to prevent any design, that they might possibly entertain against the natural forces. A more choice body of men was drawn from amongst the extraordinarii, under the name of ablecti. See ABLECTI.
EXTRAORDINARY. Something out of the common course.
EXTRAORDINARY _couriers_, persons sent with some information or order of great importance.
EXTRAORDINARY _guards_. Guards out of the common routine of duty. They are frequently given as a punishment for military offences.
EYES _Centre_, an old word of command given when the battalion was advancing in line, denoting, that the men were to look to the centre in which the colors are placed, and dress by them.
EYES _right_, EYES _left_, words of command denoting the flank to which the soldier is to dress. In casting his eyes to either flank care must be taken that the shoulders are kept square to the front.
EYES _front_, a word of command given after the dressing in line is completed, on which the soldier is to look directly forward, which is the habitual position of the soldier. These motions are only useful on the wheeling of divisions, or when dressing is ordered after a halt, and particular attention must be paid in the several turnings of the eyes, to prevent the soldier from moving his body, which must invariably be preserved perfectly square to the front. In the American practice the direction of the eye is understood to follow the word _dress_--as _right_, _centre_, or _left_ _dress_.
Eye-_bolts_. See BOLTS.
F.
FACADE, in military fortification. See FACE.
FACE, in fortification, is an appellation given to several parts of a fortress; as the
FACE _of a bastion_, the two sides, reaching from the flanks to the saliant angle. These in a siege are commonly the first undermined, because they extend most outwards, and are the least flanked; consequently the weakest.
FACE _prolonged_, FACE _extended_, that part of the line of defence razant, which is terminated by the curtain and the angle of the shoulder, that is, it is, strictly taken, the line of defence razant, diminished by the face of the bastion.
FACE _of a place_, is the front comprehended between the flanked angles of two neighboring bastions, composed of a curtain, two flanks, and two faces; and is sometimes called the _Tenaille of the place_.
FACE _of a gun_, is the superficies of the metal at the extremities of the muzzle of the piece.
FACE, (_to the right, left, &c._) a word of command on which the soldiers individually turn to the side directed; in performing which, the left heel should never quit the ground, the knees must be kept straight, and the body turned smoothly and gracefully. The moving of the right foot forward or backward, is wholly exploded; all the facings are now made upon the left heel as a pivot. The following are the old methods.