Part 56

An intelligent officer upon an outpost, even unprovided with entrenching tools, will materially strengthen his post, when the unobserver would remain inactive.

A tree felled with judgment; brushwood cut to a certain distance; pointed stakes, about breast high, placed on the points most assailable by an enemy, may be attended with the greatest advantages, and can be effected with the common hatchets, which the men carry to cut fire-wood. In short, every impediment which an officer, acting on the defensive, can throw in an enemy’s way, ought to be scrupulously attended to. Independently, therefore, of the means which he adopts for the immediate protection of his posts, he must look beyond that point; and as nothing checks the ardour of troops more than an unexpected obstacle, within an hundred yards, more or less, of the place attacked, he must, on his arrival at the outpost, throw up some temporary impediment at that distance. See AM. MIL. LIBRARY.

_Mounting_ GUARDS. It is indispensibly necessary, that every officer should know how to mount and come off guard.

All guards parade with ordered arms, and unfixed bayonets, without any intervals between them, the ranks open. The officer brings the guard to a shoulder; and the officers with their swords drawn, and non-commissioned officers commanding guards, are formed about forty paces in front of the centre, in two ranks, facing the line, where they are to receive the old parole and such orders as may be given them.

The major or commanding officer gives the word of command.

“Officers and non-commissioned officers--Take post in front of your respective guards!--Outward face--March!”

As soon as they have taken post, fronting their respective guards, the word of command will be given--

“Officers and non-commissioned officers--to your guards--March!--Front!--Halt!”

“Officers and non-commissioned officers, inspect your guards!”

The several officers and non-commissioned officers then inspect their guard as quick as possible. When there is a captain’s guard, each officer is to take a rank, the serjeants accompanying them.

As soon as the inspection is over, the adjutant goes down the line and receives the report of each guard; the officers return to their posts; and the major, or commanding officer, commands--“Fix bayonets!--Shoulder!”

When the colours are brought on the parade, the drum is beat; and the drummer’s call on the right.

The captain will face inwards, and the lieutenant and ensign will face to the right, and march, _quick time_, to the head of the grenadiers. The captain goes to the head of the right of his remaining men. The field officer then orders the grenadiers to close their ranks, and to march off in _quick time_, the lieutenant being three paces advanced in front of his men, and the ensign one. The colours are received as usual. And the color party on their arrival on the left flank of the guards, will file at the _slow time_, through the ranks: the lieutenant, and the colors, in front of the front rank. The guards are to march off at the _slow time_, and by divisions, taking care, that when they open their ranks, the front rank of each keeps its exact distance from the front rank preceding it. When there are more officers than one belonging to the same guard, the second in rank is to take post, and to march past the commanding officer on the parade, at the head of the last division, instead of being in the rear of it. When there is an officer, senior to the field officer of the day, on the parade, the guards are to march by and salute him: the field officer of the day, in that case, marching at their head.

GUARD-_rooms_. The following articles should properly come under the heads of furniture and utensils.

_Cavalry and infantry_ GUARD-_rooms_ are allowed a water bucket, candlestick, tin can for drink, and drinking cups; they are also allowed fire irons, and coal tray.

The rooms of the quarter-masters and serjeants of cavalry, and the serjeant-major and quarter-master serjeant of infantry, to be furnished with the necessary bedding and utensils in the same manner as is allowed to the soldiers’ rooms.

GUARD, _in fencing_, implies a posture proper to defend the body from the sword of the antagonist.

The word _guard_ is seldom applied among small swordsmen to any position but those of carte and tierce, the other motions of defence are stiled parades. See FENCING.

GUARDS _of the broad sword_. The positions of defence adopted with that weapon are generally termed guards, and may be comprised under the inside guard, half-circle guard, hanging guard, half-hanging guard, medium guard, outside guard, St. George’s guard, and spadroon guard. See BROAD-SWORD.

_Prepare to_ GUARD, in the cavalry sword exercise, is performed by bringing the extremity of the sword-hilt up to the pit of the stomach, with the back of the hand outwards; the blade of the sword to be carried perpendicularly, with the flat in front of the left eye. From this position the _guard_ is taken by darting the sword hand smartly forward towards the left ear of the antagonist.

GUARD, _in the cavalry sword exercise_, is used to denote one particular position, which consists in homing the sabre nearly horizontal across the face, the point rather higher than the hilt, the sword-hand directed towards the left ear of the antagonist. Although this be peculiarly denominated _guard_, yet it is not to be considered as a position calculated to meet every sort of attack, or an eligible position to charge an enemy; but as the central point from which the requisite change for attack or defence may be effected. The other position of defence in the cavalry exercise are stiled PROTECTS.

GUASTADOURS, _Fr._ Turkish pioneers. Armenians and Greeks are generally employed in the Turkish armies, to do the fatigue-work that is necessary for the formation of a camp, or for conducting a siege.

GUDDA, an Indian term for a fool, a small fort erected upon a hill or eminence; it means literally an ass, metaphorically a fool.

GUDGE, an Indian measure 24 inches long.

GUERITE, _Fr._ Centry box, small turret. In fortified towns there are several small turrets of this denomination, which are sometimes made of wood and sometimes built with stone. They are generally fixed on the acute points of bastions and centinels are posted within them, for the purpose of watching the ditch, and of preventing any surprize in that quarter.

Those used upon the continent of Europe, particularly in France, contain from 3 to 4 French feet diameter within, and are 7 or 8 feet high. Their general shape or figure is round, pentagonal, hexagonal, &c.

There are apertures made on every side, through which the centinel can observe every thing that passes in the ditch. A path about 2 or 3 feet broad is cut through the parapet and the banquette, up to the entrance of the guerite. Wooden guerites are generally used where the rampart is lined with turf only.

The spots best adapted for guerites, are at the flanked angles of bastions, and at the angles of epaulements. Sometimes indeed, they are placed in the centre of the curtains. They must jut out at the point of the angle, and the ground floor should be upon a line with the cordon, which is a sort of fillet or trace that marks the separation of the rampart from the parapet. They must likewise project far enough to afford the centinel who is within, a full view of the faces, the flanks and the curtains, and, if possible, a thorough command of all the ditches.

_Gagner la_ GUERITE, _Fr._ A familiar phrase to express the escape of a person.

_Enfiler la_ GUERITE, _Fr._ To avoid the pursuit of another.

GUERRE, _Fr._ War; which see.

The word _guerre_ is indeed so frequently used among the French, that we shall not be thought too minute in specifying some general terms under that head. The principal ones are,

GUERRE _civile_, _Fr._ See CIVIL WAR.

_Homme de_ GUERRE, _Fr._ a military man.

_Nom de_ GUERRE, _Fr._ a war name; a borrowed name; it was formerly common to assume a _nom de guerre_ on entering the French army.

_Petite_ GUERRE, _Fr._ a harrassing species of warfare. A contest for plunder.

_Place de_ GUERRE, _Fr._ a fortified town or place.

_Faire la_ GUERRE _à l’œil_, in a figurative sense, signifies to watch stedfastly, and without taking off the eye from a particular object.

_A la guerre comme á la_ GUERRE. A familiar expression among the French, which implies, that things must be taken as they come.

_On ne fait la_ GUERRE _que pour faire enfin la paix_. War, after all, must end in peace.

_La guerre nourrit la_ GUERRE, figuratively means, that an army always subsists at the expence of the country in which it lies.

GUERRE _de Secours_, _Fr._ war of alliance or confederacy. This term is more especially applicable to that species of contest in which neighboring princes or countries embark to defend those with whom they are in alliance, against the aggression or exorbitant demands of a conqueror.

If such a contest or war be entered into upon the faith of settled treaties, the parties are bound not only to supply the stipulated number of soldiers, but even to augment their quota, if necessity should require, and sometimes to march in person against the common enemy.

If the object be to prevent any adjacent country from falling into the hands of a conqueror, who might afterwards molest the contracting party, the latter should observe many precautions before he withdraws from the contest; the principal one is to demand the possession of some strong places upon the frontiers, to prevent the inhabitants of the country that is attacked from making a separate peace.

The general selected to command an auxiliary army must be endued with wisdom and foresight. He must be wise and intelligent in order to preserve discipline and good order among his troops: and have foresight to provide for the wants of his army in a strange country, and to see that the men are not sent more into action than they ought, and that nothing is done contrary to the interest of his country.

GUERRE _de montagne_, _Fr._ a war which is chiefly carried on in a mountainous part of the country. This species of warfare is extremely hazardous, as it cannot be pursued without a thorough knowlege of the country, and by means of able stratagems. Marshal Saxe, in his Reveries, lays it down as a rule, that no army or detachment must venture into passes or narrow ways, without having first secured the eminences round them; and if the enemy should defend the gorges or outlets, false attacks must be resorted to, in order to divert his attention from a real one which is made against a weak quarter. It frequently happens that bye-ways are found out, which have escaped the enemy’s observation, and through which detached bodies may penetrate for the purpose of turning his flanks. In a _guerre de montagne_, or mountain-contest, it is essentially necessary, that the advancing body should keep up a regular and safe communication with its rear, as well to secure a retreat if necessary, as to have a free intercourse with its convoys. See AM. MIL. LIB.

GUERRE _de chicane_, _Fr._ See WAR _of chicane or stratagem_.

GUERRE _Sainte_, _Fr._ a romantic expedition which was made by the Christians, against the Infidels in Palestine, for the purpose of re-conquering the Holy Land, from whence it was called holy war, or _guerre sainte_. See CRUSADE.

_Foudre de_ GUERRE, a figurative expression among the French, to mark the character of a man who has distinguished himself in battle, and is acknowleged to possess a superior degree of valor.

_Flambeau de la_ GUERRE, _Fr._ the torch of war. Any person who causes war to be carried on with violence and animosity is so called.

_Aller à la petite_ GUERRE, _Fr._ to go out in detached parties for the direct purpose of plundering an enemy’s country.

_Faire bonne_ GUERRE, _Fr._ to carry on hostilities with as much humanity as the laws of war will permit.

_Faire bonne_ GUERRE, _à quelqu’un_, _Fr._ to treat with a man decently, but vigorously, on matters that require explanation and final arrangement.

GUERRE _et pitié ne s’accordent pas ensemble_, _Fr._ a French proverb, signifying war and commiseration seldom go hand in hand.

GUERRE _juste_, _Fr._ a just and necessary war, that is a war of defence, such as the war of resistance against the British, from 1775 to 1783; the war of the French against the first coalition, in 1792.

GUERRE _injuste_, _Fr._ an unjust war.

_Longue_ GUERRE, _Fr._ a long war.

GUERRE _étrangère_, _Fr._ a foreign war.

GUERRE _d’outre mer_, _Fr._ a war beyond the seas.

_Gens de_ GUERRE. See GENS.

_Le metier de la_ GUERRE, _Fr._ the profession of arms. Hence it is figuratively said, _les Francois sont au fait du métier de la guerre de terre, et les Anglois sont au fait du métier de la guerre de mer_. Frenchmen are at the top of the profession of arms on land, and Englishmen are unrivalled at sea.

_Les lois de la_ GUERRE, _Fr._ The laws of war.

_Le droit de la_ GUERRE, _Fr._ the rights of war.

_Ruse de_ GUERRE, _Fr._ a warlike stratagem.

_En temps de_ GUERRE, _Fr._ in time of war.

_Munitions de la_ GUERRE _et de bouche_, _Fr._ warlike stores, and provisions.

_Préparatifs de_ GUERRE, _Fr._ warlike preparations.

_Place de_ GUERRE, _Fr._ a fortified place.

_Machine de_ GUERRE, _Fr._ a warlike instrument or machine.

_Conseil de_ GUERRE, _Fr._ a council of war. It likewise means a court martial.

_Vaisseau de_ GUERRE, _Fr._ A ship of war.

_Vaisseau armé en_ GUERRE, _Fr._ an armed vessel.

_C’est un grand homme de_ GUERRE, _Fr._ he is a warlike character.

_Les malheurs de la_ GUERRE, _Fr._ the misfortunes of war.

_Avoir_ GUERRE, _Fr._ to commence hostilities.

_Avoir la_ GUERRE. _Fr._ to be in a state of warfare.

_Les fruits de la_ GUERRE, _Fr._ the fruits, or consequences of war.

_Entreprendre la_ GUERRE, _Fr._ to enter into a war.

_Déclarer la_ GUERRE, _Fr._ to declare war.

_Soutenir la_ GUERRE, _Fr._ to maintain the war.

_Entretenir la_ GUERRE, _Fr._ to support the war.

_Ces deux princes sont en_ GUERRE, _Fr._ these two potentates are at war.

_Etre en_ GUERRE _ouverte_, _Fr._ to be at open war.

_Se faire la_ GUERRE, _Fr._ to make war with one another.

_Aller à la_ GUERRE, _Fr._ to go to war.

_Allumer la_ GUERRE _dans un ètat_, _Fr._ to light up a war, or excite troubles in any state or country.

_Porter la_ GUERRE _dans le cœur d’un pays_, _Fr._ to carry war into the heart of a country.

GUERRE _entre les puissances egales_, _Fr._ war between two powers which are nearly equal in point of strength, and do not act with auxiliary troops.

_Qui terre a_ GUERRE _a_, _Fr._ a French proverb, signifying, every man who has landed property is exposed to feuds and litigation.

GUERRIER, _Fr._ Warrior.

_Un grand_ GUERRIER, _Fr._ a great warrior.

_Les plus fameux_ GUERRIERS, the most celebrated warriors.

It is also used as a substantive in the feminine gender, when speaking of an amazon; as, _la vaillante guerriere_.

GUERRIER, _Fr._ as an adjective is variously used, viz. warlike, any thing appertaining to war.

_Actions_ GUERRIERES, _Fr._ warlike actions.

_Travaux_ GUERRIERS, _Fr._ works of a military or warlike nature.

_Exploits_ GUERRIERS, _Fr._ warlike exploits.

_Courage_ GUERRIER, _Fr._ a warlike disposition.

_Humeur_ GUERRIERE, _Fr._ a warlike spirit or temper.

_Nation_ GUERRIERE, _Fr._ a warlike nation.

_Il a l’air_ GUERRIER, _Fr._ he has a warlike look or appearance.

_Il a la mine_ GUERRIERE, _Fr._ he has a warlike aspect.

GUERROYER, _Fr._ to make war.

GUERROYEUR, _Fr._ a warrior.

GUET, _Fr._ This term was particularly attached to those persons belonging to the French body-guards, that did duty during the night.

GUET _de la mer_, _Fr._ the watch which the inhabitants belonging to parishes, towns, or fortified places, situated on the sea coast, were bound to keep for its security. On occasions of this sort, the signal of alarm was made during the day by smoke, and during the night by lighted combustibles.

GUET, _Fr._ in a military sense, signifies rounds, or those duties of a soldier, or patroling party, which are prescribed for the security of a town, &c. and to prevent surprises.

_Faire le_ GUET _au haut du belfroi_, _Fr._ to be put upon duty, or stand watch at the top of a church belfry.

_Asseoir le_ GUET, _Fr._ to set the watch.

_Poser le_ GUET, to post the watch.

_Etre au_ GUET, _Fr._ to be upon the watch.

GUET _à pied_, _Fr._ foot patrole.

GUET _à cheval_, _Fr._ horse patrole.

_Ce sont les bourgeois qui font le_ GUET, _Fr._ the inhabitants of the place go the rounds.

_Cri au_ GUET, _Fr._ the hue and cry.

_Le_ GUET _vient de passer_, the patrole has just passed.

_Avoir l’œil au_ GUET, _Fr._ to be minutely watchful and observing.

_Avoir l’oreille au_ GUET, _Fr._ to be listening for the direct purpose of acquiring information.

_Maison de_ GUET, _Fr._ round-house.

_Mot du_ GUET, _Fr._ watch-word.

_Donner le mot de_ GUET, to give the watch-word.

_Se donner le mot de_ GUET, _Fr._ to understand one another. In familiar intercourse it means likewise to play booty together.

GUET _apens_, _Fr._ Ambush; any premeditated design to injure another in a clandestine manner. The French frequently use this expression; as

_Ce n’est point un rencontre ni un duel, c’est un_ GUET _apens_, _Fr._ it is neither an accidental meeting, nor a duel, it is a downright plot to murder him.

_Droit du_ GUET _et garde_, _Fr._ a right which was formerly enjoyed in feudal France, by some lords of the manor, and by which they were authorised to call upon their vassals to watch and patrole for the security of their castles, and to silence the frogs.

GUETRE. See GAITER.

_Tirer vos_ GUETRES, _Fr._ Go about your business: a familiar phrase which is used among the french, when a person is discarded, or turned away in a summary manner.

_Il y a laissé ses_ GUETRES, _Fr._ a figurative expression among French soldiers, signifying that a person died in such a place.

GUETRER, _Fr._ to put on gaiters.

GUETTE, _Fr._ a name given by the French carpenters to a stake that is fixed sideways and which serves for various purposes.

GUETTER, _Fr._ a familiar phrase, signifying to watch the motions of any body, for the purpose of circumvention or surprize.

GUETTER likewise means to watch for a fit opportunity to get access to any person.

_Il y a des sergens qui le_ GUETTENT, _Fr._ he is closely watched by some serjeants.

_Le soldat_ GUETTOIT _sou colonel pour lui presenter un placet_, _Fr._ the soldier watched his colonel, in order to lay his petition before him.

GUEUSE, _Fr._ a rough piece of iron, which has been melted, and has not gone through any further process or purification.

GUICHET, _Fr._ a small door or outlet, which is made in the gates of fortified towns. It is generally four feet high, and two broad; so that a man must stoop to get through. In 1669, the high town of the city of Albuquerque, in Spain, escaped being surprized by means of one of these outlets. In garrison towns, the guichet is left open for the space of one quarter of an hour after the retreat, in order to give the inhabitants time to enter.

GUICHET _d’une porte d’écluse_, an opening which is made in the gate of a sluice, and which closes by means of a flood-gate. It serves to let in water when wanted.

GUIDES, (_guides_, _Fr._) are generally the country people in the neighborhood where an army encamps: they are to give you intelligence concerning the country, the roads by which you are to march, and the route by which the enemy may approach you. Guides should be faithful, because, in giving you false intelligence, or guiding you wrong, they may greatly endanger the army. Several guides are requisite, as every corps that marches by night should have one at least. There is sometimes a captain, or chief of the guides, who should be a man of intelligence, active, and attentive to the diligence and fidelity of his people. He should always have a sufficient number with him, and who are well acquainted with the country.

In time of war, particularly in the seat of it, the guides invariably accompany head-quarters, and a certain number is allotted not only to general officers, but to all detachments made from the main body, either for the purpose of combating the advanced posts of an enemy, of protecting escorts, or securing convoys. Guides, in an army, may be justly called its principal outsets. They are to a body of men what the eyes are to the human frame. They cannot, however, be too jealously watched.

GUIDES, the name given to the non-commissioned officers who take positions to mark the pivots, marches, formations, and alignements in modern discipline; it is expressed in French by the word _jaloneur_, from _jalon_ a post. See JALON.

GUIDES _of manœuvre_, the name given to those which the French call _jaloneur_, and the British markers. The use of guides, is perhaps one of the best conceived and ingenious methods which could be devised to perfect the art of manœuvring troops; and one of its happiest advantages is its fitness for raw or undisciplined troops, which by the aid of _guides_ of manœuvre, may be brought to comprehend and execute every species of movement in company, platoons, divisions, or battalions, in one third of the time formerly required; and in a manner much more perfect than was formerly considered as the utmost excellence. See _Am. Mil. Lib._

GUIDES, corps of, under the new French dynasty have a new organization of which we hear only by some decisive effects.

_Corps des_ GUIDES, _Fr._ The corps of guides. This body was originally formed in France in the year 1756, and consisted of one captain, one 1st lieutenant, one 2d lieutenant, two serjeants, two corporals, one anspessade, and twenty privates, called _fusiliers-guides_.--Twelve out of the twenty-five (which was the effective number) were mounted. These consisted of one Serjeant, one corporal, and ten fusiliers. Their particular duty was to carry orders that required dispatch; and on this account they were always attached to head-quarters. The twelve fusiliers were mounted on small active horses, about four French feet, five or six inches high. They were supplied with a saddle, blue saddle-cloth trimmed with white, holster-caps the same; and they were armed with a fusil and cut-and-thrust bayonet, a pistol, sabre, with a cartouch-box, containing 20 rounds. They wore half-boots, or bottines.--Each man carried, moreover, one field utensil out of the twelve belonging to the company. These utensils consisted of four hatchets, four shovels, and four pick-axes. The thirteen _fusilier guides_ on foot were armed with a fusil six inches shorter than the regular musquet, with a blade-bayonet and a cartouch-box, holding twenty rounds of ball cartridges. Their uniform was a blue coat, waistcoat, and breeches, with flat white metal buttons. The hat was bordered with common white lace for the soldiers, and of a superior quality for the serjeants; which latter had three silver brandenburgs hanging from each shoulder. The corporals had three made of white worsted, and the anspessade two ditto. The daily pay of the captain was 4 livres, or 6s. 8d., the 1st lieutenant 1 livre, 7 sols and 6 deniers, equal to 2s. 4d., the 2d lieutenant 1 livre, or 10d., each serjeant 13 sols, or 6¹⁄₂d., each corporal 10 sols, or 6d., each anspessade 8 sols, 6 deniers, or 4¹⁄₂d. and each private 6 sols, 6 deniers, or 3¹⁄₂d.

GUIDON, _Fr._ See SIGHT.

GUIDON, in ancient military history, the name of a sort of standard broad at one extreme and almost pointed at the other, and slit or divided into two.

GUIDON also implies the officer who carries the guidon or standard.

GUIDONS, in the French service, were exclusively attached to the Gendarmerie; and among them the word formerly meant not only the standard but likewise the officer who carried it.