Part 74

The lacerna was adopted by the Romans towards the close of their republic. Even as late down as the days of Cicero it was unknown amongst them, or if known, censured as a mark of disgraceful effeminacy. During the civil wars that occurred in the triumvirate of Augustus, Lepidus, and Antony, the lacerna became familiar to the people, and by degrees was adopted as common apparel, by the senators and knights of Rome, until the reigns of Gratian, Valentinian, and Theodosius, who enjoined the senators not to wear it.

The lacerna is the same as the _chlamys_ and the _burrbus_.

_Un_ LACHE, _Fr._ A familiar phrase among the french to signify a coward, &c.

LACHER, _Fr._ to go off. _Son pistolet, ou son fusil, vint à lâcher_; his pistol, or his musquet, went off of itself.

LACHER _pied_, _Fr._ to run away.

LACHER _un prisonnier_, _Fr._ to let a prisoner escape, or go away unmolested.

LACHER _un coup_, in speaking of fire arms, signifies to discharge a pistol or musquet. _Il lui lâcha un coup de pistolet dans la tête_; he lodged a bullet in his head. _Le vaisseau lâcha toute sa bordée à la portée du mousquet_; the ship fired a whole broadside within musquet shot.

LACHETE, _Fr._ An opprobrious term which is frequently used among the French, and is applied in all instances of cowardice, want of spirit, or dishonorable conduct. One of their writers emphatically observes, that in a military sense of the word it cannot be misunderstood, as the least imputation of cowardice or want of spirit, is sufficient to destroy the entire character and fame of every officer and soldier whom it may affect. As it is the direct opposite to courage, the person who enters into the profession of arms, should weigh well within himself whether he possesses that indispensible quality, which is above all the temptations of pleasure or the effeminacy of life, and is only alive to the glorious impulse of military animation. He only, in fact, is fit for arms, whose spirit is superior to every sordid view, who knows no personal fear, and who can encounter the greatest difficulties and dangers with an inward placidity of soul, and an outward indifference to life. In order to illustrate this article, we shall quote some ancient and modern instances of that species of cowardice or _lâcheté_, which affects the military character.

Euripidas, chief of the Eléans, having imprudently advanced too far into a long and narrow defile, and learning, that Philip of Macedon was on this march to block up the passage through which he had entered, instead of manfully waiting the issue of an engagement, abandoned his army, in the most cowardly manner. It does not appear says the chevalier Folard, that Euripidas possessed those talents which are necessary to form a great general; for instead of meanly stealing off by a bye road and leaving his army to its fate, he would have remained at its head, and either have fought his way through, honorably have capitulated, or have died combating with his men.

Base and inglorious as this conduct of Euripidas most unquestionably was, the behaviour of Perseus king of the Macedonians exceeded it in cowardice and degradation. This infamous prince did not wait to be visited by misfortune or to lose a battle; he had, on the contrary, obtained a signal victory over the Romans, and when Paulus Emilius marched against him, the army he commanded was not inferior to that of his opponent in discipline and valor, and had the advantage in point of numbers. Yet, strange to relate! the engagement was no sooner begun, than he rode off full gallop, and repaired to the town of Pydnus, under the flimsy pretext of sacrificing to the God Hercules; as if Hercules, to use Plutarch’s expression, was the deity to whom the prayers and offerings of _Cowards_ were to be preferred!

The English duke of York on two occasions during his command in the Netherlands, displayed this _lâcheté_.

Mark Antony on the other hand, after having acquired the reputation of a brave and distinguished general, submitted to the allurements of sensual gratification, and buried all his glory in the meretricious embraces of an Egyptian strumpet. We have had a striking instance, during the present war, of the superiority which a real military thirst for glory will always have over private indulgences. When the French army was very critically situated in Germany, general Hoche who commanded it, became exposed one evening to the allurements of a most beautiful woman, who by design or accident got placed near the general at a public supper. Aware of the weakness of human nature, and full of his own glory, as well as conscious of the critical state of the army entrusted to his care, he suddenly rose, ordered his horses, and left the place at midnight.

We might enumerate a variety of cases in which the greatest heroes have fallen victims to human weakness; and few alas! in which a sense of public duty and a regard for the opinion of posterity have got the ascendancy. History, however, saves us that trouble, and we shall remain satisfied with having explained under the word _Lâchete_, what we conceive disgraceful in an officer or soldier, who suffers personal fear, passion, or interest to get the better of public character.

_La trahison est une lâcheté_; treason is infamous in its nature.

LACUNETTE, _Fr._ a term in fortification. A small fossé or ditch was formerly so called. The word _Cunette_ has since been adopted.

LADAVEE, _Ind._ A release or acquittance from any demand.

LADLES, _in gunnery_, are made of copper, to hold the powder for loading guns, with long handles of wood, when cartridges are not used.

LADLES, in _laboratory business_, are very small, made of copper, with short handles of wood, used in supplying the fuses of shells, or any other composition, to fill the cases of sky-rockets, &c.--There is another kind of ladle which is used to carry red hot shot. It is made of iron, having a ring in the middle to hold the shot, from which 2 handles proceed from opposite sides of the ring.

_Scaling_-LADDERS (_échelles de siege_, _Fr._) are used in scaling when a place is to be taken by surprise. They are made several ways: sometimes of flat staves, so as to move about their pins and shut like a parallel ruler, for conveniently carrying them: the French make them of several pieces, so as to be joined together, and to be capable of any necessary length: sometimes they are made of single ropes, knotted at proper distances, with iron hook at each end, one to fasten them upon the wall above, and the other in the ground; and sometimes they are made with 2 ropes, and staves between them, to keep the ropes at a proper distance, and to tread upon. When they are used in the action of scaling walls, they ought to be rather too long than too short, and to be given in charge only to the stoutest of the detachment. The soldiers should carry these ladders with the left arm passed through the second step, taking care to hold them upright close to their sides, and very short below, to prevent any accident in leaping into the ditch.

The first rank of each division, provided with ladders, should set out with the rest at the signal, marching resolutely with their firelocks slung, to jump into the ditch: when they are arrived, they should apply their ladders against the parapet, observing to place them towards the salient angles rather than the middle of the curtain, because the enemy has less force there. Care must be taken to place the ladders within a foot of each other, and not to give them too much nor too little slope, so that they may not be overturned, or broken with the weight of the soldiers mounting upon them.

The ladders being applied, they who have carried them, and they who come after should mount up, and rush upon the enemy sword in hand: if he who goes first, happens to be overturned, the next should take care not to be thrown down by his comrade; but on the contrary, immediately mount himself so as not to give the enemy time to load his piece.

As the soldiers who mount first may be easily tumbled over, and their fall may cause the attack to fail, it would perhaps be right to protect their breasts with the fore-parts of cuirasses; because, if they can penetrate, the rest may easily follow.

The success of an attack by scaling is infallible, if they mount the 4 sides at once, and take care to shower a number of grenades among the enemy, especially when supported by some grenadiers and picquets, who divide the attention and share the fire of the enemy.

The ingenious colonel Congreve of the British artillery, has very much improved upon the construction of these ladders. As the height of different works vary, and the ladders, when too long, afford purchase to the besieged, he has contrived a set of ladders having an iron staple at the lower part of each stem, so that if 1, 2, or 3, should be found insufficient to reach the top of the work, another might with facility be joined to the lowest, and that be pushed up until a sufficient length could be obtained.

LAITON, _sometimes written_ LETTON, _Fr._ a metallic composition which is made of copper and the lapis calaminaris; a soft brass.

LALA, _Ind._ lord; sir; master; worship.

LAMA, _Ind._ A chief priest, whose followers suppose him immortal. They imagine, that on the dissolution of his mortal frame, his spirit enters the body of a new born child. He is also monarch of Thibet.

LAMBREQUINS, _Fr._ small mantles or ribands which were twisted round the hood or top of a helmet at the bottom of the crest, and kept the whole together. These ornaments fell into disuse when the helmet was laid aside. In former times, when the cavaliers or persons who wore them, wished to take breath, and to be relieved from the weight of the helmet, they untied the mantles, and let them float about their shoulders suspended from the hood only. Hence the appellation of _valets_ as hanging behind.

LAMPION _à parapet_, _Fr._ a lamp generally used on the parapet or elsewhere in a besieged place. It is a small iron vessel filled with pitch and tar which the garrison lighted as occasions required. The lampion is sometimes confounded with the _réchaud_ de rampart, or chaffing dish, which is used upon the rampart on similar occasions.

LANCE, _lance_, _Fr._ This offensive weapon was much used by the French in former times, particularly by that class of military gentlemen called chevaliers, and by the gendarmes. It has also been used by the English and other nations. Lances were made of ash, being a wood of a tough quality and not so liable to break as another species. Before the reign of Philip de Valois, the chevaliers and gens d’armes fought on foot, armed with lances only, both in battles and at sieges. On these occasions they shortened their lances, which were then said to be retaillées or cut again. A sort of bannerol or streamer hung from each lance, and was attached to the bottom of the sharp iron or blade which was fixed to the pole. Lances were used in this manner as far back as during the crusades.

_Rompre la_ LANCE, _Fr._ to break a lance. This was a phrase peculiar to any assault which was given at tilts or tournaments, and signified to engage or come to close combat.

_Rompre une_ LANCE, according to the last edition of the Dictionnaire de l’Académie Francoise, likewise means in a familiar and proverbial sense, to defend another against the attacks of an adversary. The French say: _rompre des lances pour quelqu’un_, to defend another: _rompre une lance avec quelqu’un_, to enter into any warm dispute or controversy with another.

_Main de la_ LANCE, _Fr._ A figurative expression, to signify the right hand of a cavalier or horseman.

LANCE _de drapeau_, _Fr._ The staff to which regimental colors are attached.

LANCES _levées_, _Fr._ uplifted lances, indicated that the enemy was beaten, and that the chevaliers or gendarmes should close the day by giving a final blow to the disordered ranks. The use of the lance was discontinued in France sometime before the compagnies d’ordonnance or independent companies were reduced and formed into the gendarmerie. Little or no use indeed, was made of them, during the reign of Henry IV. But the Spaniards still retained that weapon as low down as the days of Louis XIII. and when arms were too scarce at the opening of the French revolution, the _pike_ or _lance_ was resorted to with great success.

LANCE, _Fr._ means likewise an iron rod which is fixed across the earthen mould of a shell, and which keeps it suspended in the air when it is cast. As soon as the bomb or shell is formed, this rod must be broken, and carefully taken out with instruments made for that purpose. Shells ought to be scrupulously examined with respect to this article, as they could not be charged, were the lance or any part of it to remain within. _Lance_ is also an instrument which conveys the charge of a piece of ordnance and forces it home into the bore. See RAMMER of a GUN.

LANCE _à feu_, _Fr._ a squib. A species of artificial fire work which is made in the shape of a fuse, and is used for various purposes. According to the author of _Œuvres Militaires_, tom. II. p. 208, the composition of the _lance à feu_ consists of three parts of the best refined salt-petre, two parts of flour of sulphur, and two of antimony; the whole being pounded and mixed together.

The chief use which is made of the _lance à feu_ is to throw occasional light across the platform, whilst artificial fireworks are preparing. They likewise serve to set fire to fuses, as they can be taken hold of without danger.

LANCE _à feu puant_, _Fr._ Stink-fire lances prepared in the same manner that stink-pots are, and particularly useful to miners. When a miner or sapper has so far penetrated towards the enemy as to hear the voices of persons in any place contiguous to his own excavation, he first of all bores a hole with his probe, then fires off several pistols through the aperture, and lastly forces in a _lance à feu puant_, taking care to close up the hole on his side to prevent the smoke from returning towards himself. The exhalation and stinking hot vapour which issue from the lance, and remain confined on the side of the enemy, infest the air so much, that it is impossible to approach the quarter for three or four days. Sometimes, indeed, they have had so instantaneous an effect, that in order to save their lives, miners, who would persevere, have been dragged out by the legs in an apparent state of suffocation.

LANCE _de feu_, _Fr._ a species of squib which is used by the garrison of a besieged town against a scaling party.

LANCE-_Gaie_, _Fr._ an offensive weapon formerly so called in France.

LANCE _Spezzate_, _Fr._ a reduced officer. In former times it signified a dismounted gendarme who was appointed to an infantry corps with some emolument attached to his situation. The word anspessade, a non-commissioned officer who acts subordinate to the corporal, is corrupted from this term. Besides the three hundred Swiss guards which were constantly attached to the palace, the Pope maintained twelve lance-spezzates or reduced officers.

LANDING _Troops_. See DEBARKATION, and REGULATIONS.

LAND FORCES, troops whose system is calculated for land service only, in contradistinction to seamen and mariners. All the land forces of Great Britain are liable to serve on board the navy. Indeed the marine establishment as a military corps is an anomaly, kept up only for patronage; the proper establishment of soldiers for sea service should be by detachments from the infantry, according to a roster.

LANE, in a _military sense_, is where men are drawn up in two ranks facing one another, as in a street, for any great person to pass through, or sometimes for a soldier to run the gantelope.

LANGUE, _Fr._ a term peculiarly connected with the late military order of Malta. The eight nations of which this celebrated order consisted, were distinguished by the appellation of _Langue_ or tongues. There were three of this description in France, viz. _la Langue de France_, _la Langue de Provence_, _et la Langue d’Auvergne_; two in Spain, viz. _la Langue d’Arragon_, _et la Langue de Castile_; and three indiscriminate ones, viz. _la Langue d’Italia_, _la Langue d’Allemagne_, _et la Langue d’Angleterre_. The head of each langue was called _Grand Prieur_, or _Grand Prior_.

LANGUE _de terre_, _Fr._ a tongue of land.

LANSQUENETS, _Fr._ the German mercenaries which Charles VII. of France first added to his infantry, were so called. They continued in the French service until the reign of Francis I. who consolidated all the foot establishments into a certain number of legions; they were so called from the lance or pike which was their weapon.

LANS-PESATE, LANCE-PESADE, a soldier that does duty as a corporal, especially on guards and detachments; a lance corporal.

LANTERN, LANTHORN, commonly called Muscovy lanterns, being a kind of dark lantherns, used in the field, when dark, to light the gunners in the camp to prepare the stores, &c.

LANTERNE, _Fr._ A word used in the French navy to signify any wooden case or box in which cartridges are brought out of the powder magazine for the purpose of serving the guns.

LANTERNE, _Fr._ it is sometimes called _cuiller_ or ladle, and serves to convey gunpowder into a piece of ordnance. It is made of copper, and resembles a round spoon or ladle, which is fixed to a long pole.

LANTERNE, _a mitrailles_, _Fr._ A round piece of concave wood, something like a box, which is filled with case shot, and is fired from a piece of ordnance when the enemy is near.

LASCARS, or _Laskars_. The native seamen of India; the native gunners are likewise so called. They are employed to tend and serve the artillery on shore, and are attached to corps as pioneers or tent-pitchers.

LASHING-RINGS, in _artillery_, with hoops, fixed on the side-pieces of travelling carriages, to lash the tarpauling, as also to tie the spunge, rammer, and ladle. See CARRIAGE.

LATH, in _building_, a long, thin, and narrow slip of wood, nailed to the rafters of a roof or ceiling, in order to fasten the covering. Laths are distinguished into three kinds, according to the different kinds of wood of which they are made, viz. heart of oak, sap-laths, deal-laths, &c.

LATHE, a machine for turning wood or metal.

LATHE _Reeve_, an officer during the Saxon government, who held a certain jurisdiction over that part of the country which was called a tithing.

LATTIE, an Indian term for warehouse.

LATITUDE, in _geography_, the distance of any place from the equator, measured in degrees, minutes, seconds, &c. upon the meridian of that place: and is either north or south according as the place is situated either on the north or south side of the equator.

LATRINES, _Fr._ privies or holes which are dug at the back of a camp for the convenience of soldiers. The pioneers are generally employed to make them.

LAVER, LAVIS, _Fr._ a wash, or superficial stain or color; it is particularly made use of in all sketches, plans, and drawings; the different intervals or spaces of which are slightly shaded or colored. This kind of painting is stiled _lavis_, or water-coloring. The difference between miniature painting and washing or drawing in water colors, consists in this, that the former is dotted and worked up into light and shade; the latter is barely spread with a brush. There are, besides, other marks of distinction; those colors which more immediately resemble nature, are always used in the lavis or water-painting; the spaces that represent a fosse or ditch, which is supposed to be full of water, must be distinguished by a sky blue; brick and tiles by red; roads by a dun color, and trees or turf, &c. by green.

LAVIS, _Fr._ generally means every sort of simple color which is diluted with water.

LAVURE, _Fr._ the grains, dust, or detached pieces of metal which fall in casting cannon.

LAUREL, a shrub which is always green.

_To be crowned with laurels_, a figurative expression, signifying that a man has atchieved glorious actions, and is entitled to marks of public distinction. In ancient times heroes and conquerors had their heads encircled with a wreath of laurels.

LAURES, gold coins which were issued from the English mint in 1619, representing the head of king James I. encircled with laurels.

LAW _of arms_, certain acknowleged rules, regulations, and precepts, which relate to war, and are observed by all civilized nations.

LAWS _of arms_ are likewise certain precepts shewing how to proclaim war, to attack the enemy, and to punish offenders in the camp; also restricting the contending parties from certain cruelties, &c.

LAW _military_. The persons who are subject to military law, and are amenable to trial by court martial, are in the terms of military law, all persons commissioned or in pay, as officers, non-commissioned officers, private soldiers, and all followers of an army. Half pay officers are not subject to military law, whilst civil justice can be resorted to.

LAWS _relating to martial affairs_. The following laws existed during the most flourishing state of the Roman commonwealth. We insert them in this place as by no means being inapplicable to the present times.

_Secreta Lex Militaris_, which was promulgated about the year 411, ordained, that no soldier’s name which had been entered in the muster roll, should be struck out, unless by the party’s consent; and that no person who had been military tribune should execute the office of _ductor ordinum_. _Sempronia lex_, which appeared in the year 630, ordained, that the soldiers should receive their pay gratis at the public charge, without any diminution of their ordinary pay; and that none should be obliged to serve in the army, who was not full seventeen years old. _Sulpicia lex_, which was made in 665, ordained, that the chief command in the Mithridatic war, which was then enjoyed by L. Sylla, should be taken from him, and conferred on C. Marius.

_Gabinia lex_ appeared in 685, ordaining that a commission should be granted to Cn. Pompey, for the management of the war against the pirates for three years, with this particular clause, that upon all the sea on this side Hercules’s pillars, and in the maritime provinces, as far as 400 stadia from the sea, he should be empowered to command kings, governors, and states to supply him with all the necessaries in his expedition.

_Manilia lex_, published in 687, ordained, that all the forces of Lucullus, and the province under his government, should be given to Pompey; together with Bithynia, which was under the command of Glabrio, and that he should forthwith make war upon Mithridates, retaining still the same naval forces, and the sovereignty of the seas as before.

_Maria Parcia lex_ appeared in 1691, ordaining that a penalty should be inflicted on such commanders as wrote falsely to the senate, about the number of the slain, on the enemy’s side, and of their own party; and that they should be obliged, when they first entered the city, to take a solemn oath before the quæstors that the number which they returned, was true, according to the best computation. See Kennett’s Ant. of Rome, page 168.

It will be seen by these laws, particularly by the last, that the most minute military operation was subservient to the senate. The French seem, in this respect, to have imitated the Romans very closely, but they do not appear to have adhered, so strictly as they might, to the law which regards the loss of men, nor are their neighbors more correct.

LAWS _of Nations_, such general rules as regard the embassies, reception and entertainment of strangers, intercourse of merchants, exchange of prisoners, suspension of arms, &c.

LAW _of marque_, or _letters of marque_, that by which persons take the goods or shipping of the party that has wronged them, as in time of war, whenever they can take them within their precincts.