Part 9
_Line of march of the_ ARTILLERY for a large army, as established before the French revolution:
1. A guard of the army; the strength of which depends on the commander in chief.
2. The companies of miners (excepting a detachment from each, dispersed in various places, to mend the roads) with tumbrels of tools, drawn by 2 horses, assisted by pioneers.
3. The brigades of artillery’s front-guard, with four light 6 pounders loaded, and matches burning.
4. The trumpeters on horse-back.
5. The flag-gun, drawn by 12 horses, and ten 12 pounders more, by 4 horses each.
6. Twenty waggons with stores for the said guns, and 1 spare one, by 4 horses each.
7. All the pontoons, with the waggons thereto belonging.
8. Eight 9 pounders, by 3 horses each.
9. Fifteen waggons with stores for said guns, by 4 horses each, and 2 spare ones.
10. Gins and capstans, with their proper workmen, 3 waggons, with 2 horses each.
11. A forge on four wheels, and 1 waggon, 4 horses each.
12. Twelve heavy 24 pounders, by 16 horses each.
13. Sixteen waggons with stores for ditto, and 2 spare ones, by 4 horses each.
14. A waggon with tools, and pioneers to mend the roads.
15. Nine light 24 pounders, by 8 horses each.
16. Twelve waggons with stores for ditto, and 2 spare ones, by 4 horses each.
17. A forge and waggon, by 4 horses each.
18. Nine 24 pounders, by 8 horses each.
19. Twelve waggons with stores for ditto, and 2 spare ones.
20. Twelve 12 pounders, by 8 horses each.
21. Sixteen waggons with stores for ditto, and 2 spare ones.
22. Sixteen 5.8 inch mortars, by 2 horses each.
23. Twenty-five waggons with stores for ditto, and 2 spare ones.
24. Ten 8 inch mortars, by 4 horses each.
25. Twenty waggons with stores for ditto, and 2 spare ones.
26. Six 10 inch howitzers, by 6 horses each.
27. Twenty waggons with stores for ditto, and 2 spare ones.
28. A waggon with tools, and men to mend the roads.
29. A forge and waggon, by 4 horses each.
30. Ten 8 inch mortars, by 4 horses each.
31. Twenty waggons with stores for ditto, and a spare one.
32. Sixteen 12 inch mortars, by 8 horses each.
33. Thirty waggons with stores for ditto, and 2 spare ones.
34. Eight 18 inch stone mortars, by 10 horses each.
35. Sixteen waggons with stores for ditto, and a spare one.
36. Eight 9 pounders, by 3 horses each.
37. Sixteen waggons with stores for ditto, and a spare one.
38. Twenty 6 pounders, by 2 horses each.
39. Twenty waggons with stores for ditto, and a spare one.
40. Two sling-waggons, and 2 truck-carriages, 4 horses each.
41. Twenty 3 pounders, by 1 horse each.
42. Ten waggons with stores for ditto, and a spare one.
43. A waggon with tools, &c.
44. A forge and waggon, by 4 horses each.
45. Twelve 2 and 1 pounders, by 1 horse each.
46. Six waggons with stores for ditto.
47. Sixteen 6 pounders, by 2 horses each.
48. Ten waggons with stores for ditto.
49. Twenty spare carriages, for various calibres.
50. Eighteen ditto.
51. Fifty spare limbers.
52. Ten 18 pounders, by 6 horses each.
53. Twenty waggons with stores for ditto, and 2 spare ones.
54. Twenty waggons with ammunition and stores.
55. Two 12 pounders, by 4 horses each.
56. Four waggons with stores for ditto.
57. Fifty waggons with stores.
58. A waggon with tools, and men to mend the roads.
59. A forge and waggon, by 4 horses each.
60. A hundred waggons with stores, and 4 spare ones.
61. Four 2 and 1 pounders, by 1 horse each.
62. A hundred waggons with stores, and 3 spare ones.
63. Two hundred waggons, and 2 spare ones.
64. Two hundred and fourteen waggons belonging to the artillery baggage; some with 4, 3, and 2 horses each.
65. The artillery rear-guard.
66. The rear-guard from the army.
_Horse Artillery._--The French horse artillery consists of 8 Prs. and 6 inch Howitzers.
The English of light 12 Prs., light 6 Prs. and light 5¹⁄₂ inch Howitzers.
The Austrian and Prussian horse artillery have 6 Prs. and 5¹⁄₂ inch Howitzers.
The United States by a law of April 12, 1808, authorised the raising of a regiment of horse artillery of ten companies, of the same number of officers and men as the artillery regiment of the old establishment to the company.
_Officers of_ ARTILLERY. The commander of the army is commander in chief of the artillery; the colonels of artillery act under his orders; they are entrusted with one of the most laborious employments, both in war and peace, requiring the greatest ability, application, and experience. The officers in general should be good mathematicians, and engineers, should know all the powers of artillery, the attack and defence of fortified places; in a word, every thing which appertains to that very important corps.
ARTILLEUR, _Fr._ an officer belonging to the French service.
ARTILLIER, _Fr._ a man who works on pieces of ordnance as a founder; or one who serves them in action.
ARX, in the ancient military art, a fort, castle, &c. for the defence of a place.
ARZEGAGES, _Fr._ batons or canes with iron at both ends. They were carried by the Estradiots or Albanian cavaliers who served in France under Charles VIII. and Louis XII.
ASAPPES, or AZAPES, auxiliary troops which are raised among the Christians subject to the Turkish empire. These troops are generally placed in the front to receive the first shock of the enemy.
ASCENT. See GUNNERY.
ASPECT, is the view or profile of land or coast, and contains the figure or representation of the borders of any particular part of the sea. These figures and representations may be found in all the charts or directories for the sea coast. The Italians call them _demonstratione_. By means of this knowlege you may ascertain whether the land round the shore be high; if the coast itself be steep or sloping; bent in the form of an arc, or extended in strait lines; round at the top, or rising to a point. Every thing, in a word, is brought in a correct state before the eye, as far as regards harbors, swamps, bogs, gulphs, adjacent churches, trees, windmills, &c. See RECONNOITRING in _Amer. Mil. Lib._
_A menacing_ ASPECT. An army is said to hold a menacing aspect, when by advanced movements or positions it gives the opposing enemy cause to apprehend an attack.
_A military_ ASPECT. A country is said to have a military aspect, when its general situation presents appropriate obstacles or facilities for an army acting on the offensive or defensive.
_An imposing_ ASPECT. An army is said to have an imposing aspect, when it appears stronger than it really is. This appearance is often assumed for the purpose of deceiving an enemy, and may not improperly be considered as a principal _ruse de guerre_, or feint in war.
ASPIC, _Fr._ a piece of ordnance which carries a 12 pound shot. The piece itself weighs 42-50 pounds.
ASSAILLIR, _Fr._ to attack; to assail. This old French term applies equally to bodies of men and to individuals.
ASSAULT, a furious effort to carry a fortified post, camp, or fortress, where the assailants do not screen themselves by any works. While an assault during a siege continues, the batteries cease, for fear of killing their own men. An assault is sometimes made by the regiments that guard the trenches of a siege, sustained by detachments from the army.
_To give an_ ASSAULT, is to attack any post, &c.
_To repulse an_ ASSAULT, to cause the assailants to retreat, to beat them back.
_To carry by_ ASSAULT, to gain a post by storm, &c.
ASSAUT, _Fr._ See ASSAULT.
ASSIEGER, _Fr._ to besiege.
ASSEMBLEE, _Fr._ the assembling together of an army. Also a _call_, or beat of the drum. See ASSEMBLY.
ASSEMBLY, the second beating of the drum before a march; at which the men strike their tents, if encamped, roll them up, and stand to arms. See DRUM.
ASSESSMENT, in a military sense, signifies a certain rate which is paid in England by the county treasurer to the receiver-general of the land-tax, to indemnify any place for not having raised the militia; which sum is to be paid by the receiver-general into the exchequer. The sum to be assessed is five pounds for each man, where no annual certificate of the state of the militia has been transmitted to the clerk of the peace: if not paid before June yearly it may be levied on the parish officers. Such assessment where there is no county rate is to be raised as the poor’s rate.
ASSIETTE, _Fr._ the immediate scite or position of a camp.
ASSOCIATION, any number of men embodied in arms for mutual defence in their district; and to preserve the public tranquility therein, against foreign or domestic enemies.
ASTRAGAL. See CANNON.
ATTACH. Officers and non-commissioned officers are said to be attached to the respective army, regiment, battalion, troop, or company with which they are appointed to act.
ATTACHE, _Fr._ the seal and signature of the colonel-general in the old French service, which were affixed to the commissions of officers after they had been duly examined.
ATTACK, any general assault, or onset, that is given to gain a post, or break a body of troops.
ATTACK _of a siege_, is a furious assault made by the besiegers by means of trenches, galleries, saps, breaches, or mines, &c. by storming any part of the front attack. Sometimes two attacks are carried on at the same time, between which a communication must be made. See SIEGE.
_False_ ATTACKS are never carried on with that vigor and briskness that the others are; the design of them being to favor the true attack, by amusing the enemy and by obliging the garrison to severer duty in dividing their forces, that the true attack may be more successful.
_Regular_ ATTACK, is that which is carried on in form, according to the rules of art. See SIEGE, APPROACHES, &c.
_To_ ATTACK _in front or flank_, in fortification, means to attack the saliant angle, or both sides of the bastion.
This phrase is familiarly used with respect to bodies of men which attack each other in a military way.
ATTACK _and Defence_. A part of the drill for recruits learning the sword exercise, which is commenced with the recruit stationary on horseback, the teacher riding round him, striking at different parts as openings appear, and instructing the recruit how to ward his several attacks; it is next executed in a walk, and, as the learner becomes more perfect, in speed; in the latter under the idea of a pursuit. The attack and defence in line and in speed form the concluding part of the sword exercise when practised at a review of cavalry. It is to be observed, that although denominated _in speed_, yet when practising, or at a review, the pace of the horse ought not to exceed _three quarters_ speed.
ATTENTION, a cautionary word used as a preparative to any particular exercise or manœuvre. _Garde-á-vous_, which is pronounced _Gar-a-vous_, has the same signification in the French service.
ATTESTATION, a certificate made by some justice of the peace of the enlistment of a recruit. This certificate is to bear testimony, that the recruit has been brought before him in conformity to law and has declared his _assent_ or _dissent_ to such enlistment; and, if according to the law he shall have been, and is duly enlisted, that the proper oath has been administered to him by the said magistrate.
ATILT, in the attitude of thrusting with a spear, &c. as was formerly the case in tournaments, &c.
AVANT, _Fr._ foremost, most advanced toward the enemy, as
AVANT-_chemin couvert_, _Fr._ The advanced covert-way which is made at the foot of the glacis to oppose the approaches of an enemy.
AVANT-_duc_, _Fr._ The pile-work which is formed by a number of young trees on the edge or entrance of a river. They are driven into the ground with battering rams or strong pieces of iron, to form a level floor, by means of strong planks being nailed upon it, which serve for the foundation of a bridge. Boats are placed wherever the _avant-duc_ terminates. The avant-duc is had recourse to when the river is so broad that there are not boats sufficient to make a bridge across. Avant-ducs are made on each side of the river.
AVANT-_fossé_, _Fr._ The ditch of the counterscarp next to the country. It is dug at the foot of the glacis. See FORTIFICATION.
AVANT-_garde_. See VAN GUARD.
AVANT-_train_, _Fr._ The limbers of a field piece, on which are placed one or two boxes containing ammunition enough for immediate service.
AUDITOR, the person who audits regimental or other military accounts.
AVENUE, in fortification, is any kind of opening or inlet into a fort, bastion, or out-work.
AUGET, or AUGETTE, _Fr._ A wooden pipe which contains the powder by which a mine is set fire to.
AULNE _de Paris_, a French measure, containing 44 inches, used to measure sand-bags.
AUTHORITY, in a general acceptation of the term, signifies a right to command, and a consequent right to be obeyed. The appointment of officers in the army of the United States is in the nomination by the president, and approved by a majority of the Senate. The president may however dismiss at his discretion. The king of Great-Britain has the power to exercise military authority without controul, as far as regards the army; and may appoint or dismiss officers at his pleasure.
AUXILIARY. Foreign or subsidiary troops which are furnished to a belligerent power in consequence of a treaty of alliance, or for pecuniary considerations. Of the latter description may be considered the Hessians that were employed by Great-Britain to enslave America.
AWARD, the sentence or determination of a military court.
AXLE-TREE, a transverse beam supporting a carriage, and on the ends of which the wheels revolve. See CARRIAGES.
B.
BACK-_Step_, the retrograde movement of a man or body of men without changing front; it is half the forward step.
BACKWARDS, a technical word made use of in the British service to express the retrograde movement of troops from line into column, and _vice versa_. See WHEEL.
BAGGAGE, in military affairs, signifies the clothes, tents, utensils of divers sorts, and provisions, &c. belonging to an army.
BAGGAGE-_Waggons_. See WAGGONS.
BAGPIPE, the name of a musical warlike instrument, of the wind kind, used by the Scots regiments, and sometimes by the Irish. Bagpipes were used by the Danes; by the Romans, and by the Asiatics at this day; there is in Rome a most beautiful bas-relievo, a piece of Grecian sculpture of the highest antiquity, which represents a bag-piper playing on his instrument exactly like a modern highlander. The Greeks had also an instrument composed of a _pipe_ and _blown-up skin_. The Romans in all probability, borrowed it from them. The Italians still use it under the names of _piva_ and _cornumusa_. The Bagpipe has been a favorite instrument among the Scots. There are two varieties: the one with long pipes, and sounded with the mouth; the other with short pipes, filled with air by a bellows, and played on with the fingers: the first is the loudest and most ear-piercing of all music, is the genuine highland pipe, and is well suited to the warlike genius of that people. It formerly roused their courage to battle, alarmed them when secure, and collected them when scattered: solaced them in their long and painful marches, and in times of peace kept up the memory of the gallantry of their ancestors, by tunes composed after signal victories. The other is the Irish bagpipe.
BAGS, in military employments, are used on many occasions: as,
_Sand_ BAGS, generally 16 inches diameter, and 30 high, filled with earth or sand to repair breaches, and the embrasures of batteries, when damaged by the enemies fire, or by the blast of the guns. Sometimes they are made less, and placed three together, upon the parapets, for the men to fire through.
_Earth_-BAGS, containing about a cubical foot of earth, are used to raise a parapet in haste, or to repair one that is beaten down. They are only used when the ground is rocky, and does not afford earth enough to carry on the approaches.
BALANCE, _Fr._ a term used in the French artillery to express a machine in which stores and ammunition are weighed.
BALL, in the military art, comprehends all sorts of balls and bullets for fire-arms, from the cannon to the pistol.
BALLS of Lead, of different kinds.
+-------+---------+------------ |_Number|_Diameter| _No. made |to one | in |from one ton KINDS. |Pound._| Inches._| of Lead._ -----------+-------+---------+------------ Wall pieces| 6³⁄₄ | .89 | 14,760 Musquets | 14¹⁄₂ | .68 | 32,480 Carabine | 20 | .60 | 44,800 Pistol | 34 | .51 | 78,048 7 Brl. guns| 46¹⁄₂ | .46 | 104,160 -----------+-------+---------+------------
Lead balls are packed in boxes containing each 1 cwt. About 4 pounds of lead in the cwt. are generally lost in casting. See SHOT.
_Cannon_-BALLS are of iron; and musket and pistol-balls are of lead. Cannon-balls are always distinguished by their respective calibres, thus,
A 42} {6,684 inches. 32} {6,105 24} {5,547 18} {5,040 12} pound ball, the diameter of which is {4,403 9} {4,000 6} {3,498 3} {2,775 2} {2,423 1} {1,923
_Fire_-BALLS, _Light_-BALLS, of which there are various sorts, used for various purposes. Their composition is mealed powder 2, saltpetre 1¹⁄₂, sulphur 1, rosin 1, turpentine 2¹⁄₂. Sometimes they are made of an iron shell, sometimes a stone, filled and covered with various coats of the above composition, until it conglomerates to a proper size; the last coat being of grained powder. But the best sort in our opinion, is to take thick brown paper, and make a shell the size of the mortar, and fill it with a composition of an equal quantity of sulphur, pitch, rosin, and mealed powder; which being well mixed, and put in warm, will give a clear fire, and burn a considerable time.
When they are intended to set fire to magazines, buildings, &c. the composition must be mealed powder 10, saltpetre 2, sulphur 4, and rosin 1; or rather mealed powder 48, saltpetre 32, sulphur 16, rosin 4, steel or iron filings 2, fir-tree saw-dust boiled in saltpetre ley 2, birch-wood charcoal 1, well rammed into a shell for that purpose, having various holes filled with small barrels, loaded with musket-balls; and lastly the whole immerged in melted pitch, rosin and turpentine oil.
_Smoke_-BALLS are prepared as above, with this difference, that they contain 5 to 1 of pitch, rosin and saw-dust. This composition is put into shells made for that purpose, having 4 holes to let out the smoke. Smoke-balls are thrown out of mortars, and continue to smoke from 25 to 30 minutes.
_Stink_-BALLS are prepared by a composition of mealed powder, rosin, saltpetre, pitch, sulphur, rasped horses and asses hoofs, burnt in the fire, assa-fœtida, seraphim gum or ferula, and bug or stinking herbs, made up into balls, as mentioned in _Light_-BALLS, agreeably to the size of the mortar out of which you intend to throw them.
_Poisoned_ BALLS. We are not sure that they have ever been used in Europe; but the Indians and Africans have always been very ingenious at poisoning several sorts of warlike stores and instruments. Their composition is mealed powder 4, pitch 6, rosin 3, sulphur 5, assa-fœtida 8, extract of toad’s poison 12, other poisonous substances 12, made into balls as above directed. At the commencement of the French Revolution poisoned balls were exhibited to the people said to have been fired by the Austrians, particularly at the siege of Lisle. We have seen some of this sort. They contained glass, small pieces of iron, &c. and were said to be concocted together by means of a greasy composition which was impregnated with poisonous matter. In 1792, they were deposited in the Archives of Paris.
_Red-hot_ BALLS are fired out of mortars, howitzers, or cannon. Use which you will, the ball must be made red-hot, which is done upon a large coal fire in a square hole made in the ground, 6 feet every way, and 4 or 5 feet deep. Some make the fire under an iron grate, on which the shell or ball is laid; but the best way is to put the ball into the middle of a clear burning fire, and when red-hot, all the fiery particles must be swept off. Whatever machine you use to throw the red-hot ball out of, it must be elevated according to the distance you intend it shall range, and the charge of powder must be put into a flannel cartridge, and a good wad upon that; then a piece of wood of the exact diameter of the piece, and about 3¹⁄₂ inches thick, to prevent the ball from setting fire to the powder; then place the ball on the edge of the mortar, &c. with an instrument for that purpose, and let it roll of itself against the wood, and instantly fire it off. Should there be a ditch or parallel before such a battery, with soldiers, the wood must not be used, as the blast of powder will break it to pieces, and its own elasticity prevent it from flying far; it would in that case either kill or wound your own people. For this deficiency the wad must be double. See _American Mil. Lib_. article ARTILLERY.
_Chain_-BALLS are two balls linked together by a chain of 8 or 10 inches long, and some have been made with a chain of 3 or 4 feet long; they are used to destroy the pallisadoes, wooden bridges, and chevaux-de-friezes of a fortification. They are also very destructive to the rigging of a ship.
_Stang_-BALLS are by some called balls of two heads; they are sometimes made of two half-balls joined together by a bar of iron from 8 to 14 inches long; they are likewise made of two entire balls; they are for the same purpose as the before-mentioned.
_Anchor_-BALLS are made in the same way as the light-balls, and filled with the same composition, only with this addition, that these are made with an iron bar two-thirds of the ball’s diameter in length, and 3 or 4 inches square. One half is fixed within the ball, and the other half remains without; the exterior end is made with a grapple-hook. Very useful to set fire to wooden bridges, or any thing made of wood, or even the rigging of ships, &c. for the pile end being the heaviest, flies foremost, and wherever it touches, fastens, and sets all on fire about it.
_Message_-BALLS. See SHELLS.
BALLIUM, a term used in ancient military history. In towns the appellation of ballium was given to a work fenced with pallisades, and sometimes to masonry, covering the suburbs; but in castles it was the space immediately within the outer wall.
BALLOON, a hollow vessel of silk, varnished over and filled with inflammable air, by which means it ascends in the atmosphere. It has during the war been used by the French in reconnoitering, and with great success at Fleurus.
BALOTS, _Fr._. sacks or bales of wool, made use of in cases of great emergency, to form parapets or places of arms. They are likewise adapted for the defence of trenches, to cover the workmen in saps, and in all instances where promptitude is required.
BAN, _or_ BANN, a sort of proclamation made at the head of a body of troops, or in the several quarters or cantonments of an army, by sound of trumpet, or beat of drum; either for observing martial discipline, or for declaring a new officer, or punishing a soldier, or the like. At present such kind of proclamations are given out in the written orders of the day.