Chapter D: Caldwell, (10)

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CASTRAMETATION, is the art of measuring or tracing out the form of a camp on the ground; yet it sometimes has a more extensive signification, by including all the views and designs of a general; the one requires only the knowlege of a mathematician, the other the experience of an old soldier. The ancients were accustomed to fortify their camps by throwing up entrenchments round them. The Turks, and other Asiatic nations, fortify themselves, when in an open country, with their waggons and other carriages. The practice of the Europeans is quite different; for the surety of their camp consists in the facility and convenience of drawing out their troops at the head of their encampment; for which reason, whatever particular order of battle is regarded as the best disposition for fighting, it follows of course, that we should encamp in such a manner as to assemble and parade our troops in that order and disposition as soon as possible. It is therefore the order of battle that should regulate the order of encampment; that is to say, the post of each regiment in the line of battle should be at the head of its own encampment; from whence it follows, that the extent of the line of battle from right to left of the camp, should be equal to the front of the troops in line of battle, with the same intervals in the camp as in the line. By this means every battalion covers its own tents, and they can all lodge themselves, or turn out in case of necessity, at a minute’s warning.

If the front of the camp is greater than the line, the troops must leave large intervals, or expose their flanks; if less, the troops will not have room to form with the proper intervals.

The front or principal line of the camp is commonly directed to face the enemy. See CAMP.

CAT _o’ nine tails_, a whip with nine knotted cords, with which the British soldiers are punished. Sometimes it has only five cords. A barbarous and unmilitary usage, unknown in any other European army.

CATAFALCO, in military architecture, a scaffold of timber, decorated with sculpture, painting, &c. for supporting the coffin of a deceased hero, during the funeral solemnity

CATAPHRACT, the old Roman term for a horseman in complete armor.

CATAPHRACTA, in the ancient military art, a piece of heavy defensive armor, formed of cloth or leather, fortified with iron scales or links, wherewith sometimes only the breast, sometimes the whole body, and sometimes the horse too, was covered.

CATAPULTA, in military antiquity, an engine contrived for throwing of arrows, darts and stones, upon the enemy. Some of these engines were so large, and of such force, that they would throw stones of an hundred weight. Josephus takes notice of the surprising effects of these engines, and says, that the stones thrown out of them beat down the battlements, knocked off the angles of the towers, and had force sufficient to level a very deep file of soldiers

CATATROME. See CRANE.

CATERVA, in ancient military writers, a term used in speaking of the Gaulish or Celtiberian armies, denoting a body of 6000 armed men. The word is also used to denote a party of soldiers in disarray; in opposition to _cohort_ or _turma_, which signify in good order.

CATTUS, CATHOUSE, in ancient military history, was a kind of covered shed, sometimes fixed on wheels, and similar to the _Vinca_ and _Pluteus_ of the ancients.

CAVALCADE, in military history, implies a pompous procession of horsemen, equipages, &c. by way of parade, to grace a triumph, public entry, or the like.

CAVALIER, in fortification, is a work generally raised within the body of the place, 10 or 12 feet higher than the rest of the works. Their most common situation is within the bastion, and made much in the same form: sometimes they are placed in the gorges, or on the middle of the curtain; they are then made in the form of a horse-shoe. See FORTIFICATION. Their use is to command all the adjacent works and country round about it; they are seldom, or never, made but when there is a hill or rising ground, which overlooks some of the works.

_Trench_-CAVALIER, in the attacks, is an elevation which the besiegers make by means of earth or gabions, within halfway, or two thirds of the glacis, to discover, or to enfilade the covert way.

CAVALRY, in military affairs, that body of soldiers which serves and fights on horseback: under this denomination are included,

_Horse_, that is, regiments or troops of horse. The first English troop of horse was raised in 1660.

_Dragoons_, are likewise regiments of horse, but distinguished from the former by being taught to fight both on foot and on horseback. The first English regiment of dragoons was raised in 1681. See _American Mil. Lib._ Art. CAVALRY.

_Hunters._ See LIGHT-HORSE.

_Light-horse_, are regiments of cavalry, mounted on light, swift horses, whose men are but small, and lightly accoutred. They were first raised by the British, in 1757.

_Hussars_, generally Hungarian horse; their uniform is a large furred cap, adorned with a cock’s feather; those of the officers, either with an eagle’s or a heron’s; a very short waistcoat, with a pair of breeches and stockings in one; short light boots, generally of red or yellow leather; with a curious doublet, having five rows of buttons, which hang loosely on the left shoulder. Their arms are a long crooked sabre, light carbines, and pistols. Before they begin an attack, they lay themselves so flat on the necks of their horses, that it is hardly possible to discover their force; but being come within pistol-shot of the enemy, they raise themselves with surprising quickness, and fall on with such vivacity, that it is very difficult for the troops to preserve their order. When a retreat is necessary, their horses have so much fire, and are so indefatigable, their equipage so light, and themselves such excellent horsemen, that no other cavalry can pretend to follow them; they leap over ditches, and swim over rivers, with a surprising facility. Most of the German powers have troops under this name, as also France; into which country they were originally introduced under Louis the XIII. and were called Hungarian cavalry. This description of cavalry was accordingly more ancient in the French service, than that of hussars.

CAVEATING, in fencing, implies a motion whereby a person in an instant brings his sword, which was presented to one side of his adversary, to the opposite side.

CAVIN, in military affairs, implies a natural hollow, sufficiently capacious to lodge a body of troops, and facilitate their approach to a place. If it be within musket-shot, it is a place of arms ready made, and serves for opening the trenches, free from the enemy’s shot.

CAUTION, an explanation given previous to the word of command, by which the soldiers are called to attention, that they may execute the movement to be directed with unanimity and correctness.

CAZEMATTE. See CASEMATE.

CAZEMATE, CASEMATE, in fortification, is a certain retired place in the flank of a bastion, for the defence of the ditch, and face of the opposite bastion; not used at present. It also implies a well, having several subterranean branches, which are extended when they suspect the enemy is forming a mine, till they hear the miners at work.

CAZERNES, _Fr._ See CASERNES.

CEINTURE _militaire_, _Fr._ a broad leather belt which was worn round the waist, and was ornamented with gold or silver plates.

CELERES, the life-guards which attended Romulus, in the infancy of Rome, were so called. They were laid aside by Numa Pompilius. Celeres are properly distinguished from other troops, by being lightly armed and acting always on foot. The Celeres cannot be considered under the same head as Velites.

CEMENT. See CÆMENT.

CENOTAPH, in military history, implies the empty tomb of a hero, or a monument erected to the honor of a person, without the body of the deceased being interred in or near it.

CENTESIMATION, in ancient military history, a mild kind of military punishment, in cases of desertion, mutiny, and the like, when only every 100th man was executed.

CENTER, CENTRE, in a general sense, signifies a point equally distant from the extremities of a line, surface, or solid.

CENTRE _of a battalion_, on parade, is the middle, where an interval is left for the colors; of an encampment, it is the main street: and on a march, is an interval for the baggage, &c.

CENTRE _of a bastion_, is a point in the middle of the gorge of the bastion, from whence the capital line commences, and which is generally at the inner polygon of the figure.

CENTRE _of gravity_, in military mechanics, is that point about which the several parts of a body exactly balance each other in any situation.

CENTRE _of a conic section_, is the point where all the diameters meet.

CENTRE _of an ellipsis_, is that point where the transverse and conjugate diameters intersect each other.

CENTRE _of motion_, is that point which remains at rest while all the other parts of the body move about it.

CENTRE _of percussion_, is that point in which the force of the stroke is the greatest possible. When the moving body revolves round a fixed point, the centre of percussion is the same with the centre of oscillation, and found by the same method; but when the body moves in a parallel direction, the centre of percussion is the same with the centre of gravity.

CENTINEL, CENTRY, is a private soldier from the guard, posted upon any spot of ground, to stand and watch carefully for the security of the guard, or of any body of troops, or post, and to prevent any surprise from the enemy. All centinels are to be very vigilant on their posts; neither are they to sing, smoke, or suffer any noise to be made near them. They are not to sit down, lay their arms out of their hands, or sleep; but keep moving about on their posts during the two hours they stand, if the weather will allow of it. No centry to move more than 50 paces to the right, and as many to the left of his post, and let the weather be ever so bad, he must not get under any other cover, but that of the centry box. No one to be allowed to go from his post without leave from his commanding officer; and, to prevent desertion or marauding, the centries and vedettes must be charged to let no soldier pass.

CENTINEL _perdu_, a soldier posted near an enemy in some very dangerous post, where he is in perpetual danger of being shot or taken.

CENTRY-_box_, a sort of box, or hut, to shelter the centinel from the injuries of the weather; in fortifications they are sometimes made of masonry, and of stone, in a circular form.

CENTURION, a military officer among the ancient Romans; who commanded an (_centum_) hundred men. The term is now obsolete. It answers to the modern captain of a company.

CENTURY, in a military sense, means a hundred soldiers, who were employed in working the battering-ram.

CERCLE, _Grand-cercle_, _Fr._ a form observed under the old government of France, by which it was directed, that every evening at a specific hour the serjeants and corporals of a brigade should assemble to receive orders; the former standing in front of the latter. Subsequent to the grand cercle, a smaller one was made in each regiment, when general, or regimental orders were again repeated to the serjeants of each regiment, and from them communicated to the officers of the several companies.

CERTIFICATES, are of various kinds, as applied to officers generally, or to commissaries, commanding officers, or staff. They are a testimonial bearing witness to the existence of some requisite qualifications, or to the performance of some act required by the regulations of the army, and for which the officer who signs is responsible, whether he certifies for himself, or for any other officer.

_Military_ CERTIFICATES are of various denominations, and consist chiefly of the following kinds, viz.

_Certificate_ from a field officer to the commander in chief, affirming the eligibility of a young man to hold a commission.

_Certificate_ of an officer in the English army upon honor, that he does not exceed the regulation in the _purchase of his commission_.

_Certificate_ from a general officer to affirm and prove the losses which officers may sustain in the field

_Certificate_ from colonels of regiments to the board for admission of proper objects to the hospital.

_Certificate_ from a magistrate to identify the person of a recruit, and to affirm, that he has enlisted himself voluntarily into the service; likewise, that the articles of war have been read to him.

_Certificate_ from regimental surgeons, whether men when they join are proper and fit objects to be enlisted; this is required in the United States army, to be on the back of every paper of enlistment.

_Certificate_ of commanding officers for stores, &c.

_Certificate_, to enable an officer to receive half pay.

_Certificate_ of surgeons and assistant surgeons, to prove their having passed a proper examination.

CESSATION, or _cessation of arms_, in a military figurative sense, means a truce, or the total abrogation of all military operations for a limited time.

CHACE _of a gun_, means the length from the trunnions to the muzzle. See CANNON.

CHAFFERY, that part of the foundry where the forges are placed for hammering iron into complete bars, and thereby bringing it to perfection.

CHAIN _for engineers_, is a sort of wire chain divided into links of an equal length, made use of for setting out works on the ground, because cord lines are apt to shrink and give way.

There are several sorts of chains made use of in mensuration; as Mr. Rathbone’s, of two perches in length; others, one perch long; some of 1000 feet in length; but that which is most in use amongst engineers is Mr. Gunter’s, which is 4 poles long, and contains 100 links, each link being 7⁹²⁄₁₀₀ inches in length.

CHAIN-_shot_. See SHOT.

CHALLENGE, a cartel, or invitation to a duel, or other combat; it may with propriety be called a provocation, or summons to fight, when an affront in derogation of honor has been offered.

CHALLENGE is also a term applied to an objection made against any member of a court-martial, on the score of real or presumed partiality. The prisoner, however, in this case, must assign his cause of challenge; of the relevancy, or validity of which the members are themselves the judges; so that peremptory challenges, though allowed in civil cases, are not acknowleged in military law. The privilege of challenging belongs equally to the prisoner and the prosecutor.

CHAMADE, in a military sense, means a signal made by the enemy, either by beat of drum, or sound of trumpet, when they have any matter to propose; such as to bury their dead, &c. See PARLEY.

CHAMBER _of a cannon_, in artillery, that part of the bore of a cannon which receives the powder with which it is charged. See CANNON.

CHAMBER _of a mortar_, the space where the powder lies, and generally of several forms and dimensions, such as the conic, spheric, cylindric, parabolic, and concave, or bottled chambers. See MORTARS.

In 1787 and 1789 experiments were made at Woolwich with an 8 inch mortar, with four shifting chambers, to ascertain which form gives the longest range.

The chambers were all of the same capacity, viz. 63.7 cubic inches, and contained two pounds of powder. Their forms were:

1st. Common conical chamber with the circular bottom.

2d. The same reversed.

3d. The cylindric chamber with circular bottom.

4th. The spheric chamber.

The ranges were the medium of 6 rounds; from them it appears, that when the spheric chamber is filled with powder, it has the advantage in point of range; but when smaller charges are used, its ranges are found to be shorter than those of other forms. The conical (No. 1.) chamber of the present British establishment gives the longest range under other circumstances.

CHAMBER _of a mine_, that place where the charge of powder is lodged, to blow up the works over it. See MINE.

CHAMBER _of a battery_, is a place sunk under ground for holding powder, loaded shells, and fuzes, where they may be out of danger, and preserved from rain or moisture.

CHAMBRER, _faire chambrée_, a military phrase among the French, to signify several persons lodged in the same room, barrack, or tent.

CHAMP _de bataille_, _Fr._ field of battle; the ground on which two armies meet.

CHAMP _de Mars_, the field of Mars, an open place in the neighborhood of Paris, where troops are frequently reviewed and in which the public festivals have been held.

CHAMPION, he who undertook to settle the difference of contending armies, by single combat.

CHANDELIERS, in military affairs, a kind of moveable parapet, consisting of wooden frames, on which fascines are laid to cover the workmen when at work on the trenches. They are made of various sorts and sizes, according to the use they are for.

CHANTIER, _Fr._ a square piece of wood, which is used for the purpose of raising any thing. It serves to place barrels of gunpowder in a proper manner, and frequently to try pieces of ordnance instead of frames.

CHAPE, the metalline part put on the end of a scabbard, to prevent the point of the sword or bayonet from piercing through it.

CHAPELET, _Fr._ a piece of flat iron with three tenons or ends of timber, which is fixed to the end of a cannon.

CHAPITEAU, _Fr._ two small boards which are joined together obliquely, and serve to cover the touch-hole of a piece of ordnance.

CHAPPE, _Fr._ a barrel containing another barrel, which holds gunpowder. It likewise means a composition of earth, horse dung, and wad, that covers the mouth of a cannon, or mortar.

CHARACTER, in a general sense, implies any mark used for representing either ideas, or objects.

_Military_ CHARACTERS, _Mathematical_ CHARACTERS, are certain marks invented for avoiding prolixity, and more clearly conveying the thoughts of the learned in those sciences to beginners; the chief of which are as follow:

+ in algebra is the sign of the real existence of the quality it stands before, and is called an affirmative, or positive sign. It is also the mark of addition, and signifies, that the numbers, or quantities on each side of it are added together.

- This is the note of negation, negative existence, or non-entity. It is the sign of subtraction, and signifies, that the numbers, or quantities which come after it, are to be taken from the numbers, or quantities which stand before it. As + signifies a _positive_ or _affirmative_ quantity, or _absolute_ number, so - signifies a _fictitious_ or _negative_ number or quantity. Thus -3, is 8 times less than nothing. So that any number or quantity with the sign + being added to the same number, or quantity with the sign -, their sum will be equal to nothing. Thus 8 added to -8 is equal to 0, but -8 taken from + 8, is equal to 16.

× is the sign of multiplication. It signifies _into_, or _multiplied by_.

÷ is the mark of division, and signifies, that the numbers, or quantities before it are to be divided by the numbers after it.

= are the signs of equality, and signify, that the quantities and numbers on the one side of it are equal to the quantities and numbers on the other.

√ is the sign of radicality, and shews (according to the index of the power that is set over or after it) the square, cube, or other root, that is extracted, or is to be so, out of any quantity.

∛ is the sign of the cube root, and signifies the extraction of it, as in the square root above.

∺ is the sign of continued, or geometrical proportion.

∷ is the mark of geometrical proportion disjunct, and is usually placed between two pair of equal ratio’s; as 3 : 6 ∷ 4 : 8, shews, that 3 is to 6, as 4 is to 8. Or _a_ : _b_ ∷ _d_ : _e_, and are thus read, as _a_ is to _b_, so is _d_ to _e_, &c.

> or ⫍ are signs of majority; thus _a_ > _b_ expresses that _a_ is greater than _b_.

< or ⫎ are signs of minority; and when we would denote that _a_ is less than _b_, we write _a_ < _b_, or _a_ ⫎ _b_, &c.

± signifies _more_, or _less such a quantity_, and is used often in the extraction of roots, completing of squares, &c.

_Artillery_-CHARACTERS, most generally used, are as follow:

_C. qr. lb._ which signifies centners, or hundreds of 112 pounds, _qr._ quarters of 28 pounds, _lb._ pounds of 16 ounces avoirdupois. Thus a piece of artillery with 14 _c._ 3 _q._ 16 _lb._, is 14 hundred, 3 quarters, and 16 pounds.

_Pr._ signifies pounder. Thus 24 _pr._ is a 24 pounder.

_T. C. qr. lb._ signifies tons, hundreds, quarters, pounds; and 28 _lb._ is one quarter: 4 _qr._ is one centner, or 112 pounds; and 20 _C._ or _cwt._ is one ton.

_lb. oz. dr._ means, pounds, ounces and drams: 16 _dr._ is one ounce, and 16 _oz._ is one pound avoirdupois.

_lb. oz. dwts. gr._ is pounds, ounces, penny-weights, and grains; of which 24 _gr._ make one penny-weight, 20 _dwt._ make one ounce, and 12 _oz._ one pound of troy-weight.

CHARACTERS in fire-works, are the following.

_M_ Meal-powder.
Э Corned powder.
Ө Saltpetre.
_Z_ Brimstone.
_C Z_ Crude Sulphur.
_C_ + Carbon or charcoal.
_C S_ Sea-Coal.
_B R_ Beech raspings.
_S_ X Steel or iron filings.
_B_ X Brass-dust.
_G_ X Glass-dust.
_T_ X Tanners dust.
_C I_ Cast-iron.
_C A_ Crude antimony.
♓ Camphor.
_A Y_ Yellow amber.
_L S_ Lapis calaminaris.
ᘏ Gum.
_B L_ Lamp-black.
_G I_ Ising-glass.
_W_ Spirit of wine.
_S T_ Spirit of turpentine.
_P O_ Oil of spike.

CHARACTERS, used in the arithmetic of infinites, are dots over letters, denoting the character of an infinitesimal, or fluxion. Thus the first fluxions of _x_, _y_, _z_, being marked thus, _ẋ_, _ẏ_, _ż_; the second are _ẍ_, _ÿ_, _z̈_, and the third

.: :. :.
_x_, _y_, _z_.

_Geographical_ CHARACTERS, are °, ′, ″, ‴ &c. which signify degrees, minutes, seconds, thirds. Thus 40°, 55′, 18″, 55‴, is read 40 degrees, 35 minutes, 18 seconds, 55 thirds. It is also used in the elevation of pieces of artillery.

_Characters._ See GUNPOWDER.

CHARBON, See AIGREMORE.

CHARGE, _Fr._ The French technically use this term in two different senses, viz. _charge precipitée_ and _charge à volonté_. _Charge precipitée_ is given when the four times are expressly marked, as _chargez vos armes_, _un_, _deux_, _trois_, _quatre_; and applies chiefly to the drill. _Charge à volonté_ is executed in the same manner as the _charge precipitée_, with this difference, that the soldiers do not wait for the specific words.

CHARGES for field guns.

lbs.
42 Prs. med and heavy for Rnd. Shot 4
Case 3¹⁄₂
12 Prs. Light Round Shot 3
Case 3
6 Prs. Desaguliers Round Shot 2¹⁄₄
Case 2
6 Prs. Medium Round Shot 2
Case
6 Prs. light Round Shot 1¹⁄₂
Case 1¹⁄₄
3 Prs. Heavy Round Shot 1
Case
3 Prs. Light Round 12 oz.

The charge for battering guns is one third the weight of the round shot, for round shot, and one fourth of it for case shot.

The charge for carronades is usually one twelfth the weight of the shot. The highest is one eighth, and the lowest one sixteenth.

By the experiments made at Woolwich in March 1801, it is recommended, that when cylinder powder is used on service, the charges of field ordnance with round shot, shall be reduced to the usual quantities for case shot. The same experiments recommend, that the thickness or length of the wood bottom be varied, in order to change the position of the shot, and thereby save the bore; and that the paper cap which is usually thrown away on service, shall be put over the shot before it is introduced into the piece.

For charges for small arms see the word CARTRIDGES.

Charges of French guns in French weights.

lbs.
24 Prs. 8 }Siege
16 Prs. 5¹⁄₂}

12 Prs. 4 }
8 Prs. 2¹⁄₂}Field}¹⁄₄ less for Case Shot.
4 Prs. 1¹⁄₂} }

CHARGE _de mine_, _Fr._ the disposition of a certain quantity of powder, which is used for the explosion of a mine.

CHARGE, in gunnery, implies the quantity of powder, shot, ball, shells, grenades, &c. with which a gun, mortar, or howitzer, is loaded.

_Charges for heavy guns from a 42-pounder to a 3 pounder, both brass and iron, in proof, service, saluting, and ricochet._

------+---------------+---------------+-------+-------
| Proof. | Service. | |
+-------+-------+-------+-------+ Salut-| Rico-
Kinds.| Brass.| Iron. | Brass.| Iron. | ing. | chet.
------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------
Prs. |lb. oz.|lb. oz.|lb. oz.|lb. oz.|lb. oz.|lb. oz.
------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------
42 |31 8 |25 0 |14 0 |12 0 |10 4 | 3 4
------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------
32 |26 12 |21 8 |10 10 | 9 4 | 8 0 | 2 12
------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------
24 |21 0 |18 0 | 8 0 | 8 0 | 6 0 | 2 0
------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------
18 |18 0 |15 0 | 6 0 | 8 0 | 4 8 | 1 12
------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------
12 |12 0 |12 0 | 4 0 | 4 0 | 3 0 | 1 6
------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------
9 | 9 0 | 9 0 | 3 0 | 3 0 | 2 8 | 1 4
------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------
6 | 6 6 | 6 0 | 2 8 | 2 8 | 2 0 | 1 0
------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------
3 | 3 0 | 3 0 | 1 0 | 1 0 | 0 12 | 0 6
------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------

_Charges for Medium Guns._

_Charges for light Guns._

As pieces of artillery are of various denominations, and consequently made use of on several occasions, their charges must of course have many variations.

CHARGE, is also the attack of cavalry; and _charge bayonet_ is a word of command given to infantry, to force the enemy whom they are to charge at the point of the bayonet. _To sound a charge_, is the sound of the trumpet as a signal for cavalry to begin the attack.

CHARGE, in military law, is the specification of any crime, or offence for which a non-commissioned officer or soldier is tried before a court martial. In all charges of this nature, the time and place, when and where the crime, or offence was committed, must be set forth with accuracy and precision.

CHARGED _Cylinder_, in gunnery, implies that part of the chace of a gun, which contains the powder and ball.

CHARGER, any horse belonging to an officer on which he rides in action.

CHARGERS are also either bandoliers, or little flasks that contain powder for charge or priming.

CHARIOT, a car, in which men of arms were anciently placed. These were armed with scythes, hooks, &c. The person who drove the chariot was called the _charioteer_.

CHARPENTIER, _Fr._ a carpenter.

CHART, or _sea_-CHART, is a hydrographical map, or a projection of some part of the earth’s superficies in plano, for the use of navigators and geographers.

_Plane_-CHART, is a representation of some part of the earth’s superficies of the terraqueous globe, in which the meridians are supposed parallel to each other, the parallels of latitude at equal distances, and consequently the degrees of latitude and longitude every where equal to each other.

CHART _of reduction_, is that where the meridians are represented by right lines, inclining towards each other; thence it appears by construction, that these charts must correct the errors of the plane ones. But since these parallels should cut the meridians at right angles, and do not, they are defective, inasmuch as they exhibit the parallels inclined to the meridians.

_Mercators_-CHART, is that where the meridians are straight lines parallel to each other, and equidistant: these parallels are also straight lines, and parallel to each other; but the distance between increases from the equinoctial towards each pole, in the ratio of the secant of the latitude to the radius.

_Globular_-CHART, a meridional projection, wherein the distance of the eye from the plane of the meridian, upon which the projection is made, is supposed to be equal to the sine of the angle of 45 degrees. This projection comes the nearest of all to the nature of the globe, because the meridians therein are placed at equal distances.

_Chorographic_-CHARTS, are descriptions of particular countries.

_Heliographic_-CHARTS, descriptions of the body of the sun, and of the maculæ or spots observed in it.

_Selenographic_-CHARTS, particular appearances of the spots of the moon, her appearance and maculæ.

_Telegraphic_-CHARTS, are descriptions of the telegraph on paper.

_Topographic_-CHARTS, are specific delineations of military positions, in any given tract of country. Companies of topographers have been formed among the French, for the purpose of accurately and expeditiously pointing out to generals and commanding officers, all the relative points of locality, &c. See _American Mil. Lib._ article RECONNOITRING.

CHASE _of a gun_. See CHACE.

_To_ CHASE _the enemy_, means to march after them on horseback in full speed. To pursue a ship at sea.

CHASSEURS. The French light infantry, answering to the American _riflemen_ and German _yagers_, are called _chasseurs a pied_; they have also _chasseurs a cheval_. The word means literally a _hunter_.

CHAT, _Fr._ a piece of iron having one, two or three very sharp prongs, or claws; arranged in a triangular shape, when it has three prongs. This piece of iron is fixed to a shaft. It is used in the examination of a piece of ordnance, and by being introduced into the bore, shews whether it be honey-combed, damaged, or otherwise defective.

There is another species of _Chat_ which differs a little from the one we have just described. It consists of two branches of iron, that are fixed to the end of a piece of the same metal, and have, each of them two steel prongs or claws. One of these branches contains a hinge with a spring so fixed, that when the _chat_ is put into the bore, the least cavity releases the spring, and the defect is instantly discovered. Master Founders, who by no means like the invention, call the common chat _Le Diable_, the devil; and they distinguish the one with two branches, by terming it _la màlice du diable_, the malice of the devil.

CHATTER _les pieces_, _Fr._ to search, to probe, or examine pieces of ordnance with a chat, in order to discover whether there are any defects within the bore of a cannon.

CHAUDIERES, _Fr._ are vessels made use of in military magazines, to boil pitch in, for various purposes.

CHAUFFE, _Fr._ a spot where the wood is collected and burnt in a foundry. The _chauffe_ stands three feet under the side of the furnace, the flames which issue from it, spread over every part of the inside of the furnace, and by their intense heat dissolve the metal.

CHAUSSE-_Trapes_, _Fr._ are what we call _crows-feet_, they consist of nails with 4 or 5 points, of which one always stands upwards above the level of the ground; each point is 2, 3, 4 or 5 inches long. They are usually fixed in different parts of a breach, or in any place which is accessible to cavalry; to prevent its approach: sometimes they are of use to obstruct the passage of cavalry through the streets of towns.

CHAUSSEE, or _Rès de_ CHAUSSEE, an old expression for the level of the field or the plain ground.

CHEEKS, a general name among mechanics, for those pieces of timber in their machines, which are double and perfectly corresponding to each other. In the construction of military carriages, &c. the term is used to denote the strong planks which form the sides of gun carriages.

CHEF, _Fr._ Chef has various significations in the French service. With regard to private soldiers, it serves to mark out the corporal or oldest soldier, who has the management of their provisions in quarters, or in the field; this person was called _chef de chambrée_. A chef de chambrée among the Romans, was called a decanus, whence our church deacon.

CHEF _d’escadre_, _Fr._ a general officer, who commands any part of an army, or division of a fleet. His duty in the sea-service is nearly the same as that of a commodore or a brigadier general on shore. _Chefs d’escadre_ sit upon all general courts-martial, and rank according to the dates of their commissions.

CHEFS _de files_, _Fr._ the front rank of a battalion, consisting generally of the best and bravest soldiers. When an engagement takes place, par file, by files, as in the action of riflemen, the order of the battalion is necessarily changed; that which was rank becomes file, and what was file becomes rank.

CHELSEA HOSPITAL, a noble edifice which was built by Charles the 2d of England on his restoration, and afterwards improved by his successor James the 2d. Non-commissioned officers and private men, who have been wounded or maimed in the service, are entitled to the benefit of this hospital. There are in and out-pensioners belonging to the establishment, and the provisions of it extend to the militia under the following restrictions: serjeants who have served fifteen years, and corporals or drummers who have served twenty, may be recommended to the bounty. Serjeants on the establishment may likewise receive that allowance, with their pay in the militia. But serjeants who have been appointed subsequent to the passing of the 26th of George the 3d, are not entitled to it under twenty years service.

CHEMIN-_Couvert_. See COVERT-WAY.

CHEMIN _des rondes_, in _fortification_, space between the rampart and low parapet under it, for the rounds to go about it.

CHEMISE, _Fr._ an obsolete term to signify the revetement made of brick work, which was formerly constructed to secure works made of earth, especially those that were formed of sandy soil, and would necessarily require too large a talus to support the weight. The modern term is _ouvrage revetu_, _place revetüe_.

CHEMISE _de feu_, _Fr._ a French sea-term, to signify several pieces of old sails of various sizes, which after they have been pitched, and thoroughly soaked in other combustible matter, such as oil of petrol, camphor, &c. may be nailed to an enemy’s ship on boarding her, and when set fire to, will consume the same.

CHEMISE _de maille_, _Fr._ a shirt of mail, or body lining made of several scales or iron rings, which was worn under the coat to protect the body of a man.

CHEMISTRY, the art of examining bodies, and of extracting from them any of their component parts; a science of the first importance to military men; it opens to the mind so many sources of knowlege applicable to military uses.

CHESS, a nice and abstruse game, supposed to have been invented during the siege of Troy. This game is particularly adapted to military capacities.

CHEVAL _de Bois_, _Fr._ a wooden-horse, a military chastisement, which prostitutes who followed the French army, were subject to undergo, by exposing them, we presume, on a wooden-horse.

CHEVALER, in the manege, is said of a horse, when, in passing upon a walk or trot, his off fore leg crosses the near fore leg every second motion.

CHEVALET, _Fr._ a sort of bell-tent, formerly used in the French service, when an army encamped. It resembled in some degrees the wigwam of the Indian.

CHEVALIER, in a _general sense_, signifies a knight or horseman.

CHEVAUX-_de frize_, in _fortification_, a large joist or piece of timber, about 5 or 6 inches square, and 10 or 12 feet in length; into the sides whereof are driven a great number of wooden pins, about 6 feet long, and 1¹⁄₂ inch diameter, crossing one another at right angles, and pointed with iron. They are used on numberless occasions, as to stop up breaches, to secure avenues to a camp from the inroads both of horse and foot. They are sometimes mounted on wheels, with artificial fires, to roll down in an assault, &c. They were first used at the siege of Groningen, in 1658.

CHEVAUX-_de-frize_. The _body_ or _beam_ of a cheval-de-frize is generally made 9 feet long, and 6 inches square, and weighs 41 lbs. The _spears_ are 33 in number, weighing 2 lb. each, are 5 feet long, and 1¹⁄₄ inches square. They are placed 9¹⁄₂ inches asunder.

CHEVET, _Fr._ a small wedge which is used in raising a mortar, it is placed between the frame and swell of the mortar.

CHEVISANCE, _Fr._ enterprize, feat, or atchievement.

CHEVRE, _Fr._ a crab or gin. See CHEVRETTE.

CHEVRETTE, a kind of gin. Among the many inventions for raising guns or mortars into their carriages this engine is very useful; it is made of two pieces of wood about four feet long, standing upright upon a third, which is square: they are about a foot asunder, and parallel; pierced with holes opposite one another, to hold a strong bolt of iron, which may be raised higher or lower at pleasure: it may be used with a hand-spike, which takes its poise over this bolt, to raise any thing by force.

CHEVROTINES, _Fr._ leaden bullets of small calibre; there are generally sixty to a pound weight.

CHIEF _or_ CHIEFTAIN, the head leader, or commander of any clan in time of war, was so called, especially among the Scotch.

CHIORME, _Fr._ the crew of galley slaves and bonavogliers or volunteers.

CIMIER, _Fr._ a heavy ornament, which the ancient knights or chevaliers in France and in other countries were accustomed to wear upon their helmets; small figures were afterwards substituted in their stead.

CHOROGRAPHY, in _engineering_, is the art of making a drawing or map of a country, province or district.

CIMETAR, See SCIMITAR.

CINQUAIN, in _ancient military history_, was an order of battle, to draw up 5 battalions, so that they might make 3 lines; that is, a van, main-body, and reserve. Supposing the 5 battalions, to be in a line, the 2d and 4th advance and form the van, the 3d falls back and forms the rear, the 1st and 5th form the main body upon the same ground. Lastly, every battalion ought to have a squadron of horse on both the right and left wings. Any number of regiments, produced by multiplying by 5, may be drawn up in the same manner.

CIRCLE, in _mathematics_, is a plane figure, comprehended under one line only, to which all right lines drawn from a point in the middle of it are equal to one another.

CIRCUMFERENTER, an instrument used by engineers for measuring angles.

CIRCUMVALLATION, or _line of circumvallation_, in _military affairs_, implies a fortification of earth, consisting of a parapet and trench, made round the town intended to be besieged, when any molestation is apprehended from parties of the enemy, which may march to relieve the place.

Before the attack of a place is begun, care is to be taken to have the most exact plan of it possible; and upon this the line of circumvallation and the attack are projected. This line, being a fortification opposed to an enemy that may come from the open country to relieve the besieged, ought to have its defence directed against them; that is, so as to fire from the town: and the besiegers are to be encamped behind this line, and between it and the place. The camp should be as much as possible out of the reach of the shot of the place; and the line of circumvallation, which is to be farther distant from the place than the camp, ought still more to be out of the reach of its artillery.

As cannon are never to be fired from the rear of the camp, this line should be upwards of 1200 fathoms from the place: we will suppose its distance fixed at 1400 fathoms from the covert way. The depth of the camp may be computed at about 30 fathom, and from the head of the camp to the line of circumvallation 120 fathoms, that the army may have room to draw up in order of battle at the head of the camp, behind the line. This distance added to the 30 fathoms, makes 150 fathoms, which being added to the 1400, makes 1550 fathoms constitute the distance of the line of circumvallation from the covert-way. The top of this line is generally 12 feet broad, and 7 feet deep: the parapet runs quite round the top of it; and at certain distances is frequently strengthened with redoubts and small forts; the base 18 feet wide, the height within 6, and on the outside 5 feet, with a banquette of 3 feet wide, and 1¹⁄₂ high. See CONTRAVALLATION, or COUNTERVALLATION.

CIRCUS, in _military antiquity_, a very capacious building, of a round or oval form, erected by the ancients for exhibiting shews to the people.

CISEAUX, _Fr._ chissels made use of by miners, to loosen earth from the sides of the excavation, without making a noise, which the miner effects by striking the handle.

CITADEL, is a fort with 4, 5, or 6 bastions, raised on the most advantageous ground about a city, the better to command it; and commonly divided from it by an esplanade, the better to hinder the approach of an enemy; so that the citadel defends the inhabitants if they continue in their duty, and punishes them if they revolt. Besiegers always attack the city first, that, being masters of it, they may cover themselves the better against the fire of the citadel. Its having bastions distinguishes it from a castle. Sometimes the citadel stands half within, and half without the ramparts of the place.

CIVIC-CROWN, among the ancient Romans, was a crown given to any soldier who had saved the life of a citizen. It was composed only of oaken boughs, but accounted more honorable than any other.

CIVIERE, _Fr._ a small hand-barrow, which is carried by 2 men, and is much used by the artillery.

CLARENCIEUX, a silly pageant which has survived the feudal and heraldic ages, and kept up for shew in the court of England, he is called the second king at arms, from the duke of Clarence, third son of king Edward III.

CLARIGATION, in _Roman antiquity_, a ceremony which always preceded a formal declaration of war. It was performed in the following manner: the chief of the heralds went to the territory of the enemy; where, after some solemn prefatory indication, he, with a loud voice, intimated, that he declared war against them for certain reasons specified; such as injury done to the Roman allies, or the like.

CLAN, a term used among the Scotch for a number of families subject to one head, or chief, who led them to war. The word is _claöwn_ Celtic signifying _Children_.

CLATES. CLAYES. See HURDLES.

CLAYONAGES, _Fr._ a species of hurdle, with which the timber work of a gallery is covered. It is likewise used in saps.

CLEAR, to clear the trenches. See TRENCHES.

CLERK, in the general acceptation of the term, a writer in a public office; military departments have persons of this description. See _Regimental_ BOOK.

CLOCHE, _Fr._ a bell.

CLOTHING. Clothing of the army of the United States is provided under the order of the war department, by a purveyor of public supplies, who buys and sees the clothing made; it is then placed in the military stores and issued upon order. The clothing of the British army is determined by a permanent board, composed of the commander in chief, and a certain number of general officers, who act under the king’s immediate authority: The annual clothing of the infantry of the line, or fencible infantry, serving in Europe, in North America, or at the Cape of Good Hope, (Highland corps excepted) consists in a coat, waistcoat, or waistcoat front, a pair of breeches, unlined, except the waistband, and with one pocket only: a cap made of felt and leather, with brass plate, cockade and tuft. The felt crown of the cap, cockade, and tuft to be supplied annually, the leather part and brass plate, every two years. Two pair of good shoes, of the value of 5_s._ 6_d._ each pair, are to be supplied annually in lieu of the half mounting, and each serjeant is to be credited with the sum of 3_s._ being the difference between the value of the former articles of half mounting for a serjeant and private man. Some exceptions are made with respect to highland corps, and regiments serving in the East and West Indies.

CLOY, or _to cloy guns_. See _To_ NAIL.

CLOU, _Fr._ See NAILS.

CLOUTS. See AXLE-TREE.

_To_ CLUB _a Battalion_ implies generally a temporary inability in the commanding officer to restore any given body of men to their natural front in line or column. This occurs after some manœuvre has been performed, and is occasioned by false directions being given to the different component parts. Ignorant and inexperienced officers may frequently commit this error; sometimes however, the circumstance may arise from an erroneous movement of a division or company, notwithstanding that the word of command was correct. An able officer in that case will instantly know how to unravel the several parts. The less informed and the less capable may find a relief in sounding the _disperse_, which see. It does not, however, always follow, that because an officer may occasionally commit this error with respect to the minute movements of a battalion, he must therefore be unequal to the superior functions of command; or that when a man, who has risen from the ranks, is perfectly master of the mechanical arrangement of inferior movements, he should be able to act upon the enlarged scale of locality and position. The military science which is required in each of these cases essentially differs in its appropriate exercise, but both are necessary. In the confusion of a manœuvre, the best mode would be to halt those parts which are not disordered, and bring the rest either forward in line--under separate officers in detachments different ways, or to rear, right, and left: and halt each as they recover some order; and then marching the parts to the positions analogous to those from which they had been deranged; it would be a useful exercise to create this disorder, in order to be ready at correcting it.

CLEY-MORE, (_Celtic_, the _large sword_) a great sword, formerly in use among the highlanders, two inches broad, doubly edged: the length of the blade, 3 feet 7 inches; the handle, 14 inches; of a plain transverse guard, 1 foot; the weight, 6 pounds and a half. These swords were the original weapons of England, as appears by the figure of a soldier found among the ruins of London, after the great fire in 1666.

COALITION, see CONFEDERACY.

COAT of _Mail_, armor made of scales or iron rings.

COCK, that part of the lock of a musket, which sustains the two small pieces of iron called jaws, between which the flint is fixed.

_To_ COCK, to fix the cock of a musquet or pistol, so as to have it ready for an instant discharge.

COCKADE, a ribbon worn in the hat. This military mark succeeded the scarf that was formerly worn by the officers and soldiers belonging to European nations, which are principally distinguished in the following manner. In the army and navy of Great Britain, black silk riband for the officers, and hair cockades for the non-commissioned officers, private soldiers and mariners; light blue, pink and white ribands mixed, called tricolor or three-colored, distinguish the French; red marks the Spaniard, black the Prussian and Austrian, green the Russian, &c. Under the old government of France, officers were not permitted to wear a cockade, unless they were regimentally dressed; and, singular as it may appear, the officers and men belonging to a certain number of old regiments in the Prussian service do not wear any mark in their hats. In the United States the cockade is worn, in and out of regimentals, by every species of military character.

COFFER, in _fortification_, a hollow lodgment sunk in the bottom of a dry ditch, from 6 to 7 feet deep, and from 16 to 18 feet broad, and the length of it, the whole breadth of the said ditch, from side to side. The besieged generally make use of these coffers to repulse the besiegers, when they attempt to pass the ditch: they are distinguished only by their length from _Caponiers_; the difference between coffers and the traverse and gallery, consists in this, that the latter are made by the besiegers, and the former by the besieged. They are covered with joists, hurdles, and earth, raised 2 feet above the bottom of the ditch; which rising serves instead of a parapet, with loop-holes in it.

COFFRE. See COFFER.

COGNIZANCE. Judicial notice, trial, judicial authority. In a military sense, implies the investigation to which any person or action is liable. During the suspension of civil authority, every offence comes under military cognizance, is subject to military law, and may be proceeded upon according to the summary spirit of its regulation. Hence, a drum-head court-martial is the strongest instance of military cognizance.

COHORT, in _Roman antiquity_, a name given to part of the Roman legion, comprehending about 600 men.

COINS, in gunnery, are a kind of wedges to lay under the breech of a gun, to raise or depress the metal.

COLLET, _Fr._ that part of a cannon which is between the astragal and the muzzle.

COLONEL, the commander in chief of a regiment, whether of horse, foot, dragoons, or artillery: but in France, Spain, and some other southern nations, the colonels of horse are called _Mâitres de Camp_; in Germany, and most northern nations, they are called _Ritmeesters_. Colonels of foot in the English army take place, and command one another, according to the seniority of their regiments, and not of their commissions; but those of horse, on the contrary, according to the dates of their commissions.

COLONEL _of horse_, who is the first officer of the regiment; hence his attention ought to be given to keeping the regiment complete, to have it composed of both men and horses fit for service, and to take particular care to have them well exercised and taught the different evolutions; to be able on all occasions to form themselves according to the ground, or manner in which they may attack, or be attacked.

COLONEL _of foot_, or _infantry_. His functions are more extensive than those of the cavalry, as the infantry are employed to more and different purposes. A colonel of infantry should understand something of fortification, and be well acquainted with field engineering. He cannot be too careful to maintain union and harmony among his officers; and, to succeed in this, he must acquire their esteem and confidence, and make himself to be respected. The true way to succeed in this, is to keep up subordination with unalterable firmness; to do justice to every one, to employ all his credit to procure favors to the corps in general, and to the officers in particular, without ever losing sight of the health, comfort, and contentment of his men.

COLONEL _of dragoons_ is nearly connected with that of horse, to which word we refer the reader.

COLONEL _of artillery_. The commander of a battalion of artillery is one of the most laborious employments both in war and peace, requiring the greatest ability, application, and experience. He is supposed to be a very able mathematician and engineer, to be thoroughly acquainted with the power of artillery, to understand the attack, and defence of fortifications in all the different branches; to be able on all occasions to form the artillery according to the ground or manner in which they may attack or be attacked; in short, he should be master of every thing belonging to that important corps.

COLONEL _of engineers_, should be a very able mathematician and mechanician, he should be master of fortification, and be correctly versed in the art of planning, constructing, attacking, and defending. See ENGINEER.

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A military dictionaryChapter D: Caldwell, (10)

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