Chapter D: Caldwell, (13)

DEPTH _of a battalion or squadron_, in military affairs, the number of ranks, or the quantity of men. Infantry were formerly drawn up 6 or 8 deep, that is, it consisted of so many ranks; but now the line of infantry are generally drawn up only 3 deep, and in defence of a breastwork but two deep. When infantry is drawn up 3 deep, the first rank is called the front rank; the second, the centre rank; and the third, the rear rank; and the files which bind the right and left, are called the flanks. The cavalry is drawn up 2 deep.

DEPTH, a technical word peculiarly applicable to bodies of men drawn up in line or column.

DEPTH _of formation_. The fundamental order of the infantry in which they should always form and act, and for which all their various operations and movements are calculated, is _three ranks_. The formation in _two ranks_ is regarded as an occasional exception that may be made from it, where an extended and covered front is to be occupied, or where an irregular enemy, who deals only in fire, is to be opposed. The formation in two ranks, and at open files, is calculated only for light troops in the attack and pursuit of a timid enemy, but not for making an impression on an opposite regular line, which vigorously assails, or resists.

DEPTH is not only applicable to men drawn up in line, and standing at close, or open files two or three _deep_, but it may likewise signify the relative depth of an army marching towards any given object, in desultory columns.

DEPUTY, a term given to persons employed in the civil departments of the army, and subject to superior trusts.

DEPUTY _pay-masters_.

DEPUTY _muster-masters_.

DEPUTY _commissaries_.

DEPUTY _judge-advocate_.

DEROUTE, _Fr._ The total overthrow of an army, battalion, or of any armed party. See DEFEAT.

_To_ DESCEND, signifies to leave any position on an eminence for immediate action.

_To_ DESCEND _upon_, to invade. When an enemy from surrounding heights suddenly marches against a fortified place, he is said to descend upon it. The term is also applied to troops debarking from their ships for the purpose of invasion.

DESCENT. Hostile invasion of any state or kingdom.

DESCENTES, _dans le fossé_, _Fr._ See DESCENTS _into the ditch_.

DESCENTS _into the ditch_, are cuts and excavations which are made by means of saps in the counterscarp beneath the covert way. They are covered with thick boards and hurdles, and a certain quantity of earth is thrown upon the top, in order to obviate the bad effects which might arise from shells, &c.

When the ditch or fossé is full of water, the _descent_ must be made to its edge, after which the ditch must be filled with strong fascines covered with earth. When the ditch is dry, the saps are carried on to the bottom, and traverses are made in order to secure a lodgment, or to render the approaches of the miner more practicable. When the ditch or fossé which is full of water, has little or no bank, the _descent_ is simply made over it, care being taken to cover its enfilade or range with blinds and chandeliers, or to execute it as much out of that line as possible.

DESCENTS, in fortification, are the holes, vaults, and hollow places, made by undermining the ground.

DESCRIPTION, _Signalement_, _Fr._ The description of a man’s person, his appearance, &c. It not only signifies the figure, but an exact and specific detail of such marks and prominent features, that by comparing the copy taken on paper with the original, the latter may be instantly recognised. It is the custom in all well regulated armies for every regiment to have an exact description of each man that belongs to it, specifically drawn out in the adjutant’s books. So that when a soldier deserts, a copy is instantly taken, and forwarded to those places to which he is most likely to resort.

DESERTER, in a military sense, a soldier who, by running away from his regiment, troop, or company, abandons the service.

DESERTERS. A prudent officer will always be cautious of what he entrusts to a deserter; the judgment of the officer and his knowlege of human character, are the only guides which he has in his conduct; the motives of the deserter are therefore to be considered, whether it was the result of depravity in himself or of causes which might affect a generous mind. In this case, however, he should be as cautious as if it proved to be depravity only. A deserter on reaching the lines is put under arrest and conducted to the commanding officer, where he is examined, and it is usual to notify him he will be punished with death as a spy if he gives false information. Though great caution is required in regard to the information given by deserters, great advantage may be derived from their information, as attacks premeditated, the positions of officers, corps, and magazines, and head quarters, of discontents in the army, or disagreements among the superior officers.

DESERTERS from the militia may be apprehended by any person in the same manner, that deserters are from the regular army. Persons apprehending a deserter are entitled to 10 dollars.

_Penalty of_ DESERTION. All officers and soldiers, who having received pay, or having been duly enlisted in the U. S. service, shall be convicted of having deserted the same, shall suffer death or such other punishment as by a court-martial shall be inflicted. _Art. War_, § 20, 21, 22, 23.

Any non commissioned officer or soldier, who shall, without leave from his commanding officer, absent himself from his troop or company, or from any detachment with which he shall be commanded, shall, upon being convicted thereof, be punished according to the nature of the offence, at the discretion of a court-martial.

No non commissioned officer or soldier shall inlist himself in any other regiment, troop, or company, without a regular discharge from the regiment, troop, or company in which he last served, on the penalty of being reputed a deserter and suffering accordingly: and in case any officer shall knowingly receive and entertain such non commissioned officer or soldier, or shall not, after his being discovered to be a deserter, immediately confine him, and give notice thereof to the corpse in which he last served, he, the said officer so offending, shall by a court-martial be cashiered.

Whatsoever officer or soldier shall be convicted of having advised any other officer or soldier, to desert our service, shall suffer such punishment as shall be inflicted upon him by the sentence of the court-martial.

_Penalty for concealing_ BRITISH DESERTERS, or _buying their arms, clothes_, &c. Provided always, that if any person shall harbor, conceal, or assist any deserter from his majesty’s service, knowing him to be such, the person so offending shall forfeit for every such offence, the sum of 5_l._ or if any person shall knowingly detain, buy, or exchange, or otherwise receive, any arms, clothes, caps, or other furniture belonging to the king, from any soldier or deserter, or any other person, upon any account or pretence whatsoever, or cause the color of such clothes to be changed; the person so offending, shall forfeit for every such offence the sum of 5_l._ and upon conviction by the oath of one or more credible witness or witnesses, before any of his majesty’s justices of the peace, the said respective penalties of 5_l._ and 5_l._ shall be levied by warrant under the hands of the said justice or justices of the peace, by distress and sale of the goods and chattels of the offender; one moiety of the said first mentioned penalty of 5_l._ to be paid to the informer, by whose means such deserter shall be apprehended; and one moiety of the said last mentioned penalty of 5_l._ to be paid to the informer; and the residue of the said respective penalties to be paid to the officer to whom any such deserter or soldier did belong: and in case any such offender, who shall be convicted, as aforesaid, of harboring or assisting any such deserter or deserters, or having knowingly received any arms, clothes, caps, or other furniture belonging to the king or having caused the color of such clothes to be changed, contrary to the intent of this act, shall not have sufficient goods and chattels, wherein distress may be made, to the value of the penalties recovered against him for such offence, or shall not pay such penalties within 4 days after such conviction; then, and in such case, such justice of the peace shall and may, by warrant under his hand and seal, either commit such offender to the common gaol, there to remain without bail or mainprise for the space of three months, or cause such offender to be publicly whipped at the discretion of such justice.

DESERTEUR, _Fr._ See DESERTER.

DESIGN, in a general sense, implies the plan, order, representation, or construction of any kind of military building, chart, map, or drawing, &c. In building, the term _ichnography_ may be used, when by design is only meant the plan of a building or a flat figure drawn on paper: when some side or face of the building is raised from the ground, we may use the term _orthography_; and when both front and sides are seen in perspective, we may call it _scenography_.

DESIGNING, the art of delineating or drawing the appearance of natural objects, by lines on a plane.

DESORDRE, _Fr._ See DISORDER.

DESTINATION, the place or purpose, to which any body of troops is appointed in order to do or attempt some military service.

_To_ DETACH, is to send out part of a great number of men on some particular service, separate from that of the main body.

DETACHED _pieces_, in fortification, are such out-works as are detached, or at a distance from the body of the place; such as half-moons, ravelines, bastions, &c.

DETACHEMENT, _Fr._ See DETACHMENT.

DETACHMENT, in military affairs, an uncertain number of men drawn out from several regiments or companies equally, to march or be employed as the general may think proper, whether on an attack, at a siege, or in parties to scour the country. A detachment of 2000 or 3000 men is a command for a general officer; 800 for a colonel, 500 for a lieutenant-colonel, 200 or 300 for a major, 80 or 100 for a captain, 40 for a lieutenant or ensign, 12 for a serjeant, and 6 for a corporal. Detachments are sometimes made of intire squadrons and battalions. One general rule in all military projects that depends upon us alone, should be to omit nothing that can insure the success of our detachment and design; but, in that which depends upon the enemy, to trust something to hazard.

DETAIL, _Fr._ _faire le détail d’une armée, d’une compagnie, ou d’une corps de gens de guerre_; is to keep a strict eye upon every part of the service, and to issue out instructions or orders, that every individual belonging to a military profession may discharge his trust with accuracy and fidelity. _Faire le détail d’une compagnié_, likewise means to make up a company’s report, &c.

DETAIL _of duty_, in military affairs, is a roster or table for the regular and exact performance of duty, either in the field, garrison, or cantonments. The general detail of duty is the proper care of the majors of brigade, who are guided by the roster of the officers, and by the tables for the men, to be occasionally furnished. The adjutant of a regiment keeps the detail of duty for the officers of his regiment, as does the serjeant-major that for the non-commissioned, and the latter that for the privates.

DEVASTATION, in military history, the act of destroying, laying waste, demolishing, or unpeopling towns, &c.

DEVELOPPER, _Fr._ to unfold, to unravel; as _Se développer sur la tête d’une colonne_, to form line on the head of a column.

DEVICE, the emblems on a shield or standard.

DEUIL _militaire_, _Fr._ military mourning.

DEVUIDER, in the _manege_, is applied to a horse that, upon working upon volts, makes his shoulders go too fast for the croupe to follow.

DIABLE. _Fr._ See CHAT.

DIAGONAL, reaching from one angle to another; so as to divide a parallelogram into equal parts.

DIAGONAL MOVEMENTS. See ECHELLON.

DIAMETER, in both a military and geometrical sense, implies a right line passing through the centre of a circle, and terminated at each side by the circumference thereof. See CIRCLE.

The impossibility of expressing the exact proportion of the diameter of a circle to its circumference, by any received way of notation, and the absolute necessity of having it as near the truth as possible, has put some of the most celebrated men in all ages upon endeavoring to approximate it. The first who attempted it with success, was the celebrated Van Culen, a Dutchman, who by the ancient method, though so very laborious, carried it to 36 decimal places: these he ordered to be engraven on his tomb-stone, thinking he had set bounds to improvements. However, the indefatigable Mr. Abraham Sharp carried it to 75 places in decimals; and since that, the learned Mr. John Machin has carried it to 100 places, which are as follows:

If the diameter of a circle be 1, the circumference will be

3.1415926535,8979323846,2643383279,5028841971,6939937510,
5820974944,5923078164,0528620899,8628034825,3421170679,+

of the same parts; which is a degree of exactness far surpassing all imagination.

But the ratios generally used in the practice of military mathematics are these following. The diameter of the circle is to its circumference as 113 is to 355 nearly.--The square of the diameter is to the area of the circle, as 452 to 355. The cube of the diameter is, to the solid content of a sphere, as 678 to 355.--The cubes of the axes are, to the solid contents of equi-altitude cylinders, as 452 to 355.--The solid content of a sphere is, to the circumscribed cylinder, as 2 to 3.

_How to find the_ DIAMETER _of shot or shells_. For an iron ball, whose diameter is given, supposing a 9-pounder, which is nearly 4 inches, say, the cube root of 2.08 of 9 pounds is, to 4 inches, as the cube root of the given weight is to the diameter sought. Or, if 4 be divided by 2.08, the cube root of 9, the quotient 1.923 will be the diameter of a 1-pound shot; which being continually multiplied by the cube root of the given weight, gives the diameter required.

Or by logarithms much shorter, thus: If the logarithm of 1.923, which is .283979, be constantly added to the third part of the logarithm of the weight, the sum will be the logarithm of the diameter. Suppose a shot to weigh 24 pounds: add the given logarithm .283979 to the third part of .460070 of the logarithm 1.3802112 of 24, the sum .7440494 will be the logarithm of the diameter oi a shot weighing 24 pounds, which is 5.5468 inches.

If the weight should be expressed by a fraction, the rule is still the same: for instance, the diameter of a 1¹⁄₂ pound ball, or ³⁄₂, is found by adding the logarithm .2839793, found above, to .0586971 ¹⁄₃ of the logarithm of ²⁄₃, the sum .3426764 will be the logarithm of the diameter required, _i. e._ 2.2013 inches.

As the diameter of the bore, or the calibre of the piece, is made ¹⁄₂₀ part larger than that of the shot, according to the present practice, the following table is computed for this proportion.

DIAMETERS _of the shots and calibres of English guns_.

+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|lb.| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | 0 |1.923|2.423|2.775|3·053|3.288|
| 0 +-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | 0 |2.019|2.544|2.913|3.204|3.568|
+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| |4.143|4.277|4.403|4.522|4.635|4.743|
| 1 +-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| |4.349|4.490|4.623|4.748|4.866|4.981|
+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| |5.220|5.305|5.388|5.409|5.547|5.623|
| 2 +-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| |5.480|5.579|5.661|5.742|5.824|5.893|
+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| |5.975|6.041|6.105|6.168|6.230|6.290|
| 3 +-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| |6.275|6.343|6.410|6.475|6.?41|6.604|
+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| |6.576|6.631|6.684|6.737|6.789|6.640|
| 4 +-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| |6.904|6.962|7.018|7.076|7.128|7.182|
+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+

+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
|lb.| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
| |3.498|3.679|3.846|4.000|diam. |
| 0 +-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
| |3.668|3.861|4.038|4.200|calib.|
+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
| |4.846|4.945|5.040|5.131|diam. |
| 1 +-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
| |5.088|5.192|5.292|5.368|calib.|
+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
| |5.697|5.769|5.839|5.908|diam. |
| 2 +-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
| |5.982|6.057|6.129|6.203|calib.|
+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
| |6.350|6.408|6.465|6.521|diam. |
| 3 +-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
| |6.666|6.707|6.788|6.846|calib.|
+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
| |6.890|6.940|6.989|7.037|diam. |
| 4 +-----+-----+-----+-----+------+
| |7.234|7.287|7.338|7.383|calib.|
+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+

EXPLANATION.

The numbers in the first line of the table are units, and those in the first column of the left side of the table tens; the other numbers, under the one, and opposite to the others, are the respective diameters of shot and calibres. Thus, to find the diameter of the shot, and the calibre of a 24 pr. look for the number 2 on the left-hand side, and for 4 at top; then the number 5.547, under 4, and opposite 2, will be the diameter of the shot in inches and decimals, and the number 5.824, under the first, the calibre of a 24-pounder &c.

DIAMETERS _of the Bullets and Calibres of English musquets_.

+-+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
+-+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|0| 0 |1.671|1.326|1.158|1.05 | .977| .919| .873| .835| .803|
+-+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|1|.715| .?51| .730| .711| .693| .677| .663| .650| .637| .626|
+-+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|2|.615| .605| .596| .587| .579| .571| .564| .557| .550| .544|
+-+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|3|.538| .536| .526| .521| .517| .511| .506| .501| .497| .493|
+-+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+

The diameter of musquet bores differs about ¹⁄₅₀th part from that of the bullet.

DIAMETER _of powder measures_. See POWDER MEASURES.

DICTATOR, a magistrate of Rome, made in times of exigence and public distress, and invested with absolute authority.

DIFFERENCE. The sum paid by an officer in the British service, when he exchanges from half to full pay. It likewise means the regulation price between an inferior and a superior commission. Officers who retire upon half pay, and take the difference, subject themselves to many incidental disadvantages, should they wish to return into active service.

DIGGING. See MINING.

DIGLADIATION, a combat with swords.

DIGUON, _Fr._ a staff at the end of which is suspended a vane or streamer. This term is properly marine.

DIKE or DYKE, a channel to receive water, also a dam or mound, to prevent inundation. See FORTIFICATION.

DIMACHÆ, in ancient military affairs, were a kind of horsemen, answering to the dragoons of the moderns.

DIMICATION. See BATTLE.

_To_ DIMINISH _or increase the front of a battalion_, is to adapt the column of march or manœuvre according to the obstructions and difficulties which it meets in advancing. This is one of the most important movements, and a battalion which does not perform this operation with the greatest exactness and attention, so as not to lengthen out in the smallest degree, is not fit to move in the column of a considerable corps.

DIRECTEUR _General_, _Fr._ A military post of nominal importance which was originally instituted by Louis XIV. This charge was entrusted to eight lieutenant generals, four to command and superintend the infantry, and four for the cavalry. They possessed, however, little or no authority over the army in general; being subordinate in some degree to the general officer whose corps they might inspect, and to whom they rendered a correct account of its interior œconomy. They were likewise assisted by Inspectors general. The four directors were afterwards replaced by the inspectors, from a principle of œconomy. The permanent ones of that appellation were: director general of the royal artillery school; director general of military hospitals; director general of fortification; director general of the cavalry; director general of stores.

DIRECTION, in military mechanics, signifies the line or path of a body in motion, along which it endeavors to force its way, according to the propelling power that is given to it.

_Angle of_ DIRECTION, that formed by the lines of direction of two conspiring powers.

_Quantity of_ DIRECTION, a term used by military mathematicians for the product of the velocity of the common centre of gravity of a system of bodies, by the sum of their quantities of matter: this is no ways altered by any collisions among the bodies themselves.

DIRK, a kind of dagger used by military men, and by the highlanders in Scotland.

_To_ DISARM. To deprive a soldier of every species of offensive or defensive weapon.

DISARMED. Soldiers divested of their arms, either by conquest, or in consequence of some defection.

DISBANDED, the soldiers of any regiment, who are in a body dismissed from the conditions of their military service.

DISBARK. See DISEMBARK.

DISCHARGE, in a military sense, is the dismissing a soldier from the troop or company he belonged to, either at his own request, or after long services.

This term is also applied to the firing of cannon or musquets, as a discharge of cannon, or of small arms.

DISCIPLINARIAN, an officer who pays particular regard to the discipline of the soldiers under his command.

DISCIPLINE, in a military sense, signifies the instruction and government of soldiers.

_Military_ DISCIPLINE, _Military Constitution_, By _military constitution_ is meant, the authoritative declared laws for the guidance of all military men, and all military matters; and by _discipline_ is meant, the obedience to, and exercise of those laws. As health is to the natural body, so is a sound military constitution to the military one; and as exercise is to the first, so is discipline to the last. Bravery will perchance gain a battle; but every one knows that by discipline alone the long disputed prize of a war can be ultimately obtained.

The kingdom of Prussia was a striking example in favor of perfect discipline; for while that state had a strong army, and maintained that army in strict discipline, it had held a very considerable share in the system of Europe.

_Marine_ DISCIPLINE, is the training up soldiers for sea service, in such exercises and various positions as the musquet and body may require: teaching them likewise every manœuvre that can be performed on board ships of war at sea, &c.

DISCIPLINE _militaire_. See MILITARY DISCIPLINE.

DISCRETION, _Fr._ discretion. _Se rendre à discrétion_, to surrender at discretion, implies to throw one’s self upon the mercy of a victorious enemy. The French likewise say, _les soldats vivent à discrétion dans un pays_; which in familiar English signifies, soldiers live _scot-free_ in a country.

_To_ DISENGAGE, to clear a column or line, which may have lost its proper front by the overlapping of any particular division, company, or section when ordered to form up. To do this, ground must be taken to the right or left. It is however, a dangerous operation when the army or battalion gets into a line of fire. In that case the files that overlap must remain in the rear, and fill up the first openings.

_To_ DISENGAGE, is also to extricate yourself and the men you command from a critical situation. A battalion, for instance, which may have advanced too far during an action, and got between two fires, may, by an able manœuvre, disengage itself.

_To_ DISENGAGE _the wings of a battalion_. This is necessary when the battalion countermarches from its centre, and on its centre by files. The battalion having received the word “by wings, inward face,” is next ordered “by wings, three side steps to the right, march,” by which the wings are disengaged from each other, or this may be done by a quarter face to the right and left alter facing inward. In counter-marching, &c. the leading files must uniformly disengage themselves.

_To_ DISENGAGE, in fencing, to quit that side of your adversary’s blade, on which you are opposed by his guard, in order to effect a cut or thrust where an opportunity may present.

DISMANTLE, to strip a town or fortress of its outworks.

_To_ DISMANTLE _a gun_. To render it unfit for use. Guns are frequently dismantled and left upon the field of battle.

DISCOMFIT, defeat, rout, overthrow.

DISCOVERER, a scout; one who is set to descry the enemy.

DISEMBARK, to land from on board any vessel or craft, used to convey troops on the sea.

DISEMBODIED. See DISBANDED.

_To_ DISEMBODY. To disband.

DISGARNISH, to take guns from a fortress.

DISLODGE, to drive an enemy from their post or station.

DISMISSED. An officer in the British service may be dismissed generally or specifically. When an officer is dismissed generally, it is signified to him, that there is not any further occasion for his services. When an officer is dismissed specifically, it is expressly notified, that he is rendered incapable of ever serving again. Sometimes, indeed this species of dismissal is attended with public marks of extreme disgrace and degradation. In the Austrian service a colonel has been dismissed at the head of his regiment, and has had his sword broken before him, &c. During the present war the colonel of a militia regiment has not only been rendered incapable of ever serving again, but has been expelled the house of commons for military misconduct. The charges against him, together with the circumstantial proofs of his guilt, and the king’s approbation of the sentence were read in the circle of every regiment throughout Great Britain, in 1795, and nothing but a plea of severe indisposition saved the culprit from having the minutes publicly communicated to him at the horse guards.

DISMOUNTING, in a military sense, is the act of unhorsing. Thus, to dismount the cavalry, &c. is to make them alight.

_To_ DISMOUNT _cannon_, is to break their carriages, wheels, axle-trees, or any thing else, so as to render them unfit for service. It also implies dismounting by the gin, &c.

DISOBEDIENCE _of orders_. Any infraction, by neglect or wilful omission, of general or regimental orders. It is punishable by the articles of war.

DISPART, in gunnery, is to set a mark on the muzzle ring, so that it may be of an equal height with the base ring: hence a line drawn between them, will be parallel to the axis of the concave cylinder, for the gunner to take aim by it, to hit the mark he is to fire at; for the bore and this imaginary line being parallel, the aim so taken must be true. This exactness cannot be made use of in an engagement, and but very seldom at a siege; for in those cases practice and the eye must be the only guides.

DISPART. The dispart of a gun is the half difference between the diameter of the gun at the base ring, and at the swell of the muzzle. The general dispart of all guns is about the ¹⁄₅₆ part of their length. See the disparts of French and English guns under the word TANGENT SCALE.

DISPART-_frontlet_. See FRONTLET.

_To_ DISPERSE. In a military sense, may be variously understood. In an active one, it signifies to disperse any body of men, armed or unarmed, who may have assembled in an illegal or hostile manner. The cavalry are generally employed on these occasions.

_To_ DISPERSE, likewise means to break suddenly from any particular order, in line or column, and to repair to some rallying point. Hence to sound the disperse, is to give notice that the battalion or battalions are to retreat from their actual position, in a loose and desultory manner, and to reassemble according to the natural line of formation, taking the colors as their central points to dress by.

DISPLACED, officers in the British service are sometimes displaced from a particular regiment in consequence of misconduct proved upon the minutes of a general court martial; but they are at liberty to serve in any other corps.

_To_ DISPLAY, in a military sense, is to extend the front of a column, and hereby bring it into line. See DEPLOY.

DISPOSE, to dispose cannon, is to place it in such a manner, that its discharge may do the greatest mischief. For instance, to dispose cannon along the front of the line.

DISPOSITION, in a general sense, is the just placing an army or body of men upon the most advantageous ground, and in the strongest situation for a vigorous attack or defence.

DISPOSITION _de guerre_, _Fr._ warlike arrangement, or disposition. Under this head may be considered the mode of establishing, combining, conducting, and finally terminating a war, so as to produce success and victory.

Wisdom and discretion in council point out the form necessary for the first establishment of a warlike enterprise, or disposition, afford the means of bringing it to a conclusion, and assimilate all the various parts so as to unite the whole.

The following maxims are in the memoirs of general Montecuculli.

1. _Deliberate leisurely, execute promptly._

2. _Let the safety of your army be your first object._

3. _Leave something to chance._

4. _Take advantage of circumstances._

5. _Use all the means in your power to secure a good reputation._

The disposition or arrangement of a warlike enterprise may be universal, or particular.

An universal disposition or arrangement of war implies every thing which relates to that system upon an extensive scale; such as the combination of many parts for the ultimate benefit of the whole, &c.

A particular disposition or arrangement of war signifies the detail of minute objects, and the appropriation of various parts, one with another, for the purpose of effecting a general combination. This disposition, (without which the other must prove abortive,) consists in an observance of the strictest discipline by every individual that belongs to a troop or company. To this end, general officers should be scrupulously exact in attending to the inspection of particular corps; specific instructions for regimental œconomy and discipline should be given, and the strictest regard be paid to the execution of orders.

DISTANCE, in military formation, signifies the relative space which is left between men standing under arms in rank, or the intervals which appear between those ranks, &c.

DISTANCES. Inaccessible distances may be found several ways; the most correct of which of course is by means of proper mathematical instruments; which, however, are not always to be had in the field.

The following different methods are laid down by several authors, where instruments cannot be had.

1. Wishing to know the distance of the object A from B (fig. 1.) place a picket at B and another at C, at a few fathoms distance, making A B C a right angle, and divide B C into 4, 5, or any number of equal parts: make another similar angle at C, in a direction from the object, and walk along the line C D till you bring yourself in a line with the object A, and any of the divisions, (say _o_) of the line B C. Then, as C_o_ : C D ∷ B_o_ : B A.

VAUBAN.

2. To gain the distance between two objects C and D (fig. 2.) from any point A, taken in the line C D, erect the perpendicular A E: on which set off from A to E, 1 or 200 feet, more or less, according to the distance between the points C and D; set off from E to G in the prolongation A E, one eighth or one tenth of A E; at G raise the perpendicular G F, and produce it towards I; plant pickets at E and G, then move with another picket on G F till it becomes in a line with E and D: and on the prolongation of the perpendicular F G place another picket at I in the line with E and C; measure F I, and it will be as G E : A E ∷ F I : C D.

3. To gain the inaccessible length A B, (fig. 3.) of the front of a fortification; plant a picket at C, from whence both points may be seen: find the lengths C A and C B by the method just given (No. 1.) make C E ¹⁄₄, or any part of C B, and make C D bear the same proportion to C A: measure D E, then it will be as C D : D E ∷ C A : A B.

See _Am. Mil. Lib._ Article FIELD FORTIFICATION.

Nearly after the same manner may be ascertained the distance from B to A when the point B is accessible; for having measured the line C B, and made the angle C E D equal to C B A, it will be, as C E : D E ∷ C B : B A.

4. The distance of a battery, or other object, may be ascertained by the tangent scale on the breech of a gun. It is however necessary in this case to know the height of the object, the distance of which is required. Lay the gun by the upper line of metal for the _top_ of the object, then raise the tangent scale till the top of the scale and the notch at the muzzle are in a line with the bottom of the object, and note what height of the tangent scale is required: then say, as the length of the scale above the base ring of the gun is to the length from the base ring to the swell of the muzzle, so is the height of the object to its distance from the muzzle of the gun.

5. The breadth of a river, or other short distance, may be taken thus: take two pickets of different lengths, drive the shortest into the ground close to the edge of the bank; measure some paces back from it, and drive in the other till you find, by looking over the tops of both, that your sight cuts the opposite side--Then pull up the first picket, measure the same distance from the second, in any direction the most horizontal, and drive it as deep in the ground as before. Consequently, if you look over them again, and observe where the line of sight falls, you will have the distance required.

6. The following simple method of ascertaining the breadth of a river may be sufficiently correct for some cases: Place yourself at the edge of one bank, and lower one corner of your hat till you find the edge of it cuts the other bank; then steady your head, by placing your hand under your chin, and turn gently round to some level spot of ground, and observe where your eyes and the edge of the hat again meet the ground: your distance from that point will be nearly the breadth of the river.

7. DISTANCES ascertained by the difference between the true and apparent level. See LEVELLING.

8. DISTANCES measured by sound. See SOUND.

9. The following simple micrometer may be so usefully applied to military purposes, that we shall extract it verbatim from the Philosophical Transactions for 1791, where it is described by Cavallo. This micrometer consists of a thin and narrow slip of mother of pearl, finely divided, and placed in the _focus_ of the eyeglass of a telescope, just where the image is formed. It is immaterial whether the telescope be a reflector, or a refractor, provided the eye glass be a _convex_ lens and not a _concave_ one, as in the Galilean construction. The simplest way to fix it, is to stick it on the diaphragm, which generally stands within the tube, and in the locus of the eye glass. When thus fixed, if you look through the eye glass, the divisions on the scale will appear very distinct, unless the diaphragm is not exactly in the focus: in which case the scale must be placed exactly in the focus, by pushing the diaphragm, backwards or forwards, when this is practicable; or else the scale may be easily removed from one surface of the diaphragm to the other, by the interposition of a circular bit of paper or card, or a piece of sealing wax. This construction is fully sufficient when the telescope is always to be used by the same person; but when different persons are to use it, then the diaphragm, which supports the micrometer, must be so constructed as to be easily moved backwards or forwards, though that motion need not be greater than about the tenth or eighth of an inch. This is necessary, because the distance of the focus of the same lens appears different to the eyes of different persons; and therefore whoever is going to use the telescope for the mensuration of an angle, must first unscrew the tube which contains the eye glass and micrometer, from the rest of the telescope, and, looking through the eye glass, place the micrometer where the divisions of it may appear most distinct to his eye. The mother of pearl scale may be about the 24th part of an inch broad; its length is determined by the aperture of the diaphragm; its thickness that of writing paper. The divisions on it maybe the 200th of an inch, which may reach from one edge of the scale to about the middle; and every fifth and tenth division may be a little longer, the tenths going quite across. When the telescope does not magnify above 30 times, the divisions need not be so minute. For the sake of those not conversant in trigonometry, the following is an easy method of determining the value of the divisions on the scale. Mark upon a wall or other place, the length of 6 inches; then place the telescope before it so that the 6 inches be at right angles to it, and exactly 57 feet 3¹⁄₂ inches distant from the object glass of the telescope. This done, look through the telescope, and observe how many divisions of the micrometer are equal to it, and that same number of divisions will be equal to half a degree, or 30′; and this is all that need be done to ascertain the value of the scale. The reason on which it is founded is, that an extension of six inches at the distance of 57 feet, 3¹⁄₂ inches, subtends an angle of 30′, as is easily calculated by trigonometry. To save the trouble of calculation, a scale may be made requiring only inspection. Thus, draw a line equal to the diameter of the field of the telescope, and divide its under side into the same number of parts as are on your micrometric scale, and, by the above operation on the wall, having determined the value of 30′, which we will suppose to correspond with 16 divisions on the scale, mark 30′ on the opposite side of the line, opposite 16 on the lower; 15 opposite 8, and so on.

By the following table the results may be ascertained by inspection only: thus, suppose an extension of 1 foot is found by the table to subtend an angle of 22′, the distance will be 156.2: and suppose at the distance of 171.8 an object subtends an angle of 20′, its height will be found to be 1 foot; or, suppose an object of 6 feet high to subtend an angle of 20′, the distance is 1030.8, by multiplying 171.8 by 6.

_Table of Angles subtended by 1 Foot, at different Distances._

-----+------++-----+------++-----+------++------------
| Dis- || | Dis- || | Dis- || | Dis-
|tances|| |tances|| |tances|| |tances
Min-| in || Min-| in || Min-| in || Min-| in
utes.| feet.||utes.| feet.||utes.| feet.||utes.| feet.
-----+------++-----+------++-----+------++-----+------
1 |3437.7|| 16 | 214.8|| 31 | 110.9|| 46 | 74.7
2 |1718.9|| 17 | 202.2|| 32 | 107.4|| 47 | 73.1
3 |1145.9|| 18 | 191.0|| 33 | 104.2|| 48 | 71.6
4 | 859.4|| 19 | 180.9|| 34 | 101.1|| 49 | 70.1
5 | 687.5|| 20 | 171.8|| 35 | 98.2|| 50 | 68.7
6 | 572.9|| 21 | 162.7|| 36 | 95.5|| 51 | 67.4
7 | 491.1|| 22 | 156.2|| 37 | 92.9|| 52 | 66.1
8 | 429.7|| 23 | 149.4|| 38 | 90.4|| 53 | 64.8
9 | 382.0|| 24 | 143.2|| 39 | 88.1|| 54 | 63.6
10 | 343.7|| 25 | 137.5|| 40 | 85.9|| 55 | 62.5
11 | 312.5|| 26 | 132.2|| 41 | 83.8|| 56 | 61.4
12 | 286.5|| 27 | 127.2|| 42 | 81.8|| 57 | 60.3
13 | 264.4|| 28 | 122.7|| 43 | 79.9|| 58 | 59.2
14 | 245.5|| 29 | 118.5|| 44 | 78.1|| 59 | 58.2
15 | 229.2|| 30 | 114.6|| 45 | 76.4|| 60 | 57.3
-----+------++-----+------++-----+------++-----+------

DISTANCE _of files_. Every soldier when in his true position under arms, shouldered and in rank, must just feel with his elbow the touch of his neighbor with whom he dresses; nor in any situation of movement in front, must he ever relinquish such touch, which becomes in action the principal direction for the preservation of his order, and each file as connected with its two neighboring ones, must consider itself a complete body, so arranged for the purpose of attack, or effectual defence. Close files must invariably constitute the formation of all corps that go into action. The peculiar exercise of the light infantry is the only exception. See _Am Mil. Lib._

DISTANCE _of ranks_, open distances of ranks are two paces asunder; when close they are one pace; when the body is halted and to fire, they are still closer locked up. Close ranks, order or distance is the constant and habitual order at which troops are at all times formed and move; open ranks, order or distance is only an occasional exception, made in the situation of parade, or in light infantry manœuvres.

DISTANCES _of files and ranks_, relate to the trained soldier, but in the course of his tuition he must be much exercised at open files and ranks, and acquire thereby independence and the command of his limbs and body.

DISTANCE _of the bastions_, in fortification, is the side of the exterior polygon. See FORTIFICATION.

DISTRIBUTION. In a military sense, generally applies to any division, or allotment, which is made for the purposes of warfare. Thus an army may be distributed about a country. In a more confined sense, it means the minute arrangements that are made for the interior œconomy of corps; as distribution of pay or subsistence, distribution of allowances, &c.

DISTRICT, in a military sense, one of those parts into which a country is divided, for the conveniences of command, and to secure a ready co-operation between distant bodies of armed men.

DITCH. See FORTIFICATION, MOAT.

_To drain a_ DITCH, is to make the water run off into lower ground, by means of small trenches cut for this purpose.

DIVERSION, in military history, is when an enemy is attacked in one place where he is weak and unprovided, in order to draw off his forces from making an irruption somewhere else; or where an enemy is strong, and by an able manœuvre he is obliged to detach part of his forces to resist any feint or menacing attempt of his opponent. To derive advantage from a diversion, taken in an extended acceptation of the term, it is necessary, that one state should have greater resources than another; for it would be absurd to attack the territories of another before you had secured your own.

It is likewise requisite, that the country you attack by stratagem or diversion, should be easy of access, and the invasion you make must be prompt, vigorous and unexpected, directed against a weak and vulnerable quarter. A little good fortune is however essential to render a diversion perfectly successful, as all the ways and means by which it ought be made, cannot be reduced to rule.

The most memorable instance of a diversion well executed, which we meet with in ancient history, was performed by Scipio in Africa, whilst Annibal carried the war into Italy. In 1659, a diversion no less remarkable, was practised by the imperial and allied armies against the Swedes.

DIVISIONS _of a battalion_, are the several platoons into which a regiment or battalion is divided, either in marching or firing; each of which is commanded by an officer.

DIVISIONS _of an army_, are the number of brigades and squadrons it contains.

The advance, the main, and the rear guards are composed out of the several brigades, and march in front, in the centre, and in the rear of an army. Each army has its right wing, its centre, and its left wing. When armies march they advance in column, that is, they are divided into several squadrons and battalions of a given depth, successively formed upon one another. If an army be drawn out or displayed in order of battle it is usually divided into the first line, which constitutes the front, the second line, which makes the main body, and the third line or reserve.

DODECAGON, in geometry, is a regular polygon, consisting of 12 equal sides and angles, capable of being regularly fortified with the same number of bastions.

DODECAHEDRON, is one of the platonic bodies, or five regular solids, and is contained under 12 equal and regular pentagons.

The solidity of a _dodecahedron_, is found by multiplying the area of one of the pentagonal faces of it by 12; and this latter product by ¹⁄₃d of the distance of the face from the centre of the _dodecahedron_, which is the same as the centre of the circumscribing sphere.

The side of a _dodecahedron_ inscribed in a sphere, is the greater part of the side of a cube inscribed in that sphere, cut into extreme and mean proportion.

If the diameter of the sphere be 1,0000, the side of a _dodecahedron_ inscribed in it will be .35682 nearly.

All _dodecahedrons_ are similar, and are to one another as the cubes of the sides; and their surfaces are also similar, and therefore they are as the squares of their sides; whence as .509282 is to 10.51462, so is the square of the side of any _dodecahedron_ to the superficies thereof; and as .3637 is to 2.78516, so is the cube of the side of any _dodecahedron_ to the solidity of it.

DOG-_Nails_. See NAILS.

DOLPHINS. See CANNON.

DOMMAGE, _Fr._ in a general acceptation of the term, signified in the old French service, the compensation which every captain of a troop, or company was obliged to make in consequence of any damage that their men might have done in a town, or on a march. If any disagreement occurred between the officers and the inhabitants, with respect to the indemnification, a statement of losses sustained was sworn to by the latter, before the mayor or magistrates of the place, who determined the same. But if the officers should refuse to abide by their decision, a remonstrance was drawn up and transmitted to the secretary at war, with a copy of the same to the intendant of the province. Officers have frequently been displaced or degraded on this account. Hence the term dommage is supposed to have been derived from the latin words _damnum jactura_, and signifies the loss or privation of a step.

DONJON. See DUNGEON.

DOSSER, in military matters, is a sort of basket, carried on the shoulders of men, used in carrying the earth from one part of a fortification to another, where it is wanted.

DOUBLING, in the military art, is the placing two or more ranks, or files into one.

DOUBLE _your ranks_, is for the 2d, 4th, and 6th ranks (when so drawn up) to march into the 1st, 3d, and 5th; so that of 6 ranks they are made but 3; which is not so when they double by half files, because then 3 ranks stand together, and the 3 other come up to double them; that is, the 1st, 2d, and 3d, are doubled by the 4th, 5th, and 6th, or the contrary.

DOUBLE _your files_, is for every other file to march into that which is next to it, on the right or left, as the word of command directs; and then the 6 ranks are doubled into 12, the men standing 12 deep; and the distance between the files is double what it was before. By this method 3 files may be doubled into 6, &c.

_To_ DOUBLE _round_, in military movements, is to march by an inversion of a second line, on the extremity of a first line, thereby to outflank an enemy.

DOUBLE _tenaille_. See TENAILLE.

DOUILLE, _Fr._ a small iron socket which is at the heel of the bayonet, and receives the extreme end of the musquet, so as to be firmly united together.

DOUILLE likewise signifies, the cavity which belongs to the round piece of iron that is fixed to the end of the ramrod, by means of two nails through two small holes, called _yeux_ or eyes, and to which the worm is attached.

DRAGON et DRAGON VOLANT, _Fr._ some old pieces of artillery were anciently so called. The _Dragon_ was a 40-pounder; the _Dragon Volant_ a 32. But neither the name nor the size of the calibre of either piece is now in use.

DRAGONNER, _Fr._ According to the French acceptation of the term, is to attack any person in a rude and violent manner; to take any thing by force; to adopt prompt and vigorous measures; and to bring those people to reason by hard blows, who could not be persuaded by fair words.

DRAGOONS, in military affairs, are a kind of horsemen, or cavalry, who serve both on horseback, and foot; being always ready on every emergency, as being able to keep pace with the horse, and to do infantry duty. In battle, or on attacks, they generally fight sword in hand after the first fire. In the field they encamp on the right and left of the lines. They are divided into brigades, regiments, and squadrons. Their martial music is the clarion or trumpet. The first regiment of dragoons in England was raised in 1681, and called the royal regiment of dragoons of North Britain. This name is derived from the Latin word _Draconarii_, used amongst the Romans. The standard of the Roman cavalry bore as its device a dragon; as that of the infantry bore an eagle.

_To_ DRAGOON, is to persecute by abandoning a place to the rage of the soldiery.

DRAG-_ropes_. See ROPES. See BRICOLE.

DRAIN _or_ DREIN, in the military art, is a trench made to draw water out of a ditch, which is afterwards filled, with hurdles and earth, or with fascines, or bundles of rushes and planks, to facilitate the passage over the mud. See TRENCH.

DRAKE, a small piece of artillery.

DRAUGHT, a plan or delineation of any place; a body of troops selected from others.

_To_ DRAUGHT, to draw forces from one brigade, &c. to complete another; to select a proportion from brigades, regiments, or companies for any particular service.

DRAUGHT-_hooks_, in a gun-carriage, are fixed to the transom-bolts on the cheeks of artillery carriages, near the trunnion holes and trails: they are used to draw the guns backwards and forwards by men with drag ropes fixed to those hooks.

DRAUGHTED, the soldiers of any regiment being allotted to complete other regiments are said to be draughted.

DRAUGHTSMEN, a body of men educated to assist the engineers in drawing plans, fortifications, and surveying; every officer should endeavor to be a good draughtsman; and every corps ought to have a master to teach in camp or quarters.

_To_ DRAW, to delineate or make a sketch.

DRAW RAMROD, a word of command, used in the drill exercise, on which the soldier draws his ramrod half from the pipes, and seizing it back handed by the middle, waits for the signal for the next motion, when he turns it round, and with an extended arm, places the butt of the rod about one inch in the muzzle of the firelock, in which position he waits for the command _ram down cartridge_.

DRAW SWORDS, a word of command in the sword exercise of the cavalry.

The drawing of swords is performed in 3 motions. 1st, Bring the right hand smartly across the body to the sword knot, which being placed on the wrist, and secured by giving the hand a couple of turns inwards, seize the hilt of the sword. 2d, Draw the sword with an extended arm; sink the hand till the hilt of the sword is immediately against the left nipple, the blade of the sword perpendicular, and the back of the hand outwards. 3d. Bring down the hilt till in a line with the bridle hand, the blade perpendicular, the edge turned towards the horse’s left ear.

Officers of infantry, when the men are under arms, draw their swords without waiting for any word of command.

_To_ DRAW _off_, to retire.

_To_ DRAW _on_, to advance.

_To_ DRAW _out_, to call the soldiers forth in array for action.

_To_ DRAW _up_, to form in battle array.

DRAW _bridge_. See BRIDGE.

DRAWING, in a military sense, is the art of representing the appearances of all kinds of military objects by imitation, or copying, both with and without the assistance of mathematical rules.

DRESS-_military_. The clothing of the army is generally called regimentals, every part of which should facilitate, and not hinder, the various motions of the manual exercise. A soldier, without regard to fashion or taste (to use the words of a modern author) should be dressed in the most comfortable and least embarrassing manner possible; and the keeping him warm, and leaving him the entire use of his limbs, are objects always to be had in view.