Chapter D: Caldwell, (16)

3 spunges; 4 loads.
6 and 7 run up and elevate.
2 serves the vent, runs up, traverses, and primes.
5 runs up, traverses, and fires.
8 brings cartridges.
1 points and commands.

_7 Men._

3 spunges; 4 loads.
7 runs up and elevates.
6 brings cartridges, runs up, and elevates.
2 serves vent, traverses, and primes.
5 runs up, traverses, and fires.
1 points and commands.

_6 Men._

3 spunges, runs up, elevates.
4 loads, runs up, and elevates.
2 serves the vent, runs up, traverses, and primes.
5 runs up, traverses, fires.
6 brings cartridges.
7 points and commands.

_5 Men._

3 spunges, runs up.
4 brings cartridges, loads, runs up.
2 serves vent, runs up, elevates, and primes.
5 runs up, traverses, fires.
1 points and commands.

_4 Men._

3 spunges, runs up, points.
4 brings cartridges, loads, runs up, and elevates.
2 serves vent, runs up, traverses, elevates, and primes.
1 runs up, traverses, fires.

_3 Men._

1 spunges, runs up, points, and fires.
2 brings cartridges, loads, runs up, elevates, traverses.
3 serves vent, runs up, elevates, traverses, and primes.

_4²⁄₅, or 5¹⁄₂ Inch Mortar._

_2 Men._

1 spunges, runs up, brings shells, puts them in, traverses, and
primes.
2 serves the vent, runs up, brings cartridges, puts them in, points,
and fires.

_3 Men._

2 spunges, runs up, traverses, brings shells, and puts them in.
3 brings cartridges, puts in, serves the vent, runs up, primes, and
fires.
1 points, elevates, and commands.

_8 Inch Mortar, or Howitzer._

_5 Men._

3 spunges, runs up, dredges.
5 runs up, brings cartridges, and puts them in.
4 runs up, brings cartridges, and puts them in.
4 runs up, brings shells, puts them in, elevates, primes.
2 runs up, traverses, fires.
1 serves vent, points, and commands.

_4 Men._

3 spunges, runs up, dredges.
4 runs up, brings cartridges, and puts them in.
2 serves the vent, brings shells, and puts them in, runs up,
traverses, and fires.
1 runs up, points, elevates, and commands.

_10, or 13 Inch Mortar._

_10 Men._

3 spunges, runs up, puts in shells, and dredges.
4 runs up, brings cartridges, puts them in, and puts in the shells.
6 brings cartridges.
7 and 8 bring shells.
9 and 10 run up and traverse.
2 serves vent and primes.
5 fires; 1 points, elevates and commands.

_6 Men._

3 spunges, runs up, puts in shells, dredges, and traverses.
4 runs up, brings cartridges, and puts them in, puts in shells, and
traverses.
5 and 6 run up, bring shells, and traverse.
2 runs up, serves vent, and primes.
1 runs up, points, elevates, fires, and commands.

_Of the exercise of auxiliary machines._

_Exercise of the Gin._

The complement of men for a gin is usually 1 non-commissioned officer and 10 men; they are numbered from 1 to 10, the non-commissioned officer being 11.

_To carry a Gin._

1 and 2 carry a pry-pole, 3 and 5 the right cheek, 4 and 6 the left, 7 the windlass and side, 8 and 9 the blocks and tackles, 10 the handspikes, &c.

_To set up a Gin._

1 and 2 put a common handspike through the ring, near the foot of the pry-pole, at which they lift; 3 and 4 steady the cheeks, by placing each a handspike against the lower cross bar; 5, 7, and 9, lift the right cheek; 6, 8, and 10, the left cheek; 11 gives directions. The tackles must be hooked on before the gin is raised.

_To work a Gin._

1 and 3 man the right handspikes of the gin: 2 and 4 the left; 5, 6, 7, and 8, hold on the fall, and pull in the slack; 9 and 10 steady the gun, 9 at the muzzle, 10 at the breech. The tackle hook must be fixed directly over the dolphins, if any, or a little behind the trunnions.

In heaving, when the ends of 1 and 4’s handspikes come as low as their knees, 2 and 3 put theirs into the upper holes of the windlass, and 3 gives the word _Bear_, upon which 1 and 4 clear their handspikes from the windlass, and 1 gives the word _Heave_; 2 and 3 then bear down their handspikes, and remain fast till 1 and 4 having taken their fresh purchase, 1 gives the word _Bear_, when 2 and 3 clear their handspikes, and 3 gives the word _Heave_; and so on alternately, till the gun is at its proper height, when the handspikes in the upper holes are made to rest against the upper cross bar, and 5 makes fast the fall to the lower cross bar; and if required to lower the gun, eases the fall off from the windlass; 5, 6, 7, and 8, move the carriage, as required, under the gun.

_Exercise of the Sling Cart._

The men for the service of the sling cart are numbered from 1 to 7; the non-commissioned officer being No. (1); Nos. 2 and 3 sling the gun. The gun must be laid with one trunnion touching the ground, and the sling passes diagonally round the gun, being before one trunnion, and behind the other; and that end of the sling which goes round the lower side of the gun, must be the end to be acted on by the windlass; as by that means the trunnions become horizontal when the gun is raised; Nos. 4, and 6, man the right lever; 5, and 7, the left lever; and upon the word from the non commissioned officer, then directs, _left hand lever hold on, right lever bear_; the right lever takes a fresh purchase: then, _right lever hold on, left lever bear_; the left lever takes a fresh purchase; they then heave together again. When the gun is high enough, (1) puts in the pall; 2 and 3 take out the levers, and put in the pry-pole; 4 and 5 raise the breech of the gun with two common handspikes, and 6 and 7 lash it to the pry-pole: 2 and 3 then lay their levers along side the pry-pole, and 4 and 5 their handspikes on the top of them, which 6 and 7 lash all fast together.

EXERCISES, are also understood of what young gentlemen or cadets learn in the military academies and riding schools; such as fencing, dancing, riding, the manual exercise, &c.

EXHORT. See ANIMATE.

EXPEDITION, in a general sense, signifies haste, speed, rapidity. In a military sense, it is chiefly used to denote a voyage or march against an enemy, the success of which depends on rapid and unexpected movements. It is out of the nature of the thing itself to lay down fixed rules for the minute conducting of small expeditions; their first principles only can be with certainty fixed, and men will often disagree about preparations, and differ in their conduct, though they acknowlege the same principles.

One of the principles of many small expeditions, is surprise; and 6 battalions, without much accompaniment, may sometimes do that which 24, and a great fleet, would not succeed in.

There is no part of war so interesting to an insulary soldier as an expedition; nor can there be any part more worthy of attention.

EXPEDITIONS have heretofore had no rules laid down for their conduct, and that part of war had never been reduced to a system. The slow rules of a great war will not do in expeditions; the blow must be struck with surprise, and intimidation be produced in the invaded enemy, before succors can arrive. Debate is out of season, and all slow proceedings are ruin. Not to advance, is to recede; and not to be on the road to conquest, is to be already conquered. There must be that glance, which sees certainly, though instantly; that rapidity, which executes on the surest rules, when it seems least to act on any. The French have given all their campaigns the characters of expeditions.

In all small expeditions, such as expeditions of surprise, or _coup-de-main_, the favorable side of the proposed action must ever be viewed; for if what _may_ happen, what _may_ arrive, what _may_ fall out, is chiefly thought upon, it will, at the very best, greatly discourage, but in general end in a total failure. Hence the very name of an expedition implies risk, hazard, precarious warfare, and a critical operation.

_An expedition_ is governed by five principal maxims.

1st, A secrecy, if possible, of preparation, and a concealment of design, &c.

2dly, That the means bear proportion to the end. In this there will ever be a difference in opinion.

3dly, A knowlege of the state and situation of the country, where the scene of action is, or the place or object that is to be attacked.

4thly, A commander who has the particular turn of mind, which is most adapted to such particular sort of warfare.

Lastly, The plan of an expedition, great or small, is ever to be arranged as much as possible before setting out, and then any appearances that may vary a little from what might have been expected, will not perplex.

EXPEDITION, _Fr._ See EXPEDITION. The French likewise use this word, to express any particular military quality, which an officer or soldier may possess. As, _cet officier est un homme d’expedition_, this officer is a man of enterprise, is courageous and daring.

EXPLOIT. See ATCHIEVEMENT.

_To_ EXPLODE, burst or blow up.

EXPLOSION, the discharge of a gun, the blowing up of a mine, or the bursting of a shell.

EXPRESS. A messenger sent with direct and specific instructions.

_To send by_ EXPRESS, to send any thing by extraordinary conveyance.

EXPUGN, EXPUGNATION, the taking any place by assault.

EXPERIMENTS, in a military sense, are the trials, or applications of any kind of military machines, in order to ascertain their practical qualities and uses.

EXTEND, when the files of a line, or the divisions of a column are to occupy a greater space of ground, they are said to extend their front or line. Extended order is applicable to the light infantry.

EXTORTION, the act of obtaining money or property by violence or unjust means: taking advantage of the ignorance or peculiar circumstances of a purchaser, to demand more than a fair price for an article. All sutlers, or camp followers, who are guilty of extortion in the sale of necessaries, are punishable by a general or regimental court-martial.

EXTRADOS, _Fr._ The exterior surface of a regular arch, used in the construction of powder magazines.

EXTRAORDINARIES _of the army_. The allowances to troops, beyond the gross pay in the pay office, come under the head of extraordinaries to the army. Such are the expences for barracks, marches, encampments, staff, &c.

EXTRAORDINARII, among the Romans, were a body of men consisting of a third part of the foreign horse, and a fifth of the foot, which body was separated from the rest of the forces borrowed from the confederate states, with great caution and policy, to prevent any design, that they might possibly entertain against the natural forces. A more choice body of men was drawn from amongst the extraordinarii, under the name of ablecti. See ABLECTI.

EXTRAORDINARY. Something out of the common course.

EXTRAORDINARY _couriers_, persons sent with some information or order of great importance.

EXTRAORDINARY _guards_. Guards out of the common routine of duty. They are frequently given as a punishment for military offences.

EYES _Centre_, an old word of command given when the battalion was advancing in line, denoting, that the men were to look to the centre in which the colors are placed, and dress by them.

EYES _right_, EYES _left_, words of command denoting the flank to which the soldier is to dress. In casting his eyes to either flank care must be taken that the shoulders are kept square to the front.

EYES _front_, a word of command given after the dressing in line is completed, on which the soldier is to look directly forward, which is the habitual position of the soldier. These motions are only useful on the wheeling of divisions, or when dressing is ordered after a halt, and particular attention must be paid in the several turnings of the eyes, to prevent the soldier from moving his body, which must invariably be preserved perfectly square to the front. In the American practice the direction of the eye is understood to follow the word _dress_--as _right_, _centre_, or _left_ _dress_.

Eye-_bolts_. See BOLTS.

F.

FACADE, in military fortification. See FACE.

FACE, in fortification, is an appellation given to several parts of a fortress; as the

FACE _of a bastion_, the two sides, reaching from the flanks to the saliant angle. These in a siege are commonly the first undermined, because they extend most outwards, and are the least flanked; consequently the weakest.

FACE _prolonged_, FACE _extended_, that part of the line of defence razant, which is terminated by the curtain and the angle of the shoulder, that is, it is, strictly taken, the line of defence razant, diminished by the face of the bastion.

FACE _of a place_, is the front comprehended between the flanked angles of two neighboring bastions, composed of a curtain, two flanks, and two faces; and is sometimes called the _Tenaille of the place_.

FACE _of a gun_, is the superficies of the metal at the extremities of the muzzle of the piece.

FACE, (_to the right, left, &c._) a word of command on which the soldiers individually turn to the side directed; in performing which, the left heel should never quit the ground, the knees must be kept straight, and the body turned smoothly and gracefully. The moving of the right foot forward or backward, is wholly exploded; all the facings are now made upon the left heel as a pivot. The following are the old methods.

_To the right_, FACE. 2 motions.--1st, Place the hollow of the right foot smartly against the left heel; 2d, Raise the toes, and turn (a quarter of the circle) to the right on both heels.

_To the right about_, FACE, 3 motions.--1st, Place the ball of the right toe against the left heel; 2d, Raise the toes, and turn (half of a circle) to the right about on both heels; 3d, Bring the right foot smartly back in a line with the left.

_To the left_, FACE. 2 motions.--1st, Place the right heel against the hollow of the left foot; 2d, Turn (a quarter of the circle) to the left on both heels.

_To the left about_, FACE. 3 motions.--1st, Place the right heel against the ball of the left foot; 2d, Raise the toes, and turn (half of a circle) to the left about on both heels; 3d, Bring up the right foot smartly in a line with the left.

_Quarter_ FACE to the right or left, is now substituted for the old and awkward mode of oblique marching, the quarter facing being referred to the positions of action being all on the face of a semicircle; half of which is facing to the _right_ or _left_; that is the side of the soldier is thrown to the previous front; in quarter facing the side is thrown diagonally between the front and flanks; marching quarter face is called marching by the _line of science_.

Great precision must be observed in these facings; otherwise the dressing will be lost in every movement.

FACES _of a square_. The different sides of a battalion, &c. when formed into a square are all denominated faces, viz. the _front face_, the _right face_, the _left face_, and the _rear face_. See SQUARE.

FACE _ou pan de bastion_, _Fr._ See FACE _of a bastion_.

FACE _d’une place_, _Fr._ See TENAILLE.

FACINGS, are the different movements of a battalion, or of any other body of men, to the right, to the left, or right and left about. All facings must be executed with a straight knee; and the body must be kept firm, and turn steadily, without drooping forward or jerking. The plant of the foot, after facing about, must be sharp.

FACINGS, likewise signify the lappels, cuffs, and collar of a military uniform, and are generally different from the color of the coat or jacket.

FACTION, _Fr._ the duty done by a private soldier when he patroles, goes the rounds, &c. but most especially when he stands centry. The French usually say, _entrer en faction_, to come upon duty; _être en faction_, to be upon duty; _sortir de faction_, to come off duty.

FACTIONNAIRE, _Fr._ _Soldat factionnaire_, a soldier that does every species of detail duty.

The term _factionnaire_, was likewise applicable to the duty done by officers in the old French service. _Premier factionnaire du regiment_ implied, that the officer, so called, was the fourth captain of a battalion; as the colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, and the captain of grenadiers did not mount the ordinary guards.

FAGOTS, in the military history were men hired to muster by officers whose companies are not complete; by which means they cheated the public of the men’s pay, and deprive the country of its regular establishment. See _False return_.

A British general in the East Indies made an immense fortune by _bullock_ fagots. Artillery are all drawn by oxen in Asia, as well as all baggage; upon an _inspection_ of bullocks, the inspector counted 12,000: it appeared there were only 4,000, they were drawn up in front of a wood, and as soon as the bullocks on the right were inspected; they were drawn off successively by the rear, and appeared again in ranks on the left; so that every bullock was three times inspected, and the round number returned.

FAGOTS. See FASCINES.

FAILER. See DESERTER.

FAILURE, an unsuccessful attempt, as the failure of an expedition.

FAIRE _faux feu_, _Fr._ to miss fire; to flash in the pan.

FALAISE, _Fr._ Any part of the sea-coast is so called by the French, when it is extremely steep, and broken into precipices.

FALAISER, _Fr._ to break upon. _La mer falaise_ signifies, the sea breaks upon the shore.

FALCHION, a short crooked sword.

FALCON, or _Faucon_, an ancient name given to a 3-pounder. See CANNON.

FALCONET, an ancient name given to a 1¹⁄₂-pounder. See CANNON.

FALL. The fall of a place after it has been besieged. See SURRENDER.

_To_ FALL _back_, to recede from any situation in which you are placed. This phrase is frequently, indeed, always made use of in the drill, or exercise of soldiers; particularly during the formation of a line, when individuals, or whole divisions are apt to overstep their ground and get beyond the dressing point.

FALL _in_, a word of command for men to form in ranks, as in parade, line, or division &c.

_To fall in_ likewise means the minute arrangement of a battalion, company, guard or squad, by which every man is ordered to take his proper post. The long roll, a peculiar beat of the drum, is the usual signal for soldiers to assemble and fall in.

_To_ FALL _into_, to become the property of another, as, we fell in with a large convoy of the enemy, which after a short resistance made by the escort, _fell into our hands_.

_To_ FALL _in with_. A military technical phrase, signified any sudden or unlooked for rencontre of any enemy. As our light cavalry patroles fell in with a party of foragers belonging to the enemy’s army.

_To_ FALL _off_, to desert; to fail; to relax in exertion.

_To_ FALL _out_, to quit the rank or file in which you were first posted. Dirty soldiers on a parade are frequently ordered to fall out, and remain in the rear of their companies. The phrase is applicable in a variety of other instances:

_To_ FALL _upon_. To attack abruptly, as, _we_ no sooner came in sight of the enemy, but our advanced guard instantly fell upon his out-posts and beat them in. According to the celebrated General Monk it is very fit, that a general should often command his horse and dragoons to fall upon his enemy’s outermost horse quarters; which mode, he says is one of the easiest, readiest, and securest ways to break an enemy’s army.

FALOTS, _Fr._ small lanthorns fixed upon the end of a stick or pole. Small lamps are likewise used, attached in the same manner, for the purpose of carrying them readily about to light a camp, or besieged towns, as occasion may require.

FALSE _alarms_, an alarm or apprehension which is either designedly or unintentionally created by noise, report, or signals without being dangerous.

FALSE _attack_, an approach which is made as a feint for the purpose of diverting your enemy from the real object of attack.

FALSE _fires_, any fire or light which is made use of for the purpose of deceiving an enemy. False fires or lights are frequently resorted to when an army finds it necessary to retreat from an advanced position. On this occasion large fires are lighted in different parts of the camp and round the lines, previous to the departure of the troops, which generally happens in the night.

FALSE _lights_, in debarkations under cover of the night, may likewise be used as signals of deception, when it is found expedient to attract the attention of the invaded country towards one part of the coast or territory, whilst a real attack is meditated against another.

FALSE _muster_, an incorrect statement of the effective number of men or horses, by which government is defrauded. By the articles of war every officer, paymaster, or commissary, found guilty of false mustering, is ordered to be cashiered.

FALSE _report_. A false report in military matters, may be truly said to be the ground work of a false return and a false muster, and consequently the primary cause of imposition upon the public. The strictest attention should, therefore, be paid to the most trifling report which is made in a troop or company respecting the presence or absence of men or horses, the state of clothing, accoutrements, or necessaries. This can only be done by the commanding officer of such troop or company having constantly the general good of the service at heart in preference to his own convenience, or to that of others. Every serjeant or corporal of a squad should be severely punished when detected in making a false report.

FALSE _return_, a wilful report of the actual state of a brigade, regiment, troop, or company, by which the commander in chief or the war-office is deceived, as to the effective force of such regiment, troop or company.

FANION, _Fr._ corrupted from the Italian word _gonfanone_, a particular standard which was carried in the front of the ordinary baggage belonging to a brigade in the old French service. It was made of serge, and resembled in color the uniform or livery of the brigadier, or of the commandant of any particular corps.

FANTASSIN, _Fr._ A foot soldier. The term is derived from the Italian _fante_, a _boy_, the light troops in the 14th and 15th centuries being formed of boys who followed the armies, that were formed into corps with light arms, hence the origin of the word _infantry_; the French still use the words _mes enfans_.

FARAILLON, _Fr._ a light house.

FARIAL, _Fr._ a light house; also a watch light.

FARRIER, in a general acceptation of the term, any person who shoes horses, or professes to cure their diseases. In a practical military sense a man appointed to do the duty of farriery in a troop of cavalry. Troop farriers should be under the immediate superintendance and controul of a veterinary surgeon, to whom they ought to apply whenever a horse is ill or lame, that he may report the same to the officer commanding the troop. No farrier should presume to do any thing without having first received directions from his superior.

When the farrier goes round, after riding out, or exercise on horseback, he must carry his hammer, pincers, and some nails to fasten any shoe that may be loose.

When horses at out quarters fall particularly ill, or contract an obstinate lameness, the case must be reported to the head quarters of the regiment; and if the veterinary surgeon cannot prescribe for him at a distance, he must, if time and distance will permit, be personally sent to examine the horse.

No farrier should make up any medicine or any external application contrary to the receipt given him by the veterinary surgeon.

If any farrier, through carelessness or inattention, lames a horse belonging to another troop, he ought to be at all the expence in curing the horse so lamed. In some well regulated cavalry corps this forms one of the standing regimental orders.

Farriers are in every respect liable to be tried according to the articles of war. They may be ordered to inflict punishments; and they must constantly recollect, that the circumstance of being a farrier is no extenuation for dirty appearance, or excuse for drunkenness. The guilt of the latter vice, indeed, is aggravated by the responsibility of their situation.

FARRIER-_Major_, a person who was formerly appointed by the colonel of a dragoon regiment to superintend the farriers of troops, who are named by the several commanding officers of them. He has since been superceded or replaced by a veterinary surgeon, who, as the farrier-major was formerly directed, is to have free access to every stable of the regiment whenever he chuses. It is his duty to go frequently into the cantonments of the different troops, and examine the horses feet; and if he finds a shoe contrary to the regimental pattern, or discovers any thing amiss in the management of the troop horses, he is to report it immediately to the officer commanding the regiment. In all his duty he is to receive the utmost support from every officer and quarter master; and any farrier that dares to act contrary to his instructions, should be punished. There ought, in fact, to be a chain of mutual support and co-operation from the veterinary surgeon, up to the commanding officer of every cavalry regiment, each farrier looking to the veterinary surgeon for correct instructions relative to the preservation of every horse’s health.

FASCINES, in fortification, are a kind of fagots, made of small branches of trees or brush wood, tied in 3, 4, 5, or 6 places, and are of various dimensions, according to the purposes intended. Those that are to be pitched over, for burning lodgments, galleries, or any other works of the enemy, should be 1¹⁄₂ or two feet long. Those that are for making epaulements or chandeliers, or to raise works, or fill up ditches, are 10 feet long, and 1 or 1¹⁄₂ feet in diameter. They are made as follows: six small pickets are struck into the ground, 2 and 2, forming little crosses, well fastened in the middle with willow bindings. On these tressels the branches are laid, and are bound round with withes at the distance of every 2 feet. Six men are employed in making a fascine; 2 cut the boughs, 2 gather them, and the remaining 2 bind them. These six men can make 20 fascines every hour. Each fascine requires five pickets to fasten it.

FASTNESSES, strong places not easily forced.

FATHOM, in fortification, originally denoted that space which a man could reach when both his arms were extended; but it now means a measure of 6 feet or 2 yards, equivalent to the French word toise. See TOISE.

FAUCON. See FALCON.

_Faucon_ ou FAUCONNEAU, _Fr._ a small piece of ordnance, carrying from 1 to 1¹⁄₄ pound ball.

FAUCHION. See FALCHION.

FAUCONET. See FALCONET.

FAULX, _Fr._ an instrument nearly resembling a scythe. It is often used to defend a breach, or to prevent an enemy from scaling the walls of a fortified place. This weapon was first resorted to with some success, when Louis the XIV. besieged Mons. On the surrender of that town, the besiegers found large quantities of faulx, or scythes in the garrison.

FAUSSE-BRAIE. See FAUSSE BRAYE.

FAUSSE-BRAYE, in fortification, is a low rampart encircling the body of the place; its height is about 3 feet above the level ground, and its parapet about three or four toises from that of the body of the place. These works have been entirely rejected by the modern engineers, excepting M. Vauban, who makes them only before the curtains; and then they are called more properly tenailles.

FEATHERS, are ornamental marks worn by officers and soldiers in their caps or hats. The following distinctions are made, and directed by authority to be observed in the British service. In the royal artillery, both officers and men, have white feathers. The cavalry and battalion corps scarlet and white; the grenadiers all white, and the light-infantry all green.

FEDERATE. See CONFEDERATE.

FEES, are sums of money claimed by persons in office, and to the payment of which every British officer is subject. Fees are paid at the British war office for different commissions, and are charged to their respective owners by the army agents.

FEINT, a mock attack, or assault, often made to conceal the true one.

FELLOES, or FELLIES, in artillery, are the parts of a wheel which form its circumference. The dimensions of fellies of British wheels are as follow: for a 24-pounder, 5 inches thick, and 6.5 inches broad; for a 12-pounder, 4.5 inches thick, and 6 inches broad; for a 6-pounder, 4 inches thick, and 5.5 inches broad, &c. made of dry elm. There are generally 6 in each wheel. See WHEEL.

FELLOW _soldier_ one who fights under the same commander, a comrade. Dr. Johnson very properly calls this term an endearing appellation used by officers, to their soldiers. The French use an equivalent expression, _camarade_, or comrade; the officers also call the soldiers _mes enfans_, my _boys_ or my _children_. The toils and perils, in fact of a military life, are so many, that an army fighting under the same banners may be truly called one family, and every officer should look upon himself as the father, the guardian, and the protector of his men.

FENCE, a guard, security, outwork, &c.

_To_ FENCE, to practice with foils; to fight with swords; to secure any place by pallisades, &c.

FENCIBLE, any thing capable of defence. Such regiments as are raised for limited service, and for a limited time, are called fencible regiments. They rank junior to the line.

FENCING, is the art or science of making a proper use of the sword, as well for attacking an enemy, as for defending one’s self. Fencing is a genteel exercise, of which no military gentleman should be ignorant. It is learned by practising with steel foils. See FOILS.

Fencing is either simple, or compound. Simple is that which is performed nimbly, and off hand, on the same line. In this the principal intention, in respect to the offensive part, should be to attack the enemy in the most unguarded quarter; and in the defensive, to parry or ward off the enemy’s thrusts or blows.

_Attitude, in_ FENCING, the head upright, though the body hath a forward inclination on a longe; and all the weight resting on the left haunch when on guard. The feet, hand, body, arm, and sword, must be to the line.

_Appel, in_ FENCING, is a sudden beat of your blade, on the contrary side to that you join your adversary on, and a quick disengagement to that side again.

_Beating, in_ FENCING, is when you parry with a sudden short beat, to get a quick repost; or when you beat with your foot, to try if you are firm on it, or on both feet.

_Battering, in_ FENCING, is to strike the feeble of your adversary’s blade on the side opposite to that you join, &c.

_Back-quarte_, is a parade of a late invention, and is a round quarte over the arm.

_Cave, in_ FENCING, is a tierce on a quarte side, also the thrust of a prime, or a seconde, at the low quarte side.

_Darting, in_ FENCING, to defend a blow with some contraction of your arm, and to dart a thrust right forward.

_Feint forward, in_ FENCING, made by advancing your point a little from its line and coming to it again.

_Guard, in_ FENCING, is any of the parades you stand on.

_On guard_, is being placed properly on your feet, and well covered with your weapon.

_Lurching, in_ FENCING, to make an opening, to invite your adversary to thrust at you, when you, being ready, may find a favorable repost at him.

_Locking, in_ FENCING, is to seize your adversary’s sword arm by twining your left arm round it, after you close your parade, shell to shell, in order to disarm him.

_Guards in_ _carte_, _tierce_, implies the putting of the body and sword in such a state of defence, as to prevent the antagonist from wounding you, by either of the thrusts so denominated. These are the principal positions on which to engage. The others, _viz._ prime, seconde, quinte, half-circle, &c. are termed parades, when used with the small sword.

_Hanging-guard_, one of the broad-sword guards. See BROAD-SWORD.

_Thrusts_ are of various denominations, according to the direction of the point, and position of the wrist.

The thrusts directed at the inside of the body, are called prime, carte, and low-carte; those at the outside, are seconde, tierce, carte over the arm, quinte and flanconade.

In teaching, the thrusts are not arranged according to the above order; it is usual to begin with carte (or quarte) and tierce, the names of which prove them to have been originally the 4th and 3d positions in the art; but which are now justly considered as the chief and most elegant.

_Parrying in_ FENCING, the action of warding off the blows aimed at each other.

_Flanconade, in_ FENCING, is the action of dropping the point of your sword under your adversary’s hilt, in seizing with force the feeble of his blade; which binding, without quitting it, form the parade in octave and then throw in your thrust. See _Art of defence with swords by the author of Am. Military Library_.

_Glissade, in_ FENCING, is performed by dexterously making your sword slip along your adversary’s blade, and forming at the same time your extension, &c.

FER, _Fr._ Iron. Figuratively, this word is used for a sword or dagger; as _manier le fer_, to wear the sword, to follow the profession of arms, _Battre le fer_, to fence.

FER _à cheval_, _Fr._ In fortification, a horse-shoe, which see. It further means according to the French acceptation of the term, a work constructed for the purpose of covering a gate, by having within it a guard-house, to prevent the town from being surprised.

FERDWIT, in ancient military history, a term formerly used to denote a freedom from serving upon any military expedition; or according to some, the being quit of manslaughter committed in the army.

FERRIES, water conveyances, made use of to cross rivers, or branches of the sea.

FERTH or FORTH. See ARMY.

FEU, _Fr._ Fire. _Faire feu_, to discharge any sort of firearms.

FEU, _fire_, is also understood to mean any light combustible, which is kept up in the front of a camp, and at each post during the night to keep the soldiers alert, and to prevent them from being surprised.

Every species of fire, or light is, however, strictly forbidden on a march, when the object is to surprize an enemy. Soldiers on these occasions are not permitted to smoke. Bundles, and large wisps of lighted straw, which are hung out from the tops of steeples, or from any other elevation, frequently serve to give the alarm when an enemy is discovered in the act of passing a river.

Lights are likewise resorted to on various other occasions. See LIGHTS.

FEU _de joie_. See RUNNING-FIRE.

FEU _rasant_, _Fr._ a grazing fire, or a discharge of ordnance or musquetry so directed that the shot shall run parallel with the ground they fly over, within 3 or 4 feet of the surface.

That is likewise called a _feu rasant_, or grazing fire, which is sent in parallel directions with the faces of the different works belonging to a fortification.

FICHANT. See LINE OF DEFENCE, FORTIFICATION.

FIELD. The ground of battle. A battle, campaign, or the action of an army while it keeps the field.

FIELD-_bed_, a folding bed used by officers in their tents.

{_Colors_, } {_Camp colors_.
{_Officers_,} {_Officers_.
Field-{_Pieces_, }See{_Cannon_.
{_Staff_, } {_Lintstock_.
{_Works_, } {_Field fortification_.

FIELD-_Fort_. See FORT.

FIELD-_marshal_, a military rank superior to all others, except the captain general.

This rank formerly existed and has been again revived in England. The French in their modern system, have given it an effective character, it being the superior rank of distinguished generals; the number of which have a temporary limitation. Their corps d’armée or legions of 25,000 men, are each commanded by a marshal.

FIFE, a military instrument of the wind kind, generally used as an accompaniment to the drum.

FIFRE, _Fr._ Fife. In French, this word likewise means fifer.

FIGHT. See BATTLE.

FIGHTING-_men_, such as are effective, and able to bear arms.

_Running_-FIGHT, that in which the enemy is continually chased.

FIGURE, in fortification, the plan of any fortified place, or the interior polygon. Of this there are two sorts, regular, and irregular; a regular figure is that where the sides and angles are equal; an irregular one where they are unequal.

FILE, in the art of war, is an unlimited term, comprehending any number of men, drawn up in a direct line behind each other; as a rank on the other hand, includes any number drawn up beside each other; whether in either respect, they be in close or open order. Or rather, by _file_ is meant the line of soldiers standing one behind another, which makes the depth of the battalion; and is thus distinguished from the rank, which is a line of soldiers drawn up side by side, forming the length of the battalion. A file is 2 or 3 deep; hence a battalion or regiment drawn up, consists of 2 or 3 ranks, and of as many files as there are men in a rank.

The files of a battalion of foot were formerly 12 and 6 deep, but now only 3, which is its natural formation. Those of the cavalry are but 2 deep.

_A_ FILE on horseback, in marching order, occupies in the ranks 3 feet; thus 3 file 9 feet. A file on foot occupies in the ranks 22 inches.

_Close_ FILES in cavalry, are at the distance which was taken before dismounting, when each man’s boot-top touches, but does not press that of his neighbor.

_Loose_ FILES, in cavalry movements, are 6 inches distant from boot top to boot top being calculated for the gallop as well as the walk of a squadron.

_Open_ FILES in cavalry are the full breadth of a horse from boot-top to boot-top. They contain the distance which is left, when from close files the left files rein back to dismount. Recruits and horses must be frequently exercised at this distance. See _American Military Library_.

_Flank_ FILE, the extreme file on the right or left of a squadron or troop, battalion or company, &c.

_Forming from_ FILE, is when the front file halts, and the rest ride up at a very smart gallop, taking care to halt in time, and not to over-run the front. If the formation is by doubling round the front file (for instance, when a formation is made to the rear of the march, or to the right, when marched from the right) the files must double round as close and as expeditious as possible.

In all formings from file, the leaders of ranks instantly cover each other, take the ordered front and halt. See _American Military Library_.

In the covering of files on horseback, the same directions hold good as on foot. In addition, it must be scrupulously observed that every man’s horse stands exactly straight to the same front as that of the man before him. Both in the horse and foot drill, the men should be often practised in covering. The former are thereby taught to place their horses straight under them.

_Close_ FILES of infantry, are soldiers standing in rank, contiguous to one another, upon any given depth of line or column. Whenever a regiment marches in front, every man should feel the arm of his next man which ever way he dresses; but he must not lean on him, nor must he move his arm from the body to feel him. So that close files mean nothing more than that soldiers in the ranks should lightly touch each other, without crowding or pressing.

_Open_ FILES, are soldiers standing in rank at given distances without touching one another. The formation at open files is only practised as a preparatory drill for forming at close files, (which is the order for action) so that every man may be taught to stand and move in a proper position, without acquiring a habit of leaning upon his neighbor. On this account every intelligent officer who has the management of recruits, will form them sometimes at open files, and march them in that order. Soldiers that have been regularly drilled, should likewise be occasionally practised in advancing by open tiles.

_Double_ FILES are formed by the left files in each rank stepping to the rear of the right files; or the contrary.

_Indian_ _Files_, a line of men advancing or retreating from either of the flanks, from the centre or from any proportion of a line in succession to one another. They are sometimes called goose files; but the term is only familiarly, or rather vulgarly used among soldiers, and derives its appellation from a flock of geese, generally following a leader, one by one. The Prince de Ligne, says, that men march forward in file, or _en ordré mince, par une instinct moutonnier_, meaning, that they follow each other like so many sheep, who move by instinct.

FILE-_leader_, is the soldier placed in the front of any file, or the man who is to cover all those that stand directly in the rear of him, and by whom they are to be guided in all their movements.

File leaders must be particularly careful to preserve their proper distances from which ever hand they are to dress, and the followers of each file must only be attentive to cover, and be regulated by their proper file leaders. In file the rear rank invariably dresses by, and is regulated by the front rank.

_To double the_ FILES, is to put 2 files into one, making the depth of the battalion double to what it was, in number of men. Thus four deep are double files.

FILE _marching on foot_, all recruits must be taught first to face, and then to cover each other exactly in file, so that the head of the man immediately in front may conceal the heads of all the others behind him. The principal points to be attended to are, that the men move in equal time an equal pace of 2 feet, that the front rank men cover exactly, and that the rear rank men keep closed and dressed to the front rank.

File marching may be practised to the front, to the rear, and to either flank; in all which cases the men must be taught to cover well. When recruits are at drill, on the word _march_, the whole are to step off with the left foot together, gaining at the very first step 24 inches, and so continuing each step, without increasing the distance betwixt each recruit, every man placing his advanced foot on the ground, before the spot from whence his preceding man had taken up his. See _Amer. Mil. Lib._

_Marching in open order to the front_, is when any body of men advances by ranks at open order, and dress to some given object without touching one another. The flank man of the flank the soldiers dress to, must be a non-commissioned officer, and he must take especial care not to incline to one hand or the other. His head must be kept quite straight to the front, his body must be erect, and he must advance without deviating in the most trifling manner to the right or left. In order to execute this essential part of the drill with any degree of accuracy, two persons should be present, one in the front, and the other on the flank, to observe the dressing. Young officers should be exercised themselves in the presence of a superior officer; for upon them thereafter will greatly depend the movement of the battalion in line or column.

_Marching to the front in close order_, is when any number of men advance by ranks at close order, and dress to some given objects each man lightly touching his next man, without crowding or pressing. The march in front by closed files is much easier than that at open files, because every man feels his next man, which ever way the rank dresses, and into whatever direction the line or column moves.

_To_ FILE, is to advance to, or move from any given point by files; as to file to the front, to file to the rear, to file from the right or left flank, or to file from any given company. In some of which cases, the leading files must disengage themselves according to the directions given.

_To_ File _off_, _To defile_, to wheel off from marching in a spacious front, and march in length by files. When a regiment is marching in full front, or by divisions or platoons, and comes to a defile or narrow pass, it may file off to the right or left, as the ground requires, &c.

FILINGS, are movements to the front, rear, or flank by files. These movements must be executed with great quickness. The files must go off at a smart gallop, and continue so till all are in file, the rear rank men dressing well to their front rank; the front rank covering well, and keeping close to the croup. If the filings are to be made from a flank to the front or rear, the whole must keep passaging up to the ground from whence the first file went, before they go off; if to a flank, the horses must be turned as soon as there is room. If the filings are from a flank to march along the front or rear, past the other flank, every file must come off from its own ground as the next gets into file.

_General and necessary_ FILINGS, are from either, or both flanks of the squadron to front, flank or rear; filing from the centre of the squadron to the front, or to the flank. Filing single men by ranks, or by front or rear rank men alternately from either flank of the squadron.

In the filings of the squadron, the _serre-files_ take their places in the rear of the files unless the ground will allow them to remain on the flanks of the rear rank; but their general and proper position is in the rear of the files.

_In cavalry filing_, the greatest attention must be paid to keep the squadron as compact together as the nature of the movement will permit. It is a situation in which horses move free, and without confinement, but in which the parts of a squadron are apt to lengthen out, and take up much more ground than what they stand upon in line, and is therefore to be adopted only from necessity, in broken or embarrassed ground. When the word _file_, has been given, and the heads of the horses have been turned ready to move off without loss of distance, the leaders of files must go off short and quick in their ordered direction. They are followed close by each man as it comes to his turn, so as to leave no unnecessary interval from one to another, and instantly to put off the ground. After being once in file, a distance of a yard from head to tail may be taken so as to trot or gallop the easier if required. Every alteration of pace ought to be made as much as possible by the whole file at once: if this is not observed, a crowding and stop in the rear will always attend such alteration.

FIRE, in the art of war, a word of command to soldiers of all denominations, to discharge their fire arms, grenades, cannon, &c.

FIRE, is also used to denote the discharge of all sorts of fire arms against the enemy. The fire of the infantry is by a regular discharge of their fire-locks, in platoons, divisions, &c. that of the cavalry, with their pistols; and that of a place besieged with their artillery.

FIRE _of the curtain or second flank_, is from that part of the curtain comprehended between the face of the bastion prolonged and the angle of the flank; frequently called the line of defence fichant.

FIRE _rasant_, is produced by firing the artillery and small arms in a line parallel with the horizon, or parallel with those parts of the works you are defending.

FIRE-_arms_, are all kinds of arms charged with powder and ball; every one of which is mentioned under its respective head.

_Running_-FIRE, is when a rank or ranks of men, drawn up, fire one after another; or when the lines of an army are drawn out to fire on account of a victory; when each squadron or battalion takes it from that on its right, from the right of the first line to the left, and from the left to the right of the second line; also called _feu de joie_.

FIRE-_balls_. See BALLS.

FIRE-_cross_, an ancient token in Scotland for the nation to take up arms.

FIRE-_ship_, a ship filled with a variety of combustibles to set fire to the vessels of the enemy.

FIRE-_ship_. _Proportion of combustible stores for a fire-ship of 150 tons._

No.
Fire barrels, filled with composition 8
Iron chambers, to blow open the ports 12
Composition for priming barrels 3¹⁄₂
Quick, match do. 1
Curtains, dipped 48
Reeds, long, single dipped 150
Do. short}double dipped 75
}single dipped 75
Bavins, single dipped 250

The fire barrels are about 2 feet 4 inches high, and 1 foot 6 inches diameter. Each barrel must have four holes of about 6 inches square cut in its sides; and these holes must have a square piece of canvass nailed over them quite close. They are then filled with the same composition as for carcasses, and 4 plugs of about 1 inch diameter and 3 inches long, and well greased are thrust into the top, and then left to dry. When dry, these plugs are taken out and the holes driven with fuze composition and quick match at the top; which goes from one hole to the other: after this the top is smeared over with mealed powder mixed up with spirits of wine. When dry again a sheet or two of brown paper is laid over the top, and then one of the canvass covers, which is made secure by the upper hoop of the barrel.

_Composition for dipping Reeds, Bavins, and Curtains._

lbs.
Rosin 120
Coarse Sulphur 90
Pitch 60
Tallow 6
Mealed powder 12

This proportion will dip about 100 reeds and 25 bavins.

Each curtain contains 1 square yard of barras.

Each cover for fire barrels 1 do. of sacking.

Immediately that the curtains, covers, &c. are dipped, they are to be strewed over with fine brimstone, before the composition grows cold.

The iron chambers, for blowing open the ports, hold from 9 to 11 ounces of powder. They are fixed in such a manner as to prevent their recoil, and to ensure the ports being blown open. The vents are generally corked up, and covered with a piece of barras, till required to be primed.

_To fit out a fire ship._ The whole breadth of the fire room is to be divided into 9 parts, and troughs laid the whole length of the room. Cross troughs of communication are laid between them, about 20 in each row, perpendicular to the long troughs. These troughs are usually 4 inches wide, and 4 deep. There are two fire trunks and two fire scuttles on each side, under which the eight fire barrels are to be placed.

The reeds and bavins are to be tied down in the troughs. The curtains are to be nailed up to the beams, equally through the fire room. The ship is not to be primed when fitted out, but only when intended to be fired.

_To Prime._

_Composition for priming_,

Saltpetre pulverized 22 lbs. 8 oz.
Rosin 2 11
Sulphur 18 --
Mealed powder 45 --
Linseed oil 1 pint.