Chapter D: Caldwell, (17)

All the reeds and bavins are to be taken up, and a little of the above composition sprinkled in the bottom of the troughs; the reeds, &c. to be then gently tied down again. Quick match of 6 or 8 threads doubled must be laid along on the tops of all the reeds, &c. and priming composition strewed over it, and over all the fire room. The covers of all the fire barrels must be cut open, and made to hang down on the sides of the barrels. Leaders of strong quick match must be laid from the reeds to the barrels and to the chambers; and must be tied down to the vents to ensure its not falling off. Strong leaders of quick match, 4 or 5 times doubled, must be laid from the reeds to the sally ports; and the sally ports must be connected by quick match, that the whole may take fire at once.

The following method is now adopted of producing an external fire, in addition to the internal fire, before gained by the fire room.

Fireboxes filled with the carcass composition, are distributed in the following manner, in a ship of three masts:

1 Suspended from each of the catheads and davits, on each side the
bow 4
8 Slung across the bowsprit 8
4 Across each of the outriggers abaft 8
2 From the graplins of each of the lower yard-arms 12
2 From the dead-eyes on each side of the three round tops 6
2 From the middle of the inside of the main, fore, and mizzen
shrouds 6
--
44

The boxes are suspended by chains and hooks, and those slung across the bowsprit and outriggers, are fixed by staples. The two inner ones are laid with leaders of quick match, which fire instantly, or with portfires, which burn a given time; they communicate with the outer ones by reeds, which are tied down on the bowsprit and outriggers. The boxes hanging from the dead-eyes and shrouds, are fired by curtains suspended from the shrouds, the lower one of which hangs immediately over one of the large fire barrels. The two boxes on each yard-arm are hung one over the other; the upper one having a leader of quick match carried along the yard from the shrouds; and in burning will no doubt fire the lower one. Besides the boxes, there are fire barrels arranged as follows; 2 half barrels on the forecastle; 2 abaft the main deck, and 4 on the main deck; 2 in each roundtop, placed against the masts; and 4 large fire barrels under fire trunks, to convey fire to the curtains on the shrouds. All these fire barrels and boxes are to be fired by separate leaders of quick match or portfire, in order that any part of the ship may be fired, to cover its approach by the smoke; and the remaining part instantaneously upon quitting the ship. It has been found by experiment, that two men with lighted portfires can set fire to the whole of the leaders on the deck, bowsprit, catheads, outriggers, &c. in less than a minute; therefore the risk of trusting to one main leader to the whole may be avoided.

The leaders are laid in painted canvass hose made for the purpose.

FIRE-_master_, in the artillery, gives the directions and proportions of all ingredients for each composition required in fire-works, whether for the service of war, or for rejoicings and recreations.

FIRE-_masters-mate_. His duty is, to aid and assist the chief fire-master, and he should be skilled in every kind of laboratory works.

FIRE-_pan of a gun_, is the receptacle for the priming powder.

FIRE-_pot_, in the military art, a small earthen pot, into which is put a charged grenade, and over that, powder enough to cover the grenade; the whole covered with a piece of parchment, and two pieces of quick match across lighted: it breaks and fires the powder, as also the powder in the grenade, which has no fuze, that its operations may be quicker: it burns all that is near it.

FIRE-_works_, are particular compositions of different sorts, made with sulphur, salt-petre, and charcoal. They are used in war, and on rejoicing days.

FIRE-_workers_, were formerly subordinate to the fire-master and his mate; had afterwards the rank of youngest lieutenants to the regiment of artillery; but now that rank is abolished, and they are all second lieutenants. They were supposed to be well skilled in every kind of laboratory-work, which knowlege is an essential qualification in every officer of that regiment.

FIRE-LOCKS, so called from their producing fire of themselves, by the action of the flint and steel; the arms carried by a foot-soldier: they were formerly 3 feet 8 inches in the barrel, and weighed 14lb.; at present the length of the barrel is from 3 feet 3 inches to 3 feet 6 inches and the weight of the piece from 9 to 12lb. British fire-locks carry a leaden bullet of which 29 make 2lb. Its diameter is .550 of an inch, and that of the barrel ¹⁄₅₀th part of the shot. Fire-locks were first made use of in 1690, when matchlocks were universally disused; but when invented we cannot ascertain. A fire-lock is called, by writers of about the middle of the last century, a _snaphaan_, which being a low Dutch word, seems to indicate its being a Dutch invention. Formerly, both in the manual and platoon exercises, the term fire-lock was always adopted--as shoulder your fire-lock, present your fire-lock--At present a more simple and brief mode of expression prevails as, _shoulder arms_, _carry arms_, &c.

FIRING _in line_. According to regulations, the following principal heads constitute firing in line.

The object of fire against cavalry is to keep them at a distance, and to deter them from the attack; as their movements are rapid, a reserve is always kept up. But when the fire commences against infantry, it cannot be too heavy, nor too quick while it lasts; and should be continued till the enemy is beaten or repulsed. This may not improperly be called offensive fire.

_Defensive fire_, belongs principally to infantry, when posted on heights, which are to be defended by musquetry. As soldiers generally _aim too high_, and as fire is of the greatest consequence to troops that are on the defensive, the habitual mode of firing should therefore be rather at a low level of three or four feet than a high one.

On these occasions the men are generally drawn up 3 deep; in which case the front rank may kneel when it can be safely and usefully done; but this is now generally rejected, and the third rank loads for the centre rank, which fires the guns of both centre and rear rank.

FIRING _by half battalions, the line advancing_. The left wings _halt_, and the right ones continue to march 15 paces, at which instant the word _march_ being given to the left wings, the right at the same time are ordered to _halt_, _fire_, and _load_; during which the left march on and pass them, till the right wings, being loaded and shouldered, receive the word _march_, on which the left ones _halt_, _fire_, &c. and thus, they alternately proceed.

FIRING _by half battalions, the line retiring_. The right wings come to the right about and march 15 paces, are ordered to _halt_, _front_, and when the left wings have gained 15 paces, and have received the word _halt_, _front_, the right wings are instantly ordered to _fire_, _load_, _about_, and march 15 paces beyond the left ones, where they receive the word _halt_, _front_, on which the left wings _fire_, &c. and thus alternately proceed.

In manœuvring many battalions there should be a regulating battalion named, by the half battalions of which each line may move, halt, and fire: the commander of each line to be with such half battalion and in giving his several commands, to have an attention to the general readiness of the line, especially after loading, that the whole be prepared to step off together at the word _march_. The firing of the advanced wing succeeds the _march_, or the _halt_, _front_, of the retired wing instantly; and each half battalion fire independent and quick, so that no unnecessary pauses being made betwixt the firing words, the fire of the line should be that of a volley as much as possible; and the whole being thereby loaded together, to be ready for the next command of movement. In these firings of the line advancing or retiring, the two first ranks fire standing, and the rear rank support their arms, and may change places at the second fire with the centre rank.

In this manner also may the alternate battalions of a line advance or retire, and when the whole are to form, and that the last line moves up to the first, every previous help of advanced _guides_ will be given to ensure its correctness.

_Fire in line advancing_, is when the infantry marches in line to attack the enemy and in advancing makes use of its fire. On these occasions it is better to fire the two first ranks only standing, reserving the third, than to make the front rank kneel, (as was formerly the practice) and to fire the whole; but when it is necessary to fire a considerable distance, or on a retiring enemy, vollies may be given by the three ranks, the front one kneeling.

FIRING _by platoons_ is practised when a line is posted, or arrives at a fixed situation, in this position battalions fire independent of one another, and the fire generally commences from the centre of each. The first fire of each battalion must be regular, and at established pauses and intervals; after which each platoon may continue to fire as soon as it is loaded independent and as quick as possible. The use of this is to acquire the habit of obedience to command; for in close action platoon firing is both absurd and impracticable.

FIRING _by files_, is generally used behind a parapet, hedge, or abbatis. In this situation the two first ranks only can fire, and that must be by the 2 men of the same file always firing together, with coolness and deliberation. When however, the parapet, hedge, or abbatis is but a little raised, platoon firing may be resorted to.

_Oblique_ FIRING _by battalions_, or otherwise, according to the ground, is extremely advantageous when it is found expedient to give an oblique direction to part of a line, or when it is discovered that their fire can in this manner be thrown against the opening of a defile, the flanks of a column, or against cavalry or infantry that direct their attack on some particular battalion or portion of the line. See _Am. Mil. Lib._

Oblique firing, is either to the right and left, or from the right and left to the centre, depending entirely on the situation of the object to be fired against. The Prussians have a particular contrivance for this purpose: If they are to level to the right, the rear ranks of every platoon are to make two quick but small paces to the left, and the body of each soldier to quarter face or turn ¹⁄₈th of a circle; and are to take the same distance to the right if they are to level to the left.

When a line halts at its points of firing, no time is to be lost in scrupulous dressing, and the firing is instantly to commence. But when a line halts, and is not to fire, the usual dressings must be attended to; and every thing will depend upon the coolness and attention of the officers and non-commissioned officers.

It should be observed with respect to firings in general, that after the march in front, and halt of the battalion, company, or platoon, firing ought invariably to begin from the centre, and not from the flank. In other cases, and in successive formations, it may begin from whatever division first arrives, and halts on its own ground.

_Square_ FIRING, is that method of firing where either a regiment or any body of men are drawn up in a square, each front of which is generally divided into divisions or firings, and the flanks of the square, as being the weakest part, are sometimes covered by platoons of grenadiers who flank the angles. The first fire is from the right division of each face; the second fire from the left division of each face, and so on; the grenadiers making the last fire.

_Street_ FIRING, is the method of firing adopted to defend or scour a street, lane, or narrow pass of any kind; in the execution of which the platoon must be formed according to the width of the place, leaving sufficient room on the flanks for the platoons which have fired, successively to file round to the rear of the others.

_Street_ FIRING _advancing_. When the column has arrived at the spot where the firing is to commence, the commanding officer from the rear gives the word _halt!_ and the officer commanding the platoon, orders it to _make ready_, _aim_, _fire_; _recover arms_, _load_; he then orders the rear platoon of the column _outward face_, (by half platoons) _quick march_.

At the instant the men in the first platoon recover their arms after firing, the rear platoon _makes ready_, and moves up the flank to the front of the first platoon having filed round the flanks towards the front, when the second from the rear advances, with recovered arms, until it receives the words _halt_, _ready_, _aim_, _fire_.

The platoon which has fired, primes and loads in its ground immediately, without moving; the rear platoons only advancing.

_Street_ FIRING _retiring_, is conducted on the same principles, except that the platoons fire without advancing, on the front being cleared by the former platoon filing round the flank.

Another method of _street firing_, _advancing_, generally esteemed more eligible, is, after firing, to wheel out by subdivisions, (the pivots having taken a side step to right and left outwards) prime and load, and as soon as the last platoon has passed, file inwards and form.

FISSURE, a narrow chasm where a small breach has been made.

FIT. Qualified, proper; adapted to any purpose or undertaking.

FIT _for service_ strong, healthy men, from 18 to 45 years of age, of a certain height, and not subject to fits; are considered fit objects for service, and may be enlisted into the United States regiments. The principal heads under which every recruit should be rejected, consist of rupture, venereal lues, or incurable pox, habitual ulcers, sore legs, scurvy, scald head, and fits.

FIT, a paroxysm. Any violent affection of the body, by which a man is suddenly rendered incapable of going through the necessary functions of life.

FITS, habitual affections of the body to which men and women are subject, and by which they may be frequently attacked without any other immediate consequence, than a temporary suspension of the mental powers, accompanied by a disordered and painful action of the frame.

FIX-_Bayonets_, a word of command in the manual exercise. See MANUAL.

FLAGS in the United States navy, are the colors of the Union, red and white alternate stripes, equal to the number of states; with a square in the upper angle of blue, upon which are wrought white stars equal in number to the states of the Union. A custom has grown up among commanders of ships of appropriating a peculiar flag for each state, but as this is not a settled regulation requires no further notice.

FLAGS. See COLORS, STANDARDS, &c.

FLAGS, in the British navy, are either red, white, blue, or yellow, and they are hoisted either at the heads of the main-mast, fore-mast, or mizen-mast.

FLAGS, when displayed from the top of the main-mast, are the distinguishing marks of admirals; when from the fore-mast, of vice admirals; and when from the mizen-mast, of rear admirals.

The highest flag in the British navy, is the _anchor and cable_, which is only displayed when their lord high admiral, or lords commissioners of the admiralty are on board; the next is the _union_, the distinction peculiar to the second officer, called admiral of the fleet; and the lowest flag is the _blue_ at the mizen-mast.

FLAG-_Officer_, a naval officer commanding a squadron.

FLAG-STAFF, the staff on which the flag is fixed.

FLAM, a word formerly made use of in the British service, signifying a particular tap or beat upon the drum, according to which each battalion went through its firings or evolutions. The practice is laid aside, as only a matter of mere parade without any practical utility; too often employed by officers to cover their ignorance or incapacity, or to indulge their indolence; therefore it is the usage now wherever discipline is well understood and practised, for every battalion, troop or company to be exercised by specific words of command, delivered in a distinct and audible tone of voice.

FLAMME, or ORIFLAMME, _Fr._ in the old French marine establishment, was a mark of distinction which exclusively belonged to the French king’s ships.

FLAMME, _ou pendant_, _Fr._ Bolting cloth or ticking. It is a long streamer which generally hangs either from the topmast head, and serves for ornament, or to give signals.

FLAMBEAU, a torch.

FLANC _du bastion_, _Fr._ See flank of the bastion.

{_bas_, }
FLANC{_couvert_,}See _Retired_ FLANC.
{_retiré_, }

FLANKS, in the art of war and in fortification, are of several denominations, according to their uses, viz.

FLANKS _of an army_. Certain proportions of offensive or defensive forces which are extended to the right and left of a main body, and ought to be posted in such a manner, that it would be certain ruin to the enemy were he to attempt any impression between them. In a more confined sense, the troops which are stationed on the right and left of each line of encampment. See WINGS.

FLANK-_files_, are the two first men on the right and the two last men on the left, telling downwards from the right, of a line, battalion, company, division, subdivision or section. When a battalion is drawn up three deep, its flank files consist of three men, or as the French call its file and demi-file. When four deep, the flank files are termed double files; so that a column formed from any of these alignements will have all its relative flank files, be the depth of formation what it will.

_Inward_ FLANK _in manœuvring_. The first file on the left of a division, subdivision, or section when the battalion stands at close or open column with the _right in front_. Upon this flank, which is called the proper flank, and on which the pivot rests, the division, &c. wheels backward from line into column, or forward from column into line. When the left is in front the right becomes the proper flank and pivot.

_Outward_ FLANK, of a line or battalion, the extreme file on the right or left of a division, subdivision, or section, according to the given front, when the battalion is at close or open column, and which is the furthest wheeling point from line into column, or from column into line. It is likewise called the _reverse_ flank. The general rule which directs, that leading officers shall march invariably on the inward flank, where the proper pivot rests, is in one instance dispensed with, when, after marching by the right in front, the wheeling of the column or guard is to the right. On this occasion, the officer who had shifted from the right to his proper flank, instead of being wheeled upon, wheels with the flank, and continues his march. It has been remarked in a late military publication, that the squareness of the division would certainly be preserved with greater ease, were the officer to remain upon the right, though the right be in front, until the wheel in that direction should be completed, when he might shift to his proper flank. Where the column or guard has only a few paces to proceed beyond the passing or saluting point, this certainly is advisable. The regulation of guides, that is, non-commissioned officers on both flanks of every subdivision of a line, renders it of less moment where the officer is posted; but the pivot is the most rational position.

FLANK _company_, a certain number of men drawn up on the right or left of a battalion. Thus where there are grenadiers they compose the right, and the light infantry the left flank company. When these are detached, the two extreme battalion companies become such.

The grenadiers and light infantry are generally called flank companies, whether attached or not to their several battalions; rifle corps are always flankers.

FLANKING _party_, a select body of men on foot or on horseback, whose object is to harrass and perplex the enemy, to get upon his wings, or by any manœuvre to hang upon the flank of an opposing force.

FLANK _en potence_, is any part of the right or left wing formed at a projecting angle with the line. See POTENCE.

_Leading_ FLANK, when the line breaks into column in order to attack an enemy, it is the flank which must almost always preserve the line of _appui_ in all movements in front. The first battalion, division or company of every column which conducts is called the head or leading flank of that column. All the writhings and turnings to which it must unavoidably be subject, are followed by every other part of the body, and such head becomes a flank, right or left, when formed into line. The commander must therefore be on whichever flank directs the operations of the line, and by which he proposes to attack, or to counteract the attempts of the enemy.

FLANK in fortification, in _general_, is any part of a work that defends another work, along the outside of its parapet.

FLANK _of a bastion_, in fortification, that part which joins the face to the curtain, comprehended between the angle of the curtain and that of the shoulder, and is the principal defence of the place. Its use is, to defend the curtain, the flank, and face of the opposite bastion, as well as the passage of the ditch; and to batter the salient angles of the counter-scarp and glacis, from whence the besieged generally ruin the flanks with their artillery; for the flanks of a fortification are those parts which the besiegers endeavor most to ruin, in order to take away the defence of the face of the opposite bastion.

_Oblique_}FLANK,
_Second_ }

that part of the curtain from whence the face of the opposite bastion may be discovered, and is the distance between the lines rasant and fichant, which are rejected by most engineers, as being liable to be ruined at the beginning of a siege, especially when made of sandy earth. The second parapet, which may be raised behind the former, is of no use; for it neither discovers nor defends the face of the opposite bastion: besides, it shortens the flank, which is the true defence; and the continual fire of the besiegers’ cannon will never suffer the garrison to raise a second parapet. This second flank defends very obliquely the opposite face, and is to be used only in a place attacked by an army without artillery.

_Retired_}
_Low_ }FLANK,
_Covered_}

the platform of the casemate, which lies hid in the bastion. These retired flanks are a great defence to the opposite bastion and passage of the ditch; because the besiegers cannot see, nor easily dismount their guns.

FLANK _prolonged_, in fortification, is the extending of the flank from the angle of the epaule to the exterior side, when the angle of the flank is a right one.

_Concave_ FLANK, is that which is made in the arc of a semi-circle bending outwards.

FLANKS _of a frontier_. Are the different salient points of a large extent of territory, between each of which it would be impolitic for any invading army to hazard an advanced position. The late celebrated gen. Lloyd (whose accuracy of observation and solidity of conclusion with respect to the iron frontier of old France have been universally acknowleged) has furnished military men with a full and succinct account of the relative positions upon it. This long line he begins at Basle in Switzerland, and runs into various directions from thence to Dunkirk in old French Flanders, he divides it into three parts, and considers each of them separately. The first part goes from Basle to Landau and covers old Alsace, near 130 miles in length. The second from Landau to Sedan on the Moselle, covers ancient Lorrain on the side of Treves, Deux-Ponts, Luxemburgh, and Limburg; 190 miles in length. From Sedan down the Meuse to Charlemont in old Flanders, and thence to Dunkirk, is the third part, and is about 150 miles; so that the whole natural frontier of old France was 470 miles. The greatest part, if not the whole of which, is in the shape of a horse shoe, and presents impregnable flanks. An anonymous writer, after referring the reader to general Lloyd for a specific account of the first and second lines of the French frontier, has made the following observations relative to the third and last which runs from Sedan down the Meuse to Charlemont, from thence to Dunkirk, and is 150 miles in length. His words are--While the duke of Brunswick and the king of Prussia were ruining the most formidable armies in Europe by endeavoring to penetrate a few miles into Lorrain and Champagne through the first and second line, (without having previously secured the two flanks,) the French with redoubled activity operated upon the third, and finally subdued all Flanders. Those very difficulties, in fact, which presented themselves to oppose the progress of the allied army into France, facilitated every excursion on her part, as _the direction of the line which goes from Sedan to Landau is concave towards that part of Germany_.

The remainder of this line, (within which so many faults were committed, or rather could not be avoided, because the impression itself was founded in error,) runs to Dunkirk. It has been the scene of successive wars for near two centuries, the most expensive, bloody, and durable of any recorded in the annals of mankind. This line, continues general Lloyd, is stronger by art than nature, having a prodigious number of strong fortresses and posts upon it, moreover it projects in many places, so that an enemy can enter no where, without having some of them in front and on his flanks.

The United States are flanked by Canada and Florida.

FLANKS, in farriery, a wrench, or any other grief in the back of a horse.

_To_ FLANK, in fortification, is to erect a battery which may play upon an enemy’s works on the right or left without being exposed to his line of fire. Any fortification, which has no defence but right forward, is faulty; and to make it complete, one part ought to flank the other.

_To_ FLANK, in evolutions, to take such a position in action as either to assist your own troops, or to annoy those of your enemy by attacking either of his flanks, without exposing yourself to all his fire.

_To_ OUT-FLANK. A manœuvre by which an army, battalion, troop, or company outstretches another, and gets upon both or either of its flanks.

_To_ OUT-FLANK, in an extensive acceptation of the term, when applied to locality, means to possess any range of opposite parts, of territory, whence you might invade your neighbor. Thus France, by her present possessions along the Dutch and Flemish coasts, outflanks all the opposite shores of England, properly so called; resting her left flank at Ushant in Finisterre, and her right at Schelling, in North Holland, in the Province of Friesland. By the conquest of Spain and Portugal, the French have extended their south western flank, and rendered the invasion of Ireland more easy. Ireland again is completely outflanked by Great Britain at Penzance, in Cornwall, and at the Hebrides or Western Isles, independent of the continental part of Scotland.

FLANKER, a fortification jutting out so as to command the side or flank of an enemy marching to the assault or attack. Riflemen and all light troops are also called flankers.

FLANKERS, in cavalry manœuvres, the most active men and horses are selected to do the duty of flankers. The men of course must be perfect masters of their horses. One complete file of each four must be a file of flankers; it does not signify which file, but if it can conveniently be done, the centre file should be taken, as in that case neither the flank men, nor the telling off of the squadron or division will be affected.

When you manœuvre by _whole_ squadrons, six or eight flankers are sufficient in general for the whole squadron.

The word of command, when the flankers come out to the front, is _flankers forward_.

In flanking, a great deal depends upon the officer or serjeant; he must be extremely active, and not only attend to the movements of the division from which he is detached, but likewise to his flankers.

As horses frequently refuse to quit the ranks and hang back obstinately, the men indiscriminately should be often called out of the ranks one by one, and practised as flankers.

_To_ FLANKER, in French _flanquer_. To fortify the walls of a city with bulwarks or countermines.

FLANKING, is the same in fortification as defending.

FLANKING party--Any body of men detached from the main army to get upon the flanks of an enemy. See FLANKERS.

FLANKING _angle_, in fortification, that composed of the two lines of defence, and pointing towards the curtain. See TENAILLE.

FLANKING _line of defence_. See _line of defence_.

FLANKING-POINT. See POINT.

FLASH.--The flame which issues from any piece of ordnance on its being fired.

FLASH _in the pan_, an explosion of gunpowder without any communication beyond the touch hole. When a piece is loaded, and upon the trigger being drawn, nothing but the priming takes fire, that piece is said to flash in the pan.

FLASK, a measure made of horn, used to carry powder in, with the measure of the charge of the piece on the top of it.

FLASQUES, _Fr._ in the artillery, are the two cheeks of the carriage of a great gun. See AFFUT.

FLASQUE likewise means a gun-powder flask.

FLAT-_bottomed boats_, in _military affairs_, are made to swim in shallow water, and to carry a great number of troops, artillery, ammunition, &c. They are constructed in the following manner: a 12-pounder, bow chase, an 18 ditto, stern chase; 90 to 100 feet keel; 12 to 24 ditto beam; 1 mast, a large square main-sail; a jib-sail: they are rowed by 18 or 20 oars, and can each carry 400 men. The gun takes up one bow, and a bridge the other, over which the troops are to march. Those that carry horses have therefore parts of the boats made to open.

FLAW, any crack or small opening in a gun or its carriage is so called.

FLEAU, _Fr._ the beam, or balance of a pair of scales.

There are some fleaux or scales among the French, which hold 6000 lb. weight in one scale, and 6000 lb. weight of ammunition in the other, making together 12000 weight.

FLEAU _de fer_, an iron instrument or weapon, that resembles in shape the flails with which corn is thrashed.

FLECHE, in _field fortification_, a work of two faces, usually raised in the field, to cover the quarter guards of a camp or advanced post.

FLETCHER. See BOWYER.

FLIGHT, is used figuratively for the swift retreat of an army or any party from a victorious enemy.

_To put to_ FLIGHT, to force your enemy to quit the field of battle.

FLIGHT, is likewise applicable to missile weapons or shot, as a flight of arrows, a flight of bombs, &c.

FLINT, a well known stone, used at present with every sort of fire arms. Every soldier ought to have one or two spare flints when on service.

FLINTS--are usually packed in half barrels.

Weight.
qrs. lbs.
}Musquet, 2000 -- 2 14
One half barrel contains}Rifle, 3000 -- 2 10
}Pistol, 4000 -- 2 15

The most transparent and free from veins are esteemed the best flints.

28 kegs of musquet flints take 18 cwt. in tonnage.

10 kegs of pistol flints take 3 cwt. 2 qrs. in tonnage.

_To_ FLOAT, a column is said to float when it loses its perpendicular line in march, and becomes unsteady in its movements.

FLOATING-_batteries_, vessels used as batteries, to cover troops in landing on an enemy’s coast.

FLOGGING, a barbarous punishment in general use among the British foot soldiers. It is inflicted with a whip having several lashes, and is calculated to degrade and render the man totally unfit for a soldier. It is not practised in any other army in Europe.

FLOOD-GATE, in fortified towns, is composed of 2 or 4 gates, so that the besieged by opening the gates may inundate the environs so as to keep the enemy out of gun shot.

FLOOR. See PLATFORM.

_To_ FLOURISH, in a general musical acceptation of the term, is to play some prelude or preparatory air without any settled rule.

_A_ FLOURISH, any vibration of sound that issues from a musical instrument.

_The trumpet_ FLOURISH in drawing swords, is used regimentally by corps of cavalry on their own ground, and is the sounding used in receiving a general officer.

FLOWER _de Luce_, FLEUR _de Lis_, The arms of France under the old monarchy. They consisted in three flowers de lis _or_, or gold, in a field _azure_, or blue. These arms were superceded by the three colored flag, when the bastile was taken and destroyed by the inhabitants of Paris.

FLUSHED, a term frequently applied when men have been successful, as, flushed with victory, &c.

FLUTE, a wind instrument which is sometimes used in military bands; but never on service.

FLUX, an extraordinary evacuation of the body, to which soldiers are frequently subject on service. Towards the fall of the year this disorder is particularly prevalent, especially in camps. It is of a contagious nature, and the greatest care should be taken to prevent the healthy men in a regiment from frequenting the privies to which those infected by this cruel disorder are permitted to resort. A centry should always be posted in the vicinity of every hospital for that specific purpose.

FLYING{_army_. See ARMY.
{_bridge_. See BRIDGE.

FLYING _Artillery_. See HORSE ARTILLERY.

FLYING-_Camp_. See CAMP.

FOCUS, in _mining_. See MINE.

FODDER. See FORAGE.

FOE. See ENEMY.

FOIL, in _fencing_, a long piece of steel of an elastic temper, mounted somewhat like a sword, which is used to learn to fence with; it is without a point, or any sharpness, having a button at the extremity, covered with leather.

_To_ FOIL, to defeat.

FOLLOWERS _of a camp_, Officers, servants, sutlers, &c. All followers of a camp are subject to the articles of war equally with the soldiery.

FOND, ground, properly means the surface of the earth which lies above the water.

FONDEMENS, _Fr._ foundation.

FONDERIE, _Fr._ forge, _ou Fourneaux_. See FOUNDERY.

FONDS _destinés pour le payement des troupes_. _Fr._ Monies issued for the service of the army.

FONTE _des pieces d’artillerie_. The metal used in the casting of cannon which consists of three sorts well mixed together, viz. copper, tin, and brass.

FOOT, in a _military sense_, signifies all those bodies of men that serve on foot. See _Infantry_.

FOOT is also a long measure, consisting of 12 inches. Geometricians divide the foot into 10 digits, and the digits into 10 lines; but we after the manner of the English divide the foot into 12 inches, and an inch into 12 lines, and a line into 12 points. The French call the 12th part of a foot, a _line_.

_A square_ FOOT, is the same measure, both in length and breadth, containing 12 × 12 = 144 square or superficial inches.

_A cubic_ FOOT, is the same measure in all the three dimensions, length, breadth, and thickness; containing 12 × 12 = 144 × 12 = 1728 cubic inches. The foot is of different length in different countries. The Paris royal foot exceeds the English by 9 lines; the ancient Roman foot of the capitol consisted of 4 palms = 11⁴⁄₁₀ English inches; and the Rhineland or Leyden foot, by which the northern nations go, is to the Roman foot as 950 to 1000. The proportions of the principal feet of several nations are as follow. The English foot divided into 1000 parts, or into 12 inches, the other feet will be as follow:

PLACES. 1000 feet. inch. lines.
parts
----------------------------------------------
London foot 1000 -- 12 --
Amsterdam 942 -- 11 3
Antwerp 946 -- 11 2
Bologna 1204 1 2 4
Berlin 1010 1 -- 2
Bremen 964 -- 11 6
Cologne 954 -- 11 4
Copenhagen 965 -- 11 6
Dantzic 944 -- 11 3
Dort 1184 1 2 2
Frankfort on the Main 948 -- 11 4
The Greek 1007 1 -- 1
Mantua 1569 1 6 8
Mechlin 999 -- 11 --
Middlebourg 991 -- 11 9
Paris Royal 1068 1 -- 9
Prague 1026 1 -- 3
Rhineland 1033 1 -- 4
Riga 1831 1 9 9
Roman 967 -- 11 6
Old Roman 970 -- 11 8
Scotch 1005 1 -- ⁵⁄₇
Strasbourg 920 -- 11 --
Madrid 899 -- 10 7
Lisbon 1060 1 -- 6
Turin 1062 1 -- 7
Venice 1162 1 1 9

_To be on the_ SAME FOOTING _with another_, is to be under the same circumstances in point of service; to have the same number of men, and the same pay, &c.

_To gain or lose ground_ FOOT _by_ FOOT, is to do it regularly and resolutely; defending every thing to the utmost extremity, or forcing it by dint of art or labor.

FOOT-_bank_, in fortification. See BANQUETTE.

FORAGE, in the art of war, implies hay, straw, and oats, for the subsistence of the army horses. This forage is divided into rations, one of which is a day’s allowance for a horse, and contains 20 lb. of hay, 10 lb. of oats and 5 lb. of straw.

_Dry_ FORAGE, oats, hay, &c. which are delivered out of magazines to a garrison, or to troops when they take the field, before the green forage is sufficiently grown to be cut or gathered.

_Green_ FORAGE, oats, hay, &c. that have been recently cut. It likewise means meadow pasture, into which horses are turned.

When the British cavalry are stationed in barracks, the number of rations of forage to be issued to the horses of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers is not to exceed what follows, and is to be confined to those which are actually effective in the barracks.

_Rations._
Field officers, having 4 effective horses 4
Captains, having 3 ditto 3
Subalterns and staff officers, having 2 ditto 2
Quarter masters, each 1
Non-commissioned officers and private men, each 1

For each of which rations a stoppage is to be made of 8¹⁄₂_d._ per diem.

On foreign service this article is governed by circumstances.

FORCE, an armament or warlike preparation.

FORCE, in a military sense, any body of troops collected together for warlike enterprize.

_Effective_ FORCES. All the efficient parts of an army that may be brought into action are called effective, and generally consist of artillery, cavalry, and infantry, with their necessary appendages such as hospital staff, waggon-train, artificers and pioneers: the latter, though they cannot be considered as effective fighting men, constitute so far a part of effective forces, that no army could maintain the field without them.

_Effective_ FORCES _of a country_. All the disposable strength, vigour and activity of any armed proportion of native or territorial population. The navy of Great Britain must be looked upon as part of the effective force of England, to which is added the body of marines.

_Distribution of the effective_ FORCES _of a country_. Under this head may be considered, not only the effective forces which might engage an enemy, but likewise those included in the several returns that are made from home to foreign stations to the war office, and out of which a grand total is formed to correspond with the estimates that are annually laid before the government.

_To_ FORCE is to take by storm; also to man the works of a garrison.

_To_ FORCE _an enemy to give battle_. To render the situation of an enemy so hazardous, that whether he attempt to quit his position, or endeavor to keep it, his capture or destruction must be equally inevitable. In either of which desperate cases, a bold and determined general will not wait to be attacked, but resolutely advance and give battle; especially if circumstances should combine to deprive him of the means of honorable capitulation. This can only be safely effected, by having previously disposed your own forces so as to defy any impression on his part, and by subsequent able manœuvres to have it in your power to foil his attack.

_To_ FORCE _a passage_. To oblige your enemy to retire from his fastnesses, and to open a way into the country which he had occupied. This may be done either by _coup de main_, or renewal of assaults. In either case, the advancing body should be well supported and its flanks be secured with the most jealous attention.

FORCING _an adversary’s guard or blade_, a term used in the science of broadsword.

“If at any time your antagonist appears languid and weak on his guard, and barely covers his body on the side he is opposed; by stepping well forward, and striking the fort of your sword smartly on his blade, you may be enabled to deliver a cut without risk, even at the part he intends to secure, taking care to direct your blade in such a manner, that the plate or cross bar of your hilt shall prevent his sword from coming forward.”

_Art of defence on foot._

FORCEPS, an instrument used in chirurgery, to extract any thing out of wounds or to take hold of dead or corrupt flesh, to amputate. It is made somewhat in the shape of a pair of tongs or pincers, with grappling ends. Every regimental surgeon, or assistant surgeon, should have a pair among his set of instruments.

FORD. The shallow part of a river where soldiers may pass over without injuring their arms.

FORE-RANK, first rank, front.

FOREIGN _service_, in a general sense, means every service but home. In a more confined and native acceptation of the term, it signifies any service done out of the limits of the United States, or the dependent territories.

FOREIGN _troops_, in an English acceptation, regiments or companies which are composed of aliens, as the Hessians in the American revolution. Before the present war, no foreigner could bear a commission in the British service, or be enlisted as a soldier.

FORELAND, in fortification, called by the French _pas de souris_, _relais_, _retraite_, _berm_ or _lizier_, a confined space of ground between the rampart of a town or fortified place, and the moat. Whenever a fortification can be completed without having recourse to this substitute for stone, (with which the rampart ought to be faced) it certainly is advisable to go to the expence. For a bold enemy, who has once made his way over the moat, will derive considerable advantage from having this path to stand on. It is generally from 3 to 8 or 10 feet wide. This space serves to receive the demolished parts of the rampart, and prevents the ditch from being filled up. In Holland the foreland is planted with thickset, but it is generally faced with palisades. See BERM.

FORELAND, or FORENESS, any point of land which juts out into the sea.

FORGE, in the _train of artillery_, is generally called a _travelling forge_, and may not be improperly called a portable smith’s shop: at this forge all manner of smith’s work is made, and it can be used upon a march, as well as in camp. Formerly they were very ill contrived, with 2 wheels only, and wooden supporters to prop the forge for working when in the park. Of late years they are made with 4 wheels, which answers the purpose much better.

FORGE _for red hot balls_, is a place where the balls are made red-hot before they are fired off: it is built about 5 or 6 feet below the surface of the ground, of strong brick work, and an iron grate, upon which the balls are laid, with a very large fire under them. See RED-HOT BALLS.

FORKHEAD. See BARB.

FORLORN-_hope_, in the military art, signifies men detached from several regiments, or otherwise appointed to make the first attack in the day of battle; or at a siege, to storm the counterscarp, mount the breach, &c. They are so called from the great danger they are unavoidably exposed to; but the expression is old, and begins to be obsolete.

_To_ FORM, in a general acceptation of the term, is to assume or produce any shape or figure, extent or depth of line or column, by means of prescribed rules in military movements or dispositions.

_To_ FORM _from file, among cavalry_. The front file halts at a given point: the rest, or remaining files successively ride up at a very smart gallop, taking care to halt in time, and not to over-run the ground. If the formation is by doubling round the front file, (in a formation, for instance, to the rear of the march, or to the right when marched from the right,) the files must double as close round as possible and with the utmost expedition. In forming from file, particular attention should be given to make the men put their horses quite straight as they come in. They must keep their bodies square, dress by a slight cast of the eye towards the point of formation, and close and dress in an instant. A dragoon, in fact, must no sooner get into the ranks, than his attention should be given to remain steady, well closed and dressed. It is generally required, that when the cavalry forms, each man must come up in file to his place, and by no means move up to his leader, till that leader has formed to which ever hand the file is forming to. The whole must follow the exact track of the first leader, and come up one by one into their respective places in squadron.

_To_ FORM _to the front_. To move nimbly up from file into ranks, and close to your leader, whether on foot, or horseback.

_To_ FORM _to the rear_. To double round your leaders, who have themselves turned and faced.

_To_ FORM _to a proper flank_. To turn and close in to your leader.

_To_ FORM _to a reverse flank_. To pass, turn and successively close to your leaders.

In all formations from file, the whole, till otherwise directed, dress to the hand to which the squadron, or division forms. See _Am. Mil. Lib._

_To_ FORM _by moving in front, and successively arriving in line_, is by divisions, or distinct bodies, to advance forward by word of command towards any given point of alignement. On these occasions the eyes of the whole are turned to the hand to which they are to form, and from which they preserve required distances. The leading officer must be on the _inward_ flank of his division; he conducts it to its point of junction in line, and from thence dresses and corrects it on the person, who is previously placed beyond him, and prolonging the general line. The outward flank of the last formed and halted body, is always considered as the point of conjunction (necessary intervals included) of the succeeding one. Thus the looking and lining of the soldier is always towards that point, and the flank of the line formed to; and the correction of dressing by the officer is always made from that point towards the other flank. Therefore on all occasions of moving up, forming and dressing in line, by the men lining themselves to one hand (_inwards_) and the officers correcting to the other (_outwards_) the most perfect line may be obtained. Commanding officers of regiments, when a considerable line is forming, must take every advantage from timeously throwing out intelligent _guides_ to give them true points in the general line. In the French service these persons are called _jalonneurs_ from _jalonner_, to fix any thing, by which any true direction, perpendicular or otherwise, may be obtained; the word _guide_ is the best translation of the word _jalonneur_, and it is so used in the American Military Library.

_To_ FORM _line_, is to wheel to the right or left from open column of divisions, subdivisions, or sections, according to prescribed rules, so as to present one continued front or straight line; or to deploy from close column for the same end, or to file to the front.

_To_ FORM _rank entire_, is to extend the front of a battalion or company by reducing it to the least possible depth, from any existing number of ranks.

_To_ FORM _two deep_, is from rank entire or from three deep to produce a regular line of files.

_To_ FORM _three deep_, is to add the depth of one half file to two deep, and to produce the natural formation of a battalion in line.

_To_ FORM _four deep_, is to diminish the natural extent of a battalion formed in line, by adding one half-file to its depth.

_To_ FORM _echellon_, is, from line, or open column, to wheel a given number of paces forward or backward, so as to produce a diagonal or oblique direction in the different proportions of a line, the outward flank of each succeeding division, company or section, constantly preserving a perpendicular direction, at a regulated distance, from the inward flank of its leader, until it arrive at its point of junction.

_To_ FORM _line by echellon_, is to advance in column towards any given object by a diagonal movement, so as eventually to produce a regular continuity of front. See ECHELLON or DIAGONAL _movement_.

_To_ FORM _close column_, is to march by files in detached proportions of a line, till each proportion shall arrive in front or in rear of any given body.

_To_ FORM _open column_, is to wheel backwards or forwards, or to march out by files, so that the several proportions of a line may stand in a perpendicular direction to one another, with intervals between them equal to the extent of their front.

_To_ FORM _circle_, is to march a battalion or company standing in line from its two flanks; the leading files bringing their right and left shoulders forward, so as to unite the whole in a circular continuity of files. On the word of command--_To the right and left, form circle_, the two flank files bring their right and left shoulders forward; and on the word _quick, march_, the whole advance. The centre marks time, each file from the direct central one gradually inclining to right and left till the junction of the two extremes has been completed.

The general use which is made of this formation is to punish offenders, or to convey public orders to the men in such a manner, that every individual may have an equal opportunity of hearing what is read, or delivered to the whole battalion.

_To_ FORM _on_, is to advance forward, so as to connect yourself with any given object of formation, and to lengthen the line.

_To_ FORM _on a front division_, is from close, or open column, or by the march in echellon, to arrive by a parallel movement at the right or left of any given division, by which means a prolongation of the line is produced. When this formation takes place with the right in front, the officer of the second, or leading division (the first standing fast, and all the rest facing to the left) having stepped out to the right at the words _quick march!_ allows his division led by his serjeant to go on a space equal to its front, and then gives his word _front_, _dress_, _halt_; his serjeant still remaining on the left of his division. The officer being still on the right of his division, immediately gives the word _march!_ and the division proceeds at the ordinary step towards its place in the alignement. He steps nimbly forward, and obliques so as to be within the third file of the left flank of the preceding division, and is thus ready to give the words, _dress_, _halt!_ at the instant his inward flank man joins that division. He then expeditiously corrects his men, (who have dressed upon the formed part of the line, on the distant given point) and resumes his proper post in line. Great care should be taken in these movements to prevent the outward flank of every advancing division from over-stepping its ground; as it is a general principle in dressing, to be rather behind the preceding formed division at the word _dress_, than before it; the word _halt_ being the final and conclusive direction, and the dressing of ranks being more easily attained by a forward than a backward movement.