Chapter D: Caldwell, (27)

HALF, is frequently used in military terms. Thus,

HALF-BRIGADE, (_demie brigade_, _Fr._) which signifies half the number of men of which a whole brigade is composed. A brigade of infantry in the French army, consists of six battalions, each of one thousand men, making together six thousand men. Three thousand of course constitutes a demie-brigade, or half-brigade. In the British service, a brigade is various, according to the number of regiments that may be encamped, or lie contiguous to each other. Sometimes two, three, or four regiments form a brigade; so that half the recited number of men which composes a brigade, whether of cavalry or infantry, makes a half-brigade.

HALF-COMPANIES. The same as subdivisions, and equal to a platoon.

HALF DISTANCE, signifies half the regular interval or space between troops drawn up in ranks, or standing in column.

HALF FILES, half the given number of any body of men drawn up two deep.

Half-files are so called in cavalry, when the men rank off singly.

HALF-FILE _leader_, (_Chef de demi-file_, _Fr._) the foremost man of a rank entire.

HALF-BATTA. An extra allowance which has been granted to the whole of the officers belonging to the British east Indian army, except in Bengal, when out of the company’s district in the province of Oude. In the upper provinces double batta is allowed. All above full is paid by the native princes, as the troops stationed in that quarter are considered as auxiliaries. The full batta is an allowance granted to both officers and men whenever they are under canvas. Batta is equal to full pay.

HALF-CIRCLE _guard_, one of the guards used with the broad-sword to parry an inside cut below the wrist, formed by dropping the point of the sword outward in a semicircular direction, with the edge turned to the left, and raising the hand to the height of the face.

HALF-CIRCLE _parade_, a parade of the small sword, used against the thrust in low carte.

HALF-HANGER, _or_ HALF-HANGING-GUARD, a position of defence in the art of broad-sword; differing from the hanging-guard, in the sword-hand not being raised so high, but held low enough to see your opponent over the hilt. See BROADSWORD.

HALF-MOON, _or demi-lune_, _Fr._ See FORTIFICATION.

HALF-PAY, a certain allowance which is made to officers in the British service who have been reduced, in consequence of some general order that effects whole corps, supernumerary companies or individuals.

It may likewise be considered as a compensation to individuals, who have been permitted to retire from the active functions of military life.

HALF-PAY _officers_ are, to all intents and purposes, out of the reach of military cognizance. They cannot be tried by martial law; nor are they liable to be called upon either as members of a court martial, or for the purpose of actual service.

HALF-PIKE, (_demi pique_, _Fr._) a small pike, which was formerly carried by officers.

HALF-SWORD, close fight, within half the length of a sword.

HALT [French _halte_], is a discontinuance of the march of any body of men, armed or unarmed, under military direction. It is frequently practised for the purpose of easing troops during their progress through a country, or to render them fresh and active previous to any warlike undertaking.

Frequent halts are made during the passage of obstacles, and in an intersected country, in order to obviate the inconvenience and danger which must attend a column whose head is advanced too far to preserve the regular succession of all its component parts. Nothing, indeed, can be more pregnant with mischief than such a chasm; for, if the enemy be in the neighborhood, both front and rear are exposed. The best way in the passage of defiles, &c. is to proceed to a distance beyond it which shall be sufficiently extensive to admit of the whole number; there to halt, and not to march forward until the rear has completely cleared the obstacle.

HALT, is likewise a word of command in familiar use when a regiment is on its march from one quarter to another. The men are permitted to refresh themselves half-way. It should be generally observed, that to prevent soldiers from straggling about, or getting among persons who might entice them to be disorderly, a strict order ought to be given by the commanding officer of every battalion not to allow any division or detachment to halt in or near a town or village. A convenient midway spot should be chosen for the purpose, and when the men have piled their arms (which may be done in line or in column), a few steady soldiers should be detached to guard the ground, and to prevent others from straggling beyond certain limits. Among the French it was usual for the commanding officer of a battalion, division, or detachment, in hot weather, to send a sergeant and a few steady grenadiers forward, in order to secure good water for the troops. This practice ought to be avoided as much as possible; for men are more exposed to suffer from drinking when overheated, than they would be by patiently enduring the thirst until they reached the spot where the day’s march is to terminate.

_To_ HALT _in open column for the purpose of wheeling up into line_. When the several companies of one or more battalions have entered the alignement, and marched with their guides of manœuvre, or pivot flanks along the line, covering each other at their due distances (for which company officers are answerable), the open column is then in a state to be wheeled into line.

As soon, therefore, as the head or rear division, according to circumstances, arrives at the given point where it is to form line, the commander of the battalion gives the word _mark time_, in order to afford the several ranks time to correct their dressing and distance by their guides and pivots: on the delivery of this word, the foot which is then off the ground, finishes its proper step, and the other is brought up to it; and when the whole are dressed the word is given to _halt_. The instant the _halt_ is ordered, the commanding officer from the head division of each battalion (taking care that an adjutant is placed in the true line) makes any small correction on a near point in that line that the pivots may require, although no such correction ought to be necessary.

_To_ HALT _after having wheeled from open column_. The officers commanding companies, &c. having during the wheel turned round to face their men, and inclined towards the pivot of the preceding company, as they perceive their wheeling men make the step which brings them up to their several pivots, they give the word _mark time--halt_. The men, on receiving this last word of command, halt with their eyes still turned to the wheeling flank, and each officer being then placed before the preceding guide or pivot, to which his men are then looking, corrects the interior of his company upon that pivot, his own pivot, and the general line of the other pivots. This being quickly and instantaneously done, the officer immediately takes his post on the right of his company, which has been preserved for him by his serjeant. Thus the whole line, when halted, is imperceptibly dressed.

In cavalry movements, when the open column halted on the ground on which it is to form, wheels up into line, the following specific instructions must be attended to:

Distances being just, guides and pivot leaders being truly covered, the caution is given, _Wheel into line!_ when the then pivot-flank leaders place themselves each on the _reverse_ flank of such divisions, as by its wheel up brings them to their true place in the squadron. The leading division of each squadron sends out a guide to line himself with the pivot files. At the word _march!_ the whole wheel up into line, which is marked by the guides or pivots, and also bounded by the horses’ heads of the faced guides of it.--_Dress--halt!_ is then given (as well as the other words by each squadron leader) the instant before the completion of the wheel; the eyes are then turned to the standing flank (to which the correction of the squadron is made), and remain so till otherwise ordered; so that a line formed by wheels to the left, will remain with eyes to the right; and one formed by wheels to the right will remain with eyes to the left.

During the wheel up, the standard moves to its place in squadron, and at the halt every individual must have gained his proper post.

HALTE, _Fr._ See HALT.

HALTER-CAST. In farriery, an excoriation or hurt in the pastern, which is occasioned by the horse endeavoring to scrub the itching part of the body near the head and neck, and thus entangling one of his hinder feet in the halter. The consequence of which is, that he naturally struggles to get free and sometimes receives very dangerous hurts in the hollow of his pastern.

HALTING, in farriery, a limping, or going lame; an irregularity in the motion of a horse, arising from a lameness in the shoulder, leg, or foot, which obliges him to tread tenderly.

HAMLET, a small village.

_Tower_ HAMLETS. The militia raised in the district of the Tower of London, is so called, and is divided into two battalions.

HAMMER, well-known instrument with an iron head, for driving nails, &c. The artillery aids each carry one in his belt, in order to clear the vent from any stoppage.

HAMMER, a piece of iron which stands in a perpendicular direction above the cover of the pan, being a part of the same, and serving to produce those sparks of fire that ultimately occasion the explosion of the gunpowder. The Germans call it _pfannen deckel_, the cover of the pan; but this expression does not convey a distinct and clear idea of the use that is made of it. Nothing, however, can be less appropriate than the term appears amongst us. We call the part which is struck against to produce sparks of fire the hammer; and the part which strikes, the cock; whereas that part of the cock which holds the flint is, in fact, the hammer, and the other is without a proper name. The Germans call the cock _hahn_. It is not within our province to propose new terms; we are therefore satisfied in having pointed out the contradiction.

HAMMER-SPRING, the spring on which the hammer of a gun-lock works. It is also called _feather-spring_.

HAMMOCK, (_hamac_, _Fr._) a sort of bed made of cotton or canvas. Those used in America consisted of a broad piece of canvas which was suspended between two branches of a tree, or between two stakes, and in which the savages are accustomed to sleep.

Among sailors the hammock is about six feet long and three feet broad, and drawn together at the two ends, and hung horizontally under the deck for the sailors to repose in. In time of battle, the hammocks are strongly fastened and laid above the rails on the quarter-deck and forecastle, to barricade, and to prevent the execution of small shot.

HAMPE, _ou_ HANTE, _Fr._ a shaft; a long stick to which any thing else is attached; as a sharp blade to form a halbert or pike.

HANCES, the ends of elliptical arches.

HAND. Among the Mysoreans the print of a hand is reckoned a form equivalent to an oath. The hand is one of their military ensigns, and always carried by their princes to war.

HAND, a measure of four inches, or of a clinched fist by which the height of a horse is computed. Thus horses are said to be so many hands high.

The sizes of military horses should run from 15 hands and 1 inch to 16 hands high, and the age 4 or 5 off, if possible.

Hand is also used for the division of a horse into the fore and hind parts. The parts of the fore-hand are the head, neck, and fore-quarters; and those of the hind-hand include all the other parts of his body.

HAND is likewise used for the horseman’s hand. Thus spear-hand, or sword-hand, is the horseman’s right hand, and bridle-hand is his left hand.

HAND-BARROW, a machine made of light wood, of great use in fortification for carrying earth from one place to another; or in a siege, for carrying shells or shot along the trenches.

HAND-BARROW. Weight 13 pounds, length 5 feet 4 inches.

HAND-BREADTH, a measure of three inches, or a space equal to the breadth of the hand, the palm.

HAND-GALLOP, a slow and easy gallop, in which the hand presses the bridle to hinder increase of speed.

HAND-GRENADES, small iron shells, from 2 to 3 inches diameter, filled with powder which being lighted by means of a fuse, are thrown by the grenadiers amongst the enemy; until lately out of use. See GRENADES.

HAND-GUN, a gun held in the hand.

HAND-MALLET, a wooden hammer with a handle, to drive fuses, or pickets, &c. in making fascines or gabion batteries.

HAND-SCREW, is composed of a toothed iron bar, which has a claw at the lower end and a fork at the upper: the bar is fixed in a stock of wood, about 2.5 feet high, and 6 inches thick, moved by a rack-work, so that this claw or fork being placed under a weight raises it as far as the bar can go.

HAND-SPIKE, in gunnery, a wooden lever 5 or 6 feet long, flattened at the lower end, and tapering towards the other, useful in moving guns to their places after being fired and loaded again, or for moving other heavy weights.

HAND-SPIKES. Common, weight 10 pounds, length 6 feet.

HAND-TO-HAND, close fight; the situation of two persons closely opposed to each other.

HANDFUL, used figuratively, in a military sense, to denote a small quantity or number, as a handful of men.

_To_ HANDLE, to manage, to wield.

HANDLE _arms_, a word of command (when the men are at ordered arms) by which the soldier is directed to bring his right hand briskly up to the muzzle of his musquet, with his fingers bent inwards. This word of command is frequently used at the private inspection of companies, and always precedes--_Ease arms_.

This term was formerly used in the manual from the _support_ to the _carry_. It is now however used only in the instance just mentioned.

_To_ HANG-FIRE. Fire-arms are said to hang-fire when the flame is not speedy in communicating from the pan to the charge. This defect may arise from the powder being damp or the touch-hole foul.

_To_ HANG _upon_. To hover, to impede.

_To_ HANG _upon the rear of a retreating enemy_. To follow the movements of any body of men so closely as to be a constant annoyance to them.

It requires both judgment and activity in the commanding officer of a pursuing army to execute this business without endangering his troops. For it might happen that the retreating enemy, seeing an opportunity to make a retrograde flank movement from its front, would practice a feint in its rear, and suddenly appear upon the right or left of his pursuers. To prevent a surprize of this sort, constant vedettes and side-patroles must be detached, and the pursuer must never attempt to follow through any considerable length of defile, or cross rivers, without having secured the neighboring eminences, and been well informed as to the nature of the stream, for some extent on his right and left. Without these precautions he might himself be taken in flank and rear.

_To_ HANG _upon the flanks of an enemy_, is to harass and perplex him in a more desultory manner than what is generally practised when you press upon his rear.

Hussars, light dragoons, mounted riflemen, and light infantry detachments are well calculated for this service. Light pieces of artillery are likewise extremely useful, but they should be cautiously resorted to, as ambuscades might be laid, and their removal would require too much time. A perfect knowlege of the country in which you fight, aided by intelligent guides and faithful scouts, will be one of the best safeguards in all operations of this kind.

HANGER, a short-curved sword.

HANGING-GUARD, a defensive position in the art of broad-sword; it is formed by raising the sword-hand high enough to view your antagonist under your wrist, and directing your point towards his ribs. See BROADSWORD.

HANNIBAL, a celebrated general among the Carthagenians, who crossed the Alps, and threatened Rome. This able man lost all the fruits of his uncommon exertions and military talents by relaxing from that active conduct, by which he had thrown the Roman legions into confusion. He is a striking example of the propriety of marshal Saxe’s observations on the necessity of vigorous and unremitting operations against a retreating enemy. See GENERAL.

HANOVERIANS, troops belonging to Hanover, formerly subject to the king of Great Britain, and of which a considerable body were employed to subjugate America, for which forty pounds sterling a head were paid out of the British treasury to the elector of Hanover; they are now subjects of France.

HANSE, _or_ HANS, (_Hans Teutonique_, _Fr._) a body or company of merchants united together for the promotion of trade.

HANS _towns_, (_villes Hanseatiques_, _Fr._) Certain towns and places in Germany and the north of Europe in which a commercial compact, or agreement, for the benefit of commerce was entered into by merchants of respectability. The four towns that first united for this purpose were Lubec, Brunswick, Dantzic, and Cologne, and on that account they bore the distinguishing title of mother-towns. After the original establishment of this company had taken place, several towns became anxious to belong to so respectable and useful a company. They were accordingly adopted, and obtained the denomination of god-daughters. The number of these associated places amounted to 81, and they were generally called the Hanseatic or Anseatic towns. In the year 1372, a treaty of alliance was entered into between Denmark and the Hans towns. Amsterdam and other Dutch cities were included, as may be seen in a copy of that treaty which has been preserved by Boxhoorn.

HAQUET, _Fr._ a dray; a species of waggon formerly used in the artillery; they differed in their sizes and dimensions according to the nature of the service.

_Military_ HARANGUES, (_harangues militaires_, _Fr._) It was usual among the ancients for generals, &c. to harangue their soldiers previous to an engagement. This custom, however, is too old to be traced to its origin. Short harangues, if any are adopted, will always prove the best; for that natural impulse by which the aggregate of mankind are driven into acts of peril and possible destruction, is of too subtile and too volatile a nature to bear suspence.

We find among the ancient historians various instances in which the generals of armies have judged fit to harangue their troops. It must, however, be acknowleged, that the greater part of these harangues have been studiously made out by ingenious writers, and put into the lips of the heroes they have thought proper to celebrate. Those which contain most common sense, and are conveyed in short pithy sentences, will always produce the best effects.

Eloquence is certainly a qualification which every general of an army should possess; but, it is not, in our days, the most essential requisite in his character. Cæsar was naturally endowed with a most bewitching talent in the exercise of words; and he used it on many occasions to considerable advantage. The manner in which he was accustomed to address his men became so celebrated, that several persons belonging to the army he commanded carefully selected his _military harangues_; and, if we may believe the Chevalier Folard, the emperor Augustus was particularly pleased and entertained in having them read to him.

In Chevalier Folard’s opinion, those speeches which are enlivened by expressions of humor and by occasional raillery, will always have the most influence over the minds of common soldiers. War although apparently dictated by the laws of nature (for war and bloodshed seem to have been the concomitants of man from his first creation) cannot be so far congenial to the feelings of civilized mortality, as to mingle with sober sense and rational reflection. Consequently, those discourses which lead the common mind to think, and which induce the common heart to feel, are ill adapted to acts of violence and mutual rancour. A witticism or humorous expression has sometimes the most happy effect. The answer which Hannibal the Carthaginian made to one of his generals, whose name was _Gisco_, produced a fortunate emotion among the soldiers. The latter observed, _that the enemy’s great numbers somewhat surprized him_; Hannibal, as Plutarch relates the story, immediately said, with a sort of indignant look--_But there is another circumstance, Gisco, which ought to surprize you much more, and which you do not seem to know_. Gisco requested to know what it might be. _It is_, replied Hannibal, _that in so large a multitude there should not be one man whose name is Gisco_. This sarcastic observation created a loud laugh among all who surrounded the general, and the humor of the saying was instantly conveyed through the ranks.

Antigonus, according to the same authority, never adopted any other mode of conveying his sentiments to the troops. The Lacedemonians were even more laconic; but every thing they uttered was full of sound sense and energy of thought. Thucydides, who was not only a good historian, but likewise an able general, makes his heroes speak in a very emphatic and eloquent manner. Tacitus does not appear to possess much excellence that way; and the speeches which we find in Polybius, are copied after what was spoken by the several generals, whom he celebrates. Titus Livius is too ornamental and too flowery. An active and intelligent general must be a perfect stranger to that species of oratory.

We read in Varillas, a French historian, who was born in 1624, and wrote a history of France beginning with Louis XI. and ending with Henry III. &c. that Zisca (or Ziska) a gentleman and soldier of Bohemia (who was so called because he happened to lose an eye,) made a remarkable speech to his followers. We refer our inquisitive readers to that writer’s works for one of the most energetic, most soldier-like, and persuasive pieces of military eloquence that perhaps is extant. Zisca succeeded Huss, who had armed the peasantry of Bohemia to resist the oppressions of the emperor and the Roman pontiff; and although he lost his other eye at the siege of Rabi, his influence and courage were so great, that he obliged the emperor Sigismund to send an embassy to him, and to offer him the government of Bohemia. Such was his power of persuasion, that he could not only animate his men to the most desperate feats of valor, but likewise check them in the full career of victory, to prevent plunder and unnecessary bloodshed. A remarkable instance of this sort may be found in Varillas, where he relates, that nothing but the influence which Zisca possessed over the minds of his followers could have saved the city of Prague from utter destruction.

Several specimens of military eloquence may be found in Procopius. They possess the happy quality of being very short, full of good sense and strength of expression. Since the time of Henry the IVth, of France, we find few instances in which the generals of armies have thought it expedient to harangue their troops, unless we except the battle of Nerva, previous to which Charles the XIIth, king of Sweden, addressed his little army.

It frequently happens, however, that the commanding officers of corps and of detached parties, feel it necessary to encourage their men by short and appropriate speeches after the manner of the Lacedemonians. At the famous battle of Tory, Henry the IVth, of France, rode down the front of the line, and pointing to the white feather which he wore in his hat, spoke in the following emphatic manner to his soldiers: _My children_, (_mes enfans_) cried he, _should any mistake or irregularity occur among the standard bearers, and your colors by any accident be misled, recollect, that this feather will shew you where you are to rally; you will always find it on the road to honor and victory!_

At Fleurus, general Jourdan rode along the line with this short speech, “no retreat to-day.” At Marengo Bonaparte addressed the soldiers, “remember we always sleep the night after victory on the field of battle.” At Jena he told them--“There is Rosbach and a column commemorating French defeat, we must retrieve the honor of France, and plant a column dedicated to French glory.” Admiral Nelson’s address before the battle of Trafalgar, merits perpetual record,--“England expects every man to do his duty.” The English ladies very significantly embroidered it on their garters.

HARASS, (_harceler_, _Fr._) In a military sense, signifies to annoy, to perplex, and incessantly turmoil any body of men, to hang upon the rear and flanks of a retreating army, or to interrupt its operations at a siege by repeated attacks. The troops best calculated for this duty are hussars, mounted riflemen, and light dragoons. The general most celebrated among the ancients for this kind of warfare was Sertorius. By means of the most subtile and ingenious manœuvres, aided by a thorough knowlege of military tactics, he disconcerted all the plans, and finally defeated all the attempts which were made by Pompey and Metellus to subdue him. It has been shrewdly remarked by the commentator on Polybius, that had there been one Sertorius within the walls of Lisle, when that city was besieged in 1708, the whole combined force of the allies that was brought before it would have been rendered ineffectual. This wise and sagacious officer was constantly upon the watch; no movement of the enemy escaped his notice; and by being master of his designs, every measure which was attempted to be put in execution, was thwarted in its infancy.

When he received intelligence that a convoy was on its way to the enemy, such was his activity, that no precautions could save it from his attack; and however seemingly advantageous a temporary position might appear, every possible peril or surprize crouded upon his mind, and the instant he judged it necessary to decamp, such was his sagacity and shrewdness, that no foresight or information of the enemy could circumvent him on his march. He was full of expedients, master of military feints, and indefatigably active. When pursued in his retreats, he had always the ingenuity to avoid his enemy by getting into inaccessible places, or by disposing of his troops in such a manner, as to render it extremely hazardous to those who might attempt to harrass or perplex him.

HARBOR, in military architecture, a port or haven for shipping. The making and inclosing harbors with piers, so as to resist the winds and waves, for the preservation of ships in stormy weather, is one of the most useful and necessary works that can be made in a trading nation; since the security of their wealth and power depends greatly upon it. Hence it should be the particular study of every young engineer, who is desirous of being useful to his country, or of distinguishing himself, to render himself master of this branch of business. The works principally recommended to his attention are _L’Architecture Hydraulique_, par M. Belidor; _Essai sur la Resistance des Fluides_, par M. d’Alembert, Maclaurin, and Muller.

HARCARRAH. In India, a messenger employed to carry letters, and otherwise entrusted with matters of consequence that require secrecy and punctuality. They are very often Bramins, well acquainted with the neighboring countries; they are sent to gain intelligence, and are used as guides in the field.

HARDI, _Fr._ In French architecture, an epithet which is frequently attached to those sorts of works that, notwithstanding their apparent delicacy of construction, their great extent and wonderful height, remain uninjured for a succession of years. Gothic churches are of this description.

HARE, an old Saxon term for an army.

HARNESS, armor, or defensive furniture of war. Also the traces for horses of draught.

HARNESS. For men in the light artillery, one set, 26 lbs. length 12 feet. Wheel harness for a pair of horses, such as was used in the service of artillery, about 1 cwt.

HARNOIS, _Fr._ harness. This word was formerly used among the French to signify the complete armor or equipment of a horseman, including the cuirass, helmet, &c. The term, however is still adapted in a figurative sense: as, _Cet ancien officier a blanchi sous le harnois_--_This old officer has grown grey beneath his harness, or equipment_; signifying that he has grown old in the service.

HARNOIS _du Cheval_, _Fr._ Military equipment for a horse. There are some curious remarks on this subject in the _Reveries de Mareschal Saxe_.

HARO, _Fr._ hue and cry.

HAROL. An indian term signifying the officer who commands the van of an army. It sometimes means the vanguard itself.

HARPE, _Fr._ a species of draw-bridge, which was used among the ancients, and which obtained the name of harp from its resemblance to that instrument. This bridge, which consisted of a wooden frame, and hung in a perpendicular direction against the turrets that were used in those times to carry on the siege of a place, had, like the harp, a variety of ropes attached to it, and was let down upon the wall of a town by means of pullies. The instant it fell the soldiers left the turret and rushed across the temporary platform upon the rampart.

HARQUEBUS, a kind of fire-arm, of the length of a musquet, usually cocked with a wheel. It carried a ball of about 3 ounces. Not used at present.

HARQUEBUSIER, a soldier carrying a harquebus.

HARROW, to lay waste, to ravage, or destroy.

HASTAIRES, _Fr._ soldiers armed with spears. See HASTATI.

HASP, a flat staple to catch the bolt of a lock.

HASTATI, from the Latin word _hasta_, a spear; so that they may literally be called spearmen. A body of Roman soldiers who were more advanced in age, and had acquired a greater reputation in arms than the _Velites_ possessed, were distinguished by this appellation. They wore a complete set of armor, and always carried a buckler, made convex, measuring two feet and a half in breadth and four in length. The longest contained about four feet nine inches, or a Roman palm. The buckler was made of two boards glued together. These were covered, in the first instance, with a broad piece of linen, which was again covered over with sheep’s skin. The edges, both at top and bottom, were fenced with iron, to enable them to meet the broad sword and sabre, and to prevent them from rotting when planted on the ground. The convex part was further covered over with iron plates to resist the impression of hard blows, and to withstand the violent concussion of stones, &c.

The _hastati_ likewise wore a sword, which they carried girted to their right thigh, and which was called the Spanish sword. This weapon was calculated both to cut and thrust, the blade being very broad, thick, and pointed. Each had moreover two pikes, a brass helmet, and half boots. One of the pikes was thick, and the other of a middling size, and they were in general either round or square. The round ones were four fingers diameter, and the square ones contained the breadth of a side. The small pikes were not unlike to the darts which the hastati, or spearmen, were still obliged to carry.

The pole or staff of these pikes, whether large or small, was nearly five cubits long. The iron which was made somewhat in the shape of a fish-hook and was fixed to the pole, contained the same length. It reached beyond the middle, and was so well nailed that nothing could loosen it without at the same time breaking the pole. This iron was one finger and a half thick, both at the bottom, and at the part where it was joined to the wood.

The hastati or spearmen wore upon their heads a red or black plume, consisting of three straight feathers, each measuring one cubit in height. These, added to their other accoutrements, made them appear uncommonly tall, and gave them a bold and formidable look. The lowest class of hastati, or spearmen, had their chests protected by a piece of brass, containing twelve fingers’ breadth every way. This plate was called a _breast-plate_. All that were worth 10,000 drachmæ wore a coat of mail, instead of a breast-plate.

Kennet, in his R. Ant. p. 190, gives a similar account of the hastati; and adds, that the spears were afterwards laid aside as incommodious.

_Armes d’_HASTE, _Fr._ long-hafted weapons.

HASTE, _Fr._ The piece of wood or long pole to which the standard is fixed, was formerly so called in France.

HASSEIN and HOUSSEIN, two brothers, and Mahomedan saints, whose feast is celebrated with great pomp and much enthusiasm in Asia. This festival is kept on the 14th of November, in commemoration of the murder of those two brothers. The Mahomedans of Hindostan observe it with a kind of religious madness, some acting and others bewailing the catastrophe of their saints with so much energy, that several die of the excesses they commit. They are likewise persuaded that whoever falls in battle against unbelievers, during any of the days of this ceremony, shall be instantly translated into the higher paradise, without stopping at any of the intermediate purgatories. On these occasions, to the enthusiasm of superstition is added the more certain efficacy of inebriation; for the troops eat plentifully of bang, a vegetable substance something like hemp which yields an intoxicating juice.

HAT. Hats are no longer used by the non commissioned officers or privates; in the European armies all the infantry wear caps of leather, &c.

HATCHET, used in the army, a small light sort of an axe, with a bazil edge on the left side, and a short handle, used by the men for cutting wood to make fascines, gabions, pickets, &c.

_To take up the_ HATCHET, among the Indians to declare war, to commence hostilities, &c.

HAUBERGEON, _Fr._ See HABERGEON.

HAUBERGIER, _Fr._ an individual who held a tenure by knight’s service, and was subject to the feudal system, which formerly existed in France, and by which he was obliged to accompany the lord of the manor in that capacity whenever the latter went to war. He was called _fief de haubert_, and had the privilege of carrying a halbert. All vassals in ancient times served their lords-paramount as squires, haubergiers, lance-men, bow-men, &c.

HAUBERJON, _Fr._ See HABERGEON.

HAUBERT. See HAUTBERT.

HAVERSACK, a kind of bag made of strong coarse linen, to carry bread and provisions on a march. It is only used in the field and in cantonments, each soldier having one.

HAVILDAR, or HAVILDAUR, a non-commissioned officer or serjeant among the East India sepoys. He ranks next to the Jemidar.

HAVOCK, carnage, slaughter.

HAVRESAC, _Fr._ See HAVERSACK.

HAUSSE-_col_, _Fr._ an ornamental plate similar to the gorget. It is worn by infantry officers only.

_Un_ HAUSSE-_cou_, _Fr._ a neck piece.

HAUT-LE-PIED, _Fr._ a term used to distinguish such persons as were formerly employed in the French armies without having any permanent appointment. _Commissaires hauts-le-pied_ were known in the artillery during the monarchy of France. They were usually under the quarter-master general.

_Le_ HAUT _Rhin_, _Fr._ the Upper Rhine.

_Le_ HAUTE _Saxe_, _Fr._ Upper Saxony.

HAUTBERT, _Fr._ a coat of mail, which covered the neck and arms, formerly worn by the _seigneurs de haubert_, or lords-paramount, in France, in lieu of the _hausse-col_, _brassarts_, and _cuissarts_.

HAUTBOY, (_hautbois_, _Fr._) a wind-instrument, now almost universally adopted by the European armies, and which forms a part of the regimental bands.

HAUTES-_payes_, _Fr._ were soldiers selected by the captains of companies to attend them personally, for which service they received something more than the common pay. _Haute-paye_ became afterwards a term to signify the subsistence which any body of men superior to, or distinguished from the private soldier were allowed to receive.

HAUTEUR, _Fr._ in geometry, signifies elevation.

HAUTEUR, _Fr._ in architecture, the extreme height of any building. Thus, _un bâtiment est arrivée à hauteur_ signifies that the last stones or bricks are laid ready for the roof to be covered in.

HAUTEUR _d’appui_, _Fr._ breast-height.

HAUTEUR _de marche_, _Fr._ The usual height which a man takes in stepping, being about six or seven inches above ground.

HAUTEUR _d’un escadron, ou d’un battaillon_, _Fr._ the depth of a squadron of horse, or battalion of foot. The word _hauteur_ in the French service is equivalent to depth in the English: as--an army consisting of many squadrons of horse and battalions of foot, one in front of the other and forming several columns, is said to stand that number of columns deep; the term being applicable in all services to the army collectively or separately considered from several columns to a mere rank and file.

HAUTS-_officers_, _Fr._ superior officers.

With respect to an army composed of several regiments, the following fall under the description of _hauts officiers_ according to the old French system: generals, lieutenant-generals, colonels, and lieutenant-colonels. The _hauts-officiers_, or superior officers in distinct corps, were majors, aid-majors, captains, lieutenants, sub-lieutenants, and ensigns.

HAYE, _Fr._ a military disposition in which soldiers stood aside one another on a straight line. _Se mettre en haie_, is to stand _rank entire_. _Faire un double haie_, to stand _two deep_. _Border la haie_, is a disposition to which infantry has recourse when attacked by cavalry. See BORDER LA HAYE.

HAZAREE, an East Indian term signifying a commander of armed men.

HEAD, in gunnery, the fore part of the cheeks of a gun or howitz carriage.

HEAD _of a work_, in fortification, is the front next to the enemy, and farthest from the place; as the front of a horn-work is the distance between the flanked angles of the demi-bastions: the head of a double tenaille is the salient angle in the centre, and the two other sides which form the re-entering angles. See FORT.

HEAD _of an army, or body of men_, is the front, whether drawn up in lines, or on a march.

HEAD _of a double tenaille_, the salient angle in the centre, and the two other sides which form the re-entering angle.

HEAD-_piece_, armor for the head; an helmet, such as the light dragoons wear.

HEAD-_of a camp_, the ground before which the army is drawn up.

HEAD-QUARTERS, the place where the officer commanding an army or independent body of troops takes up his residence.

HEADSTALL, that part of the bridle which goes over the horse’s head.

HEAUME, _Fr._ A word derived from the German, which formerly signified _casque_, or helmet. The _heaume_ has been sometimes called among the French _salade_, _armet_, and _celate_ from the Latin word which means engraved, on account of the different figures which were represented upon it. The _heaume_ covered the whole of the face, except the eyes, which were protected by small iron bars laid cross-ways.

The heaume was not only worn by the chevaliers or knights when they went to war, but also at tilts and tournaments. It serves as an ornament or helmet in coats of arms and armorial bearings. Various appellations have been given to this piece of armor, such as _habillement de tête_, covering for the head, casque, helmet; and under Francis I. it was distinguished by the name of _armet_. It does not resemble the _morion_, the _salade_, or headpiece, the _pot_, or _bourgignote_, burganet, which were worn only in the infantry. The _heaume_, as we have observed above, covered the face. There was an opening opposite to the eyes which was guarded by small iron bars, or latice-work, and was a kind of visier. The _heaume_, or helmet, is still preserved in heraldry, and is a distinguishing mark of nobility. In tournaments, the helmet was presented as a prize of honor to the most active champion, because it was the principal piece of defensive armor; but a sword was given to the assailants, as that was an offensive weapon.

HEBDOMADIER, _Fr._ The person whose week it is to be on duty.

HELEPOLIS, in the ancient art of war, a machine for battering down the walls of a place besieged. The invention of it is ascribed to Demetrius the Poliorcetes. Diodorus Siculus says, that each side of the helepolis was 450 cubits broad, and 90 in height; that it had 9 stages or floors, and was carried on four strong solid wheels, 8 cubits in diameter; that it was armed with huge battering rams, and had 2 roofs capable of supporting them; that in the lower stages there were different sorts of engines for casting stones; and in the middle, they had large catapulta’s for lancing arrows.

HELICOMETRY, an art which teaches how to draw or measure spiral lines upon a plane, and shew their respective properties.

HELIOID _parabola_, is a curve arising from the supposition of the axis of the Apollonian parabola, being bent into the periphery of a circle, and is then a line passing through the extremities of the ordinates, which converge toward the centre of the circle.

HELIOSCOPE, a prospect glass to view the sun. The glass is colored in order to weaken the radiance of light.

HELIX, a spiral line.

HELM, or HELMET, an ancient defensive armor worn both in war and tournaments. It covered both the head and face, only leaving an aperture in the front, secured by bars, which was called the visor. The Carians first invented the boss of shields and the crest of helmets. In remembrance of this, a small shield and a crest were always buried with them.

HELMET-CAP, HELMET-HAT, a cap, or hat, the crown of which is shaped like the dragoon helmet.

HELVE, or HAFT, the wooden handle of a hatchet, hammer, or pick-axe.

_To_ HEM _in_, to surround.

HEMERODROMES, _Fr._ a French term taken from the Greek, signifying sentries or guards, which were employed among the ancients to protect and watch over fortified towns and places. As soon as the gates were opened they went out, and continued to patrole round the skirts of the town during the whole of the day. Frequently, indeed they advanced considerably into the country, in order to discover whether any hostile body of men was approaching in order to surprize the garrison.

HENDECAGON, a figure that has 11 sides and as many angles, each capable of a regular bastion.

HINDOO, or HINDU, the name by which the natives of Hindustan distinguish themselves from the inhabitants of other countries.

HEPTAGON, a figure consisting of seven sides and as many angles. If the sides be all equal, it is called a _regular heptagon_.

HEPTAGONAL _numbers_, are a sort of polygonal numbers, wherein the difference of the terms of the corresponding arithmetical progression is = 5. One of the properties of these numbers is, that if they be multiplied by 40, and 9 be added to the product, the sum is a square number.

HEPTARCHY, a government which consisted of 7 kings or sovereign princes. Such was the government under which England was ruled by the Saxon kings.

HERALD, an officer at arms, whose duty is to declare war, to proclaim peace, or to be employed in martial messages. The heralds in England are judges and examiners of that ridiculous jargon called heraldry, or coats of arms; they marshal all solemnities at the coronations, and funerals of their princes, &c. The origin of heralds is extremely ancient. It is reported that the Greek herald, Stentor, possessed such a powerful voice that it exceeded the united clamor of fifty men.

There are three heralds called kings at arms in England, each bearing a name peculiar to himself, and six heralds. The first king at arms is that of Garter, created by Henry V., that of Clarencieux, created by Edward IV. and that of Norroy, so called from the exercise of his functions north of the river Trent.

The heralds extraordinary are those of Windsor and Chester, created by Edward III., those of Somerset by Henry VIII. and those of York and Lancaster, created by the children of Edward III. They are pageants and sinecures.

HERALDS _College_, a corporation in England which consists of kings at arms, heralds, and pursuivants, in which the nonsense of heraldry is recorded.

HERAUT, _Fr._ herald. During the old monarchy of France there were thirty heralds each distinguished by the name of some particular province. The first of these who was king at arms, bore the title of _Montjoy St. Denis_: he had the privilege of wearing a royal coronet over the fleur de luce. On solemn occasions the king and the heralds at arms appeared in their coats of arms made of violet colored crimson velvet, with three golden fleurs de luces before and behind, and as many on each sleeve where the name of the province stood, to which the herald belonged. They wore a black velvet cap ornamented with golden strings, and half boots, when they appeared on peaceable occasions, with whole boots on warlike or martial ones. In solemn funerals they had a long robe of black velvet. The only difference between the king at arms and the heralds with respect to dress, consisted in the richness of the embroidery, that of the former being more expensive. The coats of arms which were peculiar to the heralds were called _Plaques_, those of the kings at arms were distinguished by the name of _Tunics_. They carried a stick called _Caduceus_ (such as Mercury is represented to have borne in ancient mythology.) But this stick was not ornamented by a crown with fleurs de luce, it was only covered with crimson velvet, having a few fleurs de luce scattered here and there.

There was likewise a herald, whose particular functions were to carry the king’s orders. He was entitled to a coat of arms upon violet colored velvet, interspersed with fleurs de luce and gold embroidered flammes or pendants, together with the arms and collars both before and behind. He likewise wore the cross belonging to the order which was attached to a black silk cord borne cross-ways.

The author of the Dictionnaire Militaire derives the French term _Heraut_ from the German _Hérald_, which signifies a man at arms, _un Gendarme_. Verstegan derives it from the Saxon. Other French writers derive it from an old Gallic word _harou_, or _hara_, which was used as a challenge, a notification of fresh hostilities, a ban or general assembling of the people, a loud and public proclamation of battles fought and victories obtained; on which account heralds, according to Ducange, were formerly called _Clarigarvis_ as well as _Heraldus_.

HERCOTECTONIQUE, _Fr._ a term in fortification signifying that branch of Military architecture which specifically points out the best means of defence and the surest method of providing stores. This word is derived from the Greek.

HEREFARE, an old term from the Saxon, signifying the same as warfare.

HEREGELD, a term derived from the Saxon, signifying a tax which was formerly levied for maintaining an army.

HERESLITA, HERESILIA, a term derived from the Saxon, signifying a soldier who abandons his colors, or leaves the army without leave.

HERETEQ, HERETOQ, HERTZOG, a term derived from the Saxon, signifying the leader of an army, a Duke, the same as _dux_ in the Latin.

HERETUM, a court in which the guards or military retinue that usually attended the old British nobility and bishops were accustomed to parade or draw up.

HERISSON, _Fr._ a turnpike which is made of one stout beam that is fenced by a quantity of iron spikes, and which is fixed upon a pivot, in the manner that turnstiles are, so that it can turn in every direction.

HERISSON, (_foudroyant_, _Fr._) a sort of artificial firework which has several sharp points attached to it on the outside, and is filled with inflammable composition within. It is frequently used in breaches and retrenchments.

HERGATE, a term derived from the Saxon, signifying a tribute which was paid in ancient times to the lord of the soil, to enable him to carry on a war.

HERO. This name was given by the ancients to those men who became illustrious in war, and who were stiled Demi-Gods, from a general notion, that their actions entitled them to a place in heaven immediately after their decease.

The heroes of antiquity were divided into two classes, the one of mortal genealogy, the other of heavenly descent, being the offspring of some god or goddess who had connexion with the human species.

Modern authors make a distinction between a hero and a great man; the former appellation being given to one who distinguishes himself by feats of hardihood in military enterprize, and the latter to a person eminent for his virtues and extraordinary talents in civil life.

HEROINE, a term generally applied to women who have given exemplary proofs of courage and virtue.

HERRISON. See HERISSON.

HERSE, in fortification, a grated door formed by strong pieces of wood, jointed cross-ways like a lattice or harrow, and stuck full of iron spikes. It is usually hung by a rope and fastened to a molinett, which is cut in case of a surprise, or when the first gate is forced by surprise or with a petard, to the end that it may fall and stop the passage of a gate or other entrance of a fortress.

These herses are also often laid in the roads, with the points upwards instead of the chevaux-de-frize, to incommode the march of both horse and foot. Common harrows are sometimes made use of in cases of emergency, with their points upwards.

HERSILLON, a strong beam, whose sides are stuck full of spikes, which is thrown across the breach made by an enemy to render it impassable.

HESSIAN, a substitute, a deputy, one employed to do base or dirty work for another.

HESSIANS, troops belonging to the country of Hesse-Cassel in Germany. They have been frequently hired by Great Britain, particularly in the war of American independence, when they were sold at 40_l._ sterling a head; nine pounds of which was to be repaid if they returned alive. Hesse has been since made subject to France, forming part of the kingdom of Westphalia.

HETMAN, _Fr._ sometimes called Atteman, a word derived from the German, which signifies the _head-man_, the chief of a troop. The chief general or grand general in Poland is called _Hetman Wielki_, and the second general _Hetman Polny_.

The chief or general of the Cossacks is likewise invested with this title by the sovereigns of Russia.

HEURTEQUINS, _Fr._ two pieces of iron resembling a knocker, which are placed over the trunnions, or axis of a cannon.

HEXAEDRON, (_Hexaedre_, _Fr._) a solid geometrical figure, consisting of six equal sides.

HEXAGON, a figure of 6 sides and as many angles, capable of being fortified with 6 bastions. If the sides and angles be equal, it is called a regular hexagon. The side of a regular hexagon inscribed in a circle, is equal to the radius of that circle; hence a regular hexagon is inscribed in a circle, by setting the radius of 6 times upon the periphery: as 1 to 1.672, so is the square of the side of any regular hexagon to the area therefore, nearly.

_Tanned_ HIDES, are always carried along with an army, especially in the laboratory’s stores, to protect powder or shells from rain; they are also used in batteries and in laboratories.

HIERARCHY, church government.

HIEROGLYPHICKS, (_hieroglyphes_, _Fr._) certain mysterious characters of creatures or letters used among the Ægyptians, by which they explained to one another the principles of their religion and their maxims of philosophy, without divulging them to strangers. Arbitrary signs which represent things: the signs used in almanacs for the planets and other phenomena are hieroglyphicks.

HIGHLANDER, any person from a mountainous country.

HIGHLANDERS, the people of the north of Scotland, who wear a dress peculiar to themselves.

HILT, the handle of a sword.

HINGES, are two iron bands, with a joint, nailed to the doors or lockers of gun carriages to fasten them and move them backwards and forwards.

HINGUET, _Fr._ See GINGUET.

HIPPODROME, _Fr._ a French term derived from the Greek, signifying a spot where horses used to run, properly speaking a race-ground. The Hippodrome or course at Constantinople was much celebrated in ancient days. The spot still exists under that name.

HIRCARRAH, or HIRCARRA, an Indian term for a messenger, guide, footman, or spy.

HISTORY, a narration or description of the several transactions, or events of a state, king, or private person, in the order in which they happened.

_Military_ History, a narrative of military transactions, campaigns, battles, sieges, marches, &c. of an army: likewise a relation of the heroic actions of great generals, &c.

HIVERNER, _Fr._ a sea phrase among the French signifying to winter.

HOCHEBOS, _Fr._ certain soldiers among the ancients, who were so called from their brandishing the pike. This word has likewise been applied to the pike itself.

HOGSHEADS, filled with earth, sand, &c. are sometimes used in lieu of gabions, to cover men.

HOLD. See FASTNESSES.

_To_ HOLD _out_, to maintain any place, ground, &c. resolutely against an enemy.

HOLLOW _square_, the form in which a body of foot is drawn up, with a vacant space in the middle for the colors, drums, baggage, &c. See SQUARE.