Chapter D: Caldwell, (2)

ADVANCED signifies some part of an army in front of the rest, as in _advanced guards_, which always precede the line of march or operations of a body of troops; again, as when a battalion, or guns of a second line are brought up in front and before the first line. This term also applies to the promotions of officers and soldiers.

{_Fossé_} See FORTIFICATION.
ADVANCED {_Ditch_}
{_Guard._ See GUARD.

ADVANCEMENT, in a military sense, signifies honor, promotion, or preferment, in the army, regiment or company.

ADVANTAGE _Ground_, a ground that gives superiority, or an opportunity of annoyance or resistance.

ADVICE-_Boat_, a vessel employed for intelligence.

ADVOCATE _General_. See JUDGE _Martial_.

ÆNEATORES, in military antiquity, the musicians in an army; including those who sounded the trumpets, horns, _litui_, _buccincæ_, &c.

AFFAIR, in the military acceptation of the word, means any slight action or engagement.

AFFAIR _of Honor_, a duel.

AFFAMER, _une Place_, _Fr._ to besiege a place so closely as to starve the garrison and inhabitants. See BLOCKADE.

AFFIDAVIT, in military law, signifies an oath taken before some person who is properly authorised to administer it; as first, when a soldier is inlisted, when it is stiled an attestation; secondly, by all officers appointed on a court-martial; thirdly, by the commissaries, or muster-masters.

AFFRONTER, _Fr._ to encounter or attack boldly.

AFFUT, the French name for a gun-carriage, and for which we have no appropriate name; the only distinction from all other carriages is, that it belongs to a gun. See CARRIAGE.

AGA, in the Turkish army, is the same as a general with us.

AGE. A young man must be 14 years old before he can become an officer in the English army, or be entered as a cadet at Woolwich, in the English academy.

Persons are enlisted for soldiers from 17 to 45. After the latter age, every inhabitant is exempted from serving in the British militia.

By a late regulation in England, growing boys may be enlisted under 16 years of age. These recruits are chiefly intended for the East-India service.

In the United States 18 to 45 is the legal age for militia and regulars.

The Romans were obliged to enter themselves in the army at the age of 17 years; at 45 they might demand their dismission. Amongst the Lombards, the age of entry was between 18 and 19; among the Saxons, at 13.

AGEMA, in the ancient military art, a kind of soldiery chiefly in the Macedonian armies. The word is Greek, and literally denotes vehemence, to express the strength and eagerness of this corps. Some authors will have _agema_ to denote a certain number of picked men, answering to a legion among the Romans.

AGENCY, a certain proportion of money which is ordered to be subtracted from the pay and allowances of the British army, for transacting the business of the several regiments composing it.

AGENT, a person in the civil department of the British army, between the paymaster-general and the paymaster of the regiment, through whom every regimental concern of a pecuniary nature must be transacted. He gives security to government for all monies which pass through his hands in the capacity of an Agent--and by the Mutiny Act, it was provided, That if an Agent shall withhold the Pay of Officers or Soldiers for the Space of one Month, he should be dismissed from his Office and forfeit 100_l._

The army agency has since been incorporated with the British war office, and forms a special department.

_Military_ AGENT in the United States is a civil officer whose duty is the transporting of clothing and other articles; and the expenditures for other services attached to the military department; they act under direct orders from the War Department.

AGGER, in ancient military writers, denotes the middle part of a military road, raised into a ridge, with a gentle slope on each side, to make a drain for the water, and keep the way dry.

AGGER is also used for the whole road, or military way. Where highways were to be made in low grounds, as between two hills, the Romans used to raise them above the adjacent land, so as to make them of a level with the hills. These banks they called _aggeres_. Bergier mentions several in the _Gallia Belgica_, which were thus raised 10, 15, or 20 feet above ground, and 5 or 6 leagues long. They are sometimes called _aggeres calceati_, or causeways.

AGGER, also, denotes a work of fortification, used both for the defence and the attack of towns, camps, &c. in which sense _agger_ is the same with what was otherwise called _vallum_, and in later times, _agestum_: and among the moderns, _lines_; sometimes, _cavaliers_, _terrasses_, &c.

The _agger_ was usually a bank, or elevation of earth, or other matter, bound and supported with timber; having sometimes turrets on the top, wherein the workmen, engineers, and soldiery, were placed. It had also a ditch, which served as its chief defence. The height of the _agger_ was frequently equal to that of the wall of the place. Cæsar tells us of one he made, which was 30 feet high, and 330 feet broad. Besides the use of _aggers_ before towns, they generally used to fortify their camps with them; for want of which precaution, divers armies have been surprised and ruined.

There were vast _aggers_ made in towns and places on the sea-side, fortified with towers, castles, &c. Those made by Cæsar and Pompey, at Brundusium, are famous. Sometimes _aggers_ were even built across arms of the sea, lakes, and morasses; as was done by Alexander before Tyre, and by M. Antony and Cassius.

The wall of Severus, in the north of England, may be considered as a grand _agger_, to which belong several lesser ones. Besides, the principal _agger_ or _vallum_, on the brink of the ditch, Mr. Horsley describes another on the south side of the former, about 5 paces distant from it, which he calls the south _agger_; and another larger one, on the north side of the ditch, called the north _agger_. This latter he conjectures to have served as a military way; the former, probably, was made for the inner defence, in case the enemy should beat them from any part of the principal _vallum_, or to protect the soldiers against any sudden attack from the provincial Britons.

AGGER _Tarquinii_, was a famous fence built by Tarquinius Superbus, on the east side of Rome, to stop the incursions of the Latins, and other enemies, whereby the city might be invested.

AGGER is also used for the earth dug out of a ditch or trench, and thrown up on the brink of it: in which sense, the Chevalier Folard thinks the word to be understood, when used in the plural number, since we can hardly suppose they would raise a number of cavaliers, or terrasses.

AGGER is also used for a bank or wall, erected against the sea, or some great river, to confine or keep it within bounds; in which sense, _agger_ amounts to the same with what the ancients called _tumulus_ and _moles_; the Dutch, _dyke_; and we, _dam_, _sea-wall_; the Asiatics call them _bunds_, &c.

AGIADES, in the Turkish armies, are a kind of pioneers, or rather field engineers, employed in fortifying the camp, &c.

AGUERRI, _Fr._ an officer or soldier experienced in war; a veteran.

AIDE-DE-CAMP, an officer appointed to attend a general officer, in the field, in winter-quarters, and in garrison; he receives and carries the orders, as occasion requires. He is taken from the line, and all aids-de-camp have extra pay allowed for their duty. This employment is of greater importance than has been generally believed: it has been, however, too often entrusted to young officers of little experience, and of as little capacity; but in the French service they bestow great attention on this article. Marshal de Puysegur mentions the loss of a battle through the incapacity of an aide-de-camp. On the English establishment, generals, being field marshals, have _four_, lieutenant-generals _two_, and major-generals and brigadier-generals _one_.

In the United States the number is established by law; though on service the number must necessarily be equal to the exigency, or the various points to which orders must be sent. See _American Mil. Lib._ Article STAFF.

AIDE _du Parc des Vivres_, _Fr._ an officer in France, acting immediately under the commissary of stores and provisions.

AID-MAJOR. See ADJUTANT.

AIGREMORE, a term used by the artificers in the laboratory, to express the charcoal in a state fitted for the making of powder.

AIGUILLE, an instrument used by engineers to pierce a rock for the lodgement of powder, as in a mine; or to mine a rock, so as to excavate and make roads.

AILE, _Fr._ a wing or flank of an army or fortification.

AIM, the act of bringing the musquet, piece of ordnance, or any other missive weapon, to its proper line of direction with the object intended to be struck.

AIM FRONTLET, a piece of wood hollowed out to fit the muzzle of a gun, to make it of an equal height with the breech, formerly made use of by the gunners, to level and direct their pieces. It is not used at present.

AIR-GUN, a pneumatic machine for exploding bullets, &c. with great violence.

The common air-gun is made of brass, and has two barrels: the inside barrel is of a small bore, from whence the bullets are exploded; and a large barrel on the outside of it. There is likewise a syringe fixed in the stock of the gun by which the air is injected into the cavity between the two barrels through a valve. The ball is put down into its place in the small barrel with the rammer, as in any other gun. Another valve, being opened by the trigger, permits the air to come behind the bullet, so as to drive it out with great force. If this valve be opened and shut suddenly, one charge of condensed air may be sufficient for several discharges of bullets; but if the whole air be discharged on one single bullet, it will drive it out with uncommon force. This discharge is effected by means of a lock placed here, as usual in other guns; for the trigger being pulled, the cock will go down and drive the lever, which will open the valve, and let in the air upon the bullet: but as the expansive power of the condensed air diminishes at each discharge, its force is not determined with sufficient precision for the purposes of war. Hence it has been long out of use among military men.

In the air-gun, and all other cases where the air is required to be condensed to a very great degree, it will be necessary to have the syringe of a small bore, viz. not exceeding half an inch in diameter; because the pressure against every square inch is about 15 pounds, and therefore against every circular inch about 12 pounds. If therefore the syringe be one inch in diameter, when the atmosphere is injected, there will be a resistance of 12 pounds against the piston; and when 10 are injected, there will be a force of 120 pounds to be overcome; whereas 10 atmospheres act against the circular half-inch piston (whose area is only ¹⁄₄ part so large) with only a force equal to 30 pounds; or 40 atmospheres may be injected with such a syringe, as well as 10 with the other. In short, the facility of working will be inversely as the squares of the diameter of the syringe.

AIR-SHAFTS, in mining. See MINING.

ALARM, is a sudden apprehension upon some report, which makes men run to their arms to stand upon their guard; it implies either the apprehension of being suddenly attacked, or the notice given of such an attack being actually made; generally signified by the firing of a cannon, or rocket, the beat of a drum, &c.

ALARM-_Post_, in the field, is the ground appointed by the quarter-master general for each regiment to march to, in case of an alarm.

ALARM-_Post_, in a garrison, is the place allotted by the governor for the troops to draw up in, on any sudden alarm.

_False_-ALARMS, are stratagems of war, frequently made use of to harrass an enemy, by keeping them perpetually under arms. They are often conveyed by false reports, occasioned by a fearful or negligent sentinel. A vigilant officer will sometimes make a false alarm, to try if his guards are strict upon duty.

ALARM _Bell_, the bell rung upon any sudden emergency, as a fire, mutiny, approach of an enemy, or the like, called by the French, Tocsin.

ALCANTARA, knights of a Spanish military order, who gained a great name during the wars with the Moors.

ALERT, originally derived from the French word _alerte_, which is formed of _a_ and _airte_. The French formerly said _airte_ for _air_; so that _alerte_ means something continually in the air, and always ready to be put in action. A general is said to be _alert_ when he is particularly vigilant.

_To be kept upon the alert_, is to be in continual apprehension of being surprised. _Alerte_, among the French, is an expression which is used to put soldiers upon their guard. It is likewise used by a post that may be attacked in the night, to give notice to the one that is destined to support it; and by a sentry to give warning when any part of the enemy is approaching. _We have had an alert_, is a military phrase.

ALGEBRA, a peculiar kind of arithmetic, in which every military man ought to be versed, but which is indispensibly necessary for officers in the ordnance department.

ALIEN, in law, implies a person born in a foreign country, in contradistinction to a natural born or naturalized person.

ALIGNEMENT, implies any thing strait--For instance, the _alignement_ of a battalion means the situation of a body of men when drawn up in line. The _alignement_ of a camp signifies the relative position of the tents, &c. so as to form a strait line, from given points.

ALLAY. See ALLOY.

ALLÆ, in the ancient military art, the two wings or extremes of an army ranged in order of battle.

ALLEGIANCE, in law, implies the obedience which is due to the laws.

_Oath of_ ALLEGIANCE, is that taken by an alien, by which he adopts America and renounces the authority of a foreign government. It is also applied to the oath taken by officers and soldiers in pledge of their fidelity to the state.

ALLEGIANT, loyal, faithful to the laws.

ALLEZER, to cleanse the mouth of a cannon or other piece of ordnance, and to increase the bore, so as to produce its determined calibre.

ALLEZOIR, a frame of timber firmly suspended in the air with strong cordage, on which is placed a piece of ordnance with the muzzle downwards. In this situation the bore is rounded and enlarged by means of an instrument which has a very sharp and strong edge made to traverse the bore by the force of machinery or horses, and in an horizontal direction.

ALLEZURES, the metal taken from the cannon by boring.

ALLIAGE, a term used by the French to denote the composition of metals used for the fabrication of cannon and mortars, &c.

ALLIANCE, in a military sense, signifies a treaty entered into by sovereign states, for their mutual safety and defence. In this sense alliances may be divided into such as are offensive, where the contracting parties oblige themselves jointly to attack some other power; and into such as are defensive, whereby the contracting powers bind themselves to stand by, and defend one another, in case of being attacked by any other power.

Alliances are variously distinguished, according to their object, the parties in them, &c. Hence we read of equal, unequal, triple, quadruple, grand, offensive, defensive _alliances_, &c.

ALLODIAL, independent; not feudal. The Allodii of the Romans were bodies of men embodied on any emergency, in a manner similar to our volunteer associations.

ALLOGNE, the cordage used with floating bridges, by which they are guided from one side of a river to the other.

ALLONGE, _Fr._ a pass or thrust with a rapier or small sword; also a long rein used in the exercising of horses.

ALLOY, is the mixture of metals that enter into the composition of the metal proper for cannon and mortars.

ALLY, in a military sense, implies any nation united to another--under a treaty, either offensive or defensive, or both.

ALMADIE, a kind of military canoe, or small vessel, about 24 feet long, made of the bark of a tree, and used by the negroes of Africa.

ALMADIE, is also the name of a long-boat used at Calcutta, often 80 to 100 feet long, and generally six or seven broad, they row from ten to thirty oars.

ALTIMETRY, the taking or measuring altitude, or heights.

ALTITUDE, height, or distance from the ground, measured upwards, and may be both accessible, and inaccessible.

ALTITUDE _of a figure_, is the distance of its vertex from its base, or the length of a perpendicular let fall from the vertex to the base. See _American Mil. Lib._ Art. FIELD FORTIFICATION.

ALTITUDE _of a shot or shell_, is the perpendicular height of the vertex above the horizon. See GUNNERY and PROJECTILES.

ALTITUDE, _in optics_, is usually considered as the angle subtended between a line drawn through the eye, parallel to the horizon, and a visual ray emitted from an object to the eye.

ALTITUDE, _in cosmography_, is the perpendicular height of an object, or its distance from the horizon upwards.

ALTITUDES are divided into _accessible_ and _inaccessible_.

_Accessible_ ALTITUDE _of an object_, is that whose base you can have access to, i. e. measure the nearest distance between your station and the foot of the object on the ground.

_Inaccessible_ ALTITUDE _of an object_, is that when the foot or bottom of it cannot be approached, by reason of some impediment; such as water, or the like. The instruments chiefly used in measuring of _altitudes_, are the quadrant, theodolite, geometric quadrant, cross, or line of shadows, &c.

ALTITUDE _of the eye_, in perspective, is a right line let fall from the eye, perpendicular to the geometrical plane.

ALTITUDE _of motion_, a term used by some writers, to express the measure of any motion, computed according to the line of direction of the moving force.

AMAZON, one of those women who are fabled to have composed a nation of themselves, exclusive of males, and to have derived their name from their cutting off one of their breasts, that it might not hinder or impede the exercise of their arms. This term has often by modern writers been used to signify a bold daring woman, whom the delicacy of her sex does not hinder from engaging in the most hazardous attempts. The recent and former wars with France have furnished several instances of females who have undergone the fatigue of a campaign with alacrity, and run the hazards of a battle with the greatest intrepidity. Several cases occurred also in the American Revolution.

AMBIT, the compass or circuit of any work or place, as of a fortification or encampment, &c.

AMBITION, in a military sense, signifies a desire of greater posts, or honors. Every person in the army or navy, ought to have a spirit of emulation to arrive at the very summit of the profession by his personal merit.

AMBUSCADE, in military affairs, implies a body of men posted in some secret or concealed place, ’till they find an opportunity of falling upon the enemy by surprise; or, it is rather a snare set for the enemy, either to surprise him when marching without precaution; or by posting your force advantageously, and drawing him on by different stratagems, to attack him with superior means. An ambuscade is easily carried into execution in woods, buildings, and hollow places; but requires a more fertile imagination, and greater trouble, in a level country.

AMBUSH, a place of concealment for soldiers to surprise an enemy, by falling suddenly upon him.

AME, a French term, similar in its import to the word _chamber_, as applied to cannon, &c.

AMENDE _honorable_, in the old armies of France, signified an apology for some injury done to another, or satisfaction given for an offence committed against the rules of honor or military etiquette; and was also applied to an infamous kind of punishment inflicted upon traitors, parricides, or sacrilegious persons, in the following manner: the offender being delivered into the hands of the hangman, his shirt stripped off, a rope put about his neck, and a taper in his hand; then he was led into court, where he begged pardon of God, the court, and his country. Sometimes the punishment ended there; but sometimes it was only a prelude to death, or banishment to the gallies. It prevails yet in some parts of Europe.

AMMUNITION, implies all sorts of powder and ball, shells, bullets, cartridges, grape-shot, tin, and case-shot; carcasses, granades, &c.

AMMUNITION, or _gun-powder_, may be prohibited to be exported.

AMMUNITION, _for small arms_, in the British service, is generally packed in half barrels, each containing 1000 musket, or 1500 carbine cartridges. An ammunition waggon will carry 20 of these barrels, and an ammunition cart 12 of them: their weight nearly 1 cwt. each.

The cartouch boxes of the infantry are made of so many different shapes and sizes, that it is impossible to say exactly what ammunition they will contain; but most of them can carry 60 rounds. See the word _Cartridges_; and for artillery ammunition, see the word _Artillery_, for the field, for the siege, and the defence of a fortified place.

The French pack all their ammunition in waggons without either boxes or barrels, by means of partitions of wood. Their 12 Pr. and 8 Pr. waggons will contain each 14,000 musket cartridges, but their 4 Pr. waggons will contain only 12,000 each.

AMMUNITION _bread_, such as is contracted for by government, and served in camp, garrison, and barracks.

AMMUNITION _shoes_, _stockings_, _shirts_, _stacks_, &c. such of those articles as are served out to the private soldiers, by government. See HALF-MOUNTINGS.

AMMUNITION _waggon_, is generally a four-wheel carriage with shafts; the sides are railed in with staves and raves, and lined with wicker-work, so as to carry bread and all sorts of tools. It is drawn by four horses, and loaded with 1200 pound weight. See WAGGON.

AMMUNITION-_cart_, a two-wheel carriage with shafts; the sides of which, as well as the fore and hind parts, are inclosed with boards instead of wicker-work. See CAISSON.

AMMUZETTE. See the word GUNS.

AMNESTY, in a military or political sense, is an act by which two belligerent powers at variance promise to forget and bury in oblivion all that is past.

AMNESTY is either general and unlimited, or particular and restrained, though most commonly universal, without conditions or exceptions: such as that which passed in Germany at the peace of Osnaburg in the year 1648, and between the United States and Great Britain, in 1783.

AMNESTY, in a more limited sense, denotes a pardon to persons rebellious, usually with some exceptions; such as was granted by Charles II. at his restoration.

AMNISTIE, _Fr._ See AMNESTY.

AMORCE, an old military word for fine-grained powder, such as is sometimes used for the priming of great guns, mortars or howitzers; as also for small-arms, on account of its rapid inflammation. A port fire, or quick match.

AMPLITUDE _of the range of a projectile_. See PROJECTILE.

AMPOULETTE, an old military term used by the French to express the stock of a musket, &c.

AMUSETTE, a species of offensive weapon which was invented by the celebrated Marshal Saxe. It is fired off in the same manner as a musquet, but is mounted nearly like a cannon. It has been found of considerable use during the war of the French revolution, especially among the French, who armed some of their horse artillery with it, and found it superior to the one adopted by the Prussians from Marshal Saxe.

ANABASII, in antiquity, were expeditious couriers, who carried dispatches of great importance, in the Roman wars.

ANACLETICUM, in the ancient art of war, a particular blast of the trumpet, whereby the fearful and flying soldiers were rallied and recalled to the combat.

ANCIENT, a term, used formerly to express the grand ensign or standard of an army.

ANCILE, in antiquity, a kind of shield, which fell, as was pretended, from heaven, in the reign of Numa Pompilius; at which time, likewise, a voice was heard, declaring, that Rome would be mistress of the world as long as she should preserve this holy buckler.

Authors are much divided about its shape: however, it was kept with great care in the temple of Mars, under the direction of twelve priests; and lest any should attempt to steal it, eleven others were made so like it, as not to be distinguished from the sacred one. These _Ancilia_ were carried in procession every year round the city of Rome.

ANDABATÆ, in military antiquity, a kind of gladiators, who fought hoodwinked; having a sort of helmet that covered the eyes and face. They fought mounted on horse-back, or on chariots.

_St._ ANDREW, _or the Thistle_, a nominally military order of knighthood in Scotland. The occasion of instituting this order is variously related.

In 819, Achaius, king of Scotland, having formed a league, offensive and defensive, with Charlemagne, against all other princes, found himself thereby so strong, that he took for his device the _Thistle_ and the _Rue_, which he composed into a collar of his order, and for his motto, _Pour ma defense_; intimating thereby, that he feared not the powers of foreign princes, seeing he leaned on the succour and alliance of the French. And though from hence may be inferred, that these two plants, the Thistle and the Rue, were the united symbols of one order of knighthood, yet Menenius divides them into two; making one whose badge was the thistle, whence the knights were so called; and the motto, _Nemo me impune lacessit_; another vulgarly called _Sertum rutæ_, or the garland of rue; the collar of which was composed of two branches or sprigs thereof, or else of several of its leaves: at both these collars hung one and the same jewel, to wit, the figure of St Andrew, bearing before him the cross of his martyrdom.

But though the thistle has been acknowleged for the badge and symbol of the kingdom of Scotland, even from the reign of Achaius, as the rose was of England, and the lily of France, the pomegranate of Spain, &c.; yet there are some who refer the order of the thistle to later times, in the reign of Charles VII. of France; when the league of amity was renewed between that kingdom and Scotland, by which the former received great succour from the latter, at a period of extraordinary distress. Others again place the foundation still later, even as low as the year 1500; but without any degree of certainty.

The chief and principal ensign of this order is a gold collar, composed of thistles, interlinked with annulets of gold, having pendent thereto the image of St Andrew with his cross, and this motto, _Nemo me impune lacessit_.

_Knights of St._ ANDREW, is also a nominal military order instituted by Peter III. of Muscovy, in 1698; the badge of which is a golden medal, on one side whereof is represented St. Andrew’s cross; and on the other are these words, _Czar Pierre monarque de toute la Russie_. This medal, being fastened to a blue ribbon, is suspended from the right shoulder.

ANGARIA, in ancient military writers, means a guard of soldiers posted in any place for the security of it. Vide Vegetius, lib. i. c. 3. lib. ii. c. 19. lib. iii. c. 8.

ANGARIA, in civil law, implies a service by compulsion, as furnishing horses and carriages for conveying corn or other stores for the army.

ANGE, a term used by the French to express chain shot.

ANGEL _Shot_. See CHAIN-SHOT.

ANGLE, in geometry, is the inclination of two lines meeting one another in a point.

Sometimes angles are denoted by a single letter placed at the point of intersection; but when several lines meet at the same point, each particular angle is denoted by three letters, whereof the middle letter shews the angular point, and the other two letters the lines which form that angle.

The measure of an angle is the arch of a circle, described on the angular point, intercepted between the two lines which form the angle, and as many degrees, &c. as are contained in that arch, so many degrees, &c. the angle is said to consist of.

ANGLES are either _right_, _acute_, or _obtuse_.

_A Right_ ANGLE, is that whose two legs are perpendicular to each other; and consequently the arch intercepted between them is exactly 90° or the quarter of a circle.

_An Acute_ ANGLE, is that which is less than a right angle, or 90°.

_An Obtuse_ ANGLE, is that which is greater than a right angle.

_Adjacent_ ANGLES, are such as have the same vertex, and one common side contained beyond the angular point. The sum of the adjacent angles is always equal to two right angles (13. _Eucl._ 1.) and therefore, if one of them be acute, the other will be obtuse; and the contrary: whence, if either of them be given, the other is also given, it being the complement of the former to 180°.

_Homologous_ ANGLES in similar figures are such as retain the same order, reckoning from the first in both figures.

_Vertical_ ANGLES, are the opposite angles made by two lines cutting or crossing each other. When two lines cut or cross each other, the vertical angles are equal (15 _Eucl._ 1.)

_Alternate_ ANGLES, are those cut or obtuse angles made by two lines cutting or crossing each other, and formed by a right line cutting or crossing two parallel lines. Alternate angles are always equal to each other (18. _Eucl._ 1.)

_A rectilineal or right lined_ ANGLE, is made by strait lines, to distinguish it from the spherical or curvilineal angle.

ANGLES _of contact_. Angles of contact may be considered as true angles, and should be compared with one another, though not with right lined angles as being infinitely smaller.

ANGLE _of elevation_, in gunnery, is that which the axis of the hollow cylinder, or barrel of the gun, makes with a horizontal line. See ELEVATION.

ANGLES _oblique_ are those which are greater than right angles.

_Spherical_ ANGLE, is an angle formed by the intersection of two great circles of the sphere. All spherical angles are measured by an arch of a great circle described on the vertex as a pole, and intercepted between the legs which form the angle.

ANGLE _lunular_ is an angle formed by the intersection of two curves, the one concave and the other convex.

_Mixed-line_ ANGLE, is that comprehended between a right line and a curved line.

_Curved-line_ ANGLE, is that intercepted between two curved lines meeting each other in one point, in the same plane.

ANGLE _of a semi-circle_ is that which the diameter of a circle makes with the circumference.

ANGLE _of Incidence_, is that which the line of direction of a ray of light, &c. makes at the point where it first touches the body it strikes against, with a line erected perpendicular to the surface of that body.

ANGLE _of interval_ between two places is that formed by two lines directed from the eye to those places.

ANGLE _of Reflection_, is the angle intercepted between the line of direction of a body rebounding, after it has struck against another body, and a perpendicular erected at the point of contact.

ANGLE _at the centre_, in fortification, is the angle formed at the middle of the polygon, by lines drawn from thence to the points of the two adjacent bastions.

ANGLE _of the curtain_, ANGLE _of the flank_, That which is made by, and contained between the curtain and the flank.

ANGLE _of the polygon_, that which is made by the meeting of the two sides of the polygon, or figure in the centre of the bastion. See FORTIFICATION.

ANGLE _of the triangle_, is half the angle of the polygon.

ANGLE _of the bastion_, or _Flanked_ ANGLE, That which is made by the two faces, being the utmost part of the bastion most exposed to the enemy’s batteries, frequently called the point of the bastion. See FORTIFICATION.

_Diminished_ ANGLE, only used by some engineers, especially the Dutch, is composed of the face of the bastion, and the exterior side of the polygon.

ANGLE _of the shoulder_, or ANGLE _of the épaule_, Is formed by one face, and one flank of the bastion. See FORTIFICATION.

ANGLE _of the tenaille_, ANGLE _rentrant_, Is made by two lines fichant, that is, the faces of the two bastions extended till they meet in an angle towards the curtain, and is that which always carries its point towards the out-works. See FORTIFICATION.

ANGLE _of the flank exterior_, is that which is before the centre of the curtain, formed by the prolongation of the faces of the bastion, or by both the fichant lines of defence, intersecting each other on planning a fortification.

ANGLE _of the flank interior_, is formed by the flanked line of defence and the curtain; being that point where the line of defence falls upon the curtain.

ANGLE _of the line of defence_, is that angle made by the flank, and the line of defence.

ANGLE _of the face_, is formed by the angle of the face and the line of defence produced till they intersect each other.

ANGLE _of the base interior_, is the half of the figure, which the interior polygon makes with the radius, when they join each other in the centre; intersecting the centre of the gorges of each bastion.

ANGLE _of the base exterior_, is an angle formed by lines drawn from the centre of the figure, to the angle of the exterior polygon, cutting the centre of the gorges of each bastion.

ANGLE _of the gorge_, is that angle formed by the prolongation of the curtains, intersecting each other, in the centre of the gorge, through which the capital line passes.

ANGLE _of the ditch_, is formed before the centre of the curtain, by the outward line of the ditch.

ANGLE _of the mole_, is that which is made before the curtain where it is intersected.

_Flanked_ ANGLE. See ANGLE _of the bastion_.

_Saliant_ ANGLE, ANGLE _sortant_, Is that angle which points outwards, or towards the country. Such is the angle of the counterscarp before the point of a bastion.

_Entering_ ANGLE, or ANGLE _rentrant_, An angle pointing inwards, as the saliant angle does outwards. Such is the angle of the counterscarp before the curtain.

ANGLE _of the counterscarp_, made by two sides of the counterscarp, meeting before the centre of the curtain.

ANGLE _at the circumference of a circle_, is an angle formed by two chords in the circumference of a circle.

ANGLE _of the circumference_, is the mixed angle formed by an arch, drawn from one gorge to another.

_Re-entering_ ANGLE. See _Entering_ ANGLE.

ANGLE _of the complement of the line of defence_, is the angle formed by the intersection of the two complements with each other.

ANGLES _of a battalion_, are made by the last men at the extremity of the ranks and files.

_Front_ ANGLES, the two last men of the front rank.

_Rear_ ANGLES, the two last men of the rear rank.

_Dead_ ANGLE, is a re-entering angle, consequently not defended.

ANGULAR, in a general sense, denotes something relating to angles, or that hath angles.

ANGON, in ancient military history, was a kind of dart of a moderate length, having an iron bearded head and cheeks; in use about the fifth century. This sort of javelin was much used by the French. The iron head of it resembles a fleur-de-lis; and it is the opinion of some writers, that the old arms of France were not fleurs-de-lis; but the iron point of the _angon_ or javelin of the ancient French.

_To_ ANIMATE, in a military sense, is to encourage, to incite, to add fresh impulse to any body of men who are advancing against an enemy, or to prevent them from shamefully abandoning their colours in critical situations. Soldiers may be encouraged and incited to gallant actions not only by words, but by the looks and gestures of the officers, particularly of their commanding one. It is by the latter alone, indeed, that any of these artificial means should be resorted to; for silence, steadiness, and calmness are the peculiar requisites in the characters of subordinate officers. Whatever their private feelings may be, a superior sense of duty should always prevent them from discovering the slightest symptom of perturbation. The best effects, however, may be sometimes produced by a sort of electrical shock which is communicated to the soldiery: as, when officers, being themselves animate and full of fire, give a sudden and unexpected utterance to their sentiments; make use of some particular expression by which the national ear is captivated, or by a happy waving of the hand, hat, or sword cause the most timid to become careless of danger, and keep up the enthusiasm of the bravest. Many battles, both in ancient and modern times, have taken a sudden turn from the most trivial circumstance of this nature.

The French are very susceptible of this species of animation. During the present war they have furnished several instances of the power of military animation. The success at Lodi, to which Bonaparte owes so much of his reputation, was the consequence of a bold and individual exertion, when he snatched the standard, and personally led the grenadiers across the bridge. A variety of instances might be enumerated wherein words and gestures have had the most happy result. As far back as the days of Cæsar there are examples that stand fresh upon record; and nothing proves more forcibly the influence which a great reputation has upon common minds, than the exclamation which Cæsar used when he was crossing a branch of the sea, between Brundusium and Dyrrachium. He embarked by night in the habit of a slave, and lay on the boards like an ordinary passenger. As they were to sail down the river Annius a violent storm arose, which quite overcame the art of the pilot, who gave orders to put back; but this, Cæsar would not permit, who discovering himself, and taking the astonished pilot by the hand, bade him boldly go on and fear nothing, _for_, cried he, _thou carried Cæsar and Cæsar’s fortune_. “_Cæsarem vebis fortunamque ejus._”

ANNALS, a species of military history, wherein events are related in the chronological order they happened. They differ from a perfect history, in being only a mere relation of what passes every year, as a journal is of what passes every day.

ANNUNCIADA, an order of military knighthood in Savoy, first instituted by Amadeus I. in the year 1409; their collar was of 15 links, interwoven one with another, and the motto _F. E. R. T._ signifying _fortitudo ejus Rhodum tenuit_. Amadeus VIII. changed the image of St. Maurice, patron of Savoy, which hung at the collar, for that of the Virgin Mary; and instead of the motto abovementioned, substituted the words of the angel’s salutation. Now extinct.

ANOLYMPIADES. See OLYMPIAD.

ANSE _des Pieces_, a French term for the handles of cannon. Those of brass have two--Those of iron seldom any--these handles serve to pass cords, handspikes, or levers, the more easily to move so heavy a body, and are made to represent dolphins, serpents, &c.

ANSPESADE. See LANCE CORPORAL.

ANTEMURAILLE, in the ancient military art, denoted what now the moderns generally call the outworks.

ANTESTATURE, in ancient fortification, signifies an intrenchment of pallisades or sacks of earth, thrown up in order to dispute the remainder of a piece of ground.

ANTHONY, or _Knights of St. Anthony_, a military order instituted by Albert, duke of Bavaria, Holland, and Zealand, when he designed to make war against the Turks in 1382. The knights wore a collar of gold made in the form of a hermit’s girdle, from which hung a stick like a crutch, with a little bell, as they are represented in St. Anthony’s pictures.

APPAREILLES, are those slopes that lead to the platform of the bastion. See FORTIFICATION.

APPAREILLEUR, _Fr._ an architect who superintends the workmen in the construction of fortifications, sluices, &c.

APPEAL, might formerly have been made, by the prosecutor or prisoner, from the sentence or jurisdiction of a regimental to a general court-martial.

APPEL, _Fr._ a roll call; a beat of drum for assembling; a challenge.

APPEL, in fencing, a smart beat with your blade on that of your antagonist on the contrary side to that you have engaged, generally accompanied with a stamp of the foot, and used for the purpose of procuring an opening.

APPOINTE. This word was applicable to French soldiers only, during the old monarchy of France, and meant a man who for his long service and extraordinary bravery received more than common pay. There were likewise instances in which officers were distinguished by being stiled _officiers appointés_.

The word _appointé_ was originally derived from it being said, that a soldier was appointed among those who were to do some singular act of courage, as by going upon a forlorn hope, &c.

APPOINTMENT, in a military sense, is the pay of the army; it likewise applies to warlike habiliments, accoutrements, &c.

APPREHEND, in a military sense, implies the seizing or confining of any person. According to the articles of war, every person who apprehends a deserter, and attests the fact duly before a magistrate, is entitled to receive a reward.

APPROACHES. All the works are generally so called that are carried on towards a place which is besieged; such as the first, second, and third parallels, the trenches, epaulements with and without trenches, redoubts, places of arms, saps, galleries, and lodgments. See these words more particularly under the head FORTIFICATION.

This is the most difficult part of a siege, and where most lives are lost. The ground is disputed inch by inch, and neither gained nor maintained without the loss of men. It is of the utmost importance to make your approaches with great caution, and to secure them as much as possible, that you may not throw away the lives of your soldiers. The besieged neglect nothing to hinder the approaches; the besiegers do every thing to carry them on; and on this depends the taking or defending of the place.

The trenches being carried to their glacis, you attack and make yourself master of their covered-way, establish a lodgment on the counterscarp, and effect a breach by the sap, or by mines with several chambers, which blow up their intrenchments and fougades, or small mines, if they have any.

You cover yourselves with gabions, fascines, barrels, or sacks; and if these are wanting, you sink a trench.

You open the counterscarp by saps to make yourself master of it; but, before you open it, you must mine the flanks that defend it. The best attack of the place is the face of the bastion, when by its regularity it permits regular approaches and attacks according to art. If the place be irregular, you must not observe regular approaches, but proceed according to the irregularity of it; observing to humor the ground, which permits you to attack it in such a manner at one place, as would be useless or dangerous at another; so that the engineer who directs the attack ought exactly to know the part he would attack, its proportions, its force and solidity, in the most geometrical manner.

APPROACHES, in a more confined sense, signify attacks.

_Counter_ APPROACHES, are such trenches as are carried on by the besieged, against those of the besiegers.

APPRENTI, _Fr._ Apprentice.

In France they had apprentices or soldiers among the artillery, who served for less pay than the regular artillery men, until they became perfect in their profession; when they were admitted to such vacancies as occurred in their respective branches. The system is changed.

APRON, in gunnery, a square plate of lead that covers the vent of a cannon, to keep the charge dry, and the vent clean and open.

APRONS--of lead for guns, according to _Deturbie_

_lbs._ _oz._
Large--1 foot long--10 in. wide-- 8 4
Small--6 inch long--4¹⁄₂ in. wide-- 1 12

Their dimensions are as follow, viz. for a 42, 32, and a 24 pounder, 15 inches by 13; for an 18, 12, and a 9 pounder, 12 inches by 10; for a 6, 5¹⁄₄, 3, and 1¹⁄₂ pounder, 10 inches by 8. They are tied fast by two strings of white marline, the length of which, for a 42 to a 12 pounder inclusive, is 18 feet, 9 feet each string; for a 9 to 1¹⁄₂ pounder, 12 feet, 6 feet for each.

APPUI--_Pointe d’appui_, or point of bearing, or direction, or support, is any particular given point or body, upon which troops are formed, or by which they are marched in line or column.

_Aller à l’_APPUI, _Fr._ to go to the assistance of any body, to second, to back.

_Hauteur d’_APPUI, _Fr._ breast-height.

AQUEDUCT, a channel to convey water from one place to another. Aqueducts, in military architecture, are generally made to bring water from a spring or river to a fortress, &c.; they are likewise used to carry canals over low ground, and over brooks or small rivers; they are built with arches like a bridge, only not so wide, and are covered above by an arch, to prevent dust or dirt from being thrown into the water--there are also subterranean aqueducts, such as pipes of wood, lead, or iron. See Muller’s _Practical Fortification_.

The Romans had aqueducts which extended 100 miles. That of Louis XIV. near Maintenon, which carries the river Bute to Versailles, is 7000 toises long.

ARAIGNEE, in fortification. See GALLERY.

ARBALET, in the ancient art of war, a cross-bow, made of steel, set in a shaft of wood, with a string and trigger, bent with a piece of iron fitted for that purpose, and used to throw bullets, large arrows, darts, &c. Also a mathematical instrument called a _Jacob’s Staff_, to measure the height of the stars upon the horizon.

ARBALETE _à jalet_, a stone bow.

ARBALETRIER, _Fr._ a cross-bow man.

ARBALETRIER _d’une Galére_, _Fr._ that part of a galley where the cross-bowmen were placed during an engagement.

ARBORER, _Fr._ to plant. _Arborer l’étendart_, to plant the standard.

ARC, _Fr._ a bow; an arch in building.

ARCH, in military architecture, is a vault or concave building, in form of a curve, erected to support some heavy structure, or passage.

_Triumphal_ ARCH, in military history, is a stately monument or erection generally of a semicircular form, adorned with sculpture, inscriptions, &c. in honor of those heroes who have deserved a triumph.

ARCHERS, in military history, a kind of militia or soldiery, armed with bows and arrows. They were much used in former times, but are now laid aside, excepting in Turkey, and in some parts of Asia.

ARCHERY, is the art of shooting with a bow and arrow. The ancient English were famous for being the best archers in Europe, and most of their victories in France were the purchase of the long-bow. The statutes made in 33 Hen. VIII. relative to this exercise, are worth perusal. It was forbidden, by statute, to shoot at a standing mark, unless it should be for a rover, where the _archer_ was to change his mark at every shot. Any person above 24 years old was also forbidden to shoot with any prick-shaft, or flight, at a mark of eleven score yards or under. 33 Hen. VIII. chap. 9. The former was a provision for making good marksmen at sight; the latter for giving strength and sinews. The modern rifle has rendered the bow an useless weapon.

ARCHITECTURE, in a military sense, is the art of erecting all kinds of military edifices or buildings, whether for habitation or defence.

_Military_ ARCHITECTURE, instructs us in the method of fortifying cities, sea-ports, camps, buildings, powder magazines, barracks, &c. Military architecture is divided into _regular_ and _irregular_ fortification.

Regular fortification consists in having all its sides and angles equal among themselves.

_Irregular fortification_ is composed of parts where the sides and angles are not equal or uniform among themselves. This species of fortification is permanent or temporary.

The permanent one is constructed for the purpose of remaining a long time, and for the protection of large towns.

The temporary one is that which is erected in cases of emergency. Under this denomination are contained all sorts of works which are thrown up to seize a pass or gain an eminence, or those which are made in circumvallations and countervallations, viz. redoubts, trenches, and batteries. See FORTIFICATION.

_Field Fortification_ is the art of forming temporary works of defence, such as trenches, redoubts, breastworks, epaulments, _chevaux de frize_, _trous de loup_, &c. See FIELD FORTIFICATION.

_Naval_ ARCHITECTURE, is the art of building the hull, or body of the ship, distinct from her machinery and furniture for sailing; and may properly be comprehended in three principal articles. 1. To give the ship such a figure, or outward form, as may be most suitable to the service for which she is intended. 2. To find the exact shape of the pieces of timber necessary to compose such a fabric. 3. To make convenient apartments for the artillery, ammunition, provisions, and cargo: together with suitable accommodations for the officers and men.

ARCHITRAVE, the master beam, or chief supporter, in any part of a subterraneous fortification.

AREA, the superficial content of any rampart, or other work of a fortification.

ARIGOT, _Fr._ a fife or flute.

ARM--Military writers use this word to signify a particular species of troops--thus the artillery is an arm, and the cavalry, and infantry, and rifle men are each called an arm; but this use of the word is now deemed quaint.

ARM, in geography, denotes a branch of the sea, or of a river.

ARM is also used figuratively to denote power.

_To_ ARM, to take arms, to be provided against an enemy.

ARMADA, a Spanish term, signifying a fleet of men of war, applied particularly to that great one fitted out by the Spaniards, with an intention to conquer England in 1588, and which was first dispersed by a terrible storm, several of the ships wrecked on the coasts of England and Ireland, and many overtaken and defeated by the English fleet, under admirals Howard and Drake.

ARMADILLA, a Spanish term, signifying a small squadron.

ARMATURA, in ancient military history, signifies the fixed and established military exercise of the Romans, nearly in the sense we use the word exercise. Under this word is understood, the throwing of the spear, javelin, shooting with bows and arrows, &c.

ARMATURA is also an appellation given to the soldiers who were light-armed. Aquinus seems without reason, to restrain _armatura_ to the _tyrones_, or young soldiers.

ARMATURA was also a denomination given to the soldiers in the Roman emperor’s retinue.

ARMED, in a general sense, denotes something provided with, or carrying arms.

_An_ ARMED _body of men_, denotes a military corps or detachment, provided with arms and ammunition, ready for an engagement.

ARMED, in the sea language. A cross-bar-shot is said to be armed, when some rope-yarn, or the like, is rolled about the end of the iron bar which runneth through the shot.

ARMED _ship_, is a vessel taken into the public service, and equipped in time of war, with artillery, ammunition, and warlike instruments: in the British service an armed ship is commanded by an officer who has the rank of master and commander in the navy, and upon the same establishment with sloops of war, having a lieutenant, master, purser, surgeon, &c.

ARMEE, _Fr._ See ARMY.

ARMEMENT, _Fr._ a levy of troops, equipage of war, either by land or sea.

ARMES _a l’Epreuve_, a French term for armor of polished steel, which was proof against the sword or small arms; but its weight so encumbered the wearer, that modern tacticians have wholly rejected its use.

ARMES _à la légére_, _Fr._ light-troops, who were employed to attack in small bodies, as opportunity occurred. See RIFLEMEN, &c.

ARMES _des Pieces de Canon_, the French term for the tools used in practical gunnery, as the scoop, rammer, sponge, &c.

ARMET, _Fr._ a casque or helmet.

ARMIGER, an esquire or armor-bearer, who formerly attended his knight or chieftain in war, combat, or tournament, and who carried his lance, shield, or other weapons with which he fought.

ARMILUSTRIUM, in Roman antiquity, a feast observed among the Roman generals, in which they sacrificed, armed, to the sound of trumpets, and other war-like instruments.

ARMISTICE, a temporary truce, or cessation of arms for a very short space of time only.

ARMORY, a warehouse of arms, or a place where the military habiliments are kept, to be ready for use.

ARMOR, denotes all such habiliments as serve to defend the body from wounds, especially darts, a sword, a lance, &c. A complete suit of armor formerly consisted of a helmet, a shield, a cuiras, a coat of mail, a gantlet, &c. now almost universally laid aside.

ARMOR BEARER, he that carries the armor of another.

ARMORER, a person who makes or deals in armor, or arms; also a person who keeps them clean.