Chapter D: Caldwell, (32)

An officer, who is not under the influence of that species of _intrepidity_ which we have described, when he has once got upon equal ground, or finds it necessary to risk an action, will, without hesitation, advance against his enemy, depending wholly upon military skill and the superior disposition of his line of battle. Full of resources and with great presence of mind, he will march forward and obtain a victory, not by dint of courage or by the mere favor of fortune, but through judgment, military ingenuity, and great tactical knowlege. And yet it would be an injustice done to the character of such an officer, were it imagined, that he could act in this manner without possessing great intrepidity. We are rather of opinion that such a man must have the most undaunted courage, with the additional advantage of consummate prudence founded upon military knowlege. The intrepidity of his soul is calmed by the cooler judgment of his head; he is aware of difficulties, but is not disheartened by their appearance; he is, on the contrary, encouraged to surmount them by that self-possession, and by that unshaken presence of mind, which enable him to execute what might seem impracticable to others.

Mere _intrepidity_ is of a lively, impetuous nature, restless and impatient of restraint, which, though it may not degenerate into downright animal brutality, is nevertheless very far from being strictly rational or enlightened. If the person who acts under its immediate influence be quick in his perceptions, his conduct is generally marked by some imprudent measure, some enterprize that bids defiance to reflexion, and by some attempt that is as hastily executed as it has been inconsiderately planned. An _intrepidity_ of this species is seldom found in the first class of military character: sometimes indeed, but rarely, it has been accompanied by great prudence and foresight.

In this number may be considered some ancient and modern heroes, such as Alexander the great, Charles king of Sweden, Henry IV. of France, Wolfe at Quebec, Bonaparte and Augereau at Lodi; Dessaix, Marmont, and Lannes, at Marengo; Murat at Eylau; Davoust at Austerlitz; Soult at Jena; Claperede on the Danube, in 1809; if instances be found in their histories where prudence and discretion have been overleaped by an _intrepidity_ of soul that was too actively disposed on certain occasions, the effect was temporary, and easy to be traced to a cause which was too powerfully engrafted upon their nature, to be always subject to control.

INVALID properly includes every soldier that has been wounded, or has suffered materially in his health, and in consequence of his good conduct, has been recommended to a certain provision for life. Chelsea hospital is the place allotted for the reception of such objects of public gratitude and benevolence in England. Before the building of the hotel des invalides at Paris, all soldiers of the above description who belonged to the French army, were distributed among the frontier towns, and enjoyed a certain allowance for life.

In England, and, we presume, the custom still exists under the new order of things in France, those invalid soldiers who are reported not wholly incapable of bearing arms, are occasionally sent into garrisoned places, and do duty with the regular army.

It is a reproach to the United States that there is yet no provision for the maintenance of those who serve the best part of their lives in its military establishment.

INVALIDE, _Fr._ See INVALID.

INVASION, in war, the entrance or attack of an enemy on the dominions of another.

INVENTAIRE _des Effets des Officiers décedés_, _Fr._ Inventory of the effects of deceased officers. As the French regulations on this head were more specific than those expressed in our articles of war, we shall premise the extract from the latter, by the following particulars which were in force during the old government of France.

When governors, commandants of places, staff officers, commissaries of war, engineers and officers entrusted with the care of artillery, died in their several provinces or allotted quarters, the judges or magistrates belonging to the spot where such deaths occurred sealed up the effects of the deceased, and took an inventory of their property, without being, in the least, controled by any species of military authority. On the removal of the seals, the town-major or his adjutant received a specific statement of every thing which appertained to the situation or appointment of the deceased person or persons, which statement was transmitted to government.

The creditors of the deceased preferred a schedule of the debts contracted in each place of residence, before any of the ordinary justices, which debts were discharged out of the personal property that was left. But all other creditors must have recourse to the judge or justice belonging to the precise spot where the deceased resided; applications respecting all debts which exceeded the value of the personal effects were directed to be made through the same channel.

When officers died in a garrison town or upon a march, or when engineers, who had no particular fixed residence, or artillery officers that were upon leave, departed this life, the town-majors or aid-major of the towns or places, where such persons died, fixed their seals upon their effects. An inventory of these effects was afterwards taken, provided they were not claimed by the next heir; in which latter case, all the debts that had been contracted by the deceased in the place where he died, were ordered to be paid by the person who took possession of the property. Public notice was given by beat of drum, that a military sale would be made, and one sol in the livre was charged on all that was disposed of in this manner.

The man who beat the drum, and the person who enregistered the minutes of the sale, were paid out of this sol; whatever surplus remained, after a reasonable deduction had been made for these purposes, became the town-major’s property.

The produce of the sale was appropriated to the discharge of such debts as had been contracted in the garrison: and the judge or magistrate, whose particular province it was to take cognizance of all cases relating to property, placed his seal upon the remainder, which was deposited in a box. This box was delivered over to the person that had enregistered the effects and taken minutes of the sale; in whose hands it remained until claimed by the widow of the deceased, the residuary legatee, or by any creditors, except those who immediately belonged to the garrison.

When a captain in the French guards died or was killed, his heirs or executors were not obliged to discharge any demands which his company might have had upon him. If the sale of his private property should not be sufficient to defray these debts, the officer who succeeds to the company is bound to make up the remainder, and the soldier’s claim has the preference of all other demands. If there was an overplus, it was paid into the hands of the lawful heirs. The soldiers of the company received the moiety of what was due to them in ready money.

On the decease or departure of the officers belonging to any of the detached companies of invalids, the superior officer of that detachment in which the death or dereliction happened, ordered every article belonging to the royal hospital of invalids to be sold in the presence of the several officers, without deducting the sol in the livre. The produce of this sale was placed to the credit of the detachment; and all other articles belonging to the deceased were disposed of by the town-majors in the manner already mentioned.

The powers which were vested in the town-majors and staff-officers belonging to garrisoned places, were lodged in the hands of the majors or aid-majors of regiments, who upon the decease of an officer on service or in a place where there was not any staff, took a regular inventory of his effects, &c.

Town-majors were not authorized to put their seals upon the effects of deceased officers belonging to the Swiss regiments, as these had a peculiar military jurisdiction of their own. But other foreign troops in the service of France were not entitled to these privileges.

INVENTORY _of deceased officers effects, &c._ In the British army, when any commissioned officer happens to die or is killed on service, it is directed by the articles of war, that the major of the regiment, or the officer doing the major’s duty in his absence, shall immediately secure all his effects or equipage then in camp or quarters; and shall before the next regimental court-martial make an inventory thereof, and forthwith transmit the same to the office of our secretary at war, to the end, that the executors of such officer may, after payment of his regimental debts and quarters, and the expences attending his interment, receive the overplus, if any be, to his or their use.

When any non-commissioned officer or private soldier, happens to die, or is killed on service, the then commanding officer of the troop or company, shall, in the presence of two other commissioned officers, take an account of whatever effects he dies possessed of, above his regimental clothing, arms, and accoutrements, and transmit the same to the office of the secretary at war. These effects are to be accounted for and paid to the representatives of such deceased non-commissioned officer or soldier; and in case any of the officers so authorized to take care of the effects of dead officers and soldiers, should, before they have accounted to their representatives for the same, have occasion to leave the regiment by preferment or otherwise, they are ordered before they be permitted to quit the same, to deposit in the hands of the commanding officer or of the agent of the regiment, all the effects of such deceased non-commissioned officers and soldiers, in order, that the same may be secured for, and paid to, their respective representatives. See Articles of War, section XIX.

_To_ INVEST _a place_, (_investir une place_, _Fr._) A fortified town or place is said to be invested, when all the avenues leading to it have been seized upon by hostile troops, which are distributed and posted on the principal commands, to prevent any succour from being received by the garrison, and to keep the ground until the rest of the army with the artillery, can arrive to form a regular siege. To invest a place is, in fact, to take preparatory measures for a blockade, or a close siege. In order to do this effectually, the general in chief of the approaching army must detach a large body of cavalry, together with the different corps of dragoons under the command of a lieutenant-general, for the purpose of regularly investing the town. As secrecy is of the utmost consequence on this occasion, the troops belonging to the detachment must have their march so managed as to create an alarm and jealousy in some other quarter, by deviating from the road which leads directly to the proposed object of attack. The general, indeed, would act wisely, by giving written sealed orders to the commanding officer, with strict injunctions not to open them until the detachment should have reached a certain spot, and then only in the presence of some particular persons; by which means his real designs may be concealed. Sometimes a place is partially _invested_, for the sole purpose of diverting the enemy’s attention from the real object, and of inducing him to weaken the garrison, by detaching it to different quarters. Thus in 1710, the allied army suddenly appeared before the town of Ypres, and by threatening to besiege it, caused so many troops to be detached from Tournay to its relief, that the latter place, which was the real object of attack, and was one of the strongest towns in the Low Countries, afforded little or no resistance.

It is sometimes prudent to harrass and perplex the enemy that may be in the neighborhood of the town which you propose to attack, by perpetually driving in his out-posts, &c. and by forcing him to retire from the different avenues and commanding grounds; when the various objects, which are to facilitate the approaches of the besieging army, have been accomplished, the lieutenant-general who is entrusted with the investment of the town, must procure faithful and intelligent guides, advance by forced marches, halt as little as possible, and then only for the purpose of refreshing his men. He must studiously preserve the secret of his expedition, until he gets so near to the town, that the object of his approach becomes manifest and unequivocal.

When he arrives within one days march of the town, he must detach from his main body two or three parties of horse, (each party to be stronger than the garrison of the place) which must lie in ambush in the neighborhood, for the purpose of carrying off cattle, or of making prisoners. The instant he reaches the town, he must seize upon all the leading avenues, and draw his army up on some advantageous ground. He then goes out to reconnoitre, and to discover the most likely places by which succours might be conveyed into the town. He must have the precaution to post a strong guard in each of these places.

His next business will be to send out small scouting parties, in order to obtain correct intelligence respecting the enemy’s motions. Every outlet is blocked up by some dragoons, for the purpose of hemming in the garrison as close as possible. He makes it his study moreover to acquire personal information by examining the prisoners, with regard to the nature of the country, the different fords, rivulets, points of enfilade, avenues, strong buildings, or commanding heights in the neighborhood. He further enquires as to the strength of the garrison, and the number of officers; whether the governor suspects that a regular siege is intended: whether he expects succours, supplies of stores and ammunition, and from what quarter he is to be furnished; finally, whether the fortifications be in good repair, and the place equal to a defence.

At night he sends out advanced parties, with directions to bivouac within musquet shot of the town, and takes especial care always to post strong parties in those places and avenues by which succours and supplies might be easily conveyed to the garrison. He has likewise the precaution to have different small guards, or out-lying and in-lying piquets, both in his front and rear, to prevent surprizes. On these occasions the detachments are formed, half on foot and half mounted; those on foot constantly remaining at their horses’ heads, bridle in hand. These detachments are on the alert during the whole of the night, and only one half of the number is suffered to repose during the day.--Whenever the commanding officer has received intelligence of the approach of a body of troops to relieve the garrison, he must make his dispositions in such a manner as to give them battle, before they get sufficiently near to throw themselves into the town in scattered and divided parties. Great caution, however, must be observed under these circumstances, not to advance too far, lest it should only prove a feint on the enemy’s part, in order to induce him to weaken some of his posts; and by taking advantage of their absence, to throw some succours into the town.

As the principal, indeed the only object which the lieutenant-general can have, is to prevent any assistance being given to the garrison, whilst he _invests_ the place, he must always be on horseback; he must incessantly visit the different posts, thoroughly reconnoitre the country, and minutely examine those quarters, through which succours or supplies might be conveyed to the garrison, or which offer advantageous positions for his own troops to occupy. During the _investment_ of the town, it will be his duty to collect all the intelligence and information he can, respecting the state of the works and the adjacent points, in order to communicate fully with the general in chief, when he brings up the besieging army, and to put him in full possession of every thing, which may facilitate the object of his enterprize.

The chief engineers should always accompany the lieutenant-general who is entrusted with the _investing_ of a town, in order to get the necessary knowlege of the place before hand, and to understand how the lines of circumvallation, &c. should be drawn, three or four days before the main army arrives; they should moreover make several rounds for the purpose of reconnoitring. These measures will conduce a great deal towards a wise and effectual method of _investing_ the place. To accomplish these ends, a correct plan of the town must be procured. This plan must be reduced, and a rough sketch taken of every thing within half a league of the circumference of the town; after which a small chart may be drawn of the lines, &c. which are to be made for the purpose of carrying on the siege. This must be done in concert with the lieutenant-general who ought to know better than any body, what the order of battle will be, how much ground is to be occupied by the different brigades and regiments and what the relative detail of the whole army will require.

From the day on which a town is _invested_, every thing is thrown into motion. The train of artillery is directed to be brought out with necessary stores and ammunition, and proper carriages, with their drivers, are impressed; every department, in a word, performs its allotted duty, and the board of ordnance, as well as the commissary general’s office become subservient to the orders that are issued by the general in chief.

Whilst the necessary measures are adopted for the close _investing_ of the town, the main army approaches by forced marches, and generally arrives before the place five or six days after it has been invested. The lieutenant-general, or officer commanding the _investing_ army goes out to meet the main body when it is within half a league of the place, and communicates with the general; who, in consequence of the report he makes, gives directions respecting the lines of circumvallation, &c.

For further particulars on this article, see _Traité de l’Attaque des Places par le Marechal Vauban revue, &c. F. P. Foissac Chef de brigade au corps du Génie de la Republique Francaise_, vol. i. page 69.

INVESTISSEMENT. (A French word which is strictly military. The celebrated Vauban has erroneously used _investiture_ to signify the same thing.) The act of investing any town or place in such a manner as to prevent the garrison or inhabitants from receiving succours or provisions.

_To_ INUNDATE, in a military sense, is to overflow any part of a country, in order to prevent an enemy from advancing. Holland is particularly calculated for this species of defence.

INUNDATION. The act of letting water into a country, so that it shall be overflowed to prevent the approach of an enemy.

In the _Instruction adressée aux officiers d’Infanterie pour tracer et construire toutes sortes d’Ouvrages de Campagne, &c. par A. P. I. Belair, Chef de Brigade_, may be found some very sensible observations on the means of making inundations to answer military purposes, see page 119, &c. Chapitre Huitieme, _Moyens de faire des Inondations_. We likewise refer our military readers to the _Elemens de Fortification_, published by the same author, see pages, 75, 82, 83, and 84. In page 294 of his _Dictionnaire Militaire_, some excellent observations upon the same subject, may be seen under the article _Architecture hydraulique_.

JOAR, _Ind._ A general massacre of the women and children, which is sometimes performed by the Hindoos, when they find they cannot prevent the enemy from taking the town. When this dreadful and unnatural ceremony is to take place, a spot is selected, which is filled with wood, straw, oil, &c., the victims are enclosed, and the whole is set on fire.

_To_ JOIN. A technical word used in the British service, generally signifying to effect the junction of one military body with another. In a more limited sense, it means the accession of an individual voluntarily, or otherwise, to a corps or army. If an officer on being ordered to join, omits to do so wilfully, he is liable to be tried by a general court-martial, or to be peremptorily suspended by the commander in chief for being absent without leave.

JOINT _Bolts_. See BOLTS.

JOLS, _Fr._ Barges so called, are used in Denmark, and sometimes by the Russians.

JONCTION, _Fr._ See JUNCTION.

JOODAY PERRAPUT, _Ind._ A term used in India to signify a slave taken in war.

JOOMAN, _Ind._ Friday so called in India.

JOUE! _Fr._ A word of command in the French service answering to _aim!_

_Coucher en_ JOUE, _Fr._ To aim with a musquet, or other fire-arm, which is used as such--as _je l’avois dêjà couché en joue_, I had already taken my aim at him.

JOVES, _Fr._ The two sides in the epaulement of a battery which form the embrazure are so called.

JOUR, _Fr._ The tour of duty which is done in the course of a day and night.

_Etre de_ JOUR, _Fr._ To be officer of the day, or to command a body of troops at a siege or otherwise in the capacity of a general officer, &c. The usual time was 24 hours, at the expiration of which another officer undertook the duty, and was relieved by one of his own rank. See OFFICER _of the day_.

_Ordre du_ JOUR, _Fr._ Orders. See _General_ ORDERS.

JOURNAL, _Fr._ A public record or general orderly book, kept in the French service, and in which every transaction that occurred during a siege is entered by the governor of the town, for the future inspection of a superior authority. The general officer who carried on the siege of a place likewise kept a document of the sort, and minuted down every thing that happened under his command. So that the journal which was kept in this manner was a circumstantial detail of what occurred, day after day, during the attack and defence of a town.

JOURNAL _de l’armée_, _Fr._ See RETURNS.

JOURNEE, _Fr._ A term used among the French, to express any particular engagement or battle, as _la journée de Marengo_, the battle of Marengo. We frequently adopt the word day in the same sense: thus a hard fought _day_ signifies a hard fought _battle_.

JOUTE, _Fr._ A close fight between two individuals. It likewise means an engagement at sea.

JOUTER, _faire des joutes_, _Fr._ To run a tilt at one another with lances.

JOUST. See JUST.

IRAN, _Ind._ Persia.

IRENARCH, (_Irenarque_, _Fr._) An officer, so called in the old Grecian empire, _irenarcha præfectus pacis_. His principal duty was to preserve public tranquillity, and his functions were nearly similar to those of the French _prévots de maréchaussées_, or police magistrates. We read in the Justinian code of laws, that the _irenarchs_ were sent into the different provinces, for the purpose of preserving peace and good order. They were therefore invested with authority to take cognizance of all crimes and misdemeanors, and to punish the delinquents. There was likewise an _irenarch_ established in every town, to settle the disputes and differences which might arise between the inhabitants, and to secure public tranquillity. This person was anciently called _præfectus urbis_. The office of _irenarch_ was abolished under the Emperors Theodosius and Honorius, it having latterly been found more productive of evil than good. The word itself is derived from the Greek, and signifies _Prince of Peace_.

IRREGULAR _Fortification_. See FORTIFICATION.

IRON _Guns_. See GUNS.

IRONS. See PRIMING IRONS.

ISLAUD, _Ind._ A term to express slow music among the Indians.

ISOCELES, a triangle having only two sides which are equal.

ISOLE, _Fr._ This word is used among the French, to express any body or thing which is detached from another. It is variously applied in fortification. Thus a pavillion or a barrack which is not joined to any other wall or building is called _isolé_, because it stands alone, and a person may walk entirely round it. A parapet is also said to be _isolé_, when there is an interval of four or five feet between the rampart and its wall; which interval serves as a path for the rounds.

ISOPERIMETRICAL _Figures_.--(_Figures Isoperimetriques_, _Fr._) A term derived from the Greek to express all figures that have equal circumferences or perimeters.

ISSUE, event; consequence; the ultimate result of any undertaking; the termination of any contest.

_General_ ISSUE. In matters of litigation is the question to be decided upon, or issue, the parties state certain facts, one asserts the fact, the other denies, and upon this they join issue, the determination of that fact is the issue.

ISTHMUS, (_Isthme_, _Fr._) A neck of land which joins the Peninsula to the Continent, and which separates two seas, as Darien; Corinth.

ITINERAIRES, _Fr._ Itinerary movements or days of march. A technical phrase among the French to denote the order and disposition which a body of men, or an army, is directed to observe in its march from one camp to another, or to any particular quarter of destination.

ITMAMDAR. _Ind._ A superintendant or lieutenant-governor in India.

JUDGES are authorized to take judicial notice of the articles of war.

JUDGE MARTIAL, or _Advocate General_, the supreme judge in martial law as to the jurisdiction and powers of military courts, in the British system. It is incumbent upon this person, as well as upon his deputies to be well acquainted with the laws of the land, that they may admonish the court or president when their proceedings are tending to infringe the civil law. He is register of courts-martial, and should take down the evidence in the very words of the witness. He is neither a judge nor a juror as to the charge.

JUGE, _Fr._ A sort of judge or provost marshal. This term was particularly applicable to the interior government of the Swiss guards that were in the service of France. Each regiment of that description had one judge or provost marshal per company, and one superior to the rest who presided over the regiment. The inferior judge was called _richter_, and the grand or superior judge _obster richter_. The inferior judges had the examination of petty crimes and offences which they reported to the captain of the company. If the crimes were of a serious or heinous nature, the inferior judges drew up a specific statement of them, and laid the whole before the _obster richter_, who communicated the circumstance to the colonel. Grounds for a general court-martial were generally established out of the latter report.

JUGG, _Ind._ An Indian sacrifice.

JUGGUT GROW, _Ind._ An Indian term which signifies _guardian of mankind_.

JUMBAUN, _Ind._ In Indian music, means, _shake_.

JUMBOO DEEP, _Ind._ A word particularly used to signify India; it is derived from _jumboo_ or _jumbook_, a jackal, and _deep_, any large portion of land which is surrounded by the sea.

JUMBOO DEEP, _Ind._ The inhabitants of India were so called before the introduction of the Tartar governments.

JUMMA KERCH, _Ind._ An account, stating the receipt and expenditure of the revenue; that is the gross or general account.

JUNCAN, _Ind._ A toll or duty on every thing that passes.

JUNGLE, An Indian term for a wood, or woody country. It likewise means high grass, reeds, or thicket.

JURISDICTION. Legal authority, extent of power. Officers not being liable to be tried by garrison or regimental courts-martial, may appeal from the jurisdiction of such courts; as may non-commissioned officers and soldiers in cases where their pay is concerned.

JUST. A sportive combat on horseback, man against man, armed with lances; called also _Joust_, _Tilt_, _Tournament_, _&c._

JUSTICES. Military men are, in many instances, under the necessity of applying to justices in order to execute their several orders and instructions without infringing upon the civil authorities; and justices on their side are bound to aid and assist the military in conformity to established laws and regulations.

_Military_ JUSTICE, (_Justice Militaire_, _Fr._) That species of justice which prevails in the army, and corresponds with the articles of War.

K.

KABBADE or CABADE, _Fr._ A military dress which is worn by the modern Greeks. According to Tzetzes it derives its name from Cabades, a Persian king. Codinus, on the other hand, asserts, that the Greeks in Constantinople adopted it in imitation of the Assyrians. Others again maintain, that it owes its appellation to the resemblance which it bears to a Greek letter. Father Goar, the author, very justly ridicules this etymology. We are, however, authorized to say, that be the derivation of the word what it may, the dress itself consists of a short garment which was worn underneath another. It had not any folds, but sat close to the body, being buttoned with large buttons, and reaching down to the calves of the legs. It was fringed round the edges, and was usually worn with a girdle; such is the description which Father Goar has given of the kabbades in his notes upon Codinus. He concludes by observing, that in his opinion it is what the Romans called _sagum_, and the modern Greeks afterwards corrupted into _kabbade_.

KAK TOWDA, _Ind._ Fine mould beat strongly in between two walls, for the purpose of shooting arrows into when the walls are taken away.

KALEE, _Ind._ An Hindoo deity the genius of evil; the infernal god, to whom human beings are sacrificed.

KALLAAT or KELAUT, _Ind._ a dress which is given to any person invested with a new office.

KALMUCS, (_Kalmouques_, _Fr._) This word is generally written _Calmucs_. They are wandering tribes of Tartars, who inhabit the parts north of the Caspian sea. These hordes frequently put themselves under the protection of the court of Russia. A French writer describes the Kalmucs to be a sort of militia, which is established between Siberia and the Caspian sea. There are generally some regiments of them attached to the Russian armies in common with the Cossacks. They are armed with a lance iron pointed, about six feet long, and carry a bow with a quiver upon their backs, containing ten arrows. They never serve on foot, and are only formidable by name.

KALSA, _Ind._ The treasury.

KALSA CUTCHERRY, _Ind._ the room of business, where the business of the army is transacted; and all matters of litigation on that branch of service is determined.

KHAN, an officer in Persia, who is invested with the same powers that are entrusted to an European governor.

KANAUTS, _Ind._ a term used in India, to express the walls of a canvas tent.

KATAA, the Indian name for China.

KATIK, an Indian month, which in some measure coincides with our month of October.

KAULAUBHAIJE, the Indian term for message.

KECHERKLECHI, guards attached to the person of the king of Persia; they are armed with a musquet of an extraordinary size and calibre. They were raised and formed into a regular corps the middle of the last century.

KEELS, the long boats in which the Saxons successfully invaded England were so called.

KEEP, in ancient military history, a kind of strong tower which was built in the centre of a castle or fort, to which the besieged retreated and made their last efforts of defence. Of this description is the keep of Windsor Castle.

_King’s_ KEEP, a fort built by king Henry II. in the interior part of Dover castle is so called.

_To_ KEEP _off_, in a military sense, is either to deter your enemy from approaching close to the lines or fortifications by inducing him to suspect a superior force, an ambuscade, or a mine, or by openly galling his advanced posts in such a manner as to beat him in detail. Infantry may keep off cavalry by hot firing, or by a compact intrepid direction of the bayonet.

_To_ KEEP _up_, in military movements, is the preservation of that regular pace, by which a line or column, on a march, or in manœuvring, advances towards any given point without any chasms or fluctuations. When a regiment marches by files, it is almost impossible for the rear to keep up. On this account, divisions, subdivisions, and even sections, are best calculated to preserve a regular depth and continuity of march.

_To_ KEEP _up_, likewise signifies to attend to the interior management and discipline of a corps, so as to prevent the least deviation from established rules and regulations. Thus commanding officers are said to keep up good order and discipline, who, whilst absent or present, provide against the least insubordination, &c.

_To_ KEEP _up a heavy fire_, is to play with heavy ordnance against a fortified place, or body of men, by a calm and well-directed succession of shot. In musquetry firing, officers commanding battalions, divisions, or platoons, should be very exact in giving the word in order to keep up the different firings.

KEERAY, _Ind._ expences, charges.

KENT. It is the peculiar duty of the county lieutenant, or of three deputy lieutenants belonging to this English county, to issue orders to the chief constables of the several hundreds to send out precepts to the churchwardens or overseers to return a list of men liable to serve. The churchwardens and overseers of the county of Kent are, by act of parliament, invested with the powers of constables, to put in force the militia acts.

KENTASSI, a range of mountains in Thibet, in which are the sources of the Ganges. This river, formed from several sources, passes successively two great lakes, and flows to the west, until the opposition of a part of the Indian Caucasus turns it to the south, and having completed in these various directions a course of two hundred leagues, it enters India by forcing its passage through the mountains of the frontier.

KERANA, a long trumpet, similar in shape and size to the speaking trumpet. The Persians use it whenever they wish to make any extraordinary noise, and they frequently blow it with hautboys, kettle drums and other instruments at sunset, and two hours after midnight.

KEREEF, _Ind._ One of the two seasons into which the year is divided in India.

KERIMCHARRY, _Ind._ an inferior officer under the Zemindar, who collects from the villages, and keeps the accounts.

KERN. _Irish_, a soldier. The Irish infantry were formerly distinguished by this appellation. The men in those days were armed with a sword, and a dart or javelin, which was tied to a small cord, so that after they had thrown it at the enemy, they could instantly recover it, and use it in any way they thought proper. The javelin was called _skene_, which is also the Irish for a _knife_.

KERUI, _Ind._ a village or parish.

KETTLE, a vessel used to boil composition for fire-works.

KETTLE-_Drums_. See DRUMS.

KETTLE-_drum cart_, a four wheel carriage which is drawn by four horses, and is used exclusively by the British artillery as a pageant.

The ordnance flag is planted on the fore part, and the drummer with two kettle drums is seated, as in a chair of state, on the back part. This cart is finely engraven and richly gilt. It has not been in the field since the year 1743, when the king was present. It is kept in the tower.

KEYS, in a general sense, are instruments with which locks are opened.

KEYS, in artillery carriages, may be considered under three specific heads, viz.

_Fore-lock_ KEYS, which serve to pass through the lower end of bolts, in order to fasten them.

_Spring_ KEYS may be used in the same manner, but are differently made, for instead of being of one single piece, they are of two, like two springs laid one over the other. When they are put into eye-bolts, they are pinched together at the ends, and when they are in, they open again; so that the motion of the carriage cannot disturb or shake them out. Spring keys are peculiarly useful in travelling carriages.

KEYS _with chains and staples_ fixed on the side pieces of a carriage or mortar bed. They serve to fasten the cap squares by passing through the eyes of the eye-bolts, with or without.

KEY _stone_, in architecture, is the middle stone of an arch, by which the sweep of the arch is bound together.

KEY. See QUAY.

KEYSERLICKS, or _imperialists_, the Austrian troops are frequently called so. The term was indeed common among the British soldiers, when they did duty together, and invaded France in 1794. It is derived from _keyser_, from Caesar, which in German, signifies emperor.

KHAN, _Ind._ signifies lord or chieftain. This title was given by the king of Delhi, for which it is supposed, the person maintained 250 horse soldiers, which he commanded and disciplined for the king’s service.

KHEET, _Ind._ a fortified city, which is four coss or eight English miles in length and breadth, and not so much as eight coss.

KHODA, _Ind._ GOD.

KHODADAUD SIRCAR, _Ind._ That is the government or ruler blessed or beloved of God; it was a title assumed by Tippo Sultaun, the sovereign of the kingdom of Mysore, who fell in defence of his capital, Serungputtun, or Seringapatam, when it was stormed, May the 4th, 1799, by the British forces under the command of lieutenant general Harris.

KID. This appellation was formerly given to any person that was trepanned by kidnappers.

KIDNAPPER, a man who by improper means decoys the unwary into the army or navy.

KIEU, the Indian term for any bridge under which water flows.

KILLA, _Ind._ a castle, fort, or fortress.

KILLADAR, _Ind._ the governor or commandant of a fort.

KINDALAHS, a vagabond, outcast set of people in India, originally belonging to the Hindoo tribe. By such proscription and disgrace are these miserable creatures marked, that the people of other casts not only will not visit them, but if any one of them should presume to approach a person of the Nayr tribe, it is lawful for the latter to put him to instant death.

_To_ KINDLE, in a military sense, is to excite mankind to arms. To kindle the flames of war is a familiar expression.

KING from the Saxon _koning_, that is _cunning_, _wise_; it has come to bear a different sense, and to signify a person neither cunning nor wise; a person in whom a supreme or qualified authority is vested without the consent of a nation. The chief magistrate, and one of the three nominal parts of the British government.

In a military acceptation of the term, the king of Great Britain is captain general of the British army, the primary source from which all appointments in it are derived, and the last resort of naval and military jurisdiction. With him, as principal magistrate in the state, and head of the executive power, all the arrangements of the British army finally rest, as from him they primarily issued. From him all the effective forces derive energy and effect, and when war has been declared, to him only does the army look for the immediate application and general exercise of its powers, through the medium of the ministers he appoints, who are responsible to parliament for the manner in which the authority they have received has been executed.

The British king is likewise supreme head of the militia, and has the power of appointing or dismissing lieutenants of counties. This king may likewise order three deputy lieutenants to act, when the lieutenant is abroad, or when there is a vacancy. He may join independent companies into a battalion, or incorporate them with any other regiment; and by him only can adjutants be appointed to act in the militia. If they are selected from the regular army, they preserve their rank, and their new commission bears the sign manual.

In case of an invasion or rebellion, the British king has the power to order the county lieutenants to embody the militia, and to put it under general officers from the regular army. On these occasions he may issue a proclamation for the meeting of parliament in fourteen days.

The word king is synonymous with _monarch_, _tyrant_, _despot_, and an emperor is only a higher grade of king.

KING _at Arms_. See HERALD.

KIOSQUE, _Fr._ a sort of garden pavillion which is open on all sides. It is used in the Levant, particularly in Turkey, and at Constantinople.

KISSELBACHES, _Ind._ soldiers are so called in India.

KIST, _Ind._ an instalment; the amount of a stated payment.

KISTYBUNDY, the Indian term for a monthly payment or periodical instalment.

KITSBUNDY, a contract or agreement for the discharge of any debt or obligation by stated payments.

KIT, in laboratory works, a composition made, of rosin 9lb. pitch 6lb. bees wax 6lb. and tallow 1lb. used for the last covering of carcasses. In order to apply it properly, it must first be broken into small pieces, and put into an iron pot over the fire, where it must be kept stirring about until it be thoroughly dissolved. When rendered very hot and completely liquid, it may be used.

KIT is likewise used among dragoons, to signify their lot of necessaries, which is packed up in a very small compass. The term is also used by the infantry, and means the contents of a soldier’s knapsack.

KLINKETS, in fortification, are small gates made through pallisades for the purpose of sallying.

KNAPSACK, a rough leather or canvas bag, which is strapped to an infantry soldier’s back when he marches, and which contains his necessaries. Square knapsacks are supposed to be most convenient. They should be made with a division to hold the shoes, blacking-balls, and brushes, separate from the linen. White goat skins are sometimes used, but we do not conceive them to be equal to the painted canvas ones. Soldiers are put under stoppages for the payment of their knapsacks, which after five years, become their property. See list of necessaries, according to the last regulations, under the article NECESSARIES.

KNAVE, for its military acceptation, see INFANTRY.

KNIGHT, a person who, in ancient times, on account of some eminent service, civil or military, was singled out from the common class of gentlemen, &c. and was personally invested with a title. This word, which was originally derived from the German and Dutch _knecht_ or _kneht_, signifies a servant, in which sense it is applied when we speak of the knight of a shire; it likewise means a military man, or rather a horseman, from the Latin _eques_, a soldier or horseman; knights of this description having been either the king’s domestic servants or of his life guards.

In common law they are called _milites_, usually holding lands under the feudal tenure by knight’s service, to serve the king in his wars.

KNOT, the wing or epaulette, which is commonly made of worsted, of a non-commissioned officer or corporal. When serjeants and corporals are sentenced to be reduced to the ranks, the knot is generally cut off by the drum-major in the presence of the battalion, as a mark of ignominy.

KNOTS, the division of the log line. Each knot is equal to an English mile.

KNOUT, a Russian punishment.

KOHISTAN, _Ind._ properly means a province. It likewise signifies a rocky or mountainous country.

KOLLEE _Jogue_, _Ind._ is the fourth of the four æras or periods of Indian chronology. It is the present æra, in which all mankind are corrupted, or rather lessened; it is supposed to be ordained to subsist four hundred thousand years, of which near five thousand are already expired, and the life of man, in that period is limited to one hundred years. _Colonel Dow_ says this age is to last thirty-six thousand years: the age which preceded it, is called the _davapaar jogue_.

KOOLOO, _Ind._ the cocoa tree.

KOONAR, an Indian month, which partly coincides with our month of September.

KOONCHY, _Ind._ a measure of about eight handfuls.

KOONWUR, _Ind._ prince, highness.

KOREISH, _Ind._ an Arabian tribe.

KORTCHI-BACHI, the chief or commanding officer of the Kortchis. In former times he was the first military character in Persia, at present he is only the second in command. He never leaves the court except upon extraordinary occasions, when his presence is required at the army. This, however, rarely happens, as the king is obliged to furnish him with an household service of plate, and to detach a part of his own guards for the protection of his person. The Kortchi Bachi is generally entrusted with one of the chief governments belonging to Persia.

KORTCHIS, a body of Persian cavalry, which is stationed along the frontiers of the country. Every individual belonging to this corps, receives fifty crowns for his annual pay. The children of the Kortchis succeed their fathers, with the consent and approbation of the general. The Kortchis are descended from a race of foreigners, who used to live under tents, and were always distinguished for their courage.

KOSSACKS, (_Kosaques_, _Fr._) See COSSACKS.

KOTE, _Ind._ a warehouse.

KOULER-AGASI, a distinguished military character in Persia, who has the command of a body of men called _Kouls_. He is usually governor of a considerable province.

KOULIE, a courier, a porter, a slave.

KOURIE, _Ind._ a sea-shell used as money in many parts of India.

KOULS, a corps of Persian soldiers who rank as a third body among the five that constitute the king’s household troops; they mount guard under the portico which stands between the first and second gate leading to the palace. The Kouls are men of note and rank; no person can arrive at any considerable post or situation, who has not served among the Kouls. Their number is computed at 4000 men.

KOYAL, _Ind._ a weighman.

KOYALEE, _Ind._ fees for weighing.

KRAMA, _Ind._ wooden sandals which are worn by the natives of India during the wet season.

KUFFEET, _Ind._ An Indian term for security.

KUL, the Turkish word for slave to the prince. The grand vizier, the bachas, the beiglerbeys, and all persons who receive pay or subsistence from situations dependent upon the crown, are so called. This title is in high estimation among the Turkish military, as it authorizes all who are invested with it, to insult, strike and otherways ill use the common people, without being responsible for the most flagrant breach of humanity. Horrid pre-eminence, and fitted only to Mahomedan civilization!

KULLUSTAUNS, _Ind._ Christians.

KUNDNEE, _Ind._ A sum of money which is annually paid by an inferior governor to his superior.

KUPELE, Straights so called in India, through which the Ganges disembogues itself into Hindustan. They are distant from Delhi about 30 leagues, in the longitude of 96, and in the latitude of 30.2. These straights are believed by the Indians, who look very little abroad, to be the sources of the Ganges: and a rock 15 miles distant from them, bearing some resemblance to the head of a cow, has joined in the same part of the nations, two very important objects of their religion: the grand image of the animal which they almost venerate as a divinity, and the first appearance of that immense body of holy water which washes away all their sins. It was at these straights that the Indians made some shew of resistance, when the famous Tamerlane invaded India. The field of this victory is the most distant term of that emperor’s conquest in India and on the globe. See Dissertation on the establishments made by Mahomedan conquerors in Hindustan, in Orme’s History of the Carnatic, page 14, and 15.

KURROL, _Ind._ The advanced guard of a main army.

KURTCHI, a militia is so called in Persia. It consists of one body of cavalry, which is composed of the first nobility belonging to the kingdom, and of the lineal descendants of the Turkish conquerors, who placed Ismael Sophi on the throne. They wear a red turban, made of particular stuff, into twelve folds. This turban was originally given them by Ismael, in consideration of their attachment to the religion and family of Ali. The twelve folds are in remembrance of the twelve Imaans or Mahomedan preachers who descended in a direct line from Ali, and distinguished themselves so much in that sect. The turban is red, for the purpose of provoking those who wear it to avenge upon the Ottomans, the death of Ali and Hussein, who were murdered by the chief of Sunis, to whose sect the Turks belong. In consequence of their wearing this turban, the Persians are always called by the Turks _kitil-baschi_ or _red-heads_. The noblemen in Persia have adopted the term, with a slight alteration, and call themselves _kesil-baschis_ or _golden-heads_. The Kurtchi form a body of nearly eighteen thousand men. The chief or commanding officer is called kurtchi-baschi. This was formerly the most distinguished situation in the kingdom, and the authority annexed to it was equal to what the constable of France originally possessed. At present his power does not extend beyond the Kurtchis.

KUSH-BASH, _Ind._ Persons who enjoy lands rent free, upon condition of serving government in a military capacity when called upon. The term also signifies, people of middling circumstances who do not cultivate their lands themselves, but hire servants to do it while they hold other employments.

KUTTY, _Ind._ Closets.

KUVVAUS, _Ind._ Servants attending on the king’s person.

KUZANA, _Ind._ A treasury.

L.

LAAK, _Ind._ One hundred thousand.

LABARUM, a celebrated standard which was used among the Roman emperors, and frequently means any imperial or royal standard. The original one, so called, consisted of a long lance, at the top of which was fixed a stick that crossed it at right angles, and from which hung a piece of rich scarlet cloth, that was sometimes ornamented with precious stones. Until the days of Constantine the great, the figure of an eagle was placed upon the top of the labarum; but that prince substituted in its room, a cross, with a cypher expressing the name of Jesus.

LABORATORY signifies that place where all sorts of fire-works are prepared, both for actual service, and for pleasure, viz. quick matches, fuses, portfires, grape-shot, case-shot, carcasses, hand-grenades, cartridges, shells filled, and fuses fixed, wads, &c. &c.

_Aigrettes_. See MORTARS.

_Balls_ are of various sorts, shapes and forms; as

_Chain-shot_, are two shot linked together by a strong chain of 8 or 10 inches long; they are more used on board men of war, than in the land service. The famous M. de Witt was the first inventor, about the year 1665.

_Light-balls_, of which there are several sorts: the best composition is mealed powder 2, sulphur 1, rosin 1, turpentine 2¹⁄₂, and saltpetre 1¹⁄₂. Then take tow, and mix and dip it in this composition, till of a proper size, letting the last coat be of mealed powder. Or take thick strong paper, and make a shell the size of the mortar you intend to throw it out of, and fill it with a composition of an equal quantity of sulphur, pitch, rosin, and mealed powder; which being well mixed, and put in warm, will give a clear fire, and burn a considerable time.

The composition for filling balls that are intended to set fire to magazines is, mealed powder 10, saltpetre 2, sulphur 4, and rosin 1; or mealed powder 4, pounded glass 1, antimony ¹⁄₂, camphor ¹⁄₂, sal-ammoniac 1, common salt ¹⁄₄; or mealed powder 48, saltpetre 32, sulphur 16, rosin 4, steel or iron filings 2, fir tree saw-dust boiled in saltpetre ley 2, and birch wood charcoal 1. With any of these compositions fill the sack, and ram it, if possible, as hard as a stone, putting in the opening, a fuse, and about the same an iron ring ¹⁄₅th of the ball’s diameter wide; and on the opposite end, another ring ¹⁄₆th of the ball’s diameter; then with a strong cord of ¹⁄₄th of an inch diameter, lace round the hoops, or rings, from one end of the ball to the other, as often as is requisite; this is called the ribbed coat; then lace it again the contrary way, which is called the check coat.

Between each square cord, iron barrels are driven in, ¹⁄₃d of which are filled with powder, and a bullet: at the end of each a small vent is made, that the composition may inflame the powder, and drive the balls out on every side, which not only kill numbers of people, but prevent any one from extinguishing the fire-ball. The whole must, when finished, be dipped in melted pitch, rosin and turpentine oil; which composition fastens the whole together.

_Smoke-Balls_, are made and contrived to give an uncommon smoke, and thereby prevent the enemy from seeing what you are about. They are prepared as above, only the composition must be 5 to 1 of pitch, rosin, and saw-dust: the ingredients are put into iron shells, having 4 holes each to let out the smoke, and are thrown out of mortars.

_Stink-_ }
_Poisoned-_}
_Red-hot-_ }_Balls_. See BALLS.
_Chain-_ }
_Stang-_ }
_Anchor-_ }

_Message-Balls._ See SHELLS.

_Fire-Barrels_ are at present not much used: they were of different sorts; some mounted on two wheels. The inside of the barrel is loaded with powder, and the outside full of sharp iron points, intermixed with grenades loaded, and fuses fixed. Sometimes they are placed under ground, and made use of to annoy the enemy’s approach.