Chapter D: Caldwell, (53)

TAIL-_Pipe_, a small brass pipe fixed at the swell of the British musquet, which receives the ramrod.

_Trumpet_ PIPE, a small brass pipe near the muzzle of the British firelock, through which the ramrod is let down. It is called trumpet-pipe, from its resemblance to the mouth of a trumpet. The Prussians have no pipes to their musquets; the ramrod being received into a cylinder which runs parallel with the barrel; nor is there any pipe of this kind to the American or the French musquet; the ramrod passing within the three straps of iron or plate rings which bind the barrel to the stock.

PIPE-_Clay_ and _Whiting_, a composition which soldiers use for the purpose of keeping their cross-belts, &c. clean.

PIQUE, _Fr._ See PIKE.

PIQUICHINS, _Fr._ irregular and ill-armed soldiers, of which mention is made in the history of the reign of Philippe Augustus. They were attached to the infantry.

PIQUIER, _Fr._ a pikeman, or one who is armed with a pike.

PIRAMIDE, _Fr._ See PYRAMID.

PIRAMIDES _de feu_, _Fr._ See JETS DE FEU.

PIRATE, _Fr._ a pirate.

PISTE, _Fr._ the track or tread a horseman makes upon the ground he goes over.

PISTOL, a species of small fire-arms, of which there are various sorts and sizes, viz.

_Highland_ PISTOL. The old Highland pistol appears singular enough in the present day. Some that have been preserved, exhibit marks of excellent workmanship. The stock is metal, and the but end so shaped, that when fired off, the pistol can be used as a very serious weapon at close quarters. The Highland pistol, though never used by any of the British regiments, is still worn by every person who wishes to be considered as fully dressed and accoutred in the ancient garb. It is suspended from the left side of the waistbelt.

_Horse_-PISTOL, so called from being used on horseback, and of a large size.

_Management of the_ PISTOL _on horseback for military purposes_. Every recruit when he joins the horse-drill should be made perfectly acquainted with the handling of his pistols according to rule, and of firing correctly at a mark. To this end he must be taught to draw, load, fire, and return his pistol, by word of command, viz.

1st. The right glove is to be taken off, and the goat-skin thrown back.

_Draw right_ PISTOL. This is done at two motions; 1st, the man must seize the handle of the pistol with his right hand, the back towards the body. 2d, _Draw_ it out of the holster with a brisk motion, dropping the butt of the pistol on the right holster, and keeping the muzzle upwards.

_Load_ PISTOL. The pistol is to be dropped smartly into the left hand; open the pan, prime, cast about, and load; as soon as loaded, seize the pistol by the butt, and come to the same position as in the second motion in drawing; the bridle hand must be kept as steady as possible. In loading the pistol, the barrel is to be kept to the front.

_Return_ PISTOL. This is done in two motions: 1st, turn the muzzle into the holster, with the back of the hand towards the body, and press home the pistol. 2d, Quit the right hand briskly.

_Cock_ PISTOL. Drop the pistol into the left hand, cocking with the thumb of the right, and as soon as done come to the second position, viz. muzzle upwards.

_To the right aim._ Come smartly to an aim, looking well along the barrel to the object you are aiming at, and turning your body as much as is necessary to aim well, but taking care not to displace your bridle hand.

_Fire!_ pull briskly at the word, and as soon as fired go on with the loading motions; when loaded come to the position as in the first direction, viz. _muzzle upwards_.

_Cock Pistol_, as already explained.

_To the left aim._ This requires particular attention, as the men will be apt to bring their right shoulders too forward, and by that means displace their bodies and the bridle hand.

_Fire!_ as already explained.

_Cock_ PISTOL. _To the front aim._ You must raise yourself in your stirrups, in order to take a proper aim; you must then look well along the pistol, and wait for the word _fire_.

_Fire!_ As soon as you have fired, you must drop into your seat, and go on with the loading motions, as before directed.

_Return Pistol_, as already explained.

_Draw left_ PISTOL, See _Draw your right Pistol_.

_Pocket_ PISTOL, a small pistol, which may be conveniently carried in the pocket.

PISTOLETS, _Fr._ See PISTOLS.

PITANS, PATAN, _Ind._ according to Mr. Orme, in his History of the Carnatic, the Pitans are supposed to be the descendants of the northern Indians, who were early converted to Mahomedanism. They have been reckoned the best troops. They are habitually fierce.

PITAN _Nabobs_. Certain chiefs in India so called, viz. of Cudapa, Canoul, and Savanore.

PITAUX, _Fr._ This word is sometimes written petaux, and was formerly used to distinguish those peasants that were pressed into the service, from soldiers who were regularly inlisted.

_To_ PITCH, (_asseoir_, _Fr._)

_To_ PITCH _a camp_, (_asseoir un camp_, _Fr._) to take a position, and to encamp troops upon it according to the principles of castrametation. See _Am. Mil. Lib._

_To_ PITCH _a tent_, to place a certain regulated quantity of canvas upon poles, so as to afford a temporary cover, against the inclemencies of the weather for one or more, officers or private soldiers. In order that the men may become expert in pitching and striking tents, they ought to be practised whilst in camp to do either.

PITCHANDAH, _Ind._ a fortified pagoda on the north bank of the Coleroon, one mile east of Seringham.

PITONS, _Fr._ nails with round eyes. They likewise signify pins with iron rings.

PITONS _d’affut_, _Fr._ iron pins which are used to keep the plate-bands of the carriage of a cannon tight and compact.

PIVOT, (_Pivot_, _Fr._) in a military sense, that officer, serjeant, corporal, or soldier, upon whom the different wheelings are made in military evolutions. There are two sorts of _pivots_ distinguished according to the position of the troops who are governed by them, viz. _standing_ pivot and _moveable_ pivot. When a battalion, for instance, stands in open column of companies, the _right in front_, the last man upon the left of the front rank of each company, is called the _inner_, or _standing pivot_; and the first man upon the right ditto, is called the _outer pivot_, or _wheeling flank_. So much depends upon the accurate position of the different pivots, that no movement can be thoroughly correct unless the most scrupulous attention be paid to them. Officers, in particular, ought to recollect that when they are posted upon the flanks, they become essentially necessary to the preservation of that perpendicular and parallelism of a march, without which direction the best digested manœuvres must be ultimately rendered useless. They must constantly bear in mind, that it belongs to the mounted field officers to watch the aggregate, and that they themselves, being incorporated parts of the different divisions, are to move successively forward, with no other object in view than the perpendicular point before them. For if they once turn to the right or left, or become anxious about the movements of others, instead of being the means of insensibly correcting any errors that might casually occur, they will deviate themselves, and at every step increase the irregularity. On this account, the instant an officer has wheeled his division, he must resume his perpendicular position, look stedfastly on his leading pivot, preserve his relative distance, and keep his person perfectly square. He ought likewise to be particularly correct in stepping off when the wheel is completed.

_Moveable_ PIVOT, one which during the wheel of its division advances in a circular direction, instead of turning on the spot where it originally stood. Thus when divisions, &c. are successively wheeled, without being first halted, the pivot upon which they wheel is said to be _moveable_.

In the drill, single ranks are frequently wheeled on a moveable pivot. In which case, both flanks are moveable, and describe concentring circles round a point which is a few paces from what would otherwise be the standing flank; and eyes are all turned towards the outer pivot or flank man, whether he is on the outward flank, or on the flank wheeled to.

PIVOT-_Flanks_, the flanks upon which a line is formed from column. When the right of the battalion is in front, the pivot flanks are on the left of its several companies, platoons, &c. and _vice versâ_, when the left is in front.

PIVOT-_flank officer_, the officer who is on the first flank. In all wheelings during the march in column the officer on that flank upon which the wheel is made must attend himself to the correctness of the pivot.

_Platoon_ PIVOTS, the men upon whom a battalion marches in column of platoons, is wheeled up into line, or into column, when the line has been formed according to a given front.

It is in the modern improved tactics determined that commissioned officers shall not themselves be the _pivots_, but that they shall consist of the non-commissioned officers, or rank and file on each flank only; and not the officers on those flanks; but the officers are strictly required to see that the _pivots_ perform their duty correctly, and are responsible for it.

PLACAGE, _Fr._. in fortification, a kind of revetement, which is made of thick plastic earth, laid along the talus of such parapets as have no mason-work, and which is covered with turf.

PLACARD, PLACART, or, as it is in the original Dutch language _Placaat_, a term used abroad for a proclamation, edict, &c. put up in all public places, by government authority; whereby their subjects are ordered to do, or forbear, something expressed therein. See MANIFESTO.

PLACARD, _Fr._ any bill, or public paper, that is posted up; same as _Bulletin_. It likewise means a libel.

PLACARDER, _Fr._ to post up, to libel.

PLACE, _emplacement_, _Fr._ any spot or scite which suits the plans of an architect to build upon.

PLACE, in _fortification_, signifies, in general terms, a fortified town, a fortress: hence we say it is a strong place. See _Pocket Encyclopedia_, vol. V. PLACE.

PLACE _of arms_, (_Place d’armes_, _Fr._) This term has various significations, although it uniformly means a place which is calculated for the rendezvous of men in arms, &c.

1st. When an army takes the field, every strong hold or fortress which supports its operations by affording a safe retreat to its depots, heavy artillery, magazines, hospitals, &c. is called a _place of arms_.

2dly. In offensive fortification, those lines are called _places of arms_, or _parallels_, which unite the different means of attack, secure the regular approaches, &c. and contain bodies of troops who either do duty in the trenches, protect the workmen, or are destined to make an impression upon the enemy’s outworks.

There are _demi-places of arms_ between the _places of arms_. These are more or less numerous in proportion to the resistance made by the besieged.

PLACES _of arms_ belonging to the covert-way. These are divided into two sorts, viz. _saliant_ and _rentrant_ places of arms. There are likewise places of arms composed of traverses, which are practised or made in the dry ditches of military towns, in a perpendicular direction to the faces of the half-moons and the tenaillons.

PLACE _of arms in a town_, a place left near its centre, where generally the grand guard is placed. In towns regularly fortified, the place of arms should be in the centre. In this place the soldiers of the garrison parade, form, and mount guard, &c.

PLACE _of arms of an attack, or of a trench_, are deep trenches 15 or 18 feet wide, joining the several attacks together: they serve for a rendezvous and station to the guard of the trenches, to be at hand to support the workmen when attacked. It is customary to make 3 places of arms, when the ground will permit: the first, and most distant from the place, is about 300 toises, or 600 yards, from the glacis of the covert-way; the second is within 140 toises, or 280 yards; and the third at the foot or the glacis. See PARALLELS.

PLACE _of arms of a camp_, was, strictly speaking, the bell-tents, at the head of each company, where the arms were formerly lodged; likewise a place chosen at the head of the camp for the army to form in line of battle, for a review, or the like.

PLACE _of arms of the covert-way_, is a part of it, opposite to the re-entering angle of the counterscarp, projecting outwards in an angle.

PLACE _marécageuse_, _Fr._ a marshy place. A place of this description may be easily fortified, and at little expence; nor does it require many troops for defence. Among other advantages, that of not being exposed to an enemy’s mines, is by no means the least considerable. On the other hand, piles must be sunk in almost every direction: and should it be invested, it is almost impossible to succour it. Add to these inconveniences, the danger to which the garrison must be constantly exposed of being visited by some contagious disorder.

PLACE _elevée dans un plat pays_, _Fr._ Places that are put in a state of defence in a flat open country. These places are almost always secured by regular fortifications: the soil is good, and there is always plenty of earth adapted to every species of military work: there is abundance of water; and should an enemy attempt to carry them by insuring the works, entrenchments may be easily thrown up to check him. Add to this, that it would require two or three armies, at least, to cut off the various supplies which can be procured from the country round. On the other hand, the goodness and abundance of the soil are equally beneficial to the besieging army. For the troops are thereby enabled to throw up entrenchments, to build redoubts, erect batteries, and by thus securing their approaches, to annoy the besieged at all hours, and in all ways.

PLACE _située sur le penchant d’une montagne_, _Fr._ a place situated or built upon the declivity of a hill. It is very difficult to fortify a spot of this sort. Whatever is erected upon it, must be commanded by the higher ground, and the body of the place be, of course, exposed to every attack.

PLACE _située dans une vallée_, _Fr._ a town, fortress, or hold that is built in a valley. Places so situated must be in constant jeopardy, as by getting possession of the heights, the enemy can always command them.

PLACE _située sur les bords d’une grand riviére_, _Fr._ a place, &c. built upon the banks, or borders of a large river. Places, constructed in a situation of this sort, are preferable to all others, provided they have a free and uninterrupted communication with the principal quarter from whence stores, provisions, and ammunition may be drawn. They may be regularly fortified towards the interior of the country, and it will require little or no artificial means to secure them on the side of the river.

PLACE _de guerre_, _Fr._ any town or place that is regularly, or irregularly fortified.

PLACE _basse_, _Fr._ In fortification the lower flanks according to certain systems are so called.

PLACE _forte_, _Fr._ a strong hold or place which presents at all points so many difficult obstacles against a besieging army, that it cannot be carried (except by surprize) unless the regular means of reducing it be resorted to.

PLACES _contreminées_, _Fr._ all fortresses, &c. are called _places contreminées_, or _countermined_, which, independent of their open and visible means of defence, &c. have subterraneous fortifications that are alongside the revetements of the works, under the glacis, or beneath the neighboring ground, to interrupt the approaches, and destroy the works of a besieging enemy.

PLACE _haute_, _Fr._ According to the systems of some engineers (which have not been followed of late years) the _place haute_, or high place, is that which stands the highest of three platforms that were constructed in the shape of an amphitheatre along the flanks of the bastions. Pagan, Blondel, and others, who have copied from these systems, did so from an idea, that considerable advantages might be derived from a powerful and concentrated discharge of artillery and musquetry. Not conceiving that it was possible to construct casemated flanks free of smoke, they built three or four open flanks one above the other. But they were soon rendered useless and untenable by the shells that fell, and the fragments that flew about in consequence of the demolition of the mason-work. Casemated ramparts, on the contrary, have been known to stand proof against the heaviest discharge of bombs, &c. to take up little room, and to afford ample space for a wide range of artillery, that is kept under cover.

PLACES _non revêtues_, _Fr._ all fortified towns or places are so called, when the ramparts that surround them are only lined with placage or simple turf. In this case the ramparts, so lined or covered, ought to be fraised and palisadoed above the berme or foot-path, to prevent surprizes. Hedges made of good quickset, well interwoven with other wood, and carefully attended to, will save the expence of palisadoes, which in marshy soils soon rot, and require to be replaced.

PLACES _revêtues_, _Fr._ All fortified towns or places are so called, whose ramparts are lined or covered with brick or stone. It frequently happens, that the revetement does not reach the terre-pleine of the rampart, especially when the parapets are thick and solid; in which case the revetement is more easily covered by the glacis. Parapets are no longer lined.

PLACE, _Fr._ This word is frequently used by the French, in a military sense, to signify ration, viz.

_Une_ PLACE _de bouche_, _Fr._ one ration of provisions.

_Deux_ PLACES _de fourrage_, _Fr._ Two rations of forage.

_To be_ PLACED. This expression is frequently used in naval and military matters, to signify the appointment or reduction of officers. Hence to be placed upon full or half-pay. It is more generally applicable to the latter case.

PLACER, _Fr._ to fix, to settle. This word is used among the French, as with us, to express the act of providing for a person by appointing him to a desirable situation, viz. _Placer un jeune homme dans un regiment_; to get a young man a commission in a regiment.

_Un cheval bien_ PLACE, _Fr._ A horse is said, among the French, to be well placed, when his forehead runs perpendicularly down between the nostrils.

PLAFOND, _Fr._ The ceiling.

PLAFONNER, _Fr._ to ceil or adorn the upper part of a room, &c.

PLAGE, _Fr._ flat shore, or extent of coast, where there are no creeks, &c. for vessels to ride in.

PLAIE, _Fr._ a wound or scar.

PLAN, _ground plot_, or _ichnography_, in _fortification_, is the representation of the first or fundamental tract of a work, showing the length of its lines, the quantity of its angles, the breadth of the ditches, thickness of the rampart, parapets, and the distance of one part from another: so that a plan represents a work, such as it would appear if cut equal with the level of the horizon, or cut off at the foundation: but it marks neither the heights nor depths of the several parts of the works: that is properly _profile_, which expresses only the heights, breadths, and depths, without taking notice of the lengths. As architects, before they lay the foundation of their edifice make their design on paper, by which means they find out their faults, so an engineer, before tracing his works on the ground, should make _plans_ of his designs upon paper, that he may do nothing without serious deliberation.

Exact plans are very useful for generals or governors, in either attacking or defending a place, in chusing a camp, determining attacks, conducting the approaches, or in examining the strength and weakness of a place; especially such plans as represent a place with the country about it, shewing the rivers, fountains, marshes, ditches, valleys, mountains, woods, houses, churches, defiles, roads, and other particulars, which appertain to it.

PLAN _of comparison_, a geometrical sketch of any fortress and adjacent country within cannon shot, in which the different levels of every principal point are expressed.

PLAN, _Fr._ See PLAN.

_Lever le_ PLAN _de quelque place de guerre_, _Fr._ to draw the plan of a fortified town or place.

PLANCHETTE, _Fr._ a small board or copper-plate, which is used in practical geometry.

PLANCHES, _Fr._ Boards, planks.

PLANCHES _d’entrevoux_, _Fr._ Boards or planks that are laid between the joists or posts of a building.

PLANCHEYER, _Fr._ to board or floor.

PLANCONS, _Fr._ literally twigs, or small round pieces of wood. A term used in hydraulics. See _Belidor_.

PLANIMETRY, (_planimetrie_, _Fr._) that part of geometry which considers lines and plane figures, without any reference to heights or depths, in opposition to stenometry, or the mensuration of solids.

PLANISPHERE, (_planisphere_, _Fr._) a representation of the globe or sphere on paper, for geometrical and astronomical purposes.

_To_ PLANT, in a military sense, to place, to fix; as to plant a standard. It likewise signifies to arrange different pieces of ordnance for the purpose of doing execution against an enemy or his works. Hence to plant a battery. Johnson applies it to the act of directing a cannon properly. The French use the word generally as we do, except in the last mentioned sense. They say, _metre le canon en batterie_. In others the term bears the same signification, with occasional deviations when they apply it figuratively, viz.

PLANTER _le piquet chez quelqu’un_, _Fr._ To quarter one-self upon any body.

PLANTER _là quelqu’un_, _Fr._ To leave a person abruptly, or, as we familiarly say, to leave another in the lurch.

PLANTER _quelque chose au nez de quelqu’un_, _Fr._ To reproach a person with any thing, or, as we familiarly say, to throw it in his teeth. _Il lui planter sa poltronnerie au nez_; he reproached him openly for his cowardice, or he threw his cowardice in his teeth.

PLANTE, _Fr._ To be fixed, to be stationary. _Un soldat bien plante sur ses pieds_, _Fr._ A soldier that is well set up.

PLANTER _un bâtiment_, _Fr._ To lay the first stones, or the foundations of a building.

PLAQUE, _Fr._ The shell of a sword. See PLACAGE.

PLAQUES _de Plomb_, _Fr._ Sheets of lead. These are used for various purposes. In the artillery, to cover the vent of a cannon; and on board ships of war, to stop the holes, &c. that are made by cannon shot.

PLAQUER, _Fr._ to lay one plank over another. To cover any space with earth or turf, &c.

PLASM. See MOULD.

PLASTER, a piece of greased leather or rag used by riflemen, &c. to make the ball fit the bore of the piece.

PLASTER, in building, a substance made of water and some absorbent matter, such as chalk or lime, well pulverised, with which walls are overlaid.

PLASTRON, a piece of leather stuffed, used by fencing-masters, to receive thereon the pushes made at them by their pupils.

PLASTRON, _Fr._ A breast plate or half cuirass. In the old French service the gens d’armes, the heavy cavalry, the light horse, &c. were obliged to wear breast-plates on all occasions at reviews, &c. The hussars were an exception to this order which took place on the 28th of May, 1733. In the original order, dated the 1st of February, 1703, it was particularly specified, that in order to be accustomed to their weight, the above-mentioned corps should wear half cuirasses in time of peace. The captains of troops were obliged to keep the half cuirasses belonging to their men in constant repair.

PLAT, _ate_, _Fr._ Flat, level, low. The flat side of any thing; as, _Plat de Sabre_.

PLAT _pays_. A flat or low country. It is generally used among the French to signify that extent, or space of country, on which scattered houses and villages are built, in contradistinction to towns and fortified places. It is likewise used in opposition to a mountainous country. _Les soldats de la garnison vivoient aux dépens du plat pays._ The soldiers of the garrison lived upon the adjacent villages or country.

_Punir à_ PLAT _de Sabre_. To punish a man by striking him with the flat side of a sabre blade. The French likewise say, _des coups de plat d’epée_. Blows given with the flat side of a sword. This mode of punishing is frequently adopted in foreign services, particularly among the Germans. M. de St. Germain, minister of the war department under Louis XVI. attempted to introduce it in France, but it was resisted by the army at large.

_Battre à_ PLATE _couture_, _Fr._ To gain a complete and decided victory, or to beat an enemy so as to kill or take almost every man he had to oppose. Hence, _une armée battue à plate couture_, _Fr._ An army completely routed and undone.

PLAT _de l’équipage d’un vaisseau_, _Fr._ A dish or mess, consisting of seven rations or portions put together, and served out for the subsistence of seven men, on board French ships of war.

_Etre mis au_ PLAT _des malades sur mer_, _Fr._ To be put upon the sick list on board a king’s ship; or to receive such rations as were ordered to be served out to the sick.

PLATAIN, _Fr._ Flat coast. A spot near the sea which is well calculated for a descent. As _Le Platain de d’Angoulin_, and the _Platain de Chatelaillon_, near Rochelle.

PLATES, or _prise plates_, in artillery, two plates of iron on the cheeks of a gun-carriage, from the cap-square to the centre, through which the prise bolts go, and on which the handspike rest, when used in raising the breech of the gun, &c.

_Breast_ PLATES, the two plates, on the face of the carriage, on the other cheek.

_Breast_ PLATES, the clasps, with ornamented heads, by which the cross belts in the army are attached.

_Train_ PLATES, the two plates on the cheeks at the train of the carriage.

_Dulidge_ PLATES, the six plates on the wheel of a gun carriage, where the fellies are joined together.

PLATEAU, _Fr._ A flat piece of wood, which is sometimes used to place mortars on, &c.

PLATEBANDES, _Fr._ Capsquares. A particular part of a piece of ordnance, which, though of a flat form or figure, rises beyond the rest of the metal, and is always cast before the moulding. There are three sorts of platbands upon a regular piece of ordnance, viz. capsquare and moulding at the breech; capsquare and moulding of the first reinforce; capsquare and moulding of the second reinforce.

PLATEBANDES _d’affuts_, _Fr._ Iron capsquares, which serve to keep the trunnions fast between the cheeks of a piece of ordnance.

PLATFORM, (_Platforme_, _Fr._) The upper part of every brick or stone building which is arched and has more floors than one, is so called. Hence the platform of a tower, or of a redoubt. All pieces of ordnance that are planted on a rampart, or are disposed along the lines of a besieging army, &c. have their platforms.

PLATFORM, in _gunnery_, is a bed of wood on a battery, upon which the guns stand; each consisting of 18 planks of oak or elm, a foot broad, 2¹⁄₂ inches thick, and from 8 to 15 feet long, nailed or pinned on 4, 5, or 6 beams, from 4 to 7 inches square, called sleeper. They must be made higher behind than before by 6 or 9 inches, to prevent too great a recoil, and to advance the gun easily when loaded. They are from 18 to 20 feet long, 8 feet before and 14 or 15 feet behind.

Permanent batteries, if good stone is not to be had, should be made of brick placed on the edge.

PLATFORMS. The common platforms for gun batteries require the following materials for each: 5 sleepers or joists, 6 inches square, 14 feet long.--1 hunter, 8 or 10 inches square, 8 feet long, 14 planks, 1 foot wide, 11 feet long, 2¹⁄₂ inches thick.--20 pickets.

The usual slope of platforms for guns is one inch to every yard.

The platforms for mortar batteries are made with 3 sleepers 8 inches square, and covered with about 11 timbers of the same thickness. They are laid perfectly horizontal, about 15 feet asunder, and 12 feet from the epaulement. This is the distance commonly practised for firing only at 15 degrees elevation; but if the platforms be placed at the undermentioned distances from the epaulement, the mortars may be fired at the angles corresponding.

At 13 feet distance for firing at 30 degrees.
21 feet at 20
30 feet at 15
40 feet at 10

over an epaulement of 8 feet high. See BATTERY.

PLATINE _de lumiere_, _Fr._ The same as _Plaques de Plomb_, as far as it regards cannon. With respect to musquets and other firearms, it means that part of the hammer which covers the pan.

PLATOON, in _military affairs_, was formerly a small body of men, in a battalion of foot, &c. that fired alternately. A battalion was then generally divided into 16 platoons, exclusive of the grenadiers, which formed 2 or 4 platoons more, as occasion required. At present a battalion is generally divided into wings, grand divisions, divisions, (platoons or companies) subdivisions, and sections; and the word platoon is generally used, to denote a number (from 10 to 20) of recruits assembled for the purpose of instruction, in which case it may be considered as synonimous with company; but a platoon may consist of any number under a battalion.

PLATRAS, _Fr._ Rubbish, such as ashes, pieces of broken brick, mortar, &c. It is used by refiners, for the purpose of distilling saltpetre into proper vessels.

PLATRER, _Fr._ to plaster, to patch, to daub over.

PLAY, is occasionally applied to a military action; as the cannon _play_ upon the enemy, &c.

PLEBEIAN. From the Latin _Plebius_, a distinction made between the poor and rich, in a very early period of Rome; which tended to its ultimate destruction. The term is chiefly used in speaking of the ancient Romans, who were divided into senators, knights, plebians, and common.

PLEDGET, the same as _bolster_, _compress_, in surgery, a kind of flat tent, which is laid over a wound, to imbibe the superfluous humors that ooze out, and to keep it clean.

PLEIN _du Mur_, _Fr._ The main part or body of a wall.

PLEIN _fouet_, direct shot; or firing so as to hit the mark by the trajectory line.

PLIER, _Fr._ To give way.

_Une aile qui_ PLIE, _Fr._ in a military sense, the wing of an army, which gives way. When this occurs, it behoves a wise and executive general, to send immediate support, for the whole army is endangered by the least impression on that quarter.

PLINTH, the square member which serves as a foundation to the base of a pillar.

PLOMB, _Fr._ literally means lead. It is sometimes used in a military sense, to signify musquet shot, &c.

_A_ PLOMB, _Fr._ The perpendicular position of any body or substance. _Une muraille est à plomb._ A wall built in a straight perpendicular direction.

_Donner à plomb_, _Fr._ To fall vertically, as the rays of the sun do in certain latitudes

_Etre à plomb_, _Fr._ To stand upright.

_Marcher à plomb_, _Fr._ To march with a firm, steady pace.

This word is sometimes used as a substantive, viz. _Perdre son a plomb._ To lose one’s balance.

_Manquer d’a plomb_, _Fr._ To be unsteady.

PLONGEE, _Fr._ A term used in artillery to express the action of a bomb, &c. which from the highest point of the curve it describes, takes a downward direction to strike its object.

PLONGEE _du Rampart_, _Fr._ The slope of the upper part of the parapet, belonging to the rampart, is so called. The slope is likewise named _talus supérieur_, or upper talus.

PLONGEONS, _Fr._ Artificial fireworks, which are shot into water and rise again without being extinguished.

PLONGEONS, _Fr._ Plungers or divers. Men of this description ought always to accompany an army, for the purpose of swimming under bridges of boats, &c. and making apertures in their bottoms.

PLONGER, _Fr._ To plunge any thing into the water. This word is likewise used to express the discharge of ordnance from top to bottom, as _canon plongé_.

PLUIE _de feu_, _Fr._ literally a shower or rain of fire. It signifies a certain quantity of artificial fireworks, whose discharge falls in regular sparks, without ever deviating into a serpentine direction.

PLUMB, PLUMMET, a leaden or other weight let down at the end of a string, or piece of catgut, to regulate any work in a line perpendicular to the horizon, or sound the depth of any thing. It is of great use to the artillerist, as well as to the engineer.

PLUME, feathers worn by soldiers in the hat or helmet.

PLUMET, _Fr._ plume, feather. An ornament which is worn by military men in their hats. It succeeded the pannache or bunch of feathers, that formerly adorned the helmets.

PLUMMET. This word is derived from the Latin _Plumbum_, lead, as a piece thereof is fastened to the end of a thread. The instrument itself is used by masons, &c. to draw perpendiculars with, in order to judge whether walls, &c. be upright planes, horizontal, &c. Pilots, at sea, likewise ascertain their soundings by it. In the forming of recruits it is used to fix lines.

Plummets which vibrate the required times of march in the minute, are of great utility, and can alone prevent, or correct uncertainty of movement; they must be in the possession of, and be constantly referred to by each instructor of a squad.

A musquet ball suspended by a string which is not subject to stretch, (and must of course be kept constantly dry) and on which are marked the different required lengths, will answer the above purpose, may be easily acquired, and should be frequently compared with an accurate standard in the adjutant’s, or serjeant-major’s possession. The length of the plummet is to be measured from the point of suspension to the centre of the ball.

Accurate distances or steps of 24 inches must also be marked out on the ground, along which the soldier should be practised to march, and thereby acquire the just length of pace.

PLUNDER, hostile pillage, or spoils taken in war.

PLUS, in algebra, commonly denotes majus, more, or addition: its character is +. Thus 5 + 7 is read 5 _plus_ 7, or 5 added to 7 is equal to 12.

PLUTEUS, a defensive machine, which was used by the ancient Romans. It was composed of wicker hurdles laid for a roof on the top of posts, which the soldiers, who went under it for shelter, bore up with their hands. Kennett, in page 238, of his Roman Antiquities, observes, that some will have them, as well as the vineæ, to have been contrived with a double roof; the first and lower roof of planks, and the upper roof of hurdles, to break the force of any blow, without disordering the machine. The plutei, however, were of a different figure from the vineæ, being shaped like an arched sort of waggon; some having three wheels, so conveniently placed, that the machine would move either way, with equal ease. They were put much to the same use as the _musculi_. Father Daniel, the Jesuit, in his history of the French militia, makes mention of this machine. He quotes a passage out of a poem, intituled the Siege of Paris, by Abbon, the Monk; the meaning of which is, that the Normans brought up a large quantity of machines, that were called _plutei_ by the Romans, and that seven or eight soldiers could be put under cover beneath them. He further adds, that these machines were covered with bull hides.

The moderns have imitated these plutei by adopting mantelets. The chevalier Folard mentions having seen one at the siege of Phillipeville, of a triangular figure, made of cork, interlaced between two boards, and supported by three wheels that turned upon a pivot.

PLUSH, a kind of stuff with a sort of velvet nap or shag on one side, consisting of a woof of a single woollen thread, and a double warp; the one of two woollen threads twisted, the other goat’s or camel’s hair; though there are plushes entirely of worsted, others of hair, and others again of silk, cotton, &c. White plush breeches have been often worn by dragoons. They resist moisture, and are easily cleaned.

PNEUMATICS. The doctrine of the air, or the laws whereby it is condensed, rarefied, gravitated, &c.

PNEUMATIC _Engine_, denotes the air pump.

PNEUMATIQUE, _Fr._ Pneumatics.

POIDS, _Fr._ Weights.

POIDS _de Marc_, _Fr._ Avoirdupois weight.

POIDS _Romain_, _Fr._ Troy weight.

POIDS _à peser l’eau_, _Fr._ Waterpoise.

_Etre de_ POIDS, _Fr._ To weigh.

_Avec_ POIDS _et mesure_, _Fr._ With care and circumspection.

POIGNARD, _Fr._ Dagger, poniard.

_Coup de_ POIGNARD, _Fr._ A stab.

POIGNARDER, _Fr._ To stab.

POIGNEE, _Fr._ Handful. _Poignée d’hommes_; a handful of men; a small number.

POIGNEE, _Fr._ Handle of a sword.

_La_ POIGNEE, _Fr._ The handle.

POIL, _Fr._ Hair. _Monter un cheval à_ POIL. To ride a horse without a saddle.

_Un brave à trois_ POILS, _Fr._ A figurative expression to describe a bully, or gasconading fellow.

POINCON, _Fr._ A puncheon, bodkin. It is likewise an instrument which is used in the making of artificial fireworks, being called _poincon à arrêt_, from a piece of iron running cross-ways near the point, to prevent it from entering too far.

POINT, in geometry, according to Euclid, is a quantity which has no parts, being indivisible; and according to others, that which terminates itself on every side, or which has no boundaries distinct from itself. This is a mathematical point, and is only conceived by the imagination; yet herein all magnitude begins and ends, its flux generating a line, that of a line a surface, &c. A line can only cut another in a point.

POINT, _in perspective_, denotes various places with regard to the perspective plane, viz. _point of sight_, or _of the eye_, or _principal point_, is a point in the axis of the eye, or in the central ray, where the same is intersected by the horizon.

POINT, or points of distance, in perspective, is a point or points, for there are sometimes two of them placed at equal distances from the point of sight.

_Accidental_ POINTS, or _Contingent_ POINTS, in perspective, are certain points wherein such objects as may be thrown negligently, and without order, under the plan, do tend to terminate. For this reason they are not drawn to the point of sight, nor the points of distance, but meet accidentally, or at random in the horizon.

POINT _of the front_, in perspective, is when we have the object directly before us, and not more on one side than the other, in which case it only shews the foreside; and if it be below the horizon, a little of the top too, but nothing of the side, unless the object be polygonous.

_Third_ POINT, is a point taken at discretion in the line of distance, wherein all the diagonals drawn from the divisions of the geometrical plane concur.

_Objective_ POINT, a point on a geometrical plane, whose representation is required on the perspective plane.

POINT _of concourse_, in optics, is that wherein converging rays meet, more commonly called the focus.

POINT _of dispersion_, is that wherein the rays begin to diverge, usually called the virtual focus.

POINT. This term is frequently used in a military sense. _As point of intersection, intermediate point, &c._ The several applications of which may be seen in the general rules and regulations.

_Covering_ POINT, a point which in changes of position materially concerns the movement of one line with another.

When a change of position is made on a flank or central point of the first line, the movement of its _coveting point_ of the second line, determines the new relative situation of that second line.

To find this point, it is necessary to premise, that if a circle is described from any point (A) of a first line (AE) with a radius equal to the distance betwixt the two lines; then its covering point (a) at that time in the second line will be always in the circumference of that circle, at such place as the second line becomes a tangent to the circle. Should the first line, therefore, make a change of position (AR) either on a flank or central point (A); its covering point (a) will move so as still to preserve and halt in its relative situation (a 2) and by the movement and halt of that point preceded by the one (d) of _intersection_, every other part of the second line, either by following them, or by yielding from them, is regulated and directed. Betwixt the old and new situation of the covering point (a) and equidistant from each, lies the _point_ (d) where the old and new positions of the second line _intersect_, and which is a most material one in the movement of that line.

POINT _of honor_. See HONOR.

POINT _of Appui_, the point upon which a line of troops is formed. When the right stands in front, and the column is marching to form, the first halted company, division, &c. is the point of appui. Thus when the right is in front the distant point of formation is the left.

POINT _of Intersection_, the point where two lines intersect each other.

_Intermediate_ POINT. In marching forward that is called an intermediate point which lies between the spot marched from, and the spot towards which you are advancing. In forming line, the centre point between the right and left is the intermediate point. It is of the utmost consequence to every body of troops, advancing or retreating, but especially in advancing towards the enemy, to find an intermediate point between two given, and, perhaps, inaccessible objects. The line of march is preserved by these means in its perpendicular direction, and every column may be enabled to ascertain its relative point of entry in the same line.

POINT _of Alignment_, (_Point d’alignement_, _Fr._) The point which troops form upon and dress by.

POINT _of Formation_, a point taken, upon which troops are formed in military order.

_Perpendicular_ POINT, the point upon which troops march in a straight forward direction.

_Relative_ POINTS, the points by which the parallelism of a march is preserved.

POINT _of passing_, the ground on which one or more bodies of armed men march by a reviewing general.

POINT _to salute at_, the spot on which the reviewing general stands. This, however, is not to be understood literally, as every infantry officer when he arrives within six paces of the general, recovers his sword and drops it, keeping it in that situation until he shall have passed him a prescribed number of paces. The cavalry salute within the breadth of the horse’s neck, the instant the object is uncovered.

POINT _of War_, a loud and impressive beat of the drum, the perfect execution of which requires great skill and activity. The point of war is beat when a battalion charges.

POINT _du jour_, _Fr._ break of day; dawn.

POINT _de vue_, _Fr._ prospect, sight, aim.

_De_ POINT _en blanc_, _Fr._ point blank.

_A_ POINT, _Fr._ in time.

_A_ POINT _nommée_, _Fr._ seasonably.

_La_ POINTE, _Fr._ the point of the sword.

POINT is also a steel instrument of various use in several arts. Engravers, etchers, wood-cutters, stone-cutters, &c. use points to trace their designs on copper, wood, or stone.

POINT _blank_, (_But en blanc_, _Fr._) in gunnery, denotes the shot of a piece levelled horizontally, without either mounting or sinking the muzzle. In shooting thus, the bullet is supposed to go in a direct line, and not to move in a curve, as bombs and highly elevated random shots do. We say supposed to go in a direct line, because it is certain, and easily proved, that a shot cannot fly any part of its range in a right line strictly taken; but the greater the velocity, the nearer it approaches to a right line; or the less crooked its range.

For the point blank ranges of different pieces of ordnance, see the different natures.

The French _point blank_ or _but en blanc_, is what the English artillery call the _line of metal elevation_; in most guns between one and two degrees.

POINTER, _Fr._ to point; as, _pointer un canon_. To point a cannon.

POINTEURS, _Fr._ Levellers. Officers in the old French artillery, who were subordinate to the extraordinary commissaries; but who were never employed except upon field service.

POINTS _d’appui_, _Fr._ Basis, support. The general signification of this term expresses the different advantageous posts, such as castles, fortified villages, &c. which the general of an army takes possession of in order to secure his natural position. In a more limited sense, they mean those points which are taken up in movements and evolutions. See POINT D’APPUI. _Am. Mil. Lib._

POINTING _of a gun or mortar_, is the placing either one or other, so as to hit the object, or to come as near it as possible.

_To_ POISON _a Piece_, (_Enclouer une piéce_, _Fr._) in gunnery, to clog or nail it up.

POISSON, _Fr._ literally means fish.

POITREL, armor for the breast of a horse.

POIX, _Fr._ pitch.

POIX _résine_, _Fr._ Rosin.

POLACRE, _Fr._ A lappel coat.

POLACRE, or _Polaque_, _Fr._ a Levantine vessel, which carries a smack sail on the mizen and mizen mast, and square sails on the main mast and bowsprit.

POLAIRE, _Fr._ Polar.

POLE, in a four wheel carriage, is fastened to the middle of the hind axle-tree, and passes between the fore axle-tree and its bolster, fastened with the pole-pin, so as to move about it; keeping the fore and hind carriages together. It is also called the _tongue_.

POLES, in castrametation, long round pieces of wood, by which a marquee or tent is supported. There are three sorts, viz.

_Ridge_ POLE, a long round piece of wood, which runs along the top of an officer’s tent or marquee, and is supported by two other poles, viz.

_Front_ POLE, a strong pole, which is fixed in the front part of an officer’s tent or marquee, and is kept in a perpendicular position by means of two strong cords, called weather cords, that run obliquely from each other, across two other cords from the rear pole, and are kept fast to the earth by wooden pegs.

_Rear_ POLE, a strong pole, which is fixed in the back part of an officer’s marquee or tent, and is kept in the same relative position as has been described above.

_Fire_ POLES, or _Rods_, artificial fireworks. They are generally of the length of ten or twelve feet, and of the thickness of two inches at most. One of the ends of the fire pole is hollowed out with three or four flutes to the length of two or three feet. Into one of these flutes are fixed rockets or squibs. Paper crackers are fixed in the others. After holes have been bored through the body of the pole, in order that the rockets may have communication with the crackers, they must be neatly wrapped in paper, the more effectually to deceive the spectators.

POLEAXE, an axe fixed to the end of a long pole. See BATTLE AXE.

POLICE, _Fr._ in a military sense, among the French, this term comprehends the inspectors, the treasurers, the paymasters, the commissaries, the provost marshal, &c.

POLICE _d’assurance_, _Fr._ a policy of Insurance.

POLICY _in war_. See STRATAGEM.

POLITICAL, relating to policy, or civil government.

POLITICS, (_Politique_, _Fr._) a part of ethics which consists in the governing of states, for the maintenance of the public safety, order, and good morals.

POLK, _Fr._ a Polish term, signifying a regiment, from whence is derived polkowink, colonel.

POLLAM, _Ind._, a measure equal to twenty ounces: forty make a viz in weight in Madras.

POLL _Money_, commonly called poll-tax, or capitation.

POLTROON, (_Poltron_, _Fr._) a coward, a dastard, who has no courage to perform any thing noble. The etymology of poltron or poltroon, as it is usually pronounced, is curious. Both in ancient and modern times frequent instances have occurred of men, who had been forcibly enlisted, having rendered themselves unfit for service by cutting off their thumbs or fingers. When this happened among the Romans, they were called _Pollice trunci_. The French, (as they do in most of their words that are derived from the Latin) contract these two, and by an elision make poltron or poltroon, from whence we have adopted the term. Another, and in our opinion a more correct derivation, comes from the Italian _Poltrone_, which takes its derivation from _Poltro_, a colt; because of that animal’s readiness to run away; or _Poltro_ a bed, as pusillanimous people take a pleasure in lying in bed. This last word is derived from the high Dutch _Polster_, which signifies a bolster or cushion. This contemptible character is so little calculated for a military life, that the slightest imputation of cowardice is sufficient to render an individual unworthy of serving among _real_ soldiers. Poltroon and coward stand, in fact, foremost in the black catalogue of military incapacities. Every young man, therefore, ought well to weigh, examine, and digest the necessary qualifications for a profession, which, above all others, exacts a daring spirit, and an unqualified contempt of death.

POLIGARCHY, (_Polygarchie_, _Fr._) a government composed of many chiefs or leaders.

POLYGARS, _Ind._ Chiefs of mountainous and woody districts in the peninsula, who pay only a temporary homage.

POLYGON, (_Polygone_, _Fr._) is a figure of more than four sides, and is either regular or irregular, exterior or interior.

_Regular_ POLYGON, is that whose angles and sides are equal. It has an angle of the centre, and an angle of the polygon. The centre of a regular polygon, is the centre of a circle, which circumscribes the polygon; that is, whose circumference passes through all the angles of the figure.

_Irregular_ POLYGON, is that whose sides and angles are unequal.

_Exterior_ POLYGON, that whose lines touch the points of the flanked angles, when a place is fortified inwards.

_Interior_ POLYGON, that outward fortification which makes the angles of the gorget; so that the whole bastion is without the polygon.

POLYEDRE, _Fr._ See POLYEDRON.

_Lunettes_ POLYEDRES, _Fr._ Magnifying glasses.

POLYEDRICAL, POLYEDROUS, having many sides.

POLYEDRON, a solid figure or body consisting of many sides.

POLYGRAPHIE, _Fr._ See POLYGRAPHY.

POLYNOMIAL, (_Polynôme_, _Fr._) an algebraical term, signifying a quantity made up of many others by means of the sign + or _more_, and the sign - or _less_.

POLYORCETE, _Fr._ a term used among the french to distinguish great warriors. It literally signifies the taking of strong towns. Marshals Saxe and Lowendalh, _les grands Polyorcetes_ of the last century.

POLYTECHNIQUE, _Ecole_ POLYTECHNIQUE, a word derived from the Greek, and used by the French to distinguish an establishment in which all sciences are taught. The military school, which existed during the French monarchy, is comprised in this institution. See MILITARY SCHOOL.

POMADA, an exercise of vaulting the wooden horse, by laying one hand over the pommel of the saddle.

POMERIUM, in ancient architecture, that space of ground which lay between the walls of a fortified town and the inhabitants’ houses. The term is still used among modern architects, particularly by the Italians, as Peter Cataneo, and Alghiri, to describe the breadth of the terre pleine of rampart, its inward talus, and the vacant space which is usually left between this talus and the houses of the town.

POMMEL, (_Pommeau_, _Fr._) a piece of brass or other substance, at top, and in the middle of the saddle bow, to which are fastened the holsters, stirrip leathers, &c.

POMMEL, the knob at the extremity of the handle that balances the blade of the sword; also the protuberance on the fore part of a saddle.

POMMES, _Fr._ round pieces of wood which are variously used for ornament, &c.

POMMES _de Pavillon et d’enseigne_, _Fr._ the piece of wood which is fixed at the top of the color staff, &c.

POMPE, _Fr._ See PUMP.

POMPE _de mer_, _Fr._ a sea pump, or a pump used on board a ship.

POMPER, _Fr._ to pump.

PONANT, _Fr._ the west. In the French sea-service, _ponant_ signifies that part of the ocean which is separated from the seas in the Levant by the streights of Gibraltar.

_Officier_ PONANTIN, _Fr._ one who serves upon the ocean.

_Armée_ PONANTINE, _Fr._ the army of the west.

PONCEAU, _Fr._ a small bridge of one arch, which is thrown across a canal or rivulet.

PONCER, _Fr._ to rub, or pounce upon any thing.

PONIARD, a little pointed dagger, very sharp edged.

PONT _d’or_, _Fr._ a figurative expression which the French use, when they suffer an enemy, whom they have defeated, to retire without molestation. Hence _faire un pont d’or à son ennemi_. To suffer your enemy to escape.

PONTE, _Fr._ covered in, as a vessel is which has a deck.

PONTON, _Fr._ A bridge; a machine made like a batteau or boat, of copper or tin, upon which planks are laid over which troops pass as on a bridge. See PONTOON.

PONTONIER, _Fr._ Lighterman.

PONTS _flottans_, _Fr._ See FLOATING BRIDGE.

PONT _levis_, _Fr._ See DRAWBRIDGE.