Chapter I: DO HEREBY CERTIFY, upon my word and honor, as an officer and (6)

SERGENT _de bataille_, _Fr._ Field Serjeant. This was an appointment of considerable trust in the old French armies. The _sergens de bataille_ held commands, and did the duty of modern inspectors. They ranked next to a field marshal, or _marechal de bataille_. The _sergens de bataille_, or field serjeants, existed under Francis the First. But these field serjeants were only at that time _sergens de bandes_, or train serjeants. There were likewise, under the same king, _sergens generaux de bataille_, general field serjeants. These were officers of rank, and did the duty of a modern major general.

There were also officers of the same description in the reign of Henry IV. This appointment appears to have been dropped after the peace of the _Pyrenees_. The author of the _Histoire de la Milice Francaise_, observes, that the appointment and duty of the different officers, called marshals, or field serjeants, varied according to the will and pleasure of the French kings, and their war-ministers. He agrees with us, that the situation of field serjeant was originally of great consequence, but that it gradually declined, and was eventually made subservient to a superior officer, who was called _Marechal de bataille_, or field-marshal, whose duties corresponded with those of the French adjutant-general in the present times.

There have been officers of the same denomination both in Spain and Germany, who did the duty of Maréchaux de Camp; another term, we presume, for field marshal. But the general field serjeants in those countries were divided into two classes; one class was confined, in its functions, to the infantry, and the other to the cavalry; and both acted independently of one another; whereas in France they acted together.

According to the present establishment of the French army, there is a serjeant major belonging to each company. The _sergens majors d’un régiment_, or _d’une place_ of the old French service, were what are now simply called _majors_, majors of regiments, or town majors. The senior serjeant of every company is called _serjeant major_ in the French army at this time. In the British army the _serjeant major_ is the head of the non-commissioned officers, and though sometimes attached to a company, is generally a detached staff officer. See SERJEANT MAJOR.

SERGENTER, _Fr._ A word frequently used by the French in a figurative sense, signifying to press, to importune. _On n’aime pointe à être sergenté_; one does not like to be pressed; or as we familiarly say, to be dragooned into a thing.

SERHUD, _Ind._ A boundary, or frontier.

SERGEANT, SERJEANT, SERGENT, _Fr._ in _war_, is a non-commissioned or inferior officer in a company or troop, and appointed to see discipline observed; to teach the private men their exercise; and to order, and form ranks, files, &c. He receives the orders from the serjeant-major, which he communicates to his officers. Each company has generally four serjeants.

SERJEANT-_Major_. The serjeant-major is the first non-commissioned officer in the regiment after the quarter-master in the English army. He is, in fact, an assistant to the adjutant.

It is his peculiar duty to be perfect master of every thing which relates to drills; and it is always expected, that he should set an example to the rest of the non-commissioned officers, by his manly, soldier-like, and zealous activity.

He must be thoroughly acquainted with all the details which regard the interior management and the discipline of a regiment. For this purpose he must be a good penman, and must keep regular returns of the serjeants and corporals, with the dates of their appointments, as well as the roster for their duties, and rosters of privates orderly duty and commands, as far as relates to the number which each troop or company is to furnish. He is in every respect responsible for the accuracy of these details. He must look well to the appearance of the men, and order such to drill as he sees awkward, slovenly, or in any way irregular. If it be meant as a punishment, he specifies the time for which they are sent to drill: if only for awkwardness, they remain there until their faults are removed.

When he has occasion to put a non-commissioned officer in arrest, he must report him to the adjutant.

It is the duty of the serjeant-major, under the direction of the adjutant, to drill every young officer who comes into the regiment in the manual and marching exercises: he is likewise to instruct him in the slow and quick marches, in wheeling, &c.

He reports regularly to the adjutant the exact state of the awkward drill, &c.

It is scarcely necessary to observe in this place, that the good or bad appearance of a regiment, with or without arms, depends greatly upon the skill and activity of the serjeant major; and that he has every inducement to look forward to promotion.

_Quarter-master_ SERJEANT. A non-commissioned officer who acts under the quarter-master of a regiment; he ought to be a steady man, a good accountant, and to be well acquainted with the resources of a country town or village.

_Pay_-SERJEANT. An honest, steady, non-commissioned officer, (who is a good accountant, and writes well) that is selected by the captain of a company in the infantry, to pay the men, give out rations, and to account weekly to him, or to his subaltern, (as the case may be) for all disbursements. He likewise keeps a regular state of the necessaries of the men, and assists in making up the monthly abstract for pay, allowances, &c.

_Covering_ SERJEANT. A non-commissioned officer who during the exercise of a battalion, regularly stands or moves behind each officer, commanding or acting with a platoon or company. When the ranks take open order, and the officers move in front, the covering serjeants replace their leaders; and when the ranks are closed, they fall back in their rear.

_Drill_ SERJEANT. An expert and active non-commissioned officer, who, under the immediate direction of the serjeant major, instructs the raw recruits of a regiment in the first principles of military exercise. When awkward or ill-behaved men are sent to drill, they are usually placed under the care of the drill serjeant. This non-commissioned officer will do well to bear constantly in mind the following observations from page 135, Vol I. of the _Règlemens pour l’Infanterie Prusienne_.

“In teaching young recruits their first duties, the greatest caution must be observed not to give them a disgust to the service, by harsh treatment, angry and impatient words, and much less by blows. The utmost mildness must, on the contrary, be shewn, in order to endear the service to them; and the several parts of exercise must be taught them by degrees; so that they become insensibly acquainted with the whole of the discipline, without having been disgusted in the acquirement. Rustics and strangers must be used with extreme lenity.”

The principle of kind conduct is not less worthy of the officers of a free nation like the United States; a generous but firm conduct is always better calculated to assure good discipline, than violence or brutality. Men learn sooner, learn better, and like what they learn when treated as _men_, not as brutes. There yet prevails too much of the barbarity of the British and German systems in the American army.

_Lance_ SERJEANT. A corporal who acts as serjeant in a company, but only receives the pay of corporal.

_White_ SERJEANT. A term of just ridicule, which is applied to those ladies who, taking advantage of the uxoriousness of their husbands, and neglect their household concerns, to interfere in military matters.

SERMENT, _Fr._ Oath.

_Prêter_ SERMENT, _Fr._ To take an oath.

SERPE, _Fr._ A billhook.

SERPE _d’armes_, _Fr._ An offensive weapon; so called from its resemblance to a hedging bill.

SERPENTEAU, _Fr._ A round iron circle, with small spikes, and squibs attached to them. It is frequently used in the attack and defence of a breach. It likewise means a fusee, which is filled with gunpowder, and is bent in such a manner, that when it takes fire, it obtains a circular rapid motion, and throws out sparks of light in various directions.

SERPENTEAUX _et serpenteaux brochettes_, _Fr._ A species of lardon or fusee, which is garnished or loaded upon a stick or spit that is a third of the length of the cartridge.

SERPENTIN, _Fr._ The cock of a musquet or firelock.

SERRE-_File_, _Fr._ The last rank of a battalion, by which its depth is ascertained, and which always forms its rear. When ranks are doubled, the battalion resumes its natural formation by means of the serre-files. Serre-file literally signifies a bringer up.

SERRE _demi File_, _Fr._ That rank in a battalion which determines the half of its depth, and which marches before the demi-file. Thus a battalion standing six deep, has its _serre-demi file_ in the third rank, which determines its depth.

_Capitaine de_ SERRE-_File_, _Fr._ The officer who commands a rear guard when a regiment is on its march.

SERRER, _Fr._ To close up. _Serrez vos rangs._ Take close order.

SERRER _la bride_, _Fr._ To pull in the bridle.

SERRURE, _Fr._ A lock.

SERRURIER, _Fr._ A locksmith.

SERVANS _d’armes_, or _Chevaliers Servans_, _Fr._ Persons belonging to the third class of the order of Malta are so called. They are not noblemen, although they wear the sword and the cross.

_To_ SERVE, (_Servir_, _Fr._) In a military sense, to do duty as an officer or soldier.

_To_ SERVE _a piece_. In the artillery, to load and fire with promptitude and correctness. The French use the term in the same sense, viz. _L’artillerie fut bien servie à ce siege_. The artillery was well served at this siege.

SERVICE, (_Service_, _Fr._) In a general sense of the word, as far as it relates to war, every species of military duty which is done by an inferior under the influence and command of a superior. It likewise means exploit, achievement. It also points out the particular profession to which a man belongs, as land service, sea service, and the degree of knowlege which he may have acquired by practice, viz. He has seen a great deal of service.

SERVICE likewise means the period during which a man has done duty, or followed the military profession in an active manner.

_To see_ SERVICE. To be in actual contact with an enemy.

_To be on_ SERVICE. To be doing actual duty with a corps or detachment.

_To enter into the_ SERVICE. To receive a commission in the army. The individual must be recommended to the commander in chief, or to the secretary at war, (as the case may be) stating him to be fully qualified to hold that situation.

_To retire from the_ SERVICE. To quit the army, or resign.

No officer can resign his commission, or retire from the service, without having previously obtained permission through the commander in chief, or the secretary at war, as the case may be.

_To retire from the_ SERVICE, _keeping one’s rank_. It has sometimes happened, that an officer has obtained permission to quit the army, keeping his rank. By which means he has been enabled to return into the service, and to take advantage of his original standing. A very meritorious officer, of high rank at present, was permitted to retire in this manner. There have been instances of officers retiring not only with their rank, but with a certain allowance from the regiment.

_Infantry_ SERVICE. Service done by foot soldiers.

_Cavalry_ SERVICE. Service done by soldiers on horseback.

_Faire son_ SERVICE, _Fr._ To do one’s duty.

_Etre de_ SERVICE, _Fr._ To be on duty.

_Etre de_ SERVICE, _chez le roi_. To do duty at the palace.

_Service_ likewise means tour of duty, or routine of service.

SERVICE _de l’infanterie en marche_, _Fr._ The regular duties, or routine of service which an infantry regiment goes through when it receives orders to march. These are, the general, _la génêrale_ ou _le premier_. The assembly, _l’assemblée_. The troop, _le drapeau_ ou _le dernier_.

SERVICE _des places_, _Fr._ The regular duty, or routine of service, which is performed in fortified towns or places. Of this description are garrison duties. See _l’Essai sur la science de la guerre_ par Mons. le baron D’Espagnac, tom. iii. p. 355, and _les Elémens Militaires_, tom. ii. p. 116, where specific regulations on this head may be seen. We likewise recommend to the perusal of every engineer and artillery officer, a late valuable publication, entitled Essai Générale de Fortification et d’Attaque et Defence des places.

SERVICE _de campagne_, _Fr._ Field duties: This subject has been ably treated by several French writers, and among others by the author of _les Elemens Militaires_, tom. ii. p. 1, &c. and in tom. iv. p. 68, &c.

_A letter of_ SERVICE. See LETTER.

_Home_ SERVICE. In a military sense, the duty which is done within the limits of the United States. This term is frequently used to distinguish such troops as are not liable to serve beyond specified limits, from those that have been raised for general service; as the militia in the several stares of the union.

_Foreign_ SERVICE. Military duty, or service done abroad.

_Secret_ SERVICE. Any service performed by an individual, in a clandestine secret manner. It likewise means intelligence, or information given by spies when countries are engaged in war, for which they receive pecuniary compensation.

_Secret_ SERVICE _money_. The reward, or compensation which is given for secret intelligence.

SERVICEABLE, capable of performing all necessary military duty.

SERVICES. Pecuniary disbursements, or payments which are made for military purposes.

SERVIR _le canon_, _Fr._ To serve the cannon.

SERVIR _l’artillerie_, _Fr._ To serve the artillery.

_To_ SET _a sentry_, (_Poser une sentinelle_, _Fr._) To place a soldier at any particular spot for its security.

_To_ SET _on_, (_Attaquer_, _Fr._) To attack.

_To_ SET _at defiance_, (_defier_, _Fr._) To defy; to dare to combat, &c.

_To_ SET _up_. To make a man fit for military movements and parade, according to the old and ridiculous method of military instruction; by which a man was placed in _stiff_ and _awkward_ attitudes, with the notion of making him supple and active! But that excess of setting up which stiffens the person, and tends to throw the body backward instead of forward, is contrary to every true principle of movement, and must, therefore, be most carefully avoided. By the new principles nature is consulted, and instead of teaching one man awkward positions, fifty or an hundred are taught at once to move in an easy and natural manner.

SETENDY, _Ind._ The militia.

SETTER, _in gunnery_, a round stick to drive fuzes, or any other compositions, into cases made of paper.

SHAFT-_rings_. See RINGS.

SEUIL, _Fr._ A threshold.

SEUIL _d’ecluse_, _Fr._ A thick piece of wood which is laid cross-ways between two stakes at the bottom of the water, for the purpose of supporting the flood-gate.

SEUIL _de pont levis_. A thick piece of wood with a groove, which is fixed on the edge of the counterscarp of a fosse or ditch, in order to bear the weight or pressure of the draw-bridge, when it is lowered. It is likewise called _sommier_, a _summer_ or principal beam.

SEWER. In military architecture, a drain, conduit, or conveyance, for carrying off water, foliage, &c. It is necessary that every building have conveniencies for discharging its refuse water, and other useless and offensive matters. These are obtained by digging and laying sewers and drains at proper depths, and with the necessary outlets: the great care is, that they be large enough; that they be placed sufficiently deep, and have a proper descent; that they be well arched over, and have so free a passage, that there be no danger of their choaking up; the cleaning them being a work of trouble and expence.

Instead of making the bottom of the sewer a flat floor, it should be in the form of an inverted arch, answering in part to the sweep of the arch above. Every one knows that the freest passage is through circular channels; and these might easily be constructed so as to wear that form; they would resemble so many water-pipes of a circular base, and there would be no danger of their filling up. The perpendicular walls would not retain any thing, because there are no angles in their joining; and the bottom being round and free, all would run off. These circular sewers are with us called _culverts_.

SEX-_angled_, having six angles.

SEXTANT, (_Sextant_, _Fr._) In mathematics, an instrument which serves to measure angles. It is the segment of a circle, or an arch of 60 degrees, which makes the sixth part of a circle.

SEYMAR-_Bassy_, _or first lieutenant general of the Janizaries_. An officer among the Turks who not only commands the Janizaries that are called _Seymenis_, but when the Aga, (which signifies chief guardian, and Aga-si, chief or guardian of) takes the field, who further takes the title of Kaymekan, or his lieutenant at Constantinople. He is authorised to put his own seal upon the different dispatches which he sends, and takes rank of all the sardars or colonels in his jurisdiction. He is likewise entrusted with the entire direction and management of all that concerns or relates to the interior government of the Janizaries.

SHAKEE, _Ind._ A small coin, of the value of about three-pence.

SHAKER, _Ind._ A city.

SHAIT, _Ind._ Bridge, embankment.

SHAFT, an arrow; a missive weapon.

SHAFT, in mining; a narrow, deep perpendicular pit.

SHAFTS _of a carriage_, are two poles joined together with cross bars, by which the hind horse guides the carriage, and supports the fore part of the shafts; the hind part turning round an iron bolt.

SHAFT-_bars_, are two pieces of wood to fasten the hind ends of the shafts together, into which they are pinned with wooden pins.

SHALLIE, _Ind._ The same as batty, which signifies rice in the husk.

SHAMROCK. The Irish word for trefoil, clover, or three leafed grass. It is worn by the Irish in their hats on the 17th of March, St. Patrick’s day.

SHANK. The long part of any instrument.

SHAROCK, _Ind._ A silver coin, equal in value to about one shilling.

SHAUMIARIS, _Ind._ A canopy of cotton cloth.

SHAW, _Ind._ A king.

SHAWZADA, _Ind._ The king’s son.

SHEED, _Ind._ A witness.

SHEICK. A chief of a tribe among the Arabs. Mr. Morier, in his account of a campaign with the Ottoman army, relates that in 1800, a fanatic sheick, who pretended to be inspired, headed the Fellahs, (the lowest class of inhabitants are so called among the Arabs) of the district of Demanhour, and caused a detachment of 80 Frenchmen to be put to death in the night; this was effected by first securing the sentinel.

SHELLS, in _gunnery_, are hollow iron balls to throw out of mortars or howitzers with a fuze hole of about an inch diameter, to load them with powder, and to receive the fuze: the bottom, or part opposite the fuze, is made heavier than the rest, that the fuze may fall uppermost; but in small elevations this is not always the case, nor is it necessary; for, let it fall as it will, the fuze sets fire to the powder within, which bursts the shell, and causes great devastation. The shells had much better be made of an equal thickness, for then they burst into more pieces.

_The following shells may also be fired from guns._

Hand grenades from 6 Prs.
4²⁄₅ shells 12 Prs.
5¹⁄₂ shells 24 Prs.
8 inch 68 Pr. carronades.

Shells may likewise be thrown from guns to short distances, in case of necessity, though the bore be not of a diameter sufficient to admit the shell. For this purpose the gun may be elevated to any degree that will retain the shell upon its muzzle, which may be assisted by a small line going from the ears of the shell round the neck of the gun. To produce a greater effect, the space between the shell and the charge may be filled with wads or other substance.

_Shells for Mortars and Howitzers--Their Dimensions, Weight, &c._

+---------+-----------------+-------+--------+--------+
| | | | Powder | |
| | | | con- | Powder |
| | | | tained | for +
| | | Diam- | in | burst- |
| Kind. | Weight. | eter. | Shells.| ing. |
+---------+-----------------+-------+--------+--------+
| |Ct. qr. lbs. oz.|Inches.|lbs. oz.|lbs. oz.|
|13 inch. | 1 3 2 | 12³⁄₄ | 10 4 | 6 12 |
|10 -- | 3 9 | 9³⁄₄ | 4 5 | 2 10 |
| 8 -- | 1 11¹⁄₂ | 7³⁄₄ | 2 12 | 1 14 |
| 5¹⁄₂ -- | 15¹⁄₄ | 5¹⁄₄ | 1 | 12 |
| 4²⁄₅ -- | 8 | 4¹⁄₅ | 7 | 5 |
|H. Gren.{| 3 11 | 3·49 | | |
| {| 1 13 | 2·77 | | 1 |
| | | | | |
+---------+-----------------+-------+--------+--------+

+---------+---------------+-------+
| | Diameter of | |
| | Fuze Hole. | Thick-|
| +-------+-------+ ness |
| | Out- | In- | of |
| Kind. | side. | side. | Metal.|
+---------+-------+-------+-------+
| |Inches.|Inches.|Inches.|
|13 inch. | 1·837 | 1·696 | 2·05 |
|10 -- | 1·57 | 1·45 | 1·575|
| 8 -- | 1·219 | 1·127 | 1·2 |
| 5¹⁄₂ -- | 0·894 | ·826 | 0·822|
| 4²⁄₅ -- | 0·832 | ·769 | 0·653|
|H. Gren.{| | | |
| {| | | |
| | | | |
+---------+-------+-------+-------+

_To find the weight of a shell of iron._

Take ⁹⁄₆₄ of the difference of the cubes of the external and internal diameters for the weight of the shell.

_To find how much powder will fill a shell._

Divide the cube of the internal diameter of the shell in inches by 57·3, for the pounds of powder.

_To find the size of a shell to contain a given weight of powder._

Multiply the pounds of powder by 3.75, and the cube root of the product will be the diameter in inches.

_To find the weight of a_ SHELL. _Rule._

Double the difference of diameters of the shell and hollow sphere, and 7 times the result gives the weight in pounds, cutting off the two right hand figures of whole numbers.

_Example._ Let the diameter of the shell be 13 inches, and that of the hollow sphere 9·5. Then the cube of 13 is 2197, and that of 9·5, is 857·357; the difference is 1339·625, its double is 2679·25, which multiplied by 7, gives 18754·625; and cutting off two places in whole numbers, the result is 187 lb. or 1 cwt. 2 qrs. 21 lb. the weight of the shell.

_French Shells, in French weights and measures._

+-------+-------+-------+--------+--------+-------------------+------+
| | | | Powder | | | |
| | | | con- | Powder | Diameter of Fuze |Thick-|
| | | | tained | for | Hole. | ness |
| | | Diam- | in | burst- +---------+---------+ of |
| Kind. |Weight.| eter. | Shells.| ing. | Outside.| Inside. |Metal.|
+-------+-------+-------+--------+--------+---------+---------+------+
| | lbs. |Inches.|lbs. oz.|lbs. oz.|Lines Po.|Lines Po.|Lines.|
|12 inch| 150 | 12 | 17 | 5 | 15 9 | 15 | 16 |
|10 ----| 100 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 15 9 | 15 | 16 |
| 8 ----| 43 | 8 | 4 1 | 1 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| 6 ----| 23 | 6 | 2 8 | 12 | 11 | 10 6 | 10 |
+-------+-------+-------+--------+--------+---------+---------+------+

_Dimensions of shells for guns and carronades made with an equal thickness of metal._

+--------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Kind. | 42 Pr.| 32 | 24 | 18 | 12 |
+--------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| |Inches.|Inches.|Inches.|Inches.|Inches.|
| {Diameter of{Exterior| 6·684 | 6·105 | 5·547 | 5·04 | 4·4 |
| {the shell {Interior| 4·404 | 4·005 | 3·767 | 3·4 | 2·8 |
| {Thickness of | | | | | |
|Guns.{metal | 1·14 | 1·05 | 0·89 | 0·82 | 0·8 |
| {Diameter of{Exterior| 0·892 | 0·894 | 0·894 | 0·832 | 0·832 |
| {fuze hole {Interior| 0·826 | 0·826 | 0·826 | ·769 | ·769 |
| {Powder for | | | | | |
| {bursting oz.| 14 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 5¹⁄₂ |
| +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| {Diameter of{Exterior| 6·64 | 6·05 | 5·48 | 4·935 | 4·295 |
| {shell {Interior| 4·36 | 3·95 | 3·48 | 3·235 | 2·695 |
|Car- {Thickness of | | | | | |
|ron- {metal | 1·14 | 1·05 | 1· | ·85 | 0·8 |
|ades.{Shell’s weight lbs.| | 22 | | 12 | |
| {Contains powder oz.| | 12¹⁄₂ | | 9 | |
| {Powder for | | | | | |
| {bursting oz.| | 10 | | 7 | |
+--------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

Shells are likewise sometimes quilted into grape. See the word SHOT.

For the method of proving shells, see PROOF.

The Germans do not name their shells from the diameter of the bore which receives them, but from the weight of a stone ball that fits the same bore as the shell. Thus, a 7lb. howitzer admits a stone ball of that weight; the shell for this weighs 15 lb. and answers to the English 5¹⁄₂ inch. The 30 lb. howitzer shell weighs 60 lb. and is rather more than 8 inches in diameter.

Shells were, till lately, made thicker at the bottom than at the fuze hole; but are now cast of the same thickness throughout, and are found to burst into a greater number of pieces in consequence.

_Message_-SHELLS, are nothing more than howitz shells, in the inside of which a letter, or other papers, are put; the fuze hole is stopt up with wood or cork, and the shells are fired out of a royal or howitz, either into a garrison or camp. It is supposed that the person to whom the letter is sent, knows the time, and accordingly appoints a guard to look out for its arrival.

SHELL. A particular part of a sword, which serves as a shield to the hand when it grasps the hilt. The British regulation sword, which is directed to be worn in a cross belt, has its shell so constructed that one side can fall down, by which means the hilt hangs more conveniently.

SHELL. A short jacket without arms, which was worn by light dragoons, and in some instances by the infantry, before the new regulations took place, respecting the clothing of the British army. At the commencement of the present war, some militia colonels derived no inconsiderable emolument from this mode of dress.

SHERISCHER-_war_, _Ind._ A word which corresponds with Saturday.

SHERISTA, _Ind._ An office; a registry; serishtadar, a linguist or secretary.

_To_ SHIFT. In a military sense, to change place or station. Hence, to shift quarters. In the exercise, &c. of a battalion, officers commanding divisions are, upon particular occasions, such as marching past, &c. to shift from the right to the left, to conduct the heads of files, or the pivot flanks, in column or echellon. Whenever officers shift, they must pass briskly by the rear, and never along the front of the division. The covering serjeants always move with them.

_The_ SHILLINGS. A phrase in familiar use among British army brokers, to express a certain profit or per centage which they gain in the sale, purchase, and exchange of commissions. The regulated price of a company in any regiment of foot being 1500_l._ only, that sum can be lodged at an agent’s, or a banker’s; but if the company be what is called in the market, the broker who transacts the business, receives one shilling in the pound, and in order to produce this premium, the purchaser gives 1500 guineas, out of which the shillings amounting to 75_l._ are paid to the broker, leaving the nett regulation untouched.

_Head-quarter_ SHIP. The ship on which the commander in chief of an expedition is embarked, and from which signals are made for the commanding officers, adjutants, &c. of corps, to attend.

_Hospital_ SHIP. The ship in which the sick and wounded soldiers, &c. are taken care of on expeditions, and during sea voyages.

_Prison_ SHIP. A ship appropriated for the reception of prisoners of war, &c.

SHOCCA, _Ind._ Any letter written by the king.

SNOOKREWAR, _Ind._ A word which corresponds with Friday.

SHOOTING. See GUNNERY and PROJECTILE.

SHORTEN _your bridle_. A word of command used in cavalry, viz.

1st. Seize the upper end of the reins of the bridle, which is to lie on the right side of the horse, with the right hand.

2d. Bring it up as high as your chin, keeping your right elbow on a level with the shoulder.

3d. Slip your left hand along the reins of the bridle, and take hold of the loop or button, which is near the upper end of the reins.

4th. Slip the loop down with the left hand as low as the pommel of the saddle.

5th. Bring the right hand down with life on the right holster-cap, quitting the reins of the bridle with both hands.

SHORT-_roll_. See SIGNALS.

SHOT. A denomination given to all kinds of balls used for artillery and fire-arms; those for cannon being of iron, and those for guns and pistols, &c. of lead.

_Grape_ _Chain_ _Case_ SHOT. See LABORATORY.

_To find the weight of an iron Shot_ whose diameter is given; and the contrary. _Rule._ Double the cube of the diameter in inches, and multiply it by 7; so will the product (rejecting the 2 last or right hand figures) be the weight in pounds.

_Example._ What is the weight of an iron shot of 7 inches diameter. The cube of 7 is 343, which doubled is 686, and this multiplied by 7 produces 4802, which with the right hand figures rejected, gives 48 pounds, the weight required.

N. B. This rule is sufficiently exact for practical uses.

_To find the diameter of the Shot_, when the weight is given. _Rule._ Multiply the cube root of the weight in pounds by 1.923, and the product is the diameter in inches.

_Example._ What is the diameter of an iron shot of 52 pounds? The cube root of 52 is 3.732, which multiplied by 1.923 gives 7.177 inches, the diameter required.

_Rule by logarithms._

To ¹⁄₃d of the log. of 52 0.572001
Add the constant log. 0.283979
And the sum is the log. of the diameter 7.177 0.855980

_To find the diameter of a_ SHOT, from the impression or cavity it makes by striking a brass gun, or other object. _Rule._ Divide the square of the radius of the cavity by the depth of it, and add the quotient to the depth; so will the sum be the diameter of the shot required.

_Example._ A shot having struck upon a brass gun, made a cavity of 1.49 inches deep, and 4.94 inches diameter; what was the size of the shot? The radius of the cavity is 2.47, and its square is 6.1009, which divided by the depth 1.49, the quotient is 4.1, to which adding 1.49, the sum 5.59 inches is the diameter required, answering to a 24 pounder.

SHOT.--_Rules for finding the number in any pile._

_Triangular pile._

Multiply the base by the base + 1, this product by the base + 2, and divide by 6.

_Square pile._

Multiply the bottom row by the bottom row + 1, and this product by twice the bottom row + 2, and divide by 6.

_Rectangular piles._

Multiply the breadth of the base by itself + 1, and this product by 3 times the difference between the length and breadth of the base, added to twice the breadth + 1, and divide by 6.

_Incomplete piles._

Incomplete piles being only frustrums, wanting a similar small pile on the top, compute first the whole pile as if complete, and also the small pile wanting at top; and then subtract the one number from the other.

_Rules for finding the dimensions and weight of shot._

The weight and dimensions of shot or shells might be found by means of their specific gravities; (see the word GRAVITY,) but they may be found still easier, by means of the experimented weight of a ball of a given size, from the known proportion of similar figures, namely, as the cubes of their diameters.

1st. _To find the weight of an iron ball from its diameter._--An iron ball of 4 inches diameter weighs 9 lb. and the weights being as the cubes of their diameters, it will be as 64, (the cube of 4,) is to 9, so is the cube of the diameter of any other ball to its weight.

2d. _To find the weight of a leaden ball._ A leaden ball of 4¹⁄₄ inches diameter weighs 17 lb. therefore, as the cube of 4¹⁄₄ is to 17, (as 9 to 2 nearly,) so is the cube of the diameter of any leaden ball to its weight.

3d. _To find the diameter of an iron ball._ Multiply the weight by 7¹⁄₉ and the cube root of the product will be the diameter.

4th. _To find the diameter of a leaden ball._ Multiply the weight by 9, and divide the product by 2; and take the cube root of the quotient for the diameter.

_Table of diameters of English iron round shot_.

+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Kind | 68 | 42 | 32 | 24 | 18 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Inches|8· |6·684|6·105|5·547|5·040|4·403|4·000|3·498|2·775|1·92 |
+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| _Diameter of French iron round shot in English inches._ |
+------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|Kind | 36 | 24 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 4 |
+------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|Inches| 6·648 | 5·808 | 5·074 | 4·610 | 4·027 | 3·196 |
+------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+

_Table of grape shot, for sea and land service._

-----------+-------------+------------
| |Total weight
| Weight of |of the grape
Kind. | each shot. | complete.
-----------+-------------+------------
|lbs. oz. |lbs. oz.
42 pounders| 4 0 | 46 6
32 ---- | 3 0 | 34 1
24 ---- | 2 0 | 25 5
18 ---- | 1 8 | 19 15¹⁄₂
12 ---- | 1 0 | 10 15
9 ---- | 0 13 | 7 6
6 ---- | 0 8 | 5 8¹⁄₂
4 ---- | 0 6 | 3 14¹⁄₂
3 ---- | 0 0 | 2 10¹⁄₂
¹⁄₂ ---- | 0 ³⁄₄ lead| 8³⁄₄
-----------+-------------+------------

_Table of English case shot for different services._

-----+------------------------+-------------------------------
| Sea service. | Carronades.
+------+------+----------+--------+------+------+--------
| | | Weight | | | |Weight
|Weight|Number| of | |Weight|Number| of
| of | in | each | | of | in |each
| each | each | case | | each | each | case
Kind.| shot.| case.| filled. | Kind. | shot.| case.|filled.
-----+------+------+----------+--------+------+------+--------
Pr. | oz. | No. |lbs. oz. | Pr. | oz. | No. |lbs oz.
32 | 8 | 70 | 33 8 | 68 | 8 | 90 | 46 2
24 | 8 | 42 | 22 15 | 42 | 8 | 66 | 32 8
18 | 6 | 42 | 15 8 | 32 | 8 | 40 | 21 4
12 | 4 | 42 | 11 5 | 24 | 8 | 32 | 16 1
9 | 3 | 44 | 8 9 | 18 | 6 | 31 | 12 2
6 | 2 | 40 | 5 2 | 12 | 4 | 32 | 8 2
4 | 2 | 28 | 4 -- +--------+------+------+--------
3 | 2 | 20 | 2 15 |
1 | 1¹⁄₄ | 12 | 1 2¹⁄₄| Tier shot for field service.
-----+------+------+----------+--------+------+------+--------
| | oz. | No. |lbs. oz.
Common land service. |12 pr.} | 18 | 15 | 18 8
|Med. } | 6!!!| 42 | 17 11
-----+------+------+----------+6 pr. }| 8- | 15 | 9 --
Pr. | oz. | No. |lbs. oz. |Med. }| 3- | 42 | 8 14
24 | 4 | 84 | 21 11 |3 pr. } | 4- | 15 | 4 10
12 | 2 | 84 | 12 1 |Med. } | 1- | 42 | 4 6
6 | 1¹⁄₂ | 55 | 5 10¹⁄₂|12 pr. }| 14 | 12 | 14 14
3 | 1¹⁄₄ | 52 | 2 14 |light }| 6 | 34 | 14 11
| | | |6 pr. } | 8- | 12 | 7 3
| | | |light } | 3- | 34 | 7 7
| | | |3 Pr. }| 4- | 12 | 3 10
| | | |light }| 1- | 34 | 3 11
-----+------+------+----------+--------+------+------+--------

_Table of case shot.--Continued._

----------------------------+----------------------
For mortars | Howitzers.
-----+------+------+--------+------+------+--------
|Weight|No. of| Weight |Weight|No. of| Weight
| of | shot | of | of | shot | of
| each | in | case | each | in | case
Kind.| shot.| each.| filled.| shot.| each.| filled.
-----+------+------+--------+------+------+--------
In. | oz. | No. |lbs. oz.| oz. | No. |lbs. oz.
10 | 8 | 170 | 91 8 | -- | -- | -- --
8 | 6 | 90 | 38 4 | 6 | 90 | 38 8
5¹⁄₂| 3 | 55 | 12 6 | 3 | 55 | 12 8
4 | 2 | 55 | 8 1 | 2 | 55 | 8 2
-----+------+------+--------+------+------+--------

Small shells, as 4²⁄₅ inches, and hand grenades were quilted into grape for 13 inch mortars at Gibraltar. The fuzes were turned inwards next the iron tompion, and leaders of quick match for communicating fire to the fuzes were introduced through holes made in the wooden bottom, and placed as near the fuzes as possible in the centre of the grape. These answered very well for short ranges.

_Hot Shot._--The powder for firing with hot shot must be in strong flannel cartridges, without any holes, lest some grains should remain in the bore, in putting the cartridge home. Over the powder must be rammed a good dry wad, then a damp one, and then the hot shot; and if the gun lays at a depression, there must be a wad over the shot, which may be rammed home. If the above precautions be attended to, the gun may be pointed after being loaded, without the smallest danger, as it is well known that the shot will grow cold in the gun, without burning more than a few threads of the wads next it. This is not the mode usually taught of loading with hot shot, but is that which was practised during the siege of Gibraltar. Mr. Durtubie proposes putting the shot when heated, into a tin cannister, as an effectual method of preventing accidents.

The grates usually made for heating shot will generally make them red hot in three-fourths of an hour.

SHOULDER. The upper part of the blade of a sword is so called. The shoulders of regimental sword-blades, for the infantry, should be one inch broad at least.

SHOULDER _of a bastion_. In fortification. See EPAULE.

SHOULDER-_belt_, so called because it hangs over the shoulder, to carry the bayonet or sword: it is made of strong leather.

_To_ SHOULDER. In a military sense; to lay on the shoulder, or to rest any thing against it. Hence to shoulder a musquet.

SHOULDER _arms_. A word of command which is used in the manual exercise. See MANUAL.

_Right_ SHOULDERS _forward_. _Left_ SHOULDERS _forward_. Two terms of command in the British service, when a column of march (in order to follow the windings of its route) changes its direction in general, less than the quarter of the circle. This is a clumsy translation of the _line of science_, or oblique facing of the French system; the proper word of command is _half_ or _quarter face_ to the right or left.

SHROF, _Ind._ A banker; a moneychanger, or one who keeps a shop for the accommodation of the public in pecuniary matters, and who derives considerable advantage from the circulating medium of other people’s property.

SHROFFING, _Ind._ The act of examining and sorting money.

SHUMSERTREEPUT, _Ind._ Avowal, acknowlegement, confession.

_To_ SHUT. To close; to make not open.

SHUT _pans_. A word of command used in the inspection of arms. Place the inside of your fingers against the back part of the hammer, and bring it briskly to in one motion. In opening pans, you place the thumb against the inside of the hammer.

SHUTERNAUL, _Ind._ A sort of arquebuss, which is fixed upon the back of a camel.

SICK and _hurt_. A board so called, to which the agents, commissaries, &c. belonging to the several military hospitals in Great Britain, are responsible.

SIDE-_pieces_, of _gun-carriages_. See CARRIAGES.

SIDE-_straps_, in a _field carriage_, are flat iron bands which go round the side-pieces, in those places where the wood is cut across the grain, to strengthen them near the centre and the trail.

SIEGE, (_Siege_, _Fr._) The position which an army takes, or its encampment before a fortified town, or place, for the purpose of reducing it. The term comes from _siege_, which signifies seat, chair, &c. Hence; to sit down before a place, signifies in a military sense, to chuse a position from which you may commence the necessary operations to attack and get possession of it. The French use the word generally as we do.

_To undertake the_ SIEGE _of a town_. _Entreprendre le siege d’une Ville._ To invest it, to form lines of circumvallation, to open trenches, &c.

_To lay_ SIEGE _to a town_, (_faire le siége d’une ville_, _Fr._) To draw your forces round a town, for the purpose of attacking it.

_To carry on a_ SIEGE, (_continuer un siége_, _Fr._) To persevere by regular approaches, &c. in gaining ground upon the garrison.

_To lay close_ SIEGE, (_presser le siége_, _Fr._) To approach close to the walls for the purpose of making a breach and storming, or of starving out the garrison. For a full and scientific explanation of the different methods, which are adapted in modern times, for the attack or defence of places, particularly of sieges, see _Essai General de Fortification, d’attaque et defense de places_, tom. 1, page 61, &c. &c.

SIEGE _brusque_, _Fr._ An expression used among the French, to signify the prompt and immediate movement of a besieging army, against a fortified town or place, without waiting for the regular formation of lines, &c. In this case the troops make a vigorous attack upon all the outworks, and endeavour to make a lodgment upon the counterscarp. When they have succeeded, they instantly throw up temporary lines, &c. behind them, in order to secure a retreat, should the garrison force them to quit their ground.

SIEGE, in the _art of war_, is to surround a fortified place with an army, and approach it by passages made in the ground, so as to be covered against the fire of the place.

The first operation of a _siege_ is investing. The body of troops investing a town should, at least, be as strong again as the garrison: so as to be able to divide itself into several parties, in order to take possession of all the avenues leading to the place. By day they should keep themselves out of cannon shot: but as soon as it is dusk they must approach much nearer, the better to be able to support each other, and to straiten the town.

_General phrases and terms used at a_ SIEGE _are_, _viz._

_To besiege a place._ See SIEGE.

_To accelerate the_ SIEGE, (_Presser le Siege_, _Fr._) is when an army can approach so near the place as the covert-way, without breaking ground, under favor of some hollow roads, rising grounds, or cavities, and there begin their work.

_An attack_, is when the besieging army can approach the town so near as to take it, without making any considerable works.

_To form the_ SIEGE, _or lay siege to a place_, (_Mettre le Siege à une place_, _Fr._) there must be an army sufficient to furnish five or six reliefs for the trenches, pioneers, guards, convoys, escorts, &c. and artillery, with all the apparatus thereto belonging; magazines furnished with a sufficient quantity of all kinds of warlike stores; and a general hospital, with physicians, surgeons, medicines, &c.

_To raise a_ SIEGE, (_Lever le Siege_, _Fr._) is to give over the attack of a place, quit the works thrown up against it, and the posts formed about it. If there be no reason to fear a sally from the place, the _siege_ may be raised in the day-time. The artillery and ammunition must have a strong rear guard, lest the besieged should attempt to charge the rear: if there be any fear of an enemy in front, this order must be altered discretionally, as safety and the nature of the country will admit.

_To turn a_ SIEGE _into a blockade_, (_Convertir le Siege en blocus_, _Fr._) is to give over the attack, and endeavor to take it by famine; for which purpose all the avenues, gates, and streams, leading into the place, are so well guarded, that no succor can get in to its relief.

_To insult a work_, to attack it in a sudden and unexpected manner, with small arms, or sword in hand.

_Surprise_, is the taking a place by stratagem or treason.

_To escalade a place_, is to approach it secretly, then to place ladders against the wall, or rampart, for the troops to mount and get into it that way.

_To petard a place_, is privately to approach the gate and fix a petard to it, so as to break it open for the troops to enter.

_Line of circumvallation_, is a kind of fortification, consisting of a parapet, or breast-work, and a ditch before it, to cover the besiegers against any attempt of the enemy in the field.

_Line of countervallation_, is a breast-work, with a ditch before it, to cover the besiegers against any sally from the garrison, in the same manner that the line of circumvallation serves to protect them in the field.

_Lines_, are works made to cover an army, so as to command a part of the country, with a breast-work and a ditch before it.

_Retrenchment_, a work made round the camp of an army, to cover it against any surprise.

_Line of counter-approach_, a trench which the besieged make from the covert-way to the right and left of the besiegers attacks, in order to scour their works. This line must be perfectly enfiladed from the covert-way and the half-moon, &c. that it may be of no service to the enemy, in case he gets possession of it.

_Batteries_ at a _siege_, cannot be erected till the trench is advanced within reach of the cannon of the place; that is, within what is generally understood to be a point-blank range, which is reckoned about 300 toises, or 1800 feet.

_Cannon_ is made use of at a _siege_ for two different purposes; the first to drive away the enemy from their defences; and the second, to dismount their guns. To produce these two effects, the batteries should not be above the mean reach of cannon-shot from the place: therefore there is no possibility of constructing them, till the first parallel is formed; and as the distance of the first parallel from the second is generally 300 toises, the batteries must be on this line, or beyond it, nearer the town.

The construction of batteries belongs to the officers of the royal artillery, who generally consult with the engineer that has the direction of the siege, as well about their situation as about the number of their guns and mortars. They must be parallel to the works of the town which they are to batter. It is customary to place the mortar-batteries and gun-batteries side by side, and in the same line, to the end that they may batter the same parts. The use of both is to demolish the enemy’s works, to dismount their guns, to penetrate into their powder magazines, and to drive the besieged from their works and defences; as also to ruin and destroy the principal buildings, by setting fire to the town; and to fatigue and distress the inhabitants in such a manner, that they shall press the garrison to surrender.

_To sally at a siege_, is to go privately out of a besieged town, fall suddenly upon the besiegers, and destroy part of their works, spike their cannon, and do every other possible damage.

_A sally_, a secret movement which is made out of a besieged town or place, by a chosen body of troops, for the purpose of destroying an enemy’s out-works, &c. Sallies are seldom made when the garrison is weak; for although they molest the enemy, and keep him on the alert, yet the chance of losing men renders it prudent to keep within the works.

_Saps_ in a _siege_, are trenches made under cover from the fire of the place, behind a mantlet or stuffed gabion: they are generally ten or twelve feet broad.--This work differs from the trenches, in as much as the latter are made uncovered. The sap has also less breadth; but when it is as wide as the trench, it bears the same name. There are various sorts of saps, viz.

_Single sap_, is that which is made on one side only, or, which is the same thing, has only one parapet.

_Double Sap_, has a parapet on each side, and is carried on wherever its two sides are seen from the place.

_Flying sap_, is that in which the besiegers do not give themselves the trouble of filling the gabions with earth: it is made where the workmen are not much exposed, and in order to accelerate the approaches.

_Sap-faggots_, are a kind of fascines, but only three feet long, and about six inches in diameter.

_Saucissons_, are another species of fascines, from 12 to 19 feet long, and from 8 to 10 inches in diameter, and are used in making batteries, and repairing the breaches.

_Sortie._ See SALLY.

_Tail_, or _rear of the trench_, (_Queue de la tranche_, _Fr._) is the first work the besiegers make when they open the trenches.

_Tambour_, is a kind of traverse, at the upper end of the trench or opening made in the glacis to communicate with the arrows. This work hinders the besiegers from being masters of the arrow, or discovering the inside of the place of arms belonging to the covert-way.

_Traverse_, in a _siege_, a kind of retrenchment which is made in the dry ditch, to defend the passage over it.

_Trenches_, are passages or turnings dug in the earth, in order to approach a place without being seen from its defences.

_Wool-packs_, used in a _siege_, differ from sand-bags, in this only, that they are much larger, and, instead of earth, they are filled with wool. They are used in making lodgments in places where there is but little earth, and for other similar purposes. They are about five feet high, and 15 inches in diameter.

_Rear of an attack_, is the place where the attack begins.

_Front, or head of an attack_, that part next to the place.

_Mantlets_, are wooden fences, rolling upon wheels, of two feet diameter; the body of the axle-tree is about four or five inches square, and four or five feet long; to which is fixed a pole of eight or ten feet long, by two spars; upon the axle-tree is fixed a wooden parapet, three feet high made of three-inch planks, and four feet long, joined with dowel-pins, and two cross-bars: this parapet leans somewhat towards the pole, and is supported by a brace, one end of which is fixed to the pole, and the other to the upper part of the parapet. Mantlets are used to cover the sappers in front against musquet shot.

_Maxims in_ SIEGES are, 1st. The approaches should be made without being seen from the town, either directly, obliquely, or in the flank.

2. No more works should be made than are necessary for approaching the place without being seen; _i. e._ the besiegers should carry on their approaches the shortest way possible, consistent with being covered against the enemy’s fire.

3. All the parts of the trenches should mutually support each other; and those which are farthest advanced, should be distant from those that defend them above 120 or 130 toises, that is, within musquet shot.

4. The parallels, or places of arms the most distant from the town, should have a greater extent than those which are the nearest, that the besiegers may be able to take the enemy in flank, should he resolve to attack the nearest parallels.

5. The trench should be opened or begun as near as possible to the place, without exposing the troops too much, in order to accelerate and diminish the operations of the siege.

6. Care should be taken to join the attacks; that is, they should have communications, to the end that they may be able to support each other.

7. Never to advance a work, unless it be well supported; and for this reason, in the interval between the 2d and 3d place of arms, the besiegers should make, on both sides of the trenches, smaller places of arms, extending 40 or 50 toises in length, parallel to the others, and constructed in the same manner, which will serve to lodge the soldiers in, who are to protect the works designed to reach the third place of arms.