Chapter I: DO HEREBY CERTIFY, upon my word and honor, as an officer and (7)

8. Take care to place the batteries of cannon in the continuation of the faces of the parts attacked, in order to silence their fire; and to the end that the approaches, being protected, may advance with great safety and expedition.

9. For this reason the besiegers shall always embrace the whole front attacked, in order to have as much space as is requisite to place the batteries on the produced faces of the works attacked.

10. Do not begin the attack with works that lie close to one another, or with rentrant angles, which would expose the attack to the cross fire of the enemy.

_Stores required for a month’s_ SIEGE _are as follows_:

Powder, as the garrison is more or less strong 8 or 900,000 lb.
Shot{for battering pieces 6000
{of a lesser sort 20,000
Battering cannon 80
Cannons of a lesser sort 40
Small field-pieces for defending the lines 20
Mortars for throwing{shells 24
{stones 12
Shells for mortars 15 or 16,000
Hand-grenades 40,000
Leaden bullets 180,000
Matches in braces 10,000
Flints for musquets, best sort 100,000
Platforms complete for guns 100
Platforms for mortars 60
{carriages for guns 60
Spare{mortar-beds 60
{spunges, rammers, and ladles, in sets 20
Tools to work in trenches 40,000

Several hand-jacks, gins, sling-carts, travelling forges, and other engines proper to raise and carry heavy burdens; spare timber, and all sorts of miner’s tools, mantlets, stuffed gabions, fascines, pickets, and gabions.

SIENS, _Fr._ The plural of sien, _his_, _her’s_ or _one’s_ own. This word is used among the French, to signify the same as _gens_, men, people, soldiers; viz. _ce général fut abandonné par les siens_. That general was abandoned by his own soldiers.

SIEVE, an instrument, which by means of hair, lawn, or wire, is capable of separating the fine from the coarse parts of any powder. See GUNPOWDER, LABORATORY, &c.

SIFFLEMENT, _Fr._ Literally means the noise of a whistle. It is used to express the sound which a ball or bullet makes when it cuts the air; as _sifflement des armes à feu_. The whistling or whizzing noise of fire arms.

SIES or SHIAS, _Ind._ A tribe of people in the N. West of India.

SIFFLET, _Fr._ A whistle. The French make use of the whistle on board their ships in the same manner as we do. It answers the same purpose at sea, that the drum and trumpet do on shore. The boatswain’s whistle pipes all hands up, as occasion requires in a ship: and the drum and trumpet collect troops together, in camp, garrison, or elsewhere.

SIG, an old Saxon word, importing victory.

SIGHT, (_La Mire_, _Fr._) a small piece of brass or iron which is fixed near to the muzzle of a musquet or pistol, to serve as a point of direction, and to assist the eye in levelling.

SIGN, a sensible mark or character, denoting something absent or invisible. As the trace of a foot, the hand-writing or mark of a man; also the subscription of one’s name.

SIGN _Manual_. The king’s signature is so called. All commissions in the regular army of Great Britain, army warrants, &c. bear the sign manual. The appointments of officers in the volunteers have been so distinguished during the present war. Adjutants only in the militia have their commissions signed by the king; those of the field officers, captains, and subalterns, &c. are signed by the lords lieutenants of counties, or by their deputies for the time being, sanctioned by a previous intimation from the secretary of state, that the king does not disapprove of the names which have been laid before him.

SIGNAL, (_Signal_, _Fr._) Any sign made by sea or land, for sailing, marching, fighting, &c. Signals are likewise given by the short and long rolls of the drum, during the exercise of a battalion.

SIGNAL, in the _art of war_, a certain sign agreed upon for the conveying intelligence, where the voice cannot reach. _Signals_ are frequently given for the beginning of a battle, or an attack, usually with drums and trumpets, and sometimes with sky-rockets, &c.

SIGNAL _of attack or assault_, _(Signal d’une attaque, ou d’un assaut_, _Fr._) This signal may be given in various ways. By the discharge of a lighted shell, by sky-rockets, by colors displayed from a conspicuous spot, &c. In 1747 marshal Lowendal made use of lighted shells or bombs, when he laid siege to the town of Bergen-op-zoom. During the consternation of the inhabitants, which was excited by a continual discharge of these signal shells, the grenadiers entered a practicable breach, and took the town by storm.

SIGNAL-_flags_ in _ancient military history_, was a gilded shield hung out of the admiral’s gallery; it was sometimes a red garment or banner. During the elevation of this the fight continues, and by its depression or inclination towards the right or left, the rest of the ships were directed how to attack their enemies, or retreat from them.

SIGNALS _made by the colors of an army_, (_Signaux des enseignes_, _Fr._) The ancients had recourse to all the various methods which could be used by signals, to express the particular situation of affairs, and to indicate measures that should be adopted. If, during an engagement, victory seemed inclined more to one side than another, the colors belonging to the victorious party were instantly bent towards its yielding antagonist. This signal was conspicuous to the men, and excited them to fresh efforts. They imbibed the most lively hopes of success, and eagerly pressed forward to reap the advantages of bravery and good conduct.

When an army was hard pressed by its enemy, the colors of the former were raised high in the air, and were kept in a perpetual flutter and agitation, for the purpose of conveying to the soldiers, that the issue of the battle was still doubtful, and that nothing but courage and perseverance could determine the victory. If, in the heat of action, any particular regiment seemed to waver and give way, so as to cause an apprehension that it might finally be broken, its colors were instantly snatched out of the bearer’s hands by the general or commanding officer, and thrown into the thickest of the enemy. It frequently happened that the men who were upon the point of yielding ground and flying, received a fresh impulse from this act, rallied, and by a desperate effort of courage recovered the colors, and restored the day. This method of re-animating their legions was generally resorted to by the Romans. We have had instances in modern times, where the fortune of the day has been wholly decided by some sudden and unexpected act of an individual. In the reign of Louis XIV. a private soldier threw his hat into the midst of the enemy during a hard fought and doubtful battle, expressing thereby that fresh succours were arrived to strengthen the French army. This circumstance, so apparently trifling, produced the desired effect. It threw the enemy into confusion, gave the French fresh spirits, and finally determined the victory in their favor. We read of various instances in which signals have been used to express the personal danger of a king or general, who was fighting at the head of a select body of men. The knowlege of the critical position in which their leader stood, excited fresh courage in the rest of the troops, and drove them to acts of the greatest intrepidity. In the course of the present war some examples of the same sort might be adduced, both on the side of Austria, and on that of France. The bridge of Lodi, the passage of the Tagliamento, &c. would illustrate any observations we could make upon the subject.

Nor are the advantages which arise from the use of signals confined to these particular cases. Various circumstances grow out of the desultory nature of military operations, to render flags of communication indispensibly necessary. The vast scope which is given to modern tactics, makes it impossible that the human eye or voice should take in all the critical manœuvres or evolutions which occur, when an extended line is actually engaged. The right wing may be giving way while the left is gaining ground, and the centre might be in danger while the two flanks were rapidly advancing with apparent security against the enemy. Under these circumstances a general, by means of communicating signals, might be enabled to provide for every contingency, without losing time by sending his orders verbally. Although signal flags, in modern engagements, have been generally laid aside, their use has been acknowleged in the adoption of warlike instruments, which, by the variety of their sounds, convey the necessary directions to an engaging army.

The ancients had signals which they called _mute signals_, (_signaux muets_.) These consisted in certain actions or signs that were made by a general; such as waving the hand, brandishing a stick or sword, or by exhibiting to view any part of his dress, accoutrements, &c. Instances of the same kind have occurred among the moderns. Under this denomination may likewise be classed the different signals which are made for the movement, marching, and manœuvring of troops in and out of quarters. When troops are scattered or separated from one another, it is usual to communicate by means of fires lighted upon eminences during the night, and by smoke during the day.

In former times large pieces of wood were hung above the towers of cities or castles, which, by being drawn up or lowered, gave intelligence of what passed. This method has been succeeded by the invention of telegraphs, which answer every purpose of communication, when they can be established through an extent of country. At the battle of Fleurus, the French employed balloons, to which cords were attached, able officers elevated in the air sent down, by the cords, an account of the movements of the Austrians, a signal thus conveyed enabled Jourdan to direct a tremendous battalion fire, and a heavy charge of cavalry, by which the battle was decided. Besides those signals, there are others which may be called _vocal_ and _demi-vocal_. The vocal signals are those of the human voice, which consist in the necessary precautions that are adopted to prevent a guard or post from being surprised, to enounce words of command in action, &c. Of the first description are paroles and countersigns, which are exchanged between those to whom they are intrusted, and which are frequently altered, during the day and night, to prevent the enemy from receiving any information by means of spies. The demi-vocal signals are conveyed by military instruments; the different soundings of which indicate, instantaneously, whether an army is to halt or to advance, whether troops are to continue in the pursuit of an enemy, or to retreat.

The demi-vocal signals, directed to be observed in the British service, as far as regards the manœuvring of corps, &c. consist of signals for the government of light infantry, and of cavalry regiments, squadrons, or troops: the latter are properly called soundings. Rifle or light infantry signals are to give notice--to _advance_; to _retreat_; to _halt_; to _cease_ firing; to _assemble_, or call in all parties. Those signals should be always considered as fixed and determined ones, and are never to be changed. The bugle horn of each company should make himself perfect master of them. All signals are to be repeated; and all those signals which are made from the line or column, are to convey the intention of the commanding officer of the line to the officer commanding the light infantry, who will communicate them to the several companies or detachments either by word or signal.

SIGNAL-_staff_. In matters of military parade it is usual to fix a flag, somewhat larger than a camp color, to point out the spot where the general or officer commanding takes his station in front or a line. This is called the signal staff.

SIGURGHAL, _Ind._ A feudal tenure.

SIGUETTE, _Fr._ The same as cavesson, a sort of noseband, sometimes made of iron, and sometimes of leather, or wood; sometimes flat, and sometimes hollow or twisted; which is put upon the nose of a horse, to forward the suppling and breaking of him.

SILENCE, (_Silence_, _Fr._) This word is used by the French as a caution to soldiers to prepare for any part of the military duty or exercise. The French have likewise another term which corresponds with our word attention. See GARDE. We use _Attention_ in both instances.

SILHATARIS, _Fr._ See SPAHIS.

SILLAGE, _Fr._ The wake of a ship; the trace which a vessel leaves astern when she moves forward.

SILLON, in _fortification_, is a work raised in the middle of a ditch, to defend it when it is too wide. It has no particular form, and is sometimes made with little bastions, half-moons, and redans, which are lower than the works of the place, but higher than the covert way. It is more frequently called _envelope_, which see.

SIMILAR _polygons_, are such as have their angles severally equal, and the sides about those angles proportional.

_To_ SIMPLIFY. This word has been adopted amongst men of business and arrangement, from the French _simplifier_, which means to relate the bare matter of fact. This signification likewise reaches every species of analysis, &c. Thus the advantage of the new manual over the old, is owing to the reduction of the latter into fewer motions and words of command, by which that exercise has been considerably simplified. The oblique facings, under the denomination of _quarter facings_, _half facings_, of single files; the half wheelings, quarter wheelings, and half quarter wheelings of sections, platoons, divisions, and battalions, are all more simple in the new discipline than the methods of the old.

SINE. In geometry, a right _sine_, is a right line drawn from one end of an arch perpendicularly upon the diameter drawn from the other end of the arch.

SINES. See table of _Natural Sines_, at the end of the word GUNNERY.

SINGE, _Fr._ An instrument so called. See PENTAGRAPH.

SINGLE _combat_, a contest in which not more than _two_ are engaged.

SINUS, _Fr._ See LINE for its geometrical acceptation.

SINUS, in English, signifies a bay of the sea, an opening of the land; any fold or opening.

SINUSOIDE, _Fr._ A geometrical curve, which has been imagined by Monsieur Belidor, for the purpose of balancing or preserving the equipoise of a drawbridge. See _Science des Ingénieurs_, liv. iv. See likewise the specific construction of this curve as explained by the marquis de l’Hopital, in a book intitled, _Acta Eruditorum_, published at Leipsic in 1695; and demonstrated by M. Bernouilli, who discovered that this curve was nothing more than the epicycloid, which see.

SIPHON, (_Syphon_, likewise _Ciphon_, _Fr._) In hydraulics, a crooked tube, one leg or branch whereof is longer than the other. It is used in the raising of fluids, emptying of vessels, and in various hydrostatical experiments.

SIRKAR, _Ind._ The government.

SIROC. From Sirius, the dog-star. The wind, which we call south-east, is so called in Italy.

_To_ SIT. In a military sense, to take a stationary position; as, _To sit before a fortified place_; to lie encamped for the purpose of besieging it. The French use the word _asseoir_ as an active verb with respect to military matters, viz. _asseoir un camp_, to pitch a camp. _Il assit son camp hors de la portée du canon de la ville_; he pitched his camp out of the range of the town’s cannon.

SIXAIN. Sixth, Sexagena, in war, an ancient order of battle, wherein six battalions being ranged in one line, the second and fifth were made to advance, to form the _van_ guard; the first and sixth to retire to form the _rear_ guard; the third and fourth remaining to form the main corps. The word is derived from the French, which signifies the same thing. The sixain order of battle may be formed with all the battalions whose number is produced by the number six. Twelve battalions, for instance, may be ranged in order of battle, by forming two _sixains_, and eighteen battalions, ditto by forming three _sixains_, and so on progressively.

_To_ SIZE. In a military sense to take the height of men for the purpose of placing them in military array, and of rendering their relative statures more effective. In all infantry regiments the sizing begins from flanks to centre, the tallest men being placed upon the right and left of the several companies in the front rank, and the shortest in the centre and rear ranks. By the old cavalry discipline the flank troops of a squadron must be sized in the following manner: That of the right flank, from right to left; that of the left flank, from left to right; the centre one from centre to flanks; the tallest man must, of course, be always in the part where the sizing begins, excepting the corporals, one of whom must be on each flank of the front rank of the troop, covered by a clever soldier in the rear rank. If there be only two troops in a squadron, they size the right from the left, and the left from the right flank. The modern practice now is to size all troops from the centre, beginning by sizing from the right, doubling and countermarching a rank.

SKEAN, _Celtic_. A knife. This word is sometimes written skeen, or skeine. It signifies a weapon, in the shape of a small sword or knife, which was anciently worn by the Irish.

SKELETON. This word is frequently applied to regiments that are extremely reduced in their number of men. Thus a British regiment that went out to St. Domingo 1000 strong, and returned to England with 20 or 30 men only, was called a skeleton regiment.

SKELETON _plan_. See OUTLINE.

SKETCH. See ditto.

SKILL. Knowlege in any particular art. As

_Military_ SKILL. M. Belleisle, the French general, after the example of Xenophon, the Greek, undertook in the month of December 1742, to withdraw the French army from Prague, where it was at that time shut up, and to march over the enemy’s country, through a road of 38 leagues, upwards of 124 English miles, covered with ice, and over mountains whose precipices were concealed under the snow, having, besides, an army of between eighteen and twenty thousand men, under the command of prince Lobkowitz, to fight with. For the particulars of this famous retreat, which in count Turpin’s words, deserves to be written by Xenophon himself. See page 2, vol. I. of his Art of War.

SKINS. Sheep skins are made use of to cover the mortars or howitzers between firing, to prevent any wet or dampness getting into them.

SKIRMISH, in _war_, a loose, desultory kind of combat, or encounter, in presence of two armies, between small parties who advance from the main body for that purpose, and invite to a general fight.

SKIRMISHERS. Detached parties of light troops sent out in front of a battalion, &c. riflemen.

SKIRT. In a general acceptation, edge, border, extreme part. As the skirt of a country, the skirts of a wood.

SKY-ROCKET. See ROCKET.

SLASH, a cut; a wound; also a cut in cloth. It is used to express the pieces of tape or worsted lace which are upon the arms of non-commissioned officers and corporals, to distinguish them from the privates.

SLASHED, cut in stripes or lines. Hence _slashed_ sleeves and pockets, which are peculiar to the British cavalry, when the officers or men wear long coats.

SLASHERS. A nickname which was given during the American war to the British 28th regiment of foot, and which took its origin from the following circumstance: One Walker, a magistrate in Canada, having, during a severe winter, with great inhumanity, refused to give comfortable billets to the women belonging to the 28th, and some of them having perished in consequence of the inclemency of the season, so great was the resentment of the corps, that some officers dressed themselves like savages, entered his house whilst he was sitting with his family, danced round the table, and suddenly pulling him back upon his chair, cut off both his ears. They instantly disappeared. The deed was not discovered until after their departure. From this circumstance, and in consequence of various intrepid actions which the 28th performed during the course of the war, the men obtained the name of _slashers_.

SLATE, in military architecture, a kind of bluish fossile stone, very soft when dug out of the quarry, and therefore easily slit or sawed into thin long squares, to serve instead of tiles for the covering of all kinds of military buildings, &c.

SLAUGHTER, destruction by the sword, bayonet, and firearms.

SLEDGE, or _sledge-hammer_, a large iron-headed hammer.

SLEEPERS, the undermost timbers of a gun or mortar-battery. See PLATFORM.

SLEETS, are the parts of a mortar going from the chamber to the trunnions, to strengthen that part.

SLING, a leathern strap which is attached to a musquet, and serves to hang it across the soldier’s back as occasion may require.

_Gun_-SLING, or _Belt_. Although this useful article owes its invention to the ingenuity of an individual for the convenience of sportsmen, it may nevertheless be adapted with so much facility to military purposes, that a description of it cannot be thought superfluous.

The gun sling or belt is made in the following manner:--

The sling consists of three straps of leather, viz. one four feet six inches long, with the breadth agreeable to order. It is pointed and punched at one end, and has a buckle and loop at the other, which serve to shorten or lengthen it as the size of the person may require; another about twelve inches long, and three quarters of an inch wide, with a hook fixed at one end, the first being sewed ten inches from the pointed end of the belt. This strap being hooked up to either of the hooks in the main sling, forms a loop or bearing strap for the barrel of the musquet; and a third three quarters of an inch wide, and about six inches long, with an inch ring at one end, through which the belt is passed. This ring runs conveniently up and down the belt, and fully answers every purpose for which it was designed. A hook is sewed at the other end of this strap; the strap being lapped round the small part of the stock of the musquet, and the hook, fastened to the ring, they together form a loop or bearing strap for the butt. By these means, in addition to the strap round the barrel as already mentioned, the musquet or rifle can be conveniently carried, on foot or horseback, without the assistance of either hand. The musquet being released from these restraints, and the hook fixed to the strap, with the ring, being hooked to a small eye that is fixed just before the guard, the whole is carried with very little assistance from either hand, and is instantly brought to a firing position. The next position is by hooking the same hook to an eye that is fixed to the stock, about seven inches behind the guard; the barrel being at the same time supported by the strap, which is hooked to the main belt. The musquet is thus carried without the assistance of either hand; and if there be occasion to fire at a moment’s notice, you have only to draw out the top hook.

SLING. A missive weapon made by a strap and two strings; the stone is lodged in the strap, and thrown by loosing one of the strings.

SLING likewise means a kind of hanging bandage, in which a wounded limb is sustained.

_To_ SLING, to hang loosely by means of the strap belonging to a firelock.

SLING _your firelocks._ A word of command formerly used in the exercise of British grenadiers.

1st. Bring the sling with the left hand opposite to the right shoulder, and the firelock with the right hand opposite the left shoulder, by crossing both hands at the same time, bringing the left hand within the right, keeping the muzzle upright, the barrel to the left, and the right hand just under the left elbow.

2d. Bend the firelock back, and bring the sling over your head, placing it just above your right shoulder.

3d. Draw the sling with your left hand, and let go the firelock with the right at the same time, that it may hang by the sling on the right shoulder, the muzzle upwards, dropping both hands down by your sides at the same time.

_Handle your_ SLINGS. 1st. Seize the sling with both hands at the same time, taking hold of it with the right hand about the middle, and as low as you can reach, without bending your body.

2d. With the left hand bring the butt forwards, slipping your left elbow under the firelock, by bringing it between the firelock and the sling; taking hold of the firelock at the same time with the left hand, letting the stock lie between the thumb and fore finger, the butt end pointing a little to the left with the barrel upwards.

3d. Bring the firelock to lie on the left shoulder, and the sling on the right, the barrel upwards, and the butt end pointing directly to the front, keeping the firelock to a true level.

SLOPE _Arms_, a word of command by which the musquet rests upon the shoulder with the butt advanced. In long marches soldiers are sometimes permitted to slope arms. In all other instances it is strictly forbidden.

SLOPING _Swords_, a position of the sword among cavalry, when the back of the blade rests on the hollow of the right shoulder, the hilt advanced.

SLOPS. See NECESSARIES.

SLOW _time_. See the time of slow marching.

SLUGS. Cylindric, or cubical pieces of metal, used as shot for guns.

SLUICE-_gate_, a water-gate, by which a place may be inundated, or the water excluded at pleasure.

SLUICES, in military architecture, are made for various purposes; such as to make rivers navigable; to join one river to another, which is higher or lower, by means of a canal; to form inundations upon particular occasions, or to drain spots of ground that are overflowed by high tides; they are also made in fortresses, to keep up the water in one part of the ditches, whilst the other is dry; and to raise an inundation about the place when there is any apprehension of being attacked.

SLUICES are made different ways, according to the uses for which they are intended: when they serve for navigation, they are shut with two gates presenting an angle towards the stream; when they are made near the sea, two pair of gates are made, the one pair to keep the water out, and the other in, as occasion may require: in this case, the gates towards the sea present an angle that way, and the others the contrary way. The space inclosed by these gates is called _chamber_.

When _sluices_ are made in the ditches of a fortress to keep up the water in some parts, instead of gates, shutters are made, so as to slide up and down in grooves; and when they are made to raise an inundation, they are then shut by means of square timbers let down into _cullises_, so as to lie close and firm. Particular care must be taken in the building of a _sluice_, to lay the foundation in the securest manner; that is, to lay the timber, grates, and floors, in such a form, that the weather cannot penetrate through any part, otherwise it will undermine the work, and blow it up, as it has sometimes happened: lastly, to make the gates of a proper strength in order to support the pressure of the water, and yet to use no more timber than what is necessary. Those who wish to be thoroughly acquainted with this kind of work, may meet with satisfaction in _L’Architecture Hydraulique, par M. Belidor_; or in Mr. Millar’s _Practical Fortification_.

SMALL _arms_, musquets, fusils, carabines, pistols, &c.

SNAFFLE, a bridle without a curb bit.

SNICK _and_ SNEE, a combat with knives, such as the Dutch carry.

SOBRIETY. General temperance. In a military consideration, abstinence from an inordinate use of strong liquors. However frequent the deviations from this great and uncommon virtue may be found among soldiers, nothing can excuse or exculpate an officer who should so far forget himself, especially upon service, as to give the least countenance to such excesses, even by an occasional, much less by an habitual dereliction of this estimable quality. Sobriety keeps the head cool, strengthens the nerves, and renders moderate abilities equal to great exertions. Drunkenness, on the contrary, unfits the man for the common functions of life, and makes an officer not only contemptible to his soldiers, and dangerous to the cause he has engaged to fight for, but an indirect spur to the enterprise of an enemy, who will soon know how to take advantage of his vice and weakness.

SOC, _Fr._ A machine made of leather, which is fixed near the stirrup, to receive the end of the standard staff in cavalry regiments. It is likewise called _braïer_, and is used by the persons who carry the colors either in infantry or cavalry regiments. In the former instance it is fixed to a leathern belt that comes over the shoulder or that is fixed to the waist.

SOCKET, generally means any hollow pipe that receives something inserted.

SOCKET _of a bayonet_. The round hollow part near the bent or heel of a bayonet, into which the muzzle of a firearm is received when the bayonet is fixed.

SODS, pieces of turf with which works are faced.

SOVAN, or _Savan_, _Ind._ The seventh month. It in some degree corresponds with July and August.

SOL, _Fr._ Soil; ground.

SOLAKS. Bowmen or archers belonging to the personal guard of the grand signor. They are always selected from the most expert bowmen that are among the janizaries. Their only arms are, the sabre, bow, and arrows.

SOLBATU, _Fr._ In farriery, surbated.

SOLDAN. This word is pronounced _Soudan_. It was formerly given to a general who commanded the califf’s army. Saladin, a general under Naradin, king of Damas, having killed the califf Kaym, usurped the throne, and assumed the title in 1146; so that he became the first Soldan of Egypt.

SOLDAT, _Fr._ See SOLDIER.

SOLDAT _d’ordonnance à l’armée_, _Fr._ An orderly man.

SOLDATESQUE, _Fr._ A substantive of the collective feminine gender, which signifies private soldiers, viz.

_La Bourgeoisie était exposée aux insultes de la soldatesque_; the citizens were exposed to the insults of the soldiery. _La soldatesque s’est révoltée contre les officiers_; the soldiers revolted or mutinied against the officers.

SOLDATESQUE is likewise used as an adjective, viz. _Des mœurs soldatesque_; the ways or manners of a private soldier. _Une dispute soldatesque_; a military broil or a dispute among private soldiers. We have an adjective which is derived from the same source, namely, soldier-like, but which is only taken in a good sense with us, as soldier-like conduct, soldier-like behaviour; unsoldier-like being the opposite.

SOLDATS _étrangers ou Mercénaires_, _Fr._ Foreign or mercenary troops.

SOLDATS _de Marine_, _Fr._ Marines, or soldiers, who do duty on board ships of war.

SOLDATS _Gardiens_, _Fr._ A description of invalid soldiers, so called during the French monarchy. They were stationed at the sea-ports. There were 300 at Toulon, ditto at Rochefort and Brest, and fifty at Havre-de-Grace. There were besides 300 in each of the first three ports, who received half-pay.

SOLDE, _Fr._ The pay and subsistence, &c. which are issued to officers and soldiers are so called.

_Demie_ SOLDE, _Fr._ Half pay. The French likewise say--_à demie paye_--On half-pay.

SOLDIER, A piece of money; the pay of a soldier. Dr. Johnson derives the word from _solidarius_, low Latin of _solidus_. We conceive it to be immediately taken from the French _soldat_, which comes from the Latin _solidarius Veget_. A soldier in pay--_a solido quem meretur_. Some again trace both the English and French word to the Italian Soldato, and others to the German Soldat. _Sola_ in German signifies pay. So that originally soldier meant only one who listed himself to serve a prince or state, in consideration of certain daily pay.

SOLDIER now generally signifies any military man.

_Private_ SOLDIER, a man in the ranks; one under the degree of a corporal; as distinct from the commanders.

_A real_ SOLDIER, a term among military men to mark out one who knows and does his duty.

_No_ SOLDIER. An expression of familiar currency in the British service. It is sometimes used as a term of reproach, and sometimes of harmless irony; as “you are a dirty fellow and no soldier.”

_Citizen_ SOLDIER, (_Soldat citoyen_, _Fr._) In a general acceptation of the term, a citizen soldier signifies any man who is armed for the support and vindication of his country’s rights.

_A Brother_ SOLDIER. A term of affection which is commonly used in the British service by one who serves under the same banners, and fights for the same cause with another. In a more extensive signification, it means any military man with respect to another.

SOLDIER _of Fortune_, (_Soldat de Fortune_, _Fr._) During the frequent wars which occurred in Italy, before the military profession became so generally prevalent in Europe, it was usual for men of enterprise and reputation to offer their services to the different states that were engaged. They were originally called _Condottieri_, or leaders of reputation. They afterwards extended their services, and under the title of _soldiers of fortune_ sought for employment in every country or state that would pay them.

SOLDIER’S _Friend_. A term in the military service which is generally applied to such officers as pay the strictest attention to their men; granting them seasonable indulgences without injuring the service; seeing their wants relieved; and, above all things, having them punctually paid and regularly settled with. There is much confidence in the multitude when they are justly dealt by, and every soldier fights well under the guidance of a soldier’s friend!

SOLDIER _Officer_. A term generally used among naval men to signify any officer belonging to the land service.

SOLDIERSHIP, (_Metier de soldat_, _Fr._) The profession, character, and qualities of a military man.

SOLDIERY. Body of military men; soldiers collectively. Soldiers are properly the land forces of a nation or state. It is in the power of the legislature to fix the establishment according to the exigency of the times.

SOLDURIERS, _Fr._ A term anciently used among the French, to signify those persons who attached themselves to some particular general or military knight, whose fortunes they followed, in consequence of being paid and supported by him.

SOLEIL, _Fr._ Sun.

SOLEIL _fixe_, _Fr._ An artificial fire-work, so disposed, that when it takes fire, it emits a brilliant light from a fixed centre, and resembles the sun at mid day.

SOLEIL _tournant et courant sur une corde_, _Fr._ An artificial fire-work made in the shape of the sun, which is so contrived, that it moves in full illumination, either backward or forward, along a rope.

SOLEIL _montant_, _Fr._ An artificial fire-work, so called from its ascending in full illumination, and scattering fire in various directions by a desultory movement. It is likewise called _tourbillon de feu_; a whirlwind of fire.

SOLEIL _tournant et girandole_, _Fr._ An artificial fire-work, which, when set fire to, resembles a sun moving round its axis, and exhibiting the figure of a girandole.

SOLID, (_Solide_, _Fr._) that body which has all the geometrical dimensions.

SOLID _Bastion_. See FORTIFICATION.

SOLIDAIRE, _Fr._ Consolidated.--An old French legal term, but now generally used to signify a concentration of good qualities, &c. Thus the French convention declared--_Que les armées étoient solidaires de gloire_; that the armies had consolidated their glory; meaning thereby, that the victories of one part of the army had been added to the account of the rest.

SOLIDITY, (_Solidite_, _Fr._) Firmness; density; compactness.

SOLIVE, _Fr._ A joist.

SOLIVE likewise signifies a measure in carpentry. It is supposed to be equal to three cubic feet. So that the solive in France is to the measure of wood-work, what the cubic toise is to the measure of earth, or brick-work. The solive is divided into six French feet which are called _pieds de solive_. The foot into 12 inches, called _pouces de solive_; and the inch into 12 lines, which are called _lignes de solive_. In order to form a correct idea of the solive, with regard to all parts or proportions, it must be considered as a parallelepipede, whose base is a rectangle containing 12 inches in breadth, to six in height, and a toise in length, the solive being equal to 3 cubic feet.

SOLIVEAU, _Fr._ A small joist; a rafter.

SOLSTICE, (_Solstice_, _Fr._) The point beyond which the sun does not go; the tropical point, the point at which the day is longest in summer, or shortest in winter. It is taken of itself commonly for the summer solstice.

The _Summer_ SOLSTICE, (_le Solstice d’ete_, _Fr._) Is when the sun is in the tropic of cancer, and gives us the longest day.

The _Winter_ SOLSTICE, is when the sun is in the tropic of capricorn, and gives us the shortest day. There is not any solstice under the equator, there being, in that quarter, without variation, equal day and equal night.

SOLUTION, (_Solution_, _Fr._) Resolution of a doubt; removal of any intellectual difficulty.

SOMACHE, _Fr._ Brackish, salt. The mixture of sea and river water is so called, as _eau somache_.

SOME-_war_, _Ind._ Monday.

SOMMERS, in an _ammunition waggon_, are the upper sides, supported by the staves entered into them with one of their ends, and the other into the side pieces.

SOMMIER _d’un Port levis_, _Fr._ See SEUIL DE PONT LEVIS.

SONAILLER, _Fr._ A term used among the drivers of mules, to signify the leading animal that has a bell tied to his neck, which they call _sonaille_.

SONDE, _Fr._ Sounding lead, probe, any instrument used to ascertain the nature of soil, &c.

SONDER, _Fr._ To sound, to throw out the lead.

SONNANT, _Fr._ A participle which is frequently used by the French, to express a specific period of time, or the nature of any thing.

_A five heures_ SONNANTES, _Fr._ At five o’clock precisely, or as the clock strikes five.

_Argent_ SONNANT, _Fr._ Hard cash. This term was in familiar use at the commencement of the French revolution, when it was found expedient to pay a select body of troops, called the _gendarmes_, in ready money, whilst the aggregate of the nation took paper currency or assignats.

SOODER, _Ind._ The fourth or lowest of the original tribes of Hindoos, as they come from the feet of Brama, which signifies subjection. They are obliged to labor, and to serve when called upon.

SOOKRBAR, _Ind._ Friday.

SOORETHAUL, _Ind._ Statement of a case.

SORDET, SORDINE, The small pipe or mouth piece of a trumpet.

SORN, a servile tenure in Scotland, by which a chieftain might, with his followers, live upon his tenants at free quarters.

SORTIES, in a _siege_, parties that sally out of a town secretly to annoy the besiegers, and retard their operations.

SOUDOYES, _Fr._ From _Soudoyer_. To keep in pay. This name was originally given to a body of men who inlisted themselves under Philip Augustus of France, on condition that they should receive a certain daily pay in the way of subsistence. Froissart calls all soldiers, who are paid for doing duty, or for going to war, _soudoyes_,

SOUFLE, _Fr._ The wind of a cannon.

SOUFLER _les canons_, _Fr._ To scale pieces of ordnance. This is done by means of a moderate charge of gunpowder, for the purpose of cleaning them.

SOUFLURE, _Fr._ A cavity or hole, which is frequently occasioned when pieces of metal have been forged in too intense a fire. Cannon balls lose their required weight by flaws of this sort.

SOUFRE, _Fr._ See SULPHUR.

SOUGARDE, _Fr._ Guard, throat-band of a gun. A semi-circular piece of brass which ts fixed beneath the trigger of a musquet, to prevent it from going off by accident.

SOUGARDES. See DECHARGEURS.

SOUGORGE, _Fr._ Throat-band of a bridle.

SOUKARS, _Ind._ A general name for bankers.

SOULEVEMENT, _Fr._ Insurrection, revolt.

SOULEVER, _Fr._ To stir up, to excite to insurrection.

_Se_ SOULEVER, _Fr._ To rise, to revolt, to mutiny; _l’armee s’est soulevee contre son general_; the army rose, or mutinied against its general.

SOUMETTRE, _Fr._ (As an active verb) to subdue, to overcome, to reduce to subjection.

_Se_ SOUMETTRE, _Fr._ To submit oneself. To yield.

SOUMISSION, _Fr._ Submission.

SOUMIS, _ise_, _Fr._ In fortification; to lie under, to be commanded. Thus one work is said to be commanded, _ou être soumis_, when it is lower than another. The same signification holds good with respect to heights or elevations.

SOUND. Any thing audible; noise; that which is perceived by the ear. The experiments are numerous by which it has been found, that sound is audible to the distance of 50, 60, or 80 miles; but Dr. Hearne, physician to the king of Sweden, tells us, that at the bombardment of Holmia, in 1658, the sound was heard 30 Swedish miles, which make 180 of ours: and in the fight between England and Holland in 1672, the noise of the guns was heard even in Wales, which cannot be less than 200 miles.

The velocity of sound is 380 yards, or 1142 feet in a second of time, as found by very accurate experiment. The exactness of measuring distances by sound, has been sufficiently proved by measuring the same distances by trigonometry.

The medium velocity of sound is nearly at the rate of a mile, or 5280 feet in 4²⁄₃ seconds; or a league in 14 seconds; or 13 miles in one minute. But sea miles are to land miles nearly as 7 to 6: therefore sound moves over a sea mile in 5³⁄₄ seconds nearly; or a sea league in 16 seconds.

Sound flies 1142 feet in one second.

It is a common observation, that persons in good health have about 75 pulsations at the wrist in a minute, consequently in 75 pulsations sound flies about 13 land miles, or 11¹⁄₇ sea miles, which is about 1 land mile in 6 pulsations, and 1 sea mile in 7 pulses, or a league in 20 pulses.

The velocity of sound does not very much vary, whether it goes with the wind or against it. As sound moves vastly swifter than the wind, the acceleration it can thereby receive can be but inconsiderable; and the chief effect we can perceive from the wind is, that the sound will be carried to a greater distance by it. Sound will be louder in proportion to the condension of the air. Water is one of the greatest conductors of sound; it can be heard nearly twice as far as on land.

SOUND, (_Sonde_, _Fr._) An instrument used by surgeons in probing.

_To_ SOUND. To betoken or direct by a sound; as to sound the retreat. Hence

SOUNDINGS. Signals made by any kind of instruments.

_Trumpet_ SOUNDINGS, practised by cavalry regiments, viz. for duty.

1. _Revillé._
2. _Stable call._ For stable duties.
3. _Boots and saddles._}When to turn out on horseback for a march,
4. _To horse._ }exercise, or other duty.
5. _Draw swords._ }These soundings begin at the instants of drawing
6. _Return swords._}the sword _from_, and returning it _to_ the
scabbard.
7. _Parade march._
8. _Parade call._ For assembling on foot.
9. _Officers call._
10. _Serjeants call._
11. _Trumpeters call._
12. _Orders._
13. _Dinner call._ For men, and for officers.
14. _Watering call._ To turn out in watering order.
15. _Setting the watch._

These duty soundings, according to situation, are given by one trumpet, or by the whole of the quarter, regiment, or camp.

_For exercise._

16. _March._ The squadron, regiment, or line being halted, the trumpet of the commander will accompany the word, _the ---- will advance_; and at the word _march_, the whole will move at a walk.

17. _Trot._ 18. _Gallop._ 19. _Charge._ When the body is marching at a walk, on the signal to trot, the whole instantly receive the word _trot_, and change pace immediately. The same is to be observed from the trot to the light _gallop_, and from the gallop to the _charge_. During the charge itself, the trumpets of all the squadrons that are charging, may sound.

20. _Halt._ The whole halt on the word of command. After the halt of a retreating body, the proper command will bring it to its proper front.

21. _Retreat._ The signal of _retreat_, (which will be often preceded by that of halt) is a general caution for the several words of execution to be given.

22. _Rally._ The signal to _rally_, may be continued as long as it is necessary, and be repeated by the trumpets of such parts of the body, as are concerned in the operation, till the end is answered.

These signals are given by the chief commander only of the whole body that is exercised, whether of a squadron, regiment, brigade, or a line: they are not repeated by other commanders; they are addressed as cautions to the commanding officers of the parts of such body, not to the men; nor is any movement, or alteration of movement, to take place, but in consequence of the words, march, trot, gallop, &c. &c. rapidly and loudly repeated, the instant the trumpet caution is given.

The signals of movement are so short, that the words of execution may nearly coincide with them.

These signals for quick movement, may in regular exercise be given by a person who at the instant of giving them is stationary; but if he leads the body in motion, it is evident that in the gallop, the charge, and the halt, the voice and the eye, can only determine, and regulate.

23. _Turn out skirmishers._ This signal is made by the commander of the whole, if the whole is concerned, otherwise by the commander of such part only as is to execute; if one, or two squadrons only, the voice will suffice. It may be a signal for pursuers after a charge.

24. _Call in skirmishers._ This signal is made by the commander of the whole, and repeated by the commander of the detachments; is for the skirmishers to join their detachments; or it may originally come from the commander of the detachments. On the signal to rally, the whole join the bodies they were detached from.

25. _Skirmishers cease firing._ This signal is made by the commander of the whole, and repeated (or originally made) by the commander of the supporting detachments, from which the skirmishers are advanced.

_Bugle Horn_ SOUNDINGS, are different calls which are made by the bugle horn for duty and exercise. The following constitute the principal ones. See _Am. Mil. Lib._

1st. _For duty._

1. _Revillé._ {These soundings are different in their
2. _Rouse, or turn out._{notes from those of the trumpet, but may be
3. _Dinner call._ {used under the same circumstances.
4. _Setting the watch._ {

2d. _For exercise._

5. _March._ }
6. _Trot._ }
7. _Gallop._ }
8. _Charge._ }These soundings exactly the same as
9. _Halt._ }those of the trumpet, in the place of
10. _Retreat._ }which the bugle horn may be
11. _Rally._ }occasionally substituted.
12. _Turn out skirmishers._ }
13. _Skirmishers cease firing._}
14. _Call in skirmishers._ }

These signals, of the trumpet, and bugle horn, are meant in aid of the voice, but are by no means to be substituted for, or prevent the ordered words of execution.

The trumpet is always to be considered as the principal military instrument for these soundings, and particularly belongs to the line; the bugle horn to riflemen and detached parties.

SOUPAPE, _Fr._ Sucker of a pump.

SOURA, _Ind._ A division; as that of chapter.

SOURD, _e._ _Fr._ Literally means deaf, dull. It is variously applied by the French--viz.

_Lanterne Sourde_, _Fr._ A dark lantern.

_Lime Sourde_, _Fr._ A file which is made in such a manner, that you may separate pieces of iron without making any noise in the operation. It is likewise used in a figurative sense--to signify a person who says little, but is always meditating something mischievous or injurious to others.

The French likewise say, _sourdes pratiques_, _pratiques sourdes_; secret or underhand practices; _sourdes menees_, _menees sourdes_, secret or underhand ways. These terms are always used in a bad sense. In mathematics, the French call those quantities, _quantites sourdes_, which are incommensurable, that is, which cannot be exactly expressed, either by whole numbers or by fractions. Thus the square root, or _racine carree_, of two is a _quantite sourde_.

SOURDINE, _Fr._ A little pipe, a mute. It likewise means a small spring, which is fixed in a dumb repeater. The French make use of this word in a figurative sense, to signify, literally, without noise. _Les ennemis ont délogé à la sourdine_, the enemy decamped privately, and without noise.

SOURIS, _Fr._ Literally a mouse. For its application in fortification, see PAS DE SOURIS. It is likewise used to express a want of expedients or resources in critical moments, and the consequent danger of being caught in the snare one is endeavoring to avoid--_La souris qui n’a qu’un trou est bientôt prise_, the mouse that has only one hole to run to, is soon caught.

SOUS, _Fr._ A proposition which is used to denote the state or condition of one thing with respect to another which is above it, viz.

SOUS-_tangente_, _Fr._ Sub-tangent.

SOUS-_lieutenant_, _Fr._ Sub-lieutenant.

SOUSIGNER, _Fr._ To undersign.

SOUSIGNE, _ée_, _Fr._ The undersigned.

_La_ SOUTE, _Fr._ The powder or bread room.

SOUTENIR, _Fr._ In exercise and evolution to turn upon the left foot in proportion as any given line bears towards the fixed point upon which it is directed to rest; The point on which the soldier turns is called the pivot, _Le pivot_.

SOUTENIR, _Fr._ To maintain; as _soutenir le combat_, to maintain the fight.

SOUTENIR _le feu de l’ennemi_, _Fr._ To stand the enemy’s fire.

SOUTENIR _le siege_, _Fr._ To hold out in a besieged place.

SOUTERRAINS, _Fr._ Subterraneous passages, lodgments, &c. that are bomb-proof.

SOUVERAIN, _Fr._ Sovereign. The person in whom sovereignty is vested.

SOUVERAINETE. Sovereignty; supremacy; highest place; supreme power.

SOW, in ancient military history, a kind of covered shed, fixed on wheels, under which the besiegers filled up and passed the ditch, sapped or mined the wall, and sometimes worked a kind of ram. It had its name from its being used for rooting up the earth like a swine, or because the soldiers therein were like pigs under a sow.

SOWAR, _Ind._ A horseman.

SOWARRY, _Ind._ A retinue, cavalcade; the English residents in India say, such a man travels with a large _sowarry_, meaning a great number of followers.

SOWGUND, _Ind._ An oath.

SPADE, (_Beche_, _Fr._) an instrument for digging. See INTRENCHING TOOLS, MINING, &c.

SPADROON, a sword much lighter than a broadsword, and made both to cut and thrust.

SPADROON _Guard_, a guard sometimes used with the cut and thrust sword, and also with the broadsword. It consists in dropping the point towards the right from the outside guard, till it comes under your adversary’s blade, the edge being upwards, and your wrist at the same time raised.

SPAHI, _Persian_. A soldier or military man, whence the common Hindustan term SEPAHI, corrupted by the English into _Sepcy_.

SPAHI. An upper garment made of blue cloth, which is worn by the Janizaries, in the same manner that we wear a loose great coat or surtout.

SPAHIS. A corps of Turkish cavalry, which is kept in pay by the grand signor. The Spahis do not possess any lands as the Zaims and Timariots are allowed to do. This corps is composed of twelve or fifteen thousand men, and consists of the _Silbataris_, whose standard or cornet is yellow, and of the _Spahis-Glanis_, who have a red one. When the troops were first formed, the latter acted as servants or batmen to the former: they became a separate class or troop in consequence of their superior conduct on service, and were distinguished in this manner:--They are armed with a sabre and a lance, which they call _Misra_. They likewise make use of a long dart or javelin, called a _Gerie_, with an iron ferrel at one end, which they throw at the enemy with surprising skill; and if they should happen to miss their aim, they can instantly bend from their saddles, and catch it up, whilst the horse is on full gallop. Others again are armed with bows and arrows, and some have pistols and carbines. When the grand signor takes the field in person, he generally makes a present of five thousand aspres to each _Spahi_. This bounty is called _Sadach akchiasi_, or gift to enable each man to purchase bows and arrows.

When the _Spahis_ take the field, they march in rear of their standard; but they do not observe any particular order of route. They divide themselves, on the contrary, into small bodies, and advance in the most desultory manner.

Besides these two troops of _Spahis_, there are four others in the Turkish service, which are only called upon under circumstances of extreme pressure and emergency. The first is called _Sag-Vlesigi_; the standard is red and white. The second is named _Sol-Vlesigi_; the standard is white and yellow. The third is styled _Sag-Gureba_, the standard is green: and the fourth, _Sol-Gureba_; the standard is white. All these _Spahis_ receive a daily pay of twelve to twenty aspres; and they are subject to every species of duty. Those are _Spahis_, called _Timars_, or _Timariots_. See TIMARIOTS.