Chapter D: Caldwell, (6)

A conflagrating war carried into Connecticut, by governor Tryon
and general Garth, New Haven taken; Fairfield, Norwalk, and
Greenfield burnt to the ground, July.

Newhaven, town of, ravaged by the British, July.

General Lincoln attacks the British under colonel Maitland, 27
June.

Attack of the British lines at Savannah, by Lincoln and
D’Estaign, who are repulsed and raise the siege, 9 Oct.

Fort of Omoa, key to the Bay of Honduras, taken by the British
from the Spaniards, Oct. 20.

1780. Fort on Sullivan’s Island taken by the British, May 6.

Wachaws, North Carolina, where Colonel Tarleton surprised 300
Americans, of whom he killed by far the greatest number, May.

Charleston, South Carolina, taken by the British, after a siege
of several weeks, by Gen. Clinton, 12 May.

Elizabethtown, New-Jersey, taken by the British, June 7.

Springfield attacked and burnt by the British from New York; the
British severely handled and forced to retire, 23 June.

General Sumpter, after three repulses storms and takes the
British post at Rocky Mount, on the Catawba river; but abandons
it and attacks the post at Hanging Rock, 30 July.

Battle of Camden, Gates against Cornwallis, both armies set out
at midnight, and their advanced guards began the action at 2
o’clock in the morning, 16 Aug.

Tarleton attacks Sumpter on the Wateree, a skirmish without any
other effect than the display of enterprise and intrepidity on
both sides, 18 Aug.

Augusta, Georgia, attacked by American general Clark, without
success, 14 Sept.

Tarleton attacks Sumpter at Black Rock, on the Tyger river, and
is defeated; both commanders severely wounded, Oct.

Battle of King’s Mountain, in which a party of American mounted
riflemen collected from Kentucky, Georgia, and the Carolinas,
attack and kill the tory leader Ferguson, and take 800 of his
party prisoners, 7 Oct.

Clermont, S. C. taken by Colonel Washington, Dec. 4.

1781. Richmond, in Virginia, destroyed by the British under General
Arnold, Jan. 5.

Hillsborough, in Carolina, the royal standard erected there by
Lord Cornwallis, Feb. 20.

Colonel Henry Lee, with his legion, attacks a body of tories
upon the Haw river, within a mile of Tarleton’s encampment, and
cuts them to pieces, 25 Feb.

Battle of Guilford court house; general Greene commanded the
Americans; general Cornwallis the British; a hard fought battle,
the Americans defeated, but the victory was fatal to the
victors, 15 March.

Fort Watson, South Carolina, taken by the Americans, April 15.
Camden, battle at, in South Carolina, between General Green and
Lord Rawdon, when the Americans retreated, April 25.

Petersburgh, in Virginia, the shipping and stores destroyed at,
by Phillips and Arnold, April 26.

Fort Motte, in South Carolina, taken by the Americans, May 12.
Camden, S. C. burnt by the British, May 13.

Fort Granby, in South Carolina, taken by the Americans, May 15.

Fort Cornwallis, at Augusta, taken by the Americans under Gen.
Marion and Col. Lee, June 5.

Augusta, Georgia, taken by Col. Pickens and Lee, 5 June.

Battle of the Cowpens, general Morgan defeats Tarleton, whose
whole force is cut to pieces; the British had 600 men killed on
the field; the Americans 12 killed and 60 wounded, 7 June.

Battle of Ninety-six. 19 June.

Grotton, in Connecticut, burnt by Gen. Arnold, Sept. 6.

Battle or Hobkirks hill, general Greene and lord Rawdon, 8 Sept.

Eutaw Springs, the British under general Stewart, defeated by
general Greene; the standard of the 3d British regiment, or old
Bulfs, taken by the Americans; the American colonel Washington
wounded and taken by the British, 8 Sept.

New London, Connecticut, burnt by Benedict Arnold, Sept. 13.
Battles of Porto Novo and Mooteapollam, E. Indies.

1782. Floating batteries, the, destroyed before Gibraltar, Sept. 13.

Surrender of Yorktown, by Cornwallis, with his whole army,
consisting of 7000 men, to the united armies of America and
France, under the command of general Washington, which closed
the battles of the American revolution, 17 Oct.

Mohawk river, battle at, when Colonel Willet defeated the
British, Oct. 24.

1790. The Miami Indians defeat General Harmar with great loss,
September 30.

1791. The Indians defeat Gen. St. Clair with great loss, Nov. 4.

Bangalore, battle of, Cornwallis captures the place.

1792. Ostend taken possession of by the French under Dumourier, Dec.

Nice taken by the French under General Anselm, Sept. 29.

Savoy, part of the king of Sardinia’s dominions, taken by the
French under General Montesquieu, Oct.

Battle of Jemappe, Dumourier, French 40,000, Clairfayt,
Austrians 28,000, Nov. 5.

Frankfort treacherously given up to the Austrians, when 1300
Frenchmen were massacred by the Hessians, and several whose
lives were spared had their hands cut off, Dec. 2.

1793. Neuingen, the battle of, between the combined armies and General
Dumourier, when the French were defeated with great loss, March
20.

Battle of Tirlemont, Clairfayt defeats Dumourier, March 18.

Battle of St. Amand, in which Dampierre the French commander was
killed by a cannon ball, in an engagement near the woods of
Rhemes and Vicoigne, when the allies were defeated with great
loss; General Clairfayt and Duke of York commanded the coalesced
army, May 8.

Famars, battle of, between the French and combined powers, when
the former were defeated, by Cobourg and Duke of York, May 23.

Carlberg, the battle of, when the French under Custine, defeated
the Prussians, May 18.

Arlon, French and Austrians, latter defeated, 9 June.

Valenciennes, taken by the combined powers, and soon after
retaken, June.

Marseilles, which had revolted against the convention, subdued
Aug. 24.

Verdun, the French garrison, taken by the Prussians, and retaken
soon after, Sept. 2.

Battle of Weissemberg, (or attack and repulse of,) Aug. 27.

Battle of Hondschoote, French under Houchard commander, Marshal
Freytag taken, duke of York escapes, Sept. 6.

Dunkirk besieged by the combined army under the Duke of York,
August 25, who were repulsed with great slaughter, Sept. 7,
following.

Battle of Dunkirk, Duke of York and Marshal Freytag defeated by
the French under Houchard and Jourdan, 32 24-pounders, and 68
other pieces of cannon taken by the French, Sept. 8.

Battle of Pirmasens, on the Rhine, Duke of Brunswick victorious
over the French.

Battle of Saorgia, King of Sardinia beaten, Sept. 20.

Spaniards defeated at Perpignan under Ricardos.

Boufflers, from 8 in the morning to 7 at night, Austrians
retreat under cover of night.

Battle of Maubeuge, Cobourg Austrian, Jourdan French, lasted two
days, from day light ’till night.

Jeremie fort, St. Domingo, taken by the British, Oct.

Limbach, battle of, when the French were victorious, Sept. 14.

Maubeuge, the battle of, between the Austrians and the French,
when the former were defeated with great loss, Oct. 15 & 16.

Toulon surrendered to the English Admiral Lord Hood, who took
possession of the town and shipping in the name of Louis XVII.
when the tree of liberty, which had been erected there, was
converted into a gibbet for the republicans. On December 19,
following, the republicans attacked the town in a most vigorous
manner; when the combined forces, finding that all future
resistance was useless, after having set fire to the shipping,
arsenals, &c. made a precipitate retreat.

Tirlemont, battle of, when after a contest of several days, the
French under Dumourier were defeated.

Battle of Deuxponts, Hoche and Wurmser, Hoche victorious at 4
o’clock, afternoon, loss of Austrians 6000, French 2000, 21 Nov.

Hagenau, Hoche gains a victory, 8-9 Dec.

Action five days at Weissemberg, and Austrians driven from
Balberotte, 31 Dec.

1794. Noimoutier, the island of, taken from the Insurgents of La
Vendee, by the arms of the French Republic, Jan 3.

Battle between Russians and Poles, former defeated, 4 Jan.
Fort Vauban taken by the French, Jan. 7.

Battle of Villers en Couchée, 24 April.

Battle of Cateau.

Moucron, battle of, when the allied forces under Clairfayt were
totally defeated by the French under Pichegru, April 26.

Courtray, the same, 11 May.

Tournay, battle of, between the French and English, when the
former were defeated, May 10; again between the French and
combined powers, when the latter were defeated with great loss,
May 17 & 18 following.

Lannoy, Pichegru defeats duke of York, 18 May, takes 60 pieces;
here the duke won the race, but lost the battle.

Turcoing, Pichegru and Clairfayt, a victory on neither side,
though a desperate battle, 22 May.

Coilloure, the Spanish garrison of, also Port Vendre, Fort St.
Elmo, &c. with 8000 prisoners, taken by the French under Gen.
Dugoumier, May.

Battle of Espierres, 25 May.

Hoogleden, Macdonald defeats Clairfayt, 13 June.

Charleroy, a garrison consisting of 3000 Austrians, surrendered
to the French under Gen. Jourdan, June 25.

Battle of Fleurus, Jourdan victorious over Cobourg, began at 3
o’clock in the morning; the French three times fell back from
the powerful artillery of the Austrians, and returned fresh to
the fight. The French word of battle was, _no retreat to day_,
for 9 hours victory indecisive; when Jourdan collecting his
corps de reserve, Lefebvre leading the cavalry, the Austrians
were put to the route. In this action reconnoitering with
balloons was practised with the greatest effect, the combined
forces lost about 8000 men killed and 15000 prisoners, June 28.

In consequence of this victory, Le Chateau de Namur soon after
submitted to the French republic.

Battle of Bellgarde, in the Eastern Pyrennees, Spaniards
defeated, French general Mirabel, killed, 13 July.

Fontarabia, the key of Spain, was taken by the French, July.

Chandernagore taken from the French by the British, July.

Indians defeated by Gen. Wayne, Aug. 20.

Juliers, the fortress of, submitted to the French, when all the
provinces west of the Rhine fell into their hands.

Boxtel, Moreau pursues duke of York, 14, 15, 16, Sept.

Bellegarde taken after an action, the last place possessed by
the coalesced powers in France, 18 Sept.

Battle of Warsaw, between the Russians and Poles, in which
Kosciusko was taken prisoner covered with wounds, 10 Oct.

Battle of Rerzese, in Poland, in which Suwarrow annihilated the
Poles, took all their artillery, 19 Oct.

Berterzel, Moreau, beats the Duke of York; general Fox wins a
race here, 19 Oct.

Praga, the suburb of, near Warsaw in Poland, taken by the
Russian General Suwarrow, who gave the barbarous orders to his
army to give quarters to no one, in consequence of which,
upwards of 30,000 Poles, men, women and children, were
massacred, Nov. 4.

Nimeguen, port of, evacuated by the British, Nov. 7.

Warsaw, the capital of Poland, taken by the Russians under
Suwarrow, Nov. 9.

Maestrecht, the garrison of, consisting of 8000 Austrians,
surrendered to the French, Nov. 9.

Battle of the Black Mountain, Eastern Pyrennees, in which
Dugomier, commander of the French, gained a complete victory,
but fell in the battle; took 50 pieces of cannon and the Spanish
founderies of Egui and Orbaycette, 17 Nov.

Another battle, French took tents for 50,000 men, at Figueras,
20 Nov.

Graves, the fortress of, taken by the French, Dec. 30.

1795. Battle of Bommel, in Holland, French under Moreau, took 120
pieces of cannon, 7 Jan.

Grenada, bloody battle fought between the French and English in
that island, in which the latter were defeated, March 3.

Battle of Quiberoon, Puissaye defeated by Hoche, 3 Aug.

1796. Battle of Kreutsnach, in which the French general Moreau,
defeats the Austrian generals Kray and Wurmser, 4 Jan.

Bonaparte’s first campaign in Italy.

Montenotte, Bonaparte with 56,000 men, defeats Boileau with
84,000, took from the Austrians 40 pieces of cannon, 11 April.

Battle of Fonubio, 7 May.

Battle of Pavia, 17 May.

Milessimo, 11 May.

Dego, the same, 14 April.

Battle of Mondovi, in which the French general Stengel was
killed, 22 April.

Battle of Lodi, over Boileau, 11 May.

Passage of the Mincio and battle of Borghetta, 4 June.

Battle of Renchen, Moreau victorious over the Austrians, 28
June.

Battle of Etingen, the corps of Condé cut to pieces, 1 July.

Battle of Neukirchen, Lefebvre defeats the Austrians, 6 July.

Battle of Castiglione lasted five days, Wurmser defeated, 70
field pieces, 15,000 prisoners, and Killed 6000, 2 Aug.

Battle of Peschiera, 6 Aug.

Battle of Roveredo, 6 Sept.

Battle of Bassano, 8 Sept.

Battle of Castellaro, 14 Sept.

Battle of Legonaro, 11 Oct.

Battle of Caldiero, 12 Oct.

Battle of Arcole, 15 Oct.

Battle of Altenkirken, Jourdan defeats Wurmser, 1 June.

Moreau attacks Wurmser and defeats him at Frankenthal, 15 June.

Moreau defeats the Austrians at Nordlingen, 10 Aug.

Jourdan defeated and retreats from Frankfort towards the Rhine,
30 Aug. to 3 Sept.

Desaix defeats the Austrians at Marienburg and covers Moreau’s
retreat, 7 Sept.

1797. Battle near Laforma on the Adige, 13 Jan.

Provera beaten and made prisoner at La Favorita, 15 Jan.

Passage of Tagliamento and defeat of the Archduke near Gradisca;
who narrowly escapes, 16 Feb.

Battle of Tagliamento, Austrians under arch duke Charles,
defeated by Massena, 16 March.

Battle of Neuwied, Hoche defeats the Austrians under Kray, and
takes 4000 prisoners, 18 March.

Battle of Tarvis in the Noric Alps, Massena defeats the
Austrians, 20 March.

Battle of Lavis, Joubert defeats the Austrians, 22 March.

Battle of Pufero, Austrians defeated by general Guyeux, 23
March.

Battle of Tarvis, fought above the clouds, Austrians defeated by
Massena, the imperial cuirassiers annihilated, 25 March.

Battle of the defiles of Neumark, Massena defeats the Austrians,
2 April.
1798. General Berthier, enters and occupies the city of Rome, in
consequence of the assassination of general Duphot, and an
attempt to assassinate Joseph Bonaparte the French ambassador,
10 Feb.

General Brune takes possession of Fribourg in Switzerland, after
a severe action, 3 March.

A revolt in Ireland, several actions between the Irish and
British troops with various success, during this month, April.

Action at Killalla, 19 April.

Action at Hacketstown, between the Irish insurgents and British
troops; same day actions in Clare, Lucan, Lusk, and Kilcullen,
25 May.

Action at Tarragh, very desperate and bloody; same day the
insurgents in Wexford, capture a British detachment, 27 May.

Battle at Enniscorthy, Ireland; same day a desperate action near
Limerick, 28 May.

Battle of Arklow, the Irish insurgents defeat the British
regulars, 29 May.

Battle of Vinegar Hill, the British under general Fawcett,
defeated, 30 May.

Action at Newtownbarry, the British compelled to retreat before
the insurgents; the pike the chief weapon of the Irish, 1 June.

The insurgents from Wexford, defeat the British under colonel
Walpole, the colonel is killed, and the cannon are taken by the
insurgents, 4 June.

Desperate action at New Ross, county Wexford; the British army
under general Johnson, severely cut up, their cannon taken, and
lord Mountjoy killed. Several actions during this month in which
the British are defeated, 5 June.

Battle of Antrim, lord O’Neil killed, with a pike, 7 June.

Battle of Ballinahinch, the British army severely handled by the
insurgent general Munroe, who was wounded and taken prisoner and
afterwards executed; the British in vengeance burned the town of
Saintfield, 12 June.

Insurgents camp at Vinegar hill, stormed by general Lake, and
carried with great slaughter, 21 June.

Sir Charles Asgill, defeated by a body of insurgents, under the
command of Murphy, an Irish priest, 23 June.

Sir Charles Asgill, attacks the Irish insurgents on Kilconnel
Hill, and defeats them, but with the loss of 1000 men; the
insurgents lose as many with all their cannon, and their leader
Murphy falls in battle, 26 June.

Several actions in this month between the revolted Irish and
British troops, July.

A French army under general Humbert, lands in Ireland, and takes
possession of Kilalla, 22 Aug.

Humbert attacks Lake at Castlebar, and defeats him, taking six
pieces of British artillery, 27 Aug.

Battle of Underwalden in Swisserland, between the adherents of
the aristocracy of Berne and the French, under Schauenburg; the
town of Stantz was burnt to the ground, 9 Sept.

The Irish insurgents defeat a British force at Rathfarnham, 18
Oct.

Desperate action at Kilcock, the British troops suffer from the
pike, 28 Oct.

General Mack commences hostilities in Italy against the French,
by an attack on five different points of the French lines, in
the Roman territory, 22 Nov.

Battle of Porto Fermo, on the Adriatic, the French defeat the
Neapolitans and take their cannon and baggage, 28 Nov.

Macdonald defeats the Neapolitans at Civita Castellano, 5 Dec.

Again defeats Mack at Calvi, 8 Dec.

Championnet defeats Mack in a general action, 11 Dec.

Macdonald defeats the Neapolitans under Dumas. The fruit of
these battles, was 12,000 prisoners, 99 pieces of cannon, 21
standards, 3000 horses, and all the baggage of the Neapolitan
armies.

Egypt conquered by the French.

1799. Battle of el Arish, Bonaparte defeats the Mamalukes, 9 Feb.

Jaffa taken by storm, by generals Lasnes and Bonaparte, 5 March.

Battle of Sadaseer, near Periptnam, first action on the invasion
of Mysore, 5 March.

Battle of Luciensteig, Massena forces that place with dreadful
slaughter; and thus gains the key of Tyrol and the Grisons, 7
March.

Battle at Loubi, on the river Jordan, near Nazareth; Bonaparte,
Murat, and Junot commanded, 8 March.

Kleber defeats the Syrians at Led-Jarra, 10 March.

Battle of Esdrelon, near Mount Tabor, 17 March.

General Desolles scales the Julian Alps, takes the intrenched
defiles of Tauffers in the rear, and gains a complete victory
over Laudohn, 17 March.

Ostrach, Jourdan with 40,000 men, is attacked by the archduke
with 80,000, and is forced to retreat, 21 March.

Samanhout, a new and elegant disposition, infantry squares
formed the two flanks, cavalry in a square the centre; the
troops to oppose were Mamalukes and horsemen. Davoust commanded
the French horse, Friant and Belliard the two squares of
infantry, 22 March. Several battles at Biramba, Bardis, Girgé,
gained by Desaix in this month.

Stockach, Jourdan attacks Archduke, but is defeated and forced
to retreat; Jourdan’s force under 40,000 men, the Archduke’s
above 80,000; the battle was principally fought by infantry and
was terrible; 10,000 men lay on the field of battle, 25 March.

Scherer and Moreau attack the Austrians between the Garda and
Adige, gain a hard earned victory, fought from day break to 11
at night, 26 March.

Scherer and Moreau attack general Kray before Verona, and are
defeated, 30 March.

Battle of Magnan, the French are defeated, 5 April.

Battle Malanelly, E. Indies, 5 April.

Lacourbe defeats Bellegarde in the Engadine, 1 May.

Seringapatam taken by storm, Tippoo put to death, partition of
Mysore followed, 4 May.

Attack of St. Jean d’Acre, and Bonaparte forced to raise the
siege, 7 May.

Moreau defeats the Russians on the Po, 12 May.

Lecourbe defeats the Austrians on the Reuss, 2 June.

Battle of Zurich, the Austrian Generals Hotze, and Wallis,
Kerpen and Hillier wounded; and Judinot and Humbert of the
French, 5 June.

Battle of Modena, Macdonald defeats Hohenzollern, 10 June.

Battle of the Trebia, at St. Juliano, Moreau and Suwarrow; the
French defeated, 18 June.

Battle of Chebrisa, Bonaparte against the Mamelukes; a new
disposition, echellons of squares with artillery and baggage of
each square in its centre--and giving a front and flank fire.

Turks land and take Aboukir after a battle very desperate, the
Turks defeated, Bonaparte embarks for France, 15 July.

Battle of the Pyramids, the same order of battle--very decided
victory over Murad Bey, 21 July.

Second battle of Zurich, most terrible and brilliant, Massena
attacks the Archduke; indecisive, 14 Aug.

Suwarrow attacks Joubert at Novi, who is killed, Moreau takes
the command but is forced to retreat, a bloody battle, 15 Aug.

Helder, 27 Aug.

Battle of Bergen, in Holland, general Brune attacks Abercrombie,
10 Sept.

Second battle, the British and Russians under the Duke of York,
defeated by Brune, and forced to retire within intrenchments, 19
Sept.

Third battle of Zurich, terrible and decisive, one of the most
brilliant in history; Massena commanded, the Austrian general
Hotze killed, the French triumph, 7 to 24 Sept.

Battle of Fossano, 14 Sept.

Gaeta, Aquila taken by storm, Mack defeated, and the Neapolitans
capitulate to Championnet, 1 Oct.

Battle of Bergen, 1 Oct.

Battle of Sand hills near Bergen, 2 Oct.

Battle of Egmont, duke of York again defeated and capitulates, 6
Oct.

Battle of Fossano, French defeated by Melas, 4 Nov.

1800. Egypt conquered by the English.

Moreau crosses the Rhine, and defeats the Austrians at Engen, 2
May.

Battle of Gremback, same, 3 May.

Biberach, same effect, 9 May.

Severe action at Memmingen, Kray forced to retreat, 11 May.

Signal defeat of five Austrian columns, by two French on the
Iller, 5 June.

Battle of Hochstedt, the Austrians defeated by Moreau, 18 June.

Action at Ungerhausen, 26 June.

Celebrated battle at Hohenlinden, gained by Moreau, takes 80
pieces of cannon and 10,000 prisoners; action began at day break
and ended at 4 o’clock.

Battle of Casteggio, Austrians defeated by Berthier, 8 June.

Battle of Marengo, one of the most brilliant in history, and
important in its consequences; it lasted 11 hours; decided the
fate of Italy, and placed the iron crown on the head of the
Bonaparte Dynasty, 14 June.

Battle at Muhldorf, 1 Dec.

1801. Alexandria, Egypt, Abercrombie fell, French defeated by
Hutchinson, 21 March.

1805. Battle of Wertingen in Bavaria, the first of the coalition of
Austria and Russia; Austrians defeated and all their cannon
taken, Oct. 8.

Battle of Guntzburg, marshal Ney defeats the Austrians, 9 Oct.

Battle on the Adige, Massena forces a passage at Verona, and
defeats the archduke Charles, Oct. 18.

Surrender of Ulm by Mack, October 20.

Murat defeats prince Ferdinand at Nuremburg, Oct. 21.

Battle of Caldiero, Massena attacks the whole Austrian line,
defeats them; captures one of their divisions; the arch duke
escapes at night, Oct. 30.

Battle of Amstetten, the Russians defeated by Murat, 4 Nov.

Battle of Marienzel, Davoust defeats the Austrian General
Meerfeldt, 8 Nov.

Mortier defeats the Russians under Kutasoff at Diernstein, Nov.
11.

Murat and Lasnes defeat the Russians under Kutasoff at
Holabrunn, 15 Nov.

Soult again at Guntersdorff, 16 Nov.

Battle of Austerlitz or of the three emperors, 500 pieces of
cannon and 150,000 men were engaged in this battle, which was
one of the most profound in the history of tactics, and the most
brilliant in the annals of victory; 150 pieces of artillery were
taken by the victors; this battle deprived the house of Austria
of the title of Emperor of Germany, 2 Dec.

1806. Battle of Jena, Oct. 14.

Prussia subdued by Bonaparte.

1807. Dantzick taken, May 20.

Battle of Spaudau, June 5.

Battle of Lonutten, same day.

Deppen, battle of, Marshal Ney makes a fictious retreat, and
cuts a body of Russians to pieces, June 6.

Eylau, battle of, very bloody and desperate, Russians lost
30,000 men killed, June 6-12.

Friedland, battle of, this action decided the fate of the
Coalition, and produced the peace of Tilsit on the 7th July
succeeding. This battle stands in the same rank with Jemappe,
Fleurus, Nordlingen, Zurich, Marengo, Jena and Austerlitz.

BATTLE-_Array_, _Line of_ BATTLE, the method and order of arranging the troops in order or line of battle; the form of drawing up the army for an engagement. This method generally consists of three lines, viz. the front line, the rear line, and the reserve.

The second line should be about 300 paces behind the first, and the reserve at about 5 or 600 paces behind the second. The artillery is likewise divided along the front of the first line. The front line should be stronger than the rear line, that its shock may be more violent, and that, by having a greater front, it may more easily close on the enemy’s flanks. If the first line has the advantage, it should continue to act, and attack the enemy’s second line, terrified by the defeat of their first. The artillery must always accompany the line of battle in the order it was at first distributed, if the ground permit it; and the rest of the army should follow the motions of the first line, when it continues to march on after its first success.

BATTLE-_Ax_, an offensive weapon, formerly much used by the Danes, and other northern infantry. It was a kind of halbert, and did great execution when wielded by a strong arm.

_Main_-BATTLE. See BATTLE-_Array_.

BATTLEMENTS, in military affairs, are the indentures in the tops of old castles or fortified walls, or other buildings, in the form of embrasures, for the greater conveniency of firing or looking through.

BATTRE _l’estrade_, _Fr._ to send out scouts.

BATTRE _la campagne_, _Fr._ to scour the country or make incursions against an enemy.

BATTRE, _Fr._ to direct one or more pieces of ordnance in such a manner, that any given object may be destroyed or broken into by the continued discharge of cannon ball, or of other warlike materials; it likewise means to silence an enemy’s fire.

BATTRE _de front_, _Fr._ to throw cannon-shot in a perpendicular or almost perpendicular direction against any body or place which becomes an object of attack. This mode of attack is less effectual than any other unless you _batter in breach_.

BATTRE _d’écharpe_, _Fr._ to direct shot, so that the lines of fire make a manifest acute angle with respect to the line of any particular object against which cannon is discharged.

BATTRE _en flanc_, _Fr._ is when the shot from a battery runs along the length of the front of any object or place against which it is directed.

BATTRE _a dos_, _Fr._ to direct the shot from one or several pieces of cannon so as to batter, almost perpendicularly, from behind any body of troops, part of a rampart or intrenchment.

BATTRE _de revers_, _Fr._ to direct shot, in such a manner as to run between the two last mentioned lines of fire. When you batter from behind, the shot fall almost perpendicularly upon the reverse of the parapet. When you batter from the reverse side, the trajectories or lines of fire describe acute angles of forty five degrees or under, with the prolongation of that reverse.

BATTRE _de bricole_, _Fr._ This method can only be put in practice at sieges, and against works which have been constructed in front of others that are invested. A good billiard player will readily comprehend what is meant by the _bricole_ or back stroke; it means simply the firing of shot against a wall so that the balls may rebound and in the rebound strike men or objects, that could not be struck directly.

BATTRE _la Caisse_, _Fr._ to beat a drum.

_Mener battant_, to overcome.

_Mener quelqu’un au Tambour battant._ To overcome by strokes of the drum. To disconcert, to confound, puzzle and perplex any body.

BAVINS, in military affairs, implies small faggots, made of brush-wood, of a considerable length, no part of the brush being taken off. See FASCINES.

BAYARD, _Fr._ a provincial term used in ancient Languedoc and Roussillon to signify a wheel-barrow.

BAYONET, a kind of triangular dagger, made with a hollow handle, and a shoulder, to fix on the muzzle of a firelock or musket, so that neither the charging nor firing is prevented by its being fixed on the piece. It is of infinite service against horse. At first the bayonet was screwed into the muzzle of the barrel, consequently could not be used during the fire. It is said by some to have been invented by the people of Malacca, and first made use of on quitting the pikes. According to others, it was first used by the fusileers in France, and invented or used at Bayonne. At present it is given to all infantry.

BEACON, a signal for securing and guarding against dangers.

On certain eminent places of the country are placed long poles erect, whereon are fastened pitch-barrels to be fired by night, and smoke made by day, to give notice, in a few hours of an approaching invasion; the Irish are reported to have risen upon and extirpated the Danes by beacons or fires lighted on their hills.

BEAR, in gunnery. A piece of ordnance is said to _bear_, or _come_ to _bear_, or _brought_ to _bear_ when pointed directly against the object; that is, pointed to hit the object.

BEARD, the reflected points of the head of an ancient arrow, particularly of such as were jagged.

BEAT, in a military sense, signifies to gain the day, to win the battle, &c.

_To_ BEAT _a parley_. See CHAMADE.

BEAVER, that part of the ancient helmet which covered the face, and which was moveable so as to expose the face without removing the beaver from the helmet.

BECHE, _Fr._ a spade used by pioneers.

BEDS, in the military language, are of various sorts, viz.

_Mortar_-BEDS serve for the same purpose as a carriage does to a cannon: they are made of solid timber, consisting generally of 2 pieces fastened together with strong iron bolts and bars. Their sizes are according to the kind of mortar they carry.

BEDS _for Mortars_.

+-------------+------------+------------+--------+-------+---------+
| KINDS. | Weight. | Tonnage. | Len. | Br. | Ht. |
+-------------+------------+------------+--------+-------+---------+
| |cwt. qr. lb.|ts. cwt. qr.|ft. in. |ft. in.|ft. in. |
| Sea | 38 3 13| 3 3 2 | | | |
|13{ Land Wood| 21 2 7| 1 6 0 | 7 0 | 2 6 | 2 3 |
| { Do. Iron | 50 0 0| 2 10 0 | 6 3 | 3 1 | 1 6 |
| Sea | 32 2 14| 2 2 2 | | | |
|10{ Land Wood| 10 0 20| 0 14 2 | 6 6 | 1 8 | 1 10 |
| { Do. Iron | 23 0 0| 1 3 0 | 4 8 | 2 4 | 1 1¹⁄₂|
| 8 {Land Wood| 6 0 20| 0 7 2 | 4 2 | 1 7 | 1 7¹⁄₂|
| {Do. Iron | 12 0 0| 0 12 0 | 4 0 | 1 11 | 0 11 |
|5¹⁄₂ Wood | 1 0 22| 0 2 0 | 2 9 | 1 4 | 0 10 |
|4²⁄₅ Wood | 0 3 11| 0 1 2 | 2 4¹⁄₂| 1 2 | 0 9 |
+-------------+------------+------------+--------+-------+---------+

_Stool_-BEDS for guns.

+------+------+---------+----+-------------+----
| | | | Inch. | In.
+------+------+---------+----+-------------+----
42 Prs.|0 1 20|0 1 0 |2 10|11 to 8³⁄₄|3³⁄₄
32 ----|0 1 14|0 1 0 |2 10|10 5¹⁄₂|3¹⁄₄
24 ----|0 1 14|0 1 0 |2 9|10¹⁄₄ 6¹⁄₂|4
18 ----|0 1 12|0 1 0 |2 8| 9¹⁄₂ 6¹⁄₂|3³⁄₄
12 ----|0 1 10|0 0 2²⁄₃ |2 8|10 6¹⁄₂|4
9 ----|0 1 4|0 0 2 |2 7| 9¹⁄₂ 5³⁄₄|3¹⁄₂
6 ----|0 1 0|0 0 1³⁄₄ |2 6| 9 4³⁄₄|3¹⁄₂
4 ----|0 1 0|0 0 1 |2 6| 8¹⁄₄ 5¹⁄₄|
+------+------+---------+----+-------------+----

_Sea-Mortar_-BEDS, are made of solid timber, having a hole in the centre to receive the pintle or strong iron bolt, about which the bed turns. Sea-mortars are mounted on these beds, on board of the bomb-ketches.

These beds are placed upon very strong timber frames, fixed into the bomb-ketch, in which the pintle is fixed, so as the bed may turn about it, to fire any way. The fore part of these beds is an arc of a circle described from the same centre as the pintle-hole.

_Stool_-BED, is a piece of wood on which the breech of a gun rests upon a truck-carriage, with another piece fixed to it at the hind end, that rests upon the body of the hind axle-tree; and the fore part is supported by an iron bolt. See CARRIAGE.

BEEF-_Eaters_, the yeomen of the guard to the king of Great Britain are so called, being kept up rather for pageantry, than for any military service. Their arms are a sabre and lance; and the dress of the 13th century.

BEETLES, in a military sense, are large wooden hammers for driving down pallisades, and for other uses, &c.

BEETLESTOCK, the stock or handle of a beetle.

BELLIGERENT, in a state of warfare. Hence any two or more nations at war are called belligerent powers.

BELTS, in the army are of different sorts, and for various purposes, viz.

_Sword_-BELT, a leathern strap in which a sword hangs.

_Shoulder_-BELT, a leathern belt, which goes over the shoulder, and to which the pouch is fixed. It is made of stout leather. See POUCH.

_Shoulder_-BELTS for the light cavalry and dragoons, 2¹⁄₂ inches broad. Regiments that have buff waistcoats, usually have buff-coloured accoutrements, and those which have white waistcoats, wear white.

_Waist_-BELTS, are 1³⁄₄ inches; to have buckles or clasps.

BELTS are known among the ancient and middle-age writers by divers names, as _zona_, _cingulum_, _reminiculum_, _ringa_, and _baldrellus_. The _belt_ was an essential piece of the ancient armor, insomuch that we sometimes find it used to denote the whole armor. In latter ages the _belt_ was given to a person when he was raised to knighthood: whence it has also been used us a badge or mark of the knightly order.

BELTS among the aborigines of America, are the symbols of peace or war; they are made in a rude fanciful taste, of colored beads, and are usually presented at all conferences or talks.

BENDINGS, in military and sea matters, are ropes, wood, &c. bent for several purposes. M. Amontons gives several experiments concerning the _bending_ of ropes. The friction of a rope _bent_, or wound round an immovable cylinder, is sufficient, with a very small power, to sustain very great weights. Divers methods have been contrived for _bending_ timber, in order to supply crooked planks and pieces for building ships; such as by sand, boiling water, steam of boiling water, and by fire. See M. Du Hamel, in his book called _Du Transport, de la Conservation, & de la Force des Bois_. M. Delesme ingeniously enough proposed to have the young trees bent, while growing in the forest. The method of _bending_ planks by sand-heat, now used in the British navy yards, was invented by captain Cumberland.

A method has been lately invented and practised for _bending_ pieces of timber, so as to make the wheels of carriages without joints. The _bending_ of boards, and other pieces of timber for curved works in joinery, is effected by holding them to the fire, then giving them the figure required, and keeping them in this figure by tools for the purpose.

BENEFICIARII, in ancient military history, denotes soldiers who attend the chief officers of the army, being exempted from all other duty. In the American service called _waiters_; each commissioned officer being allowed one.

BENEFICIARII were also soldiers discharged from the military service or duty, and provided with _beneficia_ to subsist on.

BERM, in fortification, is a little space or path, of about 3, 4, 6, or 8 feet broad, according to the height and breadth of the works, between the ditch and the parapet, when made of turf, to prevent the earth from rolling into the ditch; and serves likewise to pass and repass.

_To_ BESIEGE, to lay siege to or invest any place with armed forces.

BESIEGERS, the army that lays siege to a fortified place.

BESIEGED, the garrison that defends the place against the army that lays siege to it. See SIEGE.

_To_ BETRAY, to deliver perfidiously any place or body of troops into the hands of the enemy. To discover that which has been entrusted to secrecy.

BETTY, a machine used for forcing open gates or doors. See PETARD.

BICOQUE, _Fr._ a term used in France to signify a place ill-fortified and incapable of much defence. It is derived from a place on the road between Lodi and Milan, which was originally a gentleman’s country house surrounded by ditches. In the year 1522, a body of Imperial troops were stationed in it, and stood the attack of the whole French army, during the reign of Francis I. This engagement was called the battle of _Bicoque_.

BILBO, a rapier, or small sword, was formerly so called: from Bilboa in Spain, where excellent swords are made.

BILL or BILL-HOOK, a small hatchet used for cutting wood for fascines, gabions, bavins, &c.

BILLET, in England is a ticket for quartering soldiers, which intitles each soldier, by act of parliament, to candles, vinegar, and salt, with the use of fire, and the necessary utensils for dressing and eating their meat. The allowance of small beer has been added by a late regulation.

BILLET _de logement_, _Fr._ a billet for quarters. This billet or ticket was formerly delivered out to the French troops upon the same general principles that it is issued in England.

BILLETING, in the army, implies the quartering soldiers in the houses of any town or village.

BINACLE, a telescope with 2 tubes, so constructed, that a distant object might be seen with both eyes, now rarely used.

BIVOUAC, BIOUAC, BIOUVAC, or BIOVAC, _Fr._ [from the German _weywacht_, a double watch or guard.] A night-guard, or a detachment of the whole army, which during a siege, or in the presence of an enemy, marches out every night in squadrons or battalions to line the circumvallations, or to take post in front of the camp, for the purpose of securing their quarters, preventing surprises, and of obstructing supplies. When an army does not encamp, but lies under arms all night, it is said to _bivoac_. Thus before the battle of Austerlitz, Bonaparte was all night in _bivoac_, or with the advanced guard.

BIT, the bridle of a horse, which acts by the assistance of a curb. See CURB and BRIDON.

BLACK-HOLE, a place of confinement for soldiers, in the English discipline, who may be confined therein by the commanding officer, but not by any inferior officer. In this place they are generally restricted to bread and water.

BLANKETS, are made of coarse paper steeped in a solution of saltpetre, and when dry are again dipt in a composition of tallow, resin, and sulphur. They are used only in fire-ships.

BLAST, and BLASTING. See MINE and MINING.

BLINDS, in military affairs, are wooden frames, composed of 4 pieces, either flat or round, two of which are 6 feet long, and the others 3 or 4 feet, which serve as spars to fasten the two first together: the longest are pointed at both ends, and the two others are fastened towards the extremities of the former, at about 10 or 12 inches from their points, the whole forming a rectangular parallelogram, the long sides of which project beyond the other about 10 or 12 inches. Their use is to fix them either upright, or in a vertical position, against the sides of the trenches or saps, to sustain the earth. Their points at the bottom serve to fix them in the earth, and those at top to hold the fascines that are placed upon them; so that the sap or trench is formed into a kind of covered gallery, to secure the troops from stones and grenades.

The term _Blind_ is also used to express a kind of hurdle, made of the branches of trees, behind which the soldiers, miners, or labourers, may carry on their work without being seen. See HURDLE.

BLINDS are sometimes only canvas stretched to obstruct the sight of the enemy. Sometimes they are planks set up, for which see MANTLET. Sometimes they are made of a kind of coarse basket-work; see GABIONS. Sometimes of barrels, or sacks filled with earth. In short, they signify any thing that covers the labourers from the enemy.

BLIND See ORILLON and FORTIFICATION.

BLOCKADE, BLOCKADING, in military affairs, implies the surrounding a place with different bodies of troops, who shut up all the avenues on every side, and prevent every thing from going in or out of the place; this is usually effected by means of the cavalry. The design of the blockade is to oblige those who are shut up in the town, to consume all their provisions, and by that means to compel them to surrender for want of subsistence.

Hence it appears that a blockade must last a long time, when a place is well provided with necessaries; for which reason this method of reducing a town is seldom taken, but when there is reason to believe the magazines are unprovided, or sometimes when the nature or situation of the place permits not the approaches to be made, which are necessary to attack it in the usual way.

Maritime towns, which have a port, are in much the same case as other towns, when their port can be blocked up, and the besiegers are masters of the sea, and can prevent succours from being conveyed that way into the place.

_To_ BLOCKADE, or to block up a place, is to shut up all the avenues, so that it cannot receive any relief either of men or provisions, &c.

_To raise a_ BLOCKADE, is to march from before a place, and leave it free and open as before.

_To turn a siege into a_ BLOCKADE, is to desist from a regular method of besieging, and to surround the place with those troops who had formed the siege.

_To form a_ BLOCKADE, is to surround the place with troops, and hinder any thing from going in or coming out.

A new species of BLOCKADE has been discovered during the French Revolution, a blockade by _proclamation_.

BLOCUS, _Fr._ See _Blockade_.

BLOCK _battery_, in gunnery, a wooden battery for two or more small pieces, mounted on wheels, and moveable from place to place: very ready to fire _en barbet_, in the galleries and casemates, &c. where room is wanted.

BLOCK-_house_, in the military art, a kind of wooden fort or fortification, sometimes mounted on rollers, or on a flat-bottomed vessel, serving either on the lakes or rivers, or in counter-scarps and counter-approaches. This name is sometimes given to a brick or stone building on a bridge, or the brink of a river, serving not only for its defence, but for the command of the river, both above and below.

BLUNDERBUSS, a well known fire-arm, consisting of a wide, short, but very large bore, capable of holding a number of musquet or pistol balls, very fit for doing great execution in a croud, making good a narrow passage, defending the door of a house, stair-case, &c. or repelling an attempt to board a ship.

BOARD _of Ordnance_. See _Ordnance_.

BOARD, also implies an office under the government, where the affairs of some departments are transacted; of which there are several sorts in England.

BOAT. See _Advice-Boat_, _Pontoon-Boat_, &c.

BODY, in the art of war, is a number of forces, horse or foot, united and marching under one commander.

_Main_ BODY _of an army_, sometimes means the troops encamped in the center between the two wings, and generally consists of infantry. The main body on a march, signifies the whole of the army, exclusive of the van and rear-guard.

BODY _of a Reserve_. See _Reserve_.

BODY _of a place_, is, generally speaking, the buildings in a fortified town; yet the inclosure round them is generally understood by it.

BOIS _de remontage_, _Fr._ every species of timber which is used to new mount cannon, or refit ammunition waggons, &c.

BOIS _de chauffage_, _Fr._ the fuel which is distributed among French troops.

BOLT, an iron pin used for strengthening a piece of timber, or for fastening two or more articles together. Bolts in gunnery, being of several sorts, admit of various denominations, which arise from the specific application of them, as

1. _Eye_ }
2. _Joint_ }
3. _Transom_ }
4. _Bed_ }
5. _Breeching_}BOLTS.
6. _Bracket_ }
7. _Stool-bed_}
8. _Garnish_ }
9. _Axle-tree_}
10. _Bolster_ }

{See SHELL.
BOMB{_Chest._ See CAISSON.
{_Vessels_,}
(_Ketches_,}

small vessels, made very strong with large beams, particularly calculated for throwing shells into a town, castle, or fortification, from 13 and 10-inch mortars; two of which are placed on board of each ship. They are said to have been invented by M. Reyneau, a Frenchman, and to have been first put in action at the bombardment of Algiers in 1681: till then it had been judged impracticable to bombard a place from the sea.

BOMB _Ketch_. The old bomb-ketches carried one 13-inch and 1 10-inch mortar, with 8 six-pounders, besides swivels, for their own immediate defence. The modern bomb-vessels carry 2 10-inch mortars 4 68-pounders, and 6 18-pounders carronades; and the mortars may be fired at as low an angle as 20 degrees; though these mortars are not intended to be used at sea but on very particular occasions; their principal intention, at these low angles, being to cover the landing of troops, and protect coasts and harbours. A bomb-ketch is generally from 60 to 70 feet long from stem to stern, and draws 8 or 9 feet water. The tender is generally a brig, on board of which the party or artillery remain, till their services are required on board the bomb-vessel.

_Instructions for their Management and Security in Action._

1. A Dutch pump, filled with water, must be placed in each round-top, one upon the forecastle, one on the main-deck, and one on the quarter-deck; and furnished with leather buckets, for a fresh supply of water.

2. The booms must be wetted by the pumps before the tarpaulins and mortar-hatches are taken off; and a wooden skreen, 5 feet square, is to be hung under the booms, over each mortar, to receive the fire from the vents.

3. The embrasures being fixed and properly secured, the port must be let down low enough to be covered by the sole of the embrasure. Previous to its being let down, a spar must be lashed across it, to which the tackles for raising it again must be fixed; this spar serves to project the tackles clear of the explosion.

4. The mortars must not be fired through the embrasures at a lower angle than 20 degrees, nor with a greater charge than 5 lbs. of powder.

5. Previous to firing, the doors of the bulkhead, under the quarter-deck, must be shut, to prevent the cabin being injured by the explosion.

6. The bed must be wedged in the circular curb, as soon as the mortar is pointed, to prevent re-action; the first wedge being driven tight, before the rear ones are fixed, in order to give the full bearing on the table, as well as the rear of the bed. The holes for dog-bolts must be corked up, to prevent the sparks falling into them.

7. When any shells are to be used on board the bomb, they must be fixed on board the tender, and brought from thence in boxes in her long-boat; and kept along side the bomb-ship till wanted, carefully covered up.

8. In the old constructed bomb-vessels it was necessary to hoist out the booms, and raft them along side previous to firing; but in these new ones, with embrasures, only the boats need be hoisted out; after which the mortars may be prepared for action in 10 minutes.

_Proportion of Ordnance and Ammunition for a Bomb Ship, carrying two 10 inch Mortars, to fire at low angles, and at 45 degrees, four 68 Prs. and six 18 Prs. Carronades._

----------------------------------------------------------------------
_In the
Bomb
_KINDS._ Ship._ _Tender._ _Total._
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mortars, sea service, with Beds, &c. 10
inch 2 -- 2
Quoins for do.--2 for 45°--2 for 20°
elevation 4 -- 4
Capsquares, with keys, &c. spare 2 -- 2
Handspikes, large 4 -- 4
Spunges, with ram.heads 4 -- 4
Handscrews, small 2 -- 2
Handcrow levers--6 feet 4 -- 4
Handspikes, common 6 -- 6
Linstocks, with cocks 4 -- 4
Powder horns, new pat. 4 -- 4
Match cwts. 1 -- 1
Marline skeins -- 12 12
Budge bar. cop hooped 1 1 2
Lanthorns, Muscovy 2 2 4
Lanthorns, dark 2 2 4
Carronades, 68 Prs. 4 -- 4
Carronades, 18 Prs. 6 -- 6
having sliding carriages, elevating screws,
spunges, rammers &c. complete
Gun tackles, complete for traversing mortars,
12 Prs. 4 -- 4
Wads, 68 Prs. 270 270 540
Wads, 18 Prs. 480 180 660
Musquets{Bright 32 -- 32
{Black 8 -- 8
Pistols, pairs 15 -- 15
Swords 40 -- 40
Pole axes 6 -- 6
Pikes 40 -- 40
Musquetoons 2 -- 2
Flints, musquet 900 -- 900
Flints, pistol 150 -- 150
Ball cartridges, musq. 2000 -- 2000
Ball cartridges, pistol 2000 -- 2000
Shot, musq. cwt. qr. lb. 1.0.0 -- 1.0.0
Shot, pistol 1.0.0 -- 1.0.0
Round car. fixed, 10 in. 48 152 200
Empty shells, 10 inch. 48 352 400
Iron shot, 1 lb. 1000 4000 5000
Fixed shells, 10 inch 48 -- 48
Case shot, 68 Prs. car. 20 20 40
Emp. sh. 8 in for car. 52 100 152
Shot, round, 68 Prs. 50 50 100
Carcasses do. 68 Prs. 96 104 200
Shot, round, 18 Prs. 300 -- 300
Case shot, 18 Prs. 30 30 60
Carcas. do. fix. 18 Prs. 150 150 300
Hand shells, fixed, sea service -- 150 150
Fuzes for do. spare -- 15 15
Pap. cov. for cart, 10 in. 106 609 715
Pap. cov. for cart, 68 Pr. 293 301 594
Pap. cov. for cart, 18 Pr. 258 198 456
Flan. cartridg. }to hold 5 lb. 106 -- 106
emp. for 10 in. mor. }do. 10.lb. -- 609 609
Flan. cartridg. }to hold 5 lb. 293 151} 594
emp. for 68 Prs. car.}do. 4 lb. -- 150}
Flannel cartridges, emp. for 18 Prs. to hold
1¹⁄₂ lbs. 528 148 676
Paper cartridges for bursting, 10 inches,
empty, -- 352 352
Paper cartridges, for bursting, 8 inches,
empty -- 100 100
Paper cartridges filled with 2 lb. 10 oz for
10 inch. 48 -- 48
Do. filled with 1 lb. 14 oz. for 8 inch 52 -- 52
Fuzes, drove, 10 inch. 52 388 440
Fuzes, drove, 8 inch. 57 110 166
{200 for 10 inch. shells at 14
Valenciennes{oz. each, lbs. -- 175 175
composition {768 for 10 inch. shells, at 9
{oz. each, lbs. -- 42 42
Tube boxes, tin 12 -- 12
Fuze composition, for priming carcasses, lbs. -- 10 10
Powder bags -- 6 6
Portfires -- 200 200
Quick match, cotton, lbs. -- 20 20
Spirits of wine, gals. -- 4 4
Kitt lbs. -- 80 80
Bottoms of wood, 10 in. 10 40 50
Signal rockets, 1 lb. doz. -- 2 2
Blue lights, do. -- 3 3
Gunpowder for the mortars and carronades,
half barrels 72 150 222
Powder for priming, do. -- 1 1
Powder for bursting, do. -- 28 28
with all the small articles which usually
attend mortars on every service, and the
articles necessary for the service of
carronades at sea.
Laboratory chests, 4 ft. -- 2 2
Laboratory chests, 3 ft. -- 2 2
Handpumps for wetting the rigging, &c. 6 -- 6
Leather buckets 24 -- 24
----------------------------------------------------------------------

BOMB _Tender_, a small vessel of war laden with ammunition for the bomb-ketch, and from which the latter is constantly supplied.

BOMBARD, an ancient piece of ordnance, so called, very short, and very thick, with an uncommon large bore. There have been bombards which have thrown a ball or shell of 300 weight: they made use of cranes to load them. The Turks use some of them at present.

_To_ BOMBARD, BOMBARDING, BOMBARDMENT, the act of assaulting a city or fortress, by throwing shells into it in order to set fire to and ruin the houses, churches, magazines, &c. and to do other mischief. As one of the effects of the shell results from its weight, it is never discharged as a ball from a cannon, that is, by pointing it at a certain object: but the mortars are fixed at an elevation of or about 45 degrees; that is, inclined so many degrees from the horizon, that the shell describes a curve, called the military projectile: hence a mortar, whose trunnions are placed at the breech, can have no point-blank range. Mortars should be so contrived, that they may be elevated to any degree required, as much preferable to those fixed at an angle of 45°; because shells should never be thrown at that angle but in one single case only, which seldom happens; that is, when the battery is so far off, that they cannot otherwise reach the works: for when shells are thrown from the trenches into the works of a fortification, or from the town into the trenches, they should have as little elevation as possible, in order to roll along, and not bury themselves; whereby the damage they do, and the terror they cause to the troops, is much greater than if they sink into the ground. On the contrary, when shells are thrown upon magazines, or any other buildings, with an intention to destroy them, the mortar should be elevated as high as possible, that the shells may acquire a greater force in their fall.

Shells should be loaded with no more powder than is requisite to burst them into the greatest number of pieces, and the length of the fuzes should be exactly calculated according to the required ranges; for, should the fuze set fire to the powder in the shell, before it falls on the place intended, the shell will burst in the air, and probably do more mischief to those who fired the mortar, than to those against whom it was discharged. To prevent this, the fuzes are divided into as many seconds as the greatest range requires, consequently may be cut to any distance, at an elevation of 45 degrees.

Mortars are not to be fired with two fires; for when the fuze is properly fixed, and both fuze and shell dredged with mealed powder, the blast of the powder in the chamber of the mortar, when inflamed by the tube, will likewise set fire to the fuze fixed in the shell.