Chapter I: DO HEREBY CERTIFY, upon my word and honor, as an officer and (13)

TROMPETTE _sonnante_, _Fr._ With sound of trumpet, or trumpet sounding.

TROMPETTE _parlante_, _Fr._ A speaking trumpet. This instrument is generally used at sea; and owes its invention to an Englishman.

_Deloger sans_ TROMPETTE, _Fr._ To steal away, to take French leave.

TROMPILLON, _Fr._ The diminutive of trompe. A term used in architecture, which owes its origin to the resemblance that exists between the wide part of a trumpet, and the arch or vault so called.

TROOP, in cavalry. A certain number of men on horseback who form a component part of a squadron. It is the same, with respect to formation, as company in the infantry. When a troop dismounts and acts on foot, it is still called a troop.

TROOP. A certain beat of the drum. See DRUM.

_To_ TROOP _the colors_. See COLORS.

TROOPS. The same as _copiæ_ in Latin. Any collective body of soldiers.

_Heavy_ TROOPS. Soldiers armed and accoutred for the purpose of acting together, in line, &c.

_Light_ TROOPS, (_Troupes legères_, _Fr._) Hussars, light horse, mounted riflemen, light infantry are so called, in opposition to cavalry or heavy horse. Skirmishing is solely the business of light horse, who, according to count Turpin, should be constantly exposed as the forlorn hope of the army; or as troops whose duty it is to be continually watchful for its repose and security.

When the light horse compose an advanced camp, the men should keep their horses constantly saddled; it being only an indulgence to allow those off duty to have their horses unsaddled. It is very true, that a camp of cavalry cannot be managed after the same manner; but then cavalry is seldom so situated as to be attacked, or to attack every day, which is the real business of light horse. They should serve as vedets to the whole army, in order to prevent the enemy from approaching it; whereas cavalry should never be employed, but in the greatest operations; and on occasions which are to decide the fate of a campaign.

Light troops, according to the same writer, are employed to gain intelligence concerning the enemy, to learn whether he hath decamped, whether he hath built any bridges, and other things of the same nature, of which the general must necessarily be informed, and should have a day fixed for this return. There are other detachments, which should be sent out under intelligent officers, and which should never lose sight of the enemy, in order to send in daily intelligence, to attack small convoys and baggage, to pick up marauders, and harrass the advanced guards. There should not be any time fixed for the return of these detachments, neither should they be confined to particular places; they should, however, return to the camp at the expiration of eight or ten days at farthest. The inconvenience, arising from confining these detachments to a particular time, would perhaps be, that the very day appointed for their return, would be that on which they might have the fairest opportunity of learning intelligence of the enemy: consequently their being forced to return, would defeat the objects for which they were sent out. See page 122, vol. II. of Count Turpin’s Art of War. See _Am. Mil. Lib._

_Light_ TROOPS have been sometimes called irregulars, as they act in detached and loose bodies. The tirailleurs, Tyrolians, Yagers, sharp-shooters, and the _Chasseurs a cheval et a pied_, to which the French owe so much during the whole course of their stupendous revolution, were of this description. What was called advancing _en masse_, by the French, was nothing more than very large bodies of irregulars (or light troops), which covered the country, in the front of their armies, like an inundation. To their irregulars, and to their light artillery are the French indebted for most of the victories they have gained. The troops stiled in France chasseurs, are, more or less, to be met with in every service in Europe, except the British. The Austrians have many regiments of them; the Prussians have them attached, in a certain proportion, to each corps; but the French, seeing the good effect of these irregulars, have brought them more into the field than all the combined powers together.

The operations in the spring of 1794, were in an open country near Cambray; the French then felt the superiority of the enemy’s cavalry; and saw that the irregulars, with which the French army abounded, were useless, and would continue so, unless they could force the British to make war in an enclosed country; and this they effected by obliging them to return into Flanders, to protect their magazines, and cover their communication with them. That country is much inclosed; and there all the irregulars could act. From that hour the British constantly lost ground, holding only those points they thought proper to cover with works; and in the short space of a few weeks, it may be said in a few days, those armies which had been acting offensively, were actually obliged to act defensively. Was that army diminished by slaughter or sickness? No: but the French armies, it is said, were increased: true; and with what? Irregulars: requisition men or volunteers; first without discipline, but not without ardor to fight: and from the moment the British commenced their sad retreat from Tournay, till they arrived near Breda, nothing was to be seen but the French irregular troops, that is tirailleurs or riflemen.

TROOPER, (_Cavalier_, _Fr._) A horse soldier. According to Dr. Johnson, a trooper fights only on horseback; a dragoon marches on horseback, but fights either as a horseman or footman. There is no such thing as a trooper in the British service. The Blues were the last corps that deserved that appellation; but they now act, like the rest of the cavalry, on foot.

TROPHEE, _Fr._ See TROPHY.

_Faire_ TROPHEE, _Fr._ To glory in.

TROPHY. Something taken from an enemy, and shewn or treasured up in proof of victory. Among the ancients, it consisted of a pile or heap of arms of a vanquished enemy, raised by the conqueror in the most eminent part of the field of battle.

The trophies were usually dedicated to some of the gods, especially to Jupiter. The name of the deity to whom they were inscribed, was generally mentioned, as was that also of the conqueror. The spoils were first hung upon the trunk of a tree; but instead of trees, succeeding ages erected pillars of stone or brass, to perpetuate the memory of their victories. To demolish a trophy was looked upon as a sacrilege, because they were all consecrated to some deity.

TROPHY-_money_. Certain money annually raised in several countries towards providing artillery harness, and maintaining the militia.

TROPIQUE, _Fr._ Tropic. It is likewise used as an adjective, and signifies tropical.

_Baptême du_ TROPIQUE, _Fr._ The ceremony which is performed when a person crosses the line for the first time.

TROSSERS, TROUSE, TROWSERS, kind of breeches reaching down to the ankles, worn by some regiments of infantry and light cavalry. See PANTALOON.

TROTTOIR, _Fr._ Footway. It more properly means a raised pavement on the sides of a street or bridge, for the convenience of foot passengers.

TROU, _Fr._ A hole.

TROU _de mineur_, _Fr._ A lodgement which is made for the safety and convenience of a miner, when he first begins his operation.

TROU _de loup_. A cone reversed. Diameter of the base 4 feet 6 inches: depth 6 feet; picket 6 feet long, and from 4 to 5 inches square; contain ³⁄₄ of a cubic fathom of earth, and are usually placed 2 in 3 fathoms.

TROUBLESOME, from the verb to trouble. Importunate, teazing, full of molestation. This word is frequently misapplied in military matters. Many officers who have the public service of their country at heart, are improperly called _troublesome_, because they will not add, by negligence or connivance, to the too frequent abuses which exist in the interior economy of military establishment.

TROUGH. A hollow wooden vessel to knead bread in. It is used among the utensils of field bakery.

TROUPES, _Fr._ Troops, forces.

TROUPES _legeres_, _Fr._ Light troops.

TROUS-DE-LOUP, in field fortifications, are round holes, about 6 feet deep, and pointed at the bottom, with a stake placed in the middle. They are frequently dug round a redoubt, to obstruct the enemy’s approach. They are circular at the top, of about 4¹⁄₂ feet diameter.

TROUSSE, _Fr._ A quiver. It also signifies any bundle of things tied together, viz. _Une trousse de foin_, a bundle of hay. See TRUSS.

TROUSSEAU, _Fr._ A long piece of wood in the shape of a cane, that is, having one end smaller than the other, which is used in foundries to make cannon-moulds.

TROUSSEPAS, _Fr._ A sort of iron spade which is used in cutting turf.

TRUCE, (_Treve_, _Fr._) A suspension of arms, or a cessation of hostilities, between two armies, in order to settle articles of peace, bury the dead, &c.

TRUCK. Wooden wheels for the carriage of cannon, &c.

TRUCKS of a ship-carriage, are wheels made of one piece of wood, from 12 to 19 inches diameter; and their thickness is always equal to the calibre of the gun.

The trucks of garrison-carriages are sometimes made of cast iron.

A truck-carriage goes upon four trucks of 24 inches diameter; has two flat side pieces of ten inches broad, and serves to carry guns, ammunition boxes, or any other weights, from the store houses to the water side, or to any small distance.

_To_ TRUCKLE. This word is adopted from the trucklebed, which is a low mean bed that can be pushed under another. Hence,

_To_ TRUCKLE TO. To submit to; to allow the superiority of another.

TRUEBORN. According to Dr. Johnson, having a right by birth to any title.

TRUELLE, _Fr._ A trowel.

TRULL. A vagrant strumpet; or one that has promiscuous dealings upon the road or elsewhere, with men of all descriptions. Hence, a soldier’s trull. In every well regulated camp and garrison the utmost precaution should be taken, to prevent these wretches from having the least intercourse with the soldiery. Notwithstanding the presumed, or reputed immorality of the French nation, the strictest regard was paid to the character and health of their armies. During the monarchy, prostitutes were publicly exposed upon a wooden horse. See CHEVAL DE BOIS.

TRUMEAU, _Fr._ In architecture, the space in a wall which is between two windows. It also signifies a pier-glass.

TRUMPET, or _Trump_. A wind instrument made of brass or silver, with a mouth piece to take out and put in at pleasure. Each troop of cavalry has one.

TRUMPETER. The soldier who sounds the trumpet.

TRUMPET _Soundings_. See SOUNDINGS.

TRUNCHEON. A club; a cudgel; also a staff of command. The _truncheon_ was for several ages the sign of office; generals were presented with the truncheon as the sign of investiture with command; and all those officers who belonged to the suite of the general, and were not attached to regiments, carried a _truncheon_ or _staff_, whence the name of officers of the _staff_. See BATOON.

_To_ TRUNCHEON. To beat with a truncheon. Dr. Johnson has quoted a passage out of Shakespeare, which is extremely apposite to those blustering imposing characters that sometimes annoy public places, and commit swindling acts of depredation under the assumed title of captain. _Captain! thou abominable cheater! if captains were of my mind, they would truncheon you out of taking their names upon you before you earned them!_

TRUNCHEONEER. One armed with a truncheon.

TRUNNIONS, in guns. Two cylindric pieces of metal in a gun, mortar, or howitzer, which project from pieces of ordnance, and by which they are supported upon their carriages. See CANNON.

TRUNNION-_plates_, are two plates in travelling carriages, mortars, and howitzers, which cover the upper parts of the side-pieces, and go under the trunnions. The French have made improvements on this article; they have two pair of _trunnion_ plates; one pair, in which the gun is placed for _action_; the gun is removed into the other for _travelling_; and are so denominated. See _Am. Mil. Lib._

TRUSQUINS, _Fr._ Tools made use of by carpenters and joiners. They are called _trusquins d’assemblage_, and trusquins _à longue pointe_.

TRUSS. A bundle; as a bundle of hay or straw. Any thing thrust close together. Trusses of this description have been sometimes used in military affairs. The men carrying them in front for the purpose of deadening shot.

TRUSS _of forage_, is as much as a trooper can carry on his horse’s crupper. See SPUN HAY.

_To_ TRUST. To give credit to, on promise of payment. No soldier shall be liable to be arrested for a sum under 20_l._ and then an oath of the debt must be made before a magistrate.

TRUSTY. Honest; faithful; true; fit to be trusted. This word is used in the preamble of military commissions, &c. viz. To our _trusty and well beloved_.

TUBE, _Fr._ A pipe, a siphon. It is particularly applied to optical instruments.

TUBES of tin plates are the best for service. Tubes must pass through a guage of ²⁄₁₀ of an inch diameter. The composition is mealed powder, mixt up stiff with spirits of wine. They are made up in bundles of 100 each.

_Length of tin tubes._

-------+-------------------------------------------------
| Kind of Ordnance.
+------+-------+------+---------+--------+--------
| | | | | Land | Sea
Length.|Heavy.|Medium.|Light.|Howitzer.|Mortars.|Mortars.
-------+------+-------+------+---------+--------+--------
Inches.| Pr. | Pr. | Pr. | Inch. | Inch. | In.
12·2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 13
8·8 | 24 | 24 | -- | -- | -- | --
8·2 | 18 | 18 | -- | -- | -- | --
7·75 | 12 | 12 | -- | -- | 13 | 10
6·8 | 9 | 9 | -- | -- | -- | --
6·5 | 6 | -- | 24 | 8 | 10 | --
5·9 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 5¹⁄₂ | -- | --
5·0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 8 | --
4·75 | 1¹⁄₂| 1¹⁄₂| 6 | -- | -- | --
4·2 | -- | -- | -- | 4²⁄₅ | 5¹⁄₂ | --
3·6 | - | -- | -- | -- | 4²⁄₅ | --
-------+------+-------+------+---------+--------+--------

If tin tubes get damaged by wet, the composition may be cleared out of them, and they may be fresh filled. If spirits of wine cannot be had, good rum or brandy will answer the purpose.

TUCDUMMA, _Ind._ An account which is closed, after it has been examined.

TUCK. A long narrow sword.

TUDESQUE, _Fr._ Teutonic; Germanic.

TUERIE, _Fr._ Slaughter; massacre.

TUF. A soft sandy stone which answers two purposes, either to build upon or to build with. It is likewise _tufeau_. The French say, figuratively, _C’est un homme de tuf_--He is a man of no depth or profound knowlege.

TUG, _Fr._ A Turkish term for tail; a sort of standard called so by the Turks. It consists of a horse’s tail which is fixed to a long pole or half pike, by means of a gold button. The origin of this standard is curious. It is said, that the Christians having given battle to the Turks, the latter were broken, and in the midst of their confusion lost their grand standard. The Turkish general, being extremely agitated at the untoward circumstances which happened, most especially by the loss of the great standard, cut off a horse’s tail with his sabre, fixed it to a half pike, and holding it in his hand, rode furiously towards the fugitives and exclaimed--_Here is the great standard; let those who love me, follow into action!_ This produced the desired effect. The Turks rallied with redoubled courage, rushed into the thickest of the enemy, and not only gained the victory, but recovered their standard. Other writers assert, that six thousand Turks having been taken prisoners during a general engagement, contrived to escape from their guard or escort, and afterwards fought so gallantly, that they regained another battle; that in order to recognize one another, they cut off a horse’s tail which they carried as a standard; that when they joined the Ottoman army, they still made use of the tug or tail; that the Turks, in consequence of the victory which was obtained under this new standard, looked upon it as a happy omen; and that since that period they have always fought under it as their banner, and the signal of success.

Whatever may have been the origin, it is certain, that when the Grand Signor takes the field in person, seven of these tails are always carried before him; and when he is in camp, they are planted in front of his tent.

The Grand Visier is entitled to three of these tails.

The three principal bashaws of the empire, (viz. those of Bagdad, Grand Cairo, and Breda,) have the grand signor’s permission to use this mark of distinction, throughout the whole extent of their jurisdiction.

Those bashaws that are not visiers, have the privilege of having two tails.

The beys, who are subordinate to the bashaws, have only one.

In the bas-relievo which is under the tomb-stone of John Casimir, king of Poland, in the abbey church of _St. Germain des Prés de Paris_, that monarch is represented at the head of his cavalry, with a horse’s tail or tug for its standard.

TUGPINS, are the iron pins which pass through the fore end of the shafts of the army carts, to fasten the draught chains for the fore horses.

TUILE, _Fr._ A tile.

TUILE _creuse_, _Fr._ A gutter tile.

TUILE _de petit moule_, _Fr._ A tile measuring about ten inches in length, and six in breadth. About 300 cover a square toise.

TUILE _de grand moule_, _Fr._ A tile measuring about 13 inches in length, and about eight and a half in breadth. One thousand are sufficient to cover seven toises.

TUILEAU, _Fr._ Shard of a tile.

TUILERIE, _Fr._ Tile kiln.

TUILERIES, _Fr._ The gardens, belonging to the ci-devant royal palace in Paris, are so called, from the spot having originally been used for tile-kilns.

TUKKEKYAH, _Ind._ Carpenters.

TUKNAR JUMMA, _Ind._ Money brought more than once to account.

TULUBANA, _Ind._ A fee, taken by Peons when placed as guards over any person.

TULLUB, _Ind._ This word literally means a demand; but it also signifies _wages_, _pay_.

TULLUB _chitty_, _Ind._ A summons for _pay_.

TULWAR, _Ind._ A sword.

TUMBRELS, (_Tombereaux_, _Fr._) Covered carts, which carry ammunition for cannon, tools for the pioneers, miners, and artificers; and sometimes the money of the army.

TUMSOOK, _Ind._ A bond.

TUNKAW, _Ind._ An assignment.

TUNES, _Fr._ Small twigs which are inlaced, or twisted across, around several stakes planted in the earth, and which serve to keep the fascines together.

TUNIC, (_Tunique_, _Fr._) A coat with short sleeves above the elbow; a tunic. It derives its name from the Latin word _Tunica_, a close coat, which was the common garment worn within doors by itself, and abroad under the gown. It was distinguished by different names among the Romans, corresponding with the several classes of the people that were clothed according to their rank in life. See _Kennett’s Roman Antiquities_, p. 311, &c.

This sort of clothing is still worn in the east, and was prevalent among the French after their return from the crusades to the Holy Land. They adopted it from the Saracens, and seemed ambitious of appearing in a garb which bore testimony to their feats of valor. These tunics, which were converted into a sort of uniform, obtained the name of _Saladines_ among the French, in compliment to the emperor Saladin. Hence too the origin of _Salade_, which not only signified the armor that was worn beneath the _tunic_ or _saladine_, but also the light helmet of that name.

TUNIQUE, _Fr._ Among the French signifies likewise a particular dress which was worn by the kings, under their robes of state at a coronation.

TUNTUNGI-_Bashi_. A Turkish term signifying master of the pipes, a situation under the pacha.

TUQUE, _Fr._ A tarpaulin.

TURBAN, TURBANT, TURBAND, (_Turban_, _Fr._) A cover consisting of several folds of white muslin, &c. which was worn by the Turks and other oriental nations. The blacks belonging to the different bands that are attached to British regiments likewise wear turbans, ornamented with fictitious pearls and feathers. Those of the foot guards are particularly gorgeous. The French say familiarly _Prendre le Turban_, to turn Turk.

The great Turk bears over his arms a turban enriched with pearls and diamonds, under two coronets. The first, which is made of pyramidical points, is heightened up with large pearls, and the uppermost is surmounted with crescents.

_Green_ TURBAN. A turban worn by the immediate descendants of Mahomed, and by the idiots or saints in Turkey.

_White_ TURBAN. A turban generally worn by the inhabitants of the East.

_Yellow_ TURBAN. A turban worn by the Polygars who are chiefs of mountainous or woodland districts in the East Indies. By the last accounts from India, this turban has been adopted by the revolted natives of that part of the globe, as a signal of national coincidence and national understanding. The Polygars are in possession of very extensive tracts of country, particularly among the woods and mountains, and are likely to be extremely troublesome to the British. For an interesting account of them see _Orme’s History of the Carnatic_, pages 386, 390, 396, 420, &c.

TURCIE, _Fr._ Mole; pier; dyke.

TURK, (_Turc_, _Fr._) The following account of the Turks has been given by a modern French writer:--“The Turks are a nation that is naturally warlike, whose armies are commanded by experienced generals, and are composed of bold and executive soldiers. They owe their knowlege of war, and their experience in tactics to three national causes, two of which do credit to their intellects. In the first place, they become enured to arms, from being bred to the profession from their earliest infancy: in the second, they are promoted upon the sole ground of merit, and by an uninterrupted gradation of rank: and in the third, they possess all the opportunities of learning the military art that constant practice and habitual warfare can afford. They are naturally robust, and constitutionally courageous, full of activity, and not at all enervated by the debaucheries of Europe, or the effeminacy of the East. Their predilection for war and enterprise, grows out of the recollection of past victories, and is strengthened by the two most powerful incentives to human daring, viz. reward and punishment; the first of which is extremely attractive, because it is extremely great, and the other equally deterring, because it is rigorous in the extreme. Add to these the strong influence of a religion, which holds out everlasting happiness and seats near Mahomed in heaven, to all who die fighting for their country on the field of battle; and which further teaches them most implicitly to believe, that every Turk has written upon his forehead his fatal moment, with the kind of death he must submit to, and that nothing human can alter his destiny. When any thing is to be put into execution, the order they receive is absolute, free from every species of intervention or control, and emanating from one independent authority. The power which is entrusted to their generals (like that of the Romans to their dictators) is brief and comprehensive, viz.--“Promote the interests of your country or your sovereign.” See _Essai sur la Science de la Guerre_, tom. i. p. 207.

Such is the character of the Turks, as detailed by their old allies the French. How far it corresponds with reality, especially in regard to military knowlege, we must leave to future historians to determine; observing at the same time, that a few sparks of British valor and perseverance have contributed more to the preservation of the Ottoman empire, during the present war, than all the fantastic images, or well-devised hypocrisies of Mahomed could have done. Our brave countrymen, on their return from Egypt, will probably be enabled to give a more faithful and correct account of their characters as soldiers.

TURMA. A troop of cavalry among the ancient Romans. The horse required to every legion was three hundred, divided into ten turmæ or troops, thirty to a troop, every troop making three decuriæ, or _squads_. See _Kennett_, R. A. p. 192.

TURNCOAT. A renegade, a deserter; one who abandons his party.

TURNOVER. A piece of white linen which is worn by the soldiers belonging to the British cavalry over their stocks, about half an inch deep.

_To_ TURN _out_. To bring forward, to exhibit; as, to turn out the guard; to turn out so many men for service.

_To_ TURN _in_. To withdraw; to order under cover; as, to turn in the guard.

TURNPIKE, (_Barriere_, _Fr._) An obstacle placed across a road to prevent travellers, waggons, &c. from passing without paying an established toll. British officers and soldiers regimentally dressed, and on duty, pass through turnpikes gratis.

TURNPIKE is also used in the military art, for a beam stuck full of spikes, to be placed in a gap, a breach, or at the entrance of a camp, to keep off the enemy. It may be considered as a sort of _cheval de frize_.

TURPENTINE. A very combustible resin, much used in the composition of fire-works. All resins are discriminated from gums, by being soluble in oil but not in water; gums the contrary.

TURRET. A small tower.

_Moveable_ TURRETS. See TOWERS.

TUSSULDAR, _Ind._ The East India company’s collector of the kistybundy.

TUYAU, _Fr._ Any pipe, &c. of lead, or gutter, or canal, made of burnt clay, &c. which serves to carry off the water from the roof of a house.

TUYAU _de cheminee_, _Fr._ The cylindrical conduit which receives and lets out the smoke at the top of a chimney.

TUYAUX _de descente_, _Fr._ The pipes which convey the water downwards.

TYMPAN, (_Tympan_, _Fr._) In architecture, the area of a pediment, being that part which is on a level with the naked part of the frize. Or it is the space included between the three cornices of a triangular pediment, or the two cornices of a circular one.

TYMPAN _of an arch_, is the triangular space or table in the corners or sides of the arch, usually hollowed and enriched, sometimes with branches of laurel, olive-tree, or oak, or with trophies, &c. Sometimes with flying figures, as fame, victory, &c. or sitting figures, as the cardinal virtues.

TYMPANUM. A drum, a musical instrument which the ancients used, and which consisted of a thin piece of leather or skin, stretched upon a circle of wood or iron, and beat with the hand. Hence the origin of our drum.

TYMPANUM. In mechanics, a kind of wheel placed round an axis or cylindrical beam, on the top of which are two levers, or fixed staves, for the more easy turning the axis about, in order to raise a weight required. It is also used for any hollow wheel, wherein one or more persons or animals, such as horses, dogs, &c. walk to turn it. This wheel is found in cranes, calenders, &c.

V.

VACANCY, (_vacance_, _Fr._) State of an office or commission to which no one is appointed.

VACANT, (_Vacant_, _e._ _Fr._) Empty; not filled.

VACANT _Companies_, (_Compagnies vacantes_, _Fr._) Companies to the permanent command of which no person is appointed.

_Emplois_-VACANS, _Fr._ During the French monarchy, seniority of rank or standing did not give the right of promotion. It belonged solely to the king to appoint and nominate all persons to vacant commissions or employments. No other rule can be consistent with the efficiency of a military institution; rotation should be considered only as a contingency, which is only admitted, not permanently established; as no institution so much calls for _merit_ and _application_ to study, as the military profession; merit alone should be the foundation of promotion; then all would endeavor to acquire knowlege; where rotation exists there is no incitement. In the American army, no attention is paid to merit; there is, therefore, very little study.

VACCINE _pock_, a disease which has been found to affect the cow on the teat or udder, which arises in pustules resembling small pox; it has been found that this is a perfect preventive of small pox and is now growing into use against prejudice among all civilized nations. All armies should undergo the vaccine inoculation, to prevent the ravages of small pox; one half of the American army that went against Quebec in 1775 was swept off by small pox.

VAGUE-_Mestre_, _Fr._ See WAGGON-MASTER.

VAISSEAU, _Fr._ Ship.

VAISSEAU _du premier rang_, _Fr._ A first rate.

VAISSEAU _du second rang_, _Fr._ A second rate.

VAISSEAU _de guerre_, _Fr._ A man of war.

VAISSEAU _Marchand_, _Fr._ A merchant-man.

VAISSELLE _d’Argent_, _Fr._ Silver utensils; plate. We have already remarked under _Table d’Officiers_, that during the old government of France, it was strictly forbidden to use any other plate than silver goblets, spoons, and forks.

VAIVODE, _Fr._ An old Sclavonian word, which signifies prince or general. This title was formerly given to the sovereign princes of Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania.

VAJIB UL ARZEE, _Ind._ A petition, memorial, or proposal to a superior.

VAKEEL, _Ind._ An agent--deputy--attorney--a subordinate envoy or ambassador.

VAKIAS, _Ind._ A weight nearly equal to a pound. It also signifies a measure.

VAKILIT, _Ind._ The first office in the empire.

VALET, _Fr._ An instrument which is used by carpenters to keep boards, that have been glued, close together.

VALETS _de l’Armee_, _Fr._ Officers’ servants; they are likewise called by the French, Tartares. In the American army, _waiters_.

_Valets d’Artillerie_, _Fr._ Men attached to the guns on board ships of war, for the purpose of assisting the regular cannoneers. In the American service they are classed by numbers and called, _first_, _second_, or _third_ AIDS.

_Valet à Patin_, _Fr._ An instrument which is used by surgeons--A small pincer to rake up the arteries when it is found necessary to make a ligature.

VALIANT, VALOROUS, personally brave, fearless of danger in war, &c.

VALLEY, (_Val_, _Fr._) A hollow space of ground, generally between hills.

VALOR, (_Valeur_, _Fr._) Courage, bravery, intrepidity. A generous quality, which, far from assuming brutality and violence, with-holds the fury of the soldier, protects helpless women, innocent infants, and hoary age. Nothing which is incapable of resistance, can ever be the object whereon true valor would exercise its prowess. Courage is that grandeur of soul, which prompts us to sacrifice all personal advantages, and even the preservation of our beings, to a love of our country and its liberty. The exercise of this determined courage in the profession of arms, is called _valor_. It is composed of bravery, reason, and force: by bravery we understand that lively ardor which fires us for the combat; reason points out to us the method of conducting it with justice and prudence; and force is necessary for the execution. It is bravery which animates the heart, reason springs from the soul, and force depends upon the body; without bravery we fear obstacles, danger, and death; without reason, courage would have no legitimate view; and without force it would be useless: these three qualities should concur to form the true military valor.

Dr. Johnson defines valor, bravery, and courage almost as synonymous terms. Mr. Addison distinguishes between that sort of courage which springs, by instinct, from the soul, and from that which originates in a sense of duty, and is strengthened by reflexion. Count Turpin, on the other hand, establishes a wide difference between bravery and courage, which he makes two terms. In page 5, of the preliminary discourse to his Essay on the Art of War, he has the following passage:

“Is the officer--speaking of the requisite qualifications in a general--who loves his duty, and who would make himself master of it, under no obligation to ascertain what qualifications his station requires? That he ought to have such or such a quality, under such or such a circumstance? That here only bravery is necessary, there only courage? And that he is not always obliged to have both at the same time?”

These two qualities, which are often confounded in the same subject, merit a particular distinction; they are not so closely united, but that one may be found without the other. Courage seems fittest for a general, and for all those who command; bravery more necessary for a soldier, and for all those who receive orders; bravery is in the blood; courage in the soul; the first is a kind of instinct, the second a virtue; the one is an impulse almost mechanical, the other a noble and a sublime conception. A man is brave at a particular time, and according to circumstances; but he has a courage at all times, and upon all occasions: bravery is impetuous, in as much as it is less the result of reflexion; courage, on the contrary, in proportion as it grows out of reason, becomes more or less intrepid. Bravery is inspired by the force of example, by insensibility of danger, and by the mingled fury of conflict and action; courage is infused by the love of our duty, the desire of glory, and by the zeal we feel to serve our country: courage depends on reason, but bravery on the constitution. Achilles, such as Horace describes him from Homer, implacable, cruel, despising every law except that of the strongest! presents nothing to the idea, but the hardiness of a gladiator. But the Roman general, whose death would have occasioned the ruin of the army, the great Scipio, when covered by the bucklers of three soldiers, to avoid a shower of arrows, which the enemy directed against him, approaches in safety the walls he besieged, and standing only a spectator of the action, exhibits the picture of true courage, whilst he contents himself with giving the necessary orders. Bravery again, is involuntary, and does not depend wholly upon ourselves; whereas courage (as Seneca observes) may be acquired by education; provided nature has sown the first seeds of it. Cicero, sheltering himself from the hatred of Cataline, undoubtedly wanted bravery; but certainly he possessed an elevated firmness of mind (which is in reality courage) when he disclosed the conspiracy of that traitor to the senate, and pointed out all his accomplices; or when he pleaded for Deiotarus against Cæsar, his friend and his judge.

Coolness is the effect of courage, which knows its danger, but makes no other use of that knowlege, than to give directions with greater certainty; courage is always master of itself, provided against all accidents, and regulated by existing circumstances; never confounded by any danger, so as to lose sight of the motions of the enemy, or of the means by which he may be most effectually opposed:

The chevalier Folard makes the following remarks upon this quality of the mind and heart. He says, in his notes on Polybius, there are various kinds of that species of courage, intrepidity, or strength of soul, which no circumstances can vanquish, and no events can shake. I do not know whether a quality, so diversified in its nature, can be found united in the same person to the full extent of its activity. We generally, discover that some men possess a larger proportion of it than others.

In order to form a correct opinion of its existence in the human character, we should find out some individual who had acted through all the vicissitudes of life, and had uniformly discovered the same firmness of mind and intrepidity of heart. But where shall we pick out a character of this sort? Life is too short for the full exercise of its various powers, and were it of a longer date, the circumscribed faculties of man render the research useless. I do not believe it possible to point out an individual who, free from the natural weaknesses that are attached to our constitution, has in adversity as well as prosperity been equally firm, and equally determined throughout all the changes to which military operations are unavoidably subject.

This intrepidity and strength of mind, have been peculiarly visible on manifold occasions in some extraordinary characters, who have been equally remarkable on others for weakness and pusillanimity. We have seen them bold to the full extent of hardihood during a succession of triumphs; we have then beheld them shamefully agitated under a temporary reverse of fortune, and we have again seen them recover their wonted energy on the first favorable opportunity. These opposite qualities succeed one another; and we see boldness and timidity occupy by turns the same man, so as to produce, according to circumstances, the utmost solicitude and caution in some instances, and the greatest courage, firmness, and decision in others, during the prosecution of a war.

These fluctuations of the human character may be traced, almost every day, in a certain description of generals. When they are reduced to defensive operations, their understanding becomes perplexed; they know not how to act, and not only omit to make use of favorable opportunities themselves, but unwittingly afford them to their enemies; whilst, on the other hand, in offensive war, their genius expands itself into a variety of expedients; they create occasions that did not seem to exist, turn them to account, and finally succeed. Thus we see united in the same men, promptitude, vigor, and enterprize in one species of warfare; and timidity, doubt, and consternation in another.

I have known, says Folard, generals of marked intrepidity, (who in trifling matters have discovered a solicitude that approaches to a want of manliness) conceive projects of vast extent, that were full of intricate developements, and chequered by incertitude; and I have seen them conquer the greatest obstacles by their courage and good conduct.

Human nature is so strangely constituted, that whilst one man will rush into danger, as if attracted by blood and devastation, another will not have firmness enough to stand his ground, and face the coming evil. He, who in the hour of battle would give fresh courage to his troops, by being the foremost to advance, has been known to turn pale in the very trench where a soldier’s boy or woman has sat undisturbed selling spirits and provisions, or has been discovered to tremble when the signal for storming was given. The very man that would courageously lead his troop into action, or would prove the most expert marksman in the world, were he directed to practise in the front of a whole line, has been known to shrink at a single combat, and would rather rush headlong into a guarded breach, than measure swords or point a pistol with an antagonist. Another again, whom no danger could affect in public contests or in private feuds, when visited by sickness is full of apprehension, has recourse to physic, and in proportion as his malady increases, grows timid, scrupulous, and unhappy. It sometimes happens, on the other hand, though rarely, that the rankest coward will he peaceably in bed amidst all the surrounding terrors of dissolution, and will even smile as his agony approaches.

I have seen, continues the same author, (and daily experience confirms his observation) one of the bravest officers in the world, suddenly turn pale in a thunderstorm, and even so far give way to his fears, as to hide himself in a cellar. One man possesses what the French so forcibly stile _une valeur journalière_, a sort of ephemeral courage, or what depends upon the influence of the moment; to-day he is as bold as Achilles; to-morrow he sinks into the degraded character of Thersites.

It is related of general Cadwallader, a man of unconquerable intrepidity in the field, that he trembled at the sight of a cat. The editor of this work had a friend, a lieutenant _Muloch_, in the Bengal army, a man of tried valor whose antipathy was of this singular kind, that he could not eat if there was a shoulder of mutton on the table; at a card party at Lady Oakley’s, at Madras, a shoulder of mutton was, without his knowlege, placed under his chair, the effect was, he fell from his chair in a state of convulsion from which he did not recover for several hours. The great _Condé_ laughed at a man who said he never felt the sensation of fear, by asking him “have you never snuffed a candle _with your naked fingers_?” Going into action one of his friends observed to him, “My prince you tremble.” He replied, “My body trembles for the danger into which my soul will lead me.” The peculiarities of this celebrated hero were, that he was always affected in his nerves by any surprize, but never lost his presence of mind; some of his friends attempted to surprize him in his tent, and in Austrian uniform made their way to his bed side and awoke him with their noise; he turned round and observed, “If you had excited an emotion of fear in me I should instantly put you to death.” Count Turpin, in his Art of War, appears to think that valor which unites deliberation and prudence is preferable to mere muscular bravery. The French pay more attention to the former than the latter, they always reward _bravery_ but prefer _valor_. Mere animal courage is not sufficient for them, and speaking of those who possess bravery without discretion, they treat it as if mere animal bravery was common to all men, but valor or discrimination rare; hence they say of a merely brave man--_Il est brave comme mon épée, mais general ****_--namely a brainless part of the body.

These changes in the character and constitution which are so visible in individuals, may be traced in their influence over whole nations, with little or no deviation. The Persian cavalry still maintains its ancient reputation for valor, and is still dreaded by the Turks. Tacitus relates, that the Sarmatian horse was invincible, but when the men were dismounted, nothing could be more miserably defective in all the requisites of war. Their whole dependence was on their cavalry, and, as far as we are enabled to judge, the same partial quality exists to this day.

The French, until the present revolution, seemed to have preserved the character and disposition of the ancient Gauls. They went with more alacrity into action, and met death, at first sight, with more valor, than they discovered firmness and resolution to wait patiently for its approach. Hurry and agitation appeared more congenial to their minds, than calmness and composure.

In order to conquer, it was found necessary, by their ablest generals, to make them attack and insult their enemy. They grew impatient in slow operations, and gradually became less capable of meeting their antagonists in proportion to the time they were restrained from coming to action. Their whole history, indeed, is a continued proof of the justness of this observation; and although their character seems to have undergone considerable changes since their revolution, they have still retained so much of the original cast, as to shew more promptitude in offensive, than steadiness and perseverance in defensive operations. Not that they are deficient in the latter, but that the former quality has been more brilliantly successful. To the first they owe their stupendous triumphs under Bonaparte; but they have again been rendered almost equally conspicuous by their conduct in the second under general Moreau, in his celebrated retreat from the Black Forest. But, alas! of what avail is the courage of the multitude, if the generality of their leaders are deficient in those indispensible qualities by which French officers have acquired the greatest reputation. It is like a torch in the hands of a fool or madman, who would as soon lead an enthusiast to a precipice, as he would shew him the paths he ought to tread.

VALUE, in a general acceptation of the term, signifies the rate at which any thing is estimated.

VAN. The front of an army, the first line; or leading column.

VAN-_guard_. That part of the army which marches in the front. See GUARD.

VANCOURIER. See AVANT COURIER.

VANNE, _Fr._ A floodgate.

VANTAIL, _Fr._ Leaf of a folding door.

VANT-_bras_. Armor for the arm.

_Droits de_ VARECH, _Fr._ The right to salvage. A term used in Normandy. _Varech_ likewise signifies any vessel under water.

VARLOPE, _Fr._ A carpenter’s large plane.

VARSA, _Ind._ The rainy season.

VASANT, _Ind._ The mild season or spring.

VASSALS. They who in the feudal system were obliged to attend their lord in war, as a tenure by which they held their lands, &c.

VEDETTE, (_Vedette_, _Fr._) in war, a centinel on horseback, with his horse’s head towards the place whence any danger is to be feared, and his carabine advanced, with the butt end against his right thigh. Vedettes are generally posted at the avenues, and on all the rising grounds, to guard the several passages when an enemy is encamped.

The Vedettes to the out-posts should always be double, for the following reasons: first, that whenever they make any discovery, one may be detached to the commanding officer of the out-posts; secondly, that they may keep each other watchful; and thirdly, that the vigilance of both may render it impossible for any thing to come near them without being seen. They should be at no greater distance from their detachments than 80 or 100 paces.

For particular instructions relative to the posting of Vedettes, see a treatise on the duties of an officer in the field, by baron Gross; _Am. Mil. Lib._

VEKILCHARES. A word used among the Turks, which signifies the same as _Fourrier_ in the French, and corresponds with quartermaster.

VELITES. Roman soldiers, who were commonly some of the Tiros, or young soldiers of mean condition, and lightly armed. They had their name, _a volando_, from flying, or _a velocitate_, from swiftness. They seem not to have acted in distinct bodies or companies, but to have hovered in loose order before the army. _Kennett’s R. A._ page 190. Their arms consisted of a sword and javelin, and they had a shield or buckler which was sufficiently large to cover its man, being round and measuring three feet and a half in diameter.

They generally wore wolf’s skins, or some other indifferent ornament upon their heads, to distinguish them during an action. Their javelins were a sort of dart, the wood of which measured three cubits in length, and was about the thickness of a finger. The point was about a hand’s full breadth in length, and was so thin and brittle, that it snapped off the instant it reached or penetrated its object, so that the enemy could not return it. It was distinguished in this particular from other darts and javelins.

VELOCITY. The quickness of motion with which bodies are moved from one place to another.

Initial velocity of military projectiles, as ascertained by the experiments with the Ballistic pendulum at Woolwich, in 1788, 1789, and 1790. These experiments were made with shot of equal diameters, powder of equal strength, and under a mean height of the barometer; and shew,

1. That there is very little difference in the velocities of shot fired from guns of the same length, but of unequal weights; the advantage being sometimes in favor of one and sometimes of the other.

2. That velocities arising from firing with different quantities of powder, are nearly in the proportion of the square roots of the quantities or weights of powder.

3. That the velocities decrease as the distances increase, arising from the resistance of the air, which opposes the progress of the shot, in a proportion somewhat higher than the squares of the velocities throughout; and only to a small variation.

4. That very little advantage is gained in point of range, by increasing the charge more than is necessary to attain the object, the velocities given by large charges being very soon reduced to those by moderate charges: those for instance given by half the shot’s weight are reduced to an equality with those by one third, after passing through a space of only 200 feet.

5. That very little advantage is also gained by increasing the length of guns; the velocity given by long guns of 22 calibres length of bore, being reduced to an equality with those of the short guns of 15¹⁄₂ calibres with similar charges, after passing through the spaces as follows:

With ¹⁄₂ the shot’s weight 285 feet
¹⁄₃ Do. 200
¹⁄₄ Do. 150
¹⁄₆ Do. 115

6. That the resistance of the air against balls of different diameters with equal velocities, is very nearly in the proportion of the square of their diameters; or as their surfaces.

7. That the velocity is not affected by compressing the charge more or less; or by heating the piece in different degrees.

8. That a very great increase of velocity arises from a decrease of windage; it appearing, that with the established windage of ¹⁄₂₀ between ¹⁄₃ and ¹⁄₄ of the force is lost.

9. It also appeared, that by firing the charge in different parts; by varying the weight of the gun to lessen the recoil; or even by stopping the recoil entirely, no sensible change is produced in the velocity of the ball.

10. That though the velocity of the shot is increased only to a certain point peculiar to each gun, (a further increase of powder, producing a diminished velocity) yet the recoil of the gun is always increased by the increase of charge.

11. Velocity of a light 6 Pr.--length, 4 feet 8 inches; charge, ¹⁄₃ the weight of the shot; 1558 feet _per_ second.--6 Prs. heavy; 6 feet 8 inches; charge ¹⁄₃ = 1673 feet.

Velocity of a light 3 Pr. length, 3 feet 4 inches, charge ¹⁄₂--1371 feet _per_ second.

Do. Heavy 3 Pr. length, 5 feet 9¹⁄₂ inches, charge ¹⁄₃ the shot--1584 feet.

_Velocity of French Ordnance._

24 Pr. charge 8 lbs. the eprovette mortar giving 125 fathoms, the initial velocity is 1425 feet _per_ second; with the eprovette at 90 = 1209 feet; with a charge of 12 lbs. and the eprovette at 125° the initial velocity will be 1530.

_Charge._ _Eprovette._ _Velocity._
16 pr. 5 lbs. 125 1415
16 pr. 8 do. 1510
12 pr. 4 do.} { 1520
8 pr. 2¹⁄₂ do.} long { 1418
8 pr. 3 do.} guns { 1460
4 pr. 1 do.} { 1335
4 pr. 1¹⁄₂ do.} { 1508
12 pr. 4 do. }field { 1442
8 pr. 2¹⁄₂ do. }guns { 1422
4 pr. 1¹⁄₂ do. } { 1446
8 inch how’r. 1 do. 390
8 inch how’r. 1 2 oz. do. 516
6 inch how’r. 1 do. 532
6 inch how’r. 1 12 oz. do. 704

VENT, (_Lumière_, _Fr._) in artillery, or, as it is vulgarly called, the touch-hole, is the opening through which the fire is conveyed to the powder that composes the charge.

As the placing the vents in mortars, howitzers, and guns in the best manner, is so very delicate a point, and about which both authors and practitioners differ, we will advance what the result of experiments has demonstrated. The most common method is to place the vent about a quarter of an inch from the bottom of the chamber or bore; though we have seen many half an inch, and some an inch from the bottom. It has always been imagined, that if the vent was to come out in the middle of the charge, the powder would be inflamed in less time than in any other case, and consequently produce the greatest range; because, if a tube be filled with powder, and lighted in the centre, the powder will be burnt in half the time it would be, were it lighted at one end. This gave a grounded supposition, that the greater the quantity of powder which burnt before the shot or shell was sensibly moved from its place, the greater force it would receive. To determine this, the king of Prussia, in 1765, ordered that a light three pounder should be cast, with three shifting vents, one at the centre of the charge, one at the bottom, and the other at an equal distance from the bottom and centre one; so that when one was used, the others were effectually stopped. The gun weighed 2 cwt. 1 qr. 20 lb.; its length was 3 feet 3 inches, and the bottom of the bore quite flat. It was loaded each time with one fourth of the shot’s weight; and it was found, that when the lowest or bottom vent was used, the shot went farthest, and the ranges of the others diminished in proportion as they were distant from the bottom. The piece was elevated to 1 degree 30 minutes.

In 1766 the same monarch caused several experiments to be tried with three small mortars of equal size and dimensions, but of different forms in their chambers; each of which held seven ounces and a half of powder. From these experiments it appeared, that the concave chamber produced the greatest ranges, and that the bottom of the chamber is the best place for vents, having in that place the greatest effect.

The vents of English guns are all ²⁄₁₀ of an inch diameter. See remark 9 of the article VELOCITY.

VENT-_field_, is the part of a gun or howitz between the breech mouldings and the astragal.

VENT-_astragal_, that part of a gun or howitzer which determines the vent-field.

VENT, _Fr._ That vacancy which is occasioned by the difference between the calibre of a piece of ordnance, and the diameter of its ball. See WINDAGE.

VENT, _Fr._ Wind. The French use this word in various senses.