determine by electricity the initial velocity of a projectile. The West
Point ballistic machine, devised for use at the Military Academy by Col.
Benton, of the ordnance department, and since adopted by that
department, consists of a bed-plate of metal supporting an arc placed in
a perpendicular position, and graduated. Suspended perpendicular to the
plane of this arc are two pendulums, having a common axis of motion
passing through the centre. Two electro-magnets are attached to the
horizontal limb of the arc to hold up the pendulums when they are
deflected through angles of 90°. There is also an apparatus which
records the point at which the pendulums pass each other, when they fall
by the breaking of the currents which excite the magnets, two targets
being placed so as to support the wires in a position to be cut by the
projectile. The velocity of the electric currents being considered
instantaneous, and the loss of the power of the magnets simultaneous
with the rupture of the currents, it follows that each pendulum begins
to move at the instant that the projectile cuts the wire, and that the
interval of time corresponds to the difference of the arcs described by
the pendulums up to the time of meeting.
=Ballistic Pendulum.= A machine consisting of a massive block of wood
suspended by a bar. It was devised for experiments on the initial
velocities of cannon-shot. The shot being fired into the block, the
velocity is calculated from the vibrating effect on the pendulum.
=Ballistics.= Is that branch of gunnery which treats of the motion of
projectiles.
=Ballistraria.= Cruciform apertures in the walls of a stronghold,
through which the cross-bow men discharged their bolts. It also
signified a projecting turret, otherwise called a bartizan, such as is
commonly seen in old castles.
=Ballium.= A term used in ancient military art, and probably a
corruption of vallium. In towns, the appellation “ballium” was given to
a work fenced with palisades, and sometimes to masonry covering the
suburbs; but in castles, it was the space immediately within the outer
wall.
=Ballon.= A town in the department of the Sarthe, France, formerly
fortified; captured by the English in 1417; retaken by Charles VII. of
France.
=Balloon.= A bag or hollow vessel, made of silk or other light material,
and filled with hydrogen gas or heated air, so as to rise and float in
the atmosphere; called for distinction an _air_-balloon. Balloons were
used extensively as a means of observation during the American civil
war, 1861-65, and in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.
=Balloting.= A bounding movement of a spherical projectile in the bore
of a cannon. See INJURIES TO CANNON.
=Ball-proof.= Incapable of being penetrated by balls from fire-arms.
=Ball’s Bluff.= In Virginia, on the banks of the Potomac. On October 21,
1861, by direction of the Federal general C. P. Stone, the heroic Col.
Baker crossed the river to reconnoitre. He attacked the Confederate
camp at Leesburg, and was defeated with great loss. The disaster was
attributed to mismanagement, and in February, 1862, Gen. Stone was
arrested on suspicion of treason, but was afterwards discharged, and at
a later period again given a command. The Federal loss in killed,
wounded, and drowned was probably 1000 men.
=Ballynahinch.= A town in Ireland where a sanguinary engagement took
place between a large body of the insurgent Irish and the British
troops, under Gen. Nugent, June 13, 1798. A large part of the town was
destroyed, and the royal army suffered very severely.
=Balots= (_Fr._). Sacks or bales of wool, made use of in cases of great
emergency, to form parapets or places of arms. They are likewise adapted
for the defense of trenches, to cover the workmen in saps, and in all
instances where promptitude is required.
=Baltic Sea= (Ger. _Ostsee_, or “Eastern Sea”). Separates Sweden and the
Danish Isles from Russia, Prussia, and Germany. Declared neutral for
commerce by treaty between Russia and Sweden, 1759, and Denmark, 1760.
It is often partially frozen. Charles X. of Sweden with an army crossed
the Belts in 1658. Several Baltic expeditions were undertaken by the
British and French against Denmark and Russia.
=Baltimore.= The chief city in Maryland, situated at the head of
navigation on the Patapsco River; it was founded in 1729. On September
12, 1814, the British army under Col. Ross advanced against this place.
He was killed in a skirmish, and the command was assumed by Col. Brooke,
who attacked and routed the American army, which lost 600 killed and
wounded, and 300 prisoners. The projected attack on the town was,
however, abandoned.
=Baltimore= (Ireland). A decayed town; early in the 17th century, the
Algerine pirates plundered the town, carrying away 200 prisoners.
=Baltinglass.= A town in the county of Wicklow, Ireland. Here an action
took place in 1798 between the royalists and the insurgents, in which
the latter were defeated.
=Bamberg.= A town in Bavaria, said to have been founded by the Saxons in
804; taken and pillaged by the Prussians in 1759.
=Bampton.= A town in Devonshire, England. A great battle was fought
here, 614, between the West Saxons and Britons, in which the former were
defeated.
=Ban= (_Fr._). A sort of proclamation made at the head of a body of
troops, or in the several quarters or cantonments of an army, by sound
of trumpet or beat of drum, either for observing martial discipline, or
for declaring a new officer, or punishing a soldier, or the like. At
present such kind of proclamations are given out in the written orders
of the day.
=Ban.= In the former days of France, when the feudal barons, who held
their estates and honors from the king, were summoned to attend him in
time of war, they were called the ban, or the levy first called out;
while the tenants, subordinate to these barons, formed the _Arrière
ban_, or secondary levy.
=Banbury.= A town in Oxfordshire, England. The castle erected by
Alexander de Blois, 1125, has been frequently besieged; in 1646 it was
taken by the Parliamentarians and demolished. At Edgecote, or Danesmore,
near Banbury, Edward IV. defeated the Lancastrians under the Earl of
Pembroke, July 26, 1469, and their leader and his brother were soon
after taken prisoners and executed.
=Bancal= (_Fr._). A curved sabre, which was used in France during the
Republic and the Empire.
=Band, Military.= Consists of a body of musicians attached to each army
regiment or battalion. The law provides for a band at the Military
Academy at West Point, and for each artillery, cavalry, and infantry
regiment. A chief musician, who shall be instructor of music, and for
each artillery and infantry regiment two principal musicians; each
cavalry regiment to have one chief trumpeter. Musicians for regimental
bands are enlisted as soldiers, and formed under the direction of the
adjutant, but are not permanently detached from their companies, and are
instructed in all the duties of a soldier.
=Banda Isles.= Eastern Archipelago, visited by the Portuguese (1511),
who settled on them 1521, but were expelled by the Dutch about 1600.
Rohun Island was ceded to the English in 1616. The Bandas were taken by
the latter in 1796; restored in 1801; retaken, 1811, and restored in
1816.
=Banded-mail.= A kind of armor, which consisted of alternate rows of
leather or cotton and single chain-mail.
=Banderet.= In military history, implies the commander-in-chief of the
troops of the canton of Berne, in Switzerland.
=Banderol.= A small flag used in marking out a camp, etc.; a camp color.
=Bandes= (_Fr._). Bands, bodies of infantry. _Bandes Françaises_; the
French infantry was anciently so called; the term, however, became less
general, and was confined to the _Prevôt des Bandes_, or the judge or
provost-marshal that tried the men belonging to the French guards.
=Banditti.= Bands of robbers who infest the mountainous parts of Italy
and Greece. Formerly they frequently attacked travelers, hurried them
off into their mountain fastnesses, and held them captive until
ransomed.
=Bandoleer.= In ancient military history, a large leathern belt worn
over the right shoulder, and hanging under the left arm, to carry some
kind of warlike weapons.
=Bandoleer.= A little wooden case covered with leather; every musketeer
used to wear 12 of them hanging on a shoulder-belt; each case contained
the charge of powder for a musket. Bandoleers are now superseded by the
cartridge-box.
=Banffshire.= A maritime county in the northeast of Scotland; it was the
scene of many bloody conflicts between the Scots and their Danish
invaders, and was the theatre of almost incessant struggles from 1624 to
1645.
=Bangalore.= A fortified town of Hindostan, in Mysore, which was taken
from Tippoo Saib by Lord Cornwallis in 1791.
=Baniwas.= A tribe of South American Indians living on the Amazon and
the Rio Negro.
=Banner.= Originally a small square flag borne before a banneret, whose
arms were embroidered on it; hence, a military ensign; the principal
standard of a prince or state; a pennon; a streamer.
=Bannered.= Furnished with or bearing banners.
=Banneret.= Was originally a military rank conferred only on such as
were able to bring a certain number of vassals into the field; hence, a
rank corresponding to this; also, a small banner.
=Bannockburn.= In Stirlingshire, Scotland; the site of two battles: 1.
Between Robert Bruce of Scotland and Edward II. of England, June 24,
1314. The army of Bruce consisted of 30,000; that of Edward of 100,000
men, of whom 52,000 were archers. The English crossed the rivulet to the
attack, and Bruce having dug and covered pits, they fell into them and
were thrown into confusion. The rout was complete; the English king
narrowly escaped, and 50,000 were killed or taken prisoners. 2. At
Sanchieburn, near here James II. was defeated and slain on June 11,
1488, by his rebellious nobles.
=Banquette.= Is the step of earth within the parapet, sufficiently high
to enable the defenders, when standing upon it, to fire over the crest
of the parapet with ease.
=Banquette Slope.= Is a slope of earth or timber, placed in rear of the
banquette when the top cannot be reached by an ordinary step.
=Bantam.= In Java; here a British factory was established by Capt.
Lancaster in 1603. The English and Danes were driven from their
factories by the Dutch in 1683. Bantam surrendered to the British in
1811, but was restored to the Dutch at the peace in 1814.
=Bantry Bay.= In the south of Ireland, where a French fleet bringing
succor to the adherents of James II. attacked the English under Admiral
Herbert, May 1, 1689. A French squadron of 7 sail of the line and 2
frigates, armed _en flute_, and 17 transports anchored here for a few
days, but without effect, December, 1796. Mutiny of the Bantry Bay
squadron took place in December, 1801.
=Banyuls-de-Aspres.= A town in the department of the Eastern Pyrenees,
France, which is memorable for the defense which its inhabitants made
in 1793, when they compelled 7000 Spaniards, who had attacked them, to
surrender.
=Bapaume.= A fortified town of France, department of Pas-de-Calais. A
portion of the allied troops advanced to this place after compelling the
French to abandon their fortified position, and to retreat behind the
scarpe, in August, 1793.
=Baptism of Blood.= As the name implies, is the act of being baptized
with blood, and was used specially with reference to soldiers who fought
on their first battle-field. In the old French service, baptism of blood
equalized all grades, and military services, not rank, were the
recognized claims for promotion.
=Baptism of Fire.= A figurative term applied to soldiers who have passed
through their first fire in battle.
=Bar.= A long piece of wood or iron. Bars have various denominations in
the construction of artillery-carriages, as sweep- and cross-bars for
tumbrils, fore, hind, and under cross-bars for powder-carts, shaft-bars
for wagons, and dowel-bars, used in mortar-beds.
=Bar.= In heraldry, is one of those important figures or charges known
as _ordinaries_. It is formed by two horizontal lines passing over the
shield like the fess, but it differs from it in size,--the fess
occupying a third, the bar only a fifth part of the shield. The fess is
also confined to the centre, while the bar may be borne in several parts
of the shield.
=Barb.= The reflected points of the head of an arrow. The armor for
horses was so called.
=Barbacan=, or =Barbican=. In fortification, a watch-tower for the
purpose of descrying an enemy at a distance; advanced works of a place
or citadel, properly the boulevards of the gates and walls; a fort at
the entrance of a tower or bridge, with a double wall; or an aperture or
loop-hole in the walls of a fortress through which to fire upon an
enemy.
=Barbary.= A country in North Africa, considered to comprise Algeria,
Morocco, Fez, Tunis, and Tripoli, with their dependencies (all of which
see). Piratical states (nominally subject to Turkey) were founded on the
coast by Barbarossa about 1518.
=Barbets.= Were peasants of Piedmont, who abandoned their dwellings when
an enemy had taken possession of them. They formed into bodies and
defended the Alps.
=Barbette.= An earthen terrace, raised within a parapet, so high as to
enable guns to be fired over the latter, and therefore with a freer
range than when worked at an embrasure.
=Barbette Carriage.= Is a carriage of the stationary class, on which a
gun is mounted to fire over a parapet; and a barbette gun is any gun
mounted on a barbette carriage.
=Barbette Centre-pintle Carriage.= See ORDNANCE, CARRIAGES FOR,
SEA-COAST CARRIAGES.
=Barbette Front-pintle Carriage.= See ORDNANCE, CARRIAGES FOR, SEA-COAST
CARRIAGES.
=Barbole= (_Fr._). A heavy battle-axe, used in ancient times.
=Barboursville=, or =Cabell Court-house=. The capital of Cabell Co., W.
Va. It was the scene of a brilliant action between the Confederate and
Federal forces, in which the latter were victorious, July 18, 1861.
=Barce=, or =Berche= (_Fr._). A small gun, shorter and thicker than a
falconet, which was formerly used on board ship.
=Barcelona.= An ancient maritime city in Northeastern Spain, said to
have been rebuilt by Hamilcar Barca, father of the great Hannibal, about
233 B.C. The city has suffered much by war. The siege by the French, in
1694, was relieved by the approach of the English fleet commanded by
Admiral Russell; but the city was taken by the Earl of Peterborough in
1706; bombarded and taken by the Duke of Berwick and the French in 1714;
taken by Napoleon in 1808, and retained till 1814. It revolted against
the queen in 1841, and was bombarded and taken in December, 1842, by
Espartero.
=Bard.= A fortress and village of Piedmont on the bank of the Dora
Baltea, 23 miles south-southeast of Aosta. The fortress is situated on
an impregnable rock, and arrested for some time Napoleon’s march in the
valley of the Dora, at the outset of his campaign of 1800, almost
compelling him to abandon it. The garrison consisted of 400 men, and was
finally passed only by stratagem. It was subsequently razed by the
French (1800), but has since been restored.
=Bardewick.= A town in Hanover, which was dismantled by Henry the Lion
in 1189.
=Bareilly.= A province of Delhi, Northwest India, ceded to the East
India Company by the ruler of Oude, 1801. A mutiny at Bareilly, the
capital, was suppressed in April, 1816; on May 7, 1858, it was taken
from the cruel Sepoy rebels.
=Barezim.= A small town in Poland, where the Russians were defeated by
the Poles in 1675.
=Barfleur.= An ancient seaport town in the department of Manche, France,
where William the Conqueror equipped the fleet by which he conquered
England, 1066. Near it Prince William, duke of Normandy, son of Henry
I., in his passage from Normandy, was shipwrecked November 25, 1120.
Barfleur was destroyed by the English in the campaign in which they won
the battle of Crécy, 1346. The French navy was destroyed near the cape
by Admiral Russell after the victory of La Hogue in 1692.
=Bari= (Southern Italy). The _Barium_ of Horace was in the 9th century a
stronghold of the Saracens, and was captured by the emperor Louis II., a
descendant of Charlemagne, in 871. In the 10th century it became subject
to the Eastern empire, and remained so till it was taken by Robert
Guiscard, the Norman, about 1060.
=Baril Ardent= (_Fr._). Fire-barrel; a barrel filled with layers of
tarred chips intermixed with powder and primed at each end with a
shell-fuze; it had holes bored in it for the purpose of admitting air to
the burning contents; formerly used for illuminating purposes.
=Baril Foudroyant=, or =D’artifice= (_Fr._). Of the same nature as the
_baril ardent_, with the addition of grenades placed between the layers
of chips. Barils foudroyants were used at the defense of a breech, by
rolling them upon the assailants.
=Barkam.= A fortress on the banks of the Danube. Near here John
Sobieski, king of Poland, was defeated by Pasha Ka-Mehemed, October 7,
1683.
=Barking-irons.= Large dueling pistols.
=Barnacles.= In heraldry, resemble what are now called twitchers, or
instruments used by farriers to curb unruly horses. They are frequently
introduced into coats of arms as a charge.
=Barnet.= A town in Hertfordshire, England. Here, at Gladsmore Heath,
Edward IV. gained a decisive victory over the Lancastrians on
Easter-day, April 14, 1471, when the Earl of Warwick and his brother,
the Marquis of Montacute, or Montague, and 10,000 men were slain.
=Barometer.= An instrument for measuring the weight of the atmosphere.
The form ordinarily used was invented in 1643, by Torricelli. It
consists of a glass tube filled with mercury inverted in an open cup.
=Baron.= In England a title of nobility,--the grade between the baronet
and viscount,--the lowest grade in the House of Lords.
=Barons’ War.= Arose in consequence of the faithlessness of King Henry
III. and the oppression of his favorites in 1258. The barons, headed by
Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester, and Gilbert de Clare, earl of
Gloucester, met at Oxford in 1262, and enacted statutes to which the
king objected. In 1263 their disputes were in vain referred to the
decision of Louis IX., king of France. War broke out, and on May 14,
1264, the king’s party were totally defeated at Lewes, and De Montfort
became the virtual ruler of the kingdom. Through treachery the war was
renewed, and at the battle of Evesham, August 4, 1265, De Montfort was
slain, and the barons were defeated. They, however, did not render their
final submission till 1268.
=Barrackpore.= A native town and military cantonment on the river
Hoogly, 16 miles from Calcutta, India. In 1857 it became famous as the
cradle of the formidable mutiny or rebellion of that year. Several
regiments of native troops were stationed at Barrackpore. The men
objected to bite off the ends of the cartridges for the Enfield rifle,
believing the paper to be polluted by animal fat. The troubles connected
therewith--a mere prelude to the fatal outbreak at Meerut in
May--commenced about the beginning of February, and continued to assume
various degrees of intensity, till at last two regiments of Bengal
native infantry had to be disbanded. An intoxicated Sepoy of one of the
disbanded regiments attacked and wounded his officer, Lieut. Baugh, with
sword and pistol. This fellow, whose name was Mungal Pandy, would seem
to have had the equivocal honor of giving the local designation of
Pandies to the entire body of insurgents.
=Barrack-allowance.= In the British army, is a specific allowance of
bread, beef, wood, coals, etc., to regiments stationed in barracks.
=Barrack-guard.= When a regiment is in barracks the principal guard is
called the barrack-guard, the officer being responsible for the
regularity of the men in barracks, and for all prisoners duly committed
to his charge while on that duty.
=Barrack-master.= The officer who superintends the barracks of soldiers.
=Barracks.= Are permanent structures for the accommodation of soldiers,
as distinguished from huts and tents, which have usually a square or
open place in front, for the purpose of drill and parade.
=Barrack-sergeants.= In the British army, are faithful old sergeants who
are selected from the line and placed in charge of barracks, under the
superintendence of the barrack-masters.
=Barrel.= A round vessel or cask, of more length than breadth, and
bulging in the middle, made of staves and headings and bound with hoops.
Powder-barrels are made to contain 100 pounds each, the barrels being
large enough to allow sufficient space for the powder to move when
rolled, to prevent its caking. Also any hollow cylinder or tube, as the
barrel of a gun. See FIRE-BARREL.
=Barricade.= An obstruction formed in streets, avenues, etc., so as to
block up access to an enemy. They are generally formed of overturned
wagons, carriages, large stones, breastworks, abatis, or other obstacles
at hand.
=Barrier.= In a general sense means any fortification or strong place on
the frontiers of a country. It is likewise a kind of fence composed of
stakes and transoms, as over-thwart rafters, erected to defend the
entrance of a passage, retrenchment, or the like. In the middle of the
barrier is a movable bar of wood, which is opened or shut at pleasure.
It also implies a gate made of wooden bars, about 5 feet long,
perpendicular to the horizon, and kept together by two long bars going
across and another crossing diagonally. Barriers are used to stop the
cut made through the esplanade before the gate of a town.
=Barrier Treaty.= A treaty by which the Low Countries were ceded to the
emperor Charles VI., and which was signed by the British, Imperial, and
Dutch ministers November 15, 1715.
=Barritus=, or =Bardites=. A word which not only signified the
battle-cry of the ancient Germans, but all battle-cries were formerly so
called.
=Barrosa=, or =Barosa=. In Southern Spain, where a battle was fought on
March 5, 1811, between the British army, commanded by Maj.-Gen. Sir
Thomas Graham, afterwards Lord Lynedoch, and the French under Marshal
Victor. After a long conflict, the British achieved one of the most
glorious triumphs of the Peninsular war. Although they fought at great
disadvantage the British compelled the French to retreat, leaving nearly
3000 dead, 6 pieces of cannon, and an eagle, the first that the British
had taken. The loss of the British was 1169 men killed and wounded.
=Bar-shot.= An obsolete projectile, consisting of two shot connected by
a bar of iron.
=Bar-sur-Aube.= An ancient town of France, on the Aube, in the
department of Aube, where the French under Oudinot and MacDonald were
defeated by the allies, February 27, 1814.
=Bar-sur-Seine.= A town in the department of Aube, France; often ruined
and sacked during the wars of Burgundy. It was the scene of a severe
engagement between Napoleon and the allies, May 25, 1814.
=Bartholomew, St.= The massacre of St. Bartholomew commenced at Paris on
the night of the festival of this saint. According to Sully 70,000
Huguenots, or French Protestants, including women and children, were
murdered throughout the kingdom by secret orders from Charles IX., at
the instigation of his mother, the queen-dowager, Catherine de Médicis,
August 24, 1572.
=Bartholomew, St.= A West India island held by Sweden. It was colonized
by the French in 1648; and has been several times taken and restored by
the British. It was ceded to Sweden by France in 1785.
=Bartizan.= A small stone closet thrown out upon corbels over doorways
and on other parts of mediæval castles, generally for defensive
purposes, but sometimes for the convenience of the inmates.
=Bascinet.= A light helmet, generally without a visor; so called from
its resemblance to a basin.
=Baschi.= A Turkish title, signifying a superior commander, officer,
chief, etc.; this title is only used in connection with the office
title; the most prominent are:
TOPTSCHJY-BASCHI, general of artillery and inspector of forts, etc.
SOLACKI-BASCHI, sub-commander of the archers.
SANDSCHJACK-DARLARS-BASCHI, chief of the 50 color-bearers.
KONADSCHJY-BASCHI, quartermaster-general.
BOLUCK-BASCHI, colonel of a regiment (Boluck) of 1000 militia.
ODA-BASCHIS, company officers who superintend drill.
=Bascule Bridge.= A kind of draw-bridge with a counterpoise swinging up
and down, and usually a pit behind it, in which the counterpoise falls
or rises as the bridge rises or falls. Bascule is the arrangement of the
counterpoise in bascule bridges.
=Base.= In fortifications, is the exterior side of the polygon, or that
imaginary line which connects the salient angle of two adjacent
bastions.
=Base.= In heraldry, denotes the lower part of the shield.