who went on foot, and _infanterie_, to foot-soldiers generally). Is that
portion of a military establishment using small-arms and equipped for
marching and fighting on foot, in contradistinction to artillery and
cavalry. It is the oldest of the “three arms” into which armies are
conventionally divided; was the favorite of the Greeks, the Gauls, the
Germans, and the Franks, and was that mainly with which Rome conquered
the world. Under Grecian and Roman civilization it attained pre-eminence
as the _arm of battle_, but fell into contempt and comparative desuetude
early in the Middle Ages, and did not emerge from that obscurity till
the decline of the feudal system. It was first revived by the Swiss,
who, armed with the pike, withstood the most famous chivalry of Europe.
Afterwards the Spanish infantry, armed with the musket, and led by Alva
and the Duke of Parma, Cortez and Pizarro, became the terror of two
continents. The other states of Europe were not slow in learning the
lesson. Infantry steadily increased in power and importance from the
first years of the 14th century, and is now recognized as constituting
the principal strength of military organizations. This importance
results from the fact that it can be used everywhere, “in mountains or
on plains, in woody or open countries, in cities or in fields, on rivers
or at sea, in the redoubt or in the attack on the breach.” It is the
self-sustaining arm in the field of battle, and is, moreover, less
expensive, man for man, than its auxiliaries.
=Infantry Exercise.= The use of the rifle, and manœuvres for regiments
of infantry, according to the regulations issued by the War Department.
=Infantry, Heavy-armed.= Among the ancients were such as wore a complete
suit of armor, and engaged with broad shields and long spears. They were
the flower and strength of the Grecian armies, and had the highest rank
of military honor.
=Infantry, Light.= Came into use after the year 1656. They had no camp
equipage to carry, and their arms and accoutrements were much lighter
than the common infantry, or battalion men; they were used as
skirmishers, etc.
=Infantry, Light-armed.= Among the ancients, were designed for
skirmishes, and for fighting at a distance. Their weapons were arrows,
darts, or slings.
=Infantry Tactics.= See TACTICS.
=Inferior.= In a military sense means simply junior in rank, having a
lower rank.
=Infest.= To trouble greatly; to disturb; to annoy; to harass; as, the
sea is infested with pirates; parties of the enemy infest the coast.
=Infile.= To arrange in a file or rank; to place in order. This term is
obsolete.
=Inflammation.= When grains of powder are united to form a charge, and
fire is communicated to one of them, the heated and expansive gases
evolved insinuate themselves into the interstices of the charge, envelop
the grains, and ignite them, one after the other. This propagation of
ignition is called _inflammation_, and its velocity the _velocity of
inflammation_. It is much greater than that of combustion, and it should
not be confounded with it. The _velocity of inflammation_ of powder
compressed by pounding is about .64 inch, while that of mealed powder in
the same condition is only .45 inch. Inflammation, in the study of
gunpowder, is the spread of the flame from one grain to another--as
opposed to ignition; the setting on fire of a certain point of the
charge.
=Informant.= In case a civil person is the complainant, he becomes the
principal witness before a court-martial, and after giving his evidence
may remain in court, in order that the judge-advocate may refer to him.
=Informers.= In the British service, were soldiers who gave information
of false musters, or of pay illegally detained; and were, for said
services, entitled to their discharge.
=Ingauni.= A Ligurian tribe who formerly inhabited the sea-coast and
adjoining mountains at the foot of the Maritime Alps, on the west side
of the Gulf of Genoa. They are mentioned as being engaged in hostilities
with a neighboring tribe, the Epanterii, on the occasion of the landing
of Mago, the brother of Hannibal, B.C. 205. They were several times
engaged in wars with the Romans, but were finally defeated by the
pro-consul, Æmilius Paullus, in a decisive engagement (losing 15,000
killed and 2500 prisoners), which resulted in their ultimate submission
to the Roman sway.
=Inglorious.= Shameful; disgraceful; ignominious; as, he charged his
troops with inglorious flight.
=Inimical.= Hostile.
=Initial Velocity.= In England the term _muzzle velocity_ is frequently
used. In gunnery, the initial velocity of a projectile is the velocity
at the muzzle of the piece, and is determined by the use of the
ballistic pendulum, the gun pendulum, the electro-ballistic machines,
the Schultz chronoscope, or the Le Boulengé chronograph; the two last
being now generally used in the U. S. service. The various plans in use
differ only in the manner of recording and keeping the time of flight.
The initial velocity of a shot may be ascertained by firing the gun, the
axis being horizontal, at a target and measuring the _distance_ of the
point struck below the point where the axis of the gun produced would
pierce the target. _This_ is the vertical distance fallen through by the
ball in the time of passage from the muzzle to the target, and the time
in which it falls through this distance is given by the formula
(2_s_)
_t_ = √(----)
( _g_)
in which _t_ represents the time, _s_ the vertical space fallen through,
and _g_ the force of gravity. The distance to the target divided by this
_time_ gives the initial velocity approximately. Practically, this
method is only applicable to large breech-loading cannon, which have
neither windage nor vibration in the barrel to affect the angle of
departure of the projectile. Smooth-bores or muzzle-loading rifles are
subject to the first cause of error; the first-named guns in a great
degree, and small-arms to vibrations not yet fully investigated, which
cause a sensible difference between the axis of the piece as pointed and
the line of fire. The causes that affect initial velocity are the weight
of the charge, the size and position of the vent, the windage, the
length of the bore, the form of the chamber, the diameter and density of
the projectile, the windage of the cartridge; the form, size, density,
and dryness of the grains of powder; and the barometric, thermometric,
and hygrometric states of the atmosphere. See VELOCITY.
=Injuries to Cannon.= Brass cannon are little subject to external injury
caused by service, except from the bending of the trunnions sometimes,
after long service or heavy charges. Internal injuries are caused by the
action of the elastic fluids developed in the combustion of the powder,
or by the action of the shot in passing out of the bore. These effects
generally increase with the caliber of the piece. The principal injury
of the first kind is the cutting away of the metal of the upper surface
of the bore over the seat of the shot. The injuries of the second kind
are, the _lodgment of the shot_,--a compression of the metal on the
lower side of the bore, at the seat of the shot, which is caused by the
pressure of the gas in escaping over the top of the shot. There is a
corresponding _burr_ in front of the lodgment, and the motion therefore
given to the shot causes it to strike alternately on the top and bottom
of the bore, producing other _enlargements_, generally _three_ in
number, the first on the upper side a little in advance of the
trunnions, the second on the lower side about the astragal, the third in
the upper part of the muzzle. It is chiefly from this cause that brass
guns become unserviceable. _Scratches_, caused by the fragments of a
broken shot, or the roughness of an imperfect one. A piece is said to be
_honeycombed_ when the surface of the bore is full of small holes and
cavities. This is due to the melting and volatilization of a portion of
tin in the alloy, tin being much more fusible than copper. Iron cannon
are subject to the above defects in a less degree than brass, except the
corrosion of the metal, by which the vent is rendered unserviceable from
enlargement. The one cause of injury to iron cannon is the rusting of
the metal, producing a roughness and enlargement of the bore and an
increase of any cavities or honeycombs which may exist in the metal.
Iron cannon, however, are subject to a peculiar erosion by the gases,
which Prof. Horsford explains by supposing that under the enormous
tension and heat the sulphur in the gases unites with the iron,
producing a friable sulphide of iron, which is successively formed and
swept off by the gases. Wrought-iron guns are peculiarly subject to this
erosion, cast-iron and steel less so. The amount of erosion is dependent
upon the velocity with which the gases pass over the surface of the
bore. In rifled wrought-iron guns having windage this action is fully
illustrated, and the gun is soon disabled. The strong preference in many
countries for steel as a bore lining is thus explained. By the use of
expanding projectiles this action is largely prevented, the sabot acting
as a gas-check. This system of projectiles is rapidly gaining favor for
this and other reasons.
=Inkerman.= A small Tartar village in the Crimea, situated near the
eastern extremity of the harbor of Sebastopol. It was once a celebrated
city, and has numerous caverns cut in the rock, supposed to be the work
of the monks in the Middle Ages. Near this place, November 5, 1854, was
fought a battle between the allied English and French forces on the one
side, and the Russians on the other, the former amounting to 25,000 or
30,000, the latter about 60,000. The Russians began the attack at dawn
of day upon the intrenched lines of the English; but after a fierce and
sanguinary contest of many hours, inflicting great loss on both sides,
the Russians were finally driven from the field.
=Inlist.= See ENLISTMENT.
=Inlying Picket.= A body of infantry or cavalry in campaign, detailed to
march, if called upon, and held ready for that purpose in camp or
quarters.
=Inner.= One of the circular rings on the Creedmoor target; a shot
striking in this space counts three.
=Inniskilliners=, or =Enniskilliners=. In the British service, the
officers and soldiers of the 6th Dragoons and the 27th Foot are so
called, from the two regiments having been originally raised at
Enniskillen (or Inniskillen), a town of Ulster, where the inhabitants
distinguished themselves in favor of King William against James II.
=Innuit.= A name given by some ethnologists to the Indian races
inhabiting the northwestern coast of North America. They differ in many
respects from the Indians of the interior and farther south. The Aleuts
and Esquimos are not included in the term.
=Inofficial.= Not official; not proceeding from the proper officer; not
clothed with the usual forms of authority, or not done in an official
character; not required by or appropriate to the duties of any office;
as, inofficial intelligence.
=Inquiry, Board of.= A term used in contradistinction to a
court-martial, to signify the meeting of a certain number of officers
(who are not sworn) for the purpose of ascertaining facts that may
afterwards become a matter of investigation on oath. There are also
courts of inquiry; such courts in the armies of Europe, it would seem,
derived their origin from the prerogative of the sovereign, and became
part of the military judicature by custom and not by express law. From
this fact it has been considered that the exercise of this authority,
instead of being regarded as an assumption of power, is a favor to the
accused, and it is thus stated by Capt. Simmons in his work on
courts-martial. For the army of the United States, courts of inquiry
have been specially authorized by legal enactment. (See APPENDIX,
ARTICLES OF WAR, 115 to 121.) The origin and purposes of such courts
would naturally lead to the conclusion that they are of the essence of
high command; and therefore the right to convoke them, under all the
legal restrictions, is properly confined to the President of the United
States, a general commanding an army, or a colonel commanding a
department; and in the cases of enlisted men, the commanding officer of
the regiment. See COURT OF INQUIRY.
=Inroad.= The entrance of an enemy into a country with purposes of
hostility; a sudden or desultory incursion or invasion; attack;
encroachment.
=Inroll.= See ENROLL.
=Insconced.= In the military art, when any part of an army has fortified
itself with a sconce, or small work, in order to defend some pass, etc.,
it is said to be insconced. See ENSCONCE.
=Inscribe.= To mark with letters, characters, or words, as, to inscribe
the name of the battle on their colors.
=Insecure.= Not effectually guarded or protected; unsafe; exposed to
danger or loss.
=Inspect.= To view and examine officially; as, troops, arms, etc.
=Inspection.= A strict examination; a close survey. It is of various
kinds, and embraces general, regimental, and troop or company duties. A
general inspection is made from time to time by inspectors-general
designated by the commanding generals of military divisions or
departments. Every regiment on this occasion is minutely looked into,
and a faithful account is delivered by each commanding officer of the
actual state of his regiment. The interior economy of the corps is not
only investigated, but the discipline of the men is likewise examined.
=Inspection of Cannon, Instruments for.= These are used to verify the
dimensions of cannon, and to detect the presence and measure the size of
cavities in the metal. The _star-gauge_ is an instrument for measuring
the diameter of the bore at any point. The _cylinder-staff_ is used to
measure the length of the bore. It is supported by a rest of a T-form at
the muzzle, and the extremity inserted in the gun is armed with a
_measuring-point_ and a _guide-plate_. The _cylinder-gauge_ is a
cylinder of cast iron, turned to the exact or true diameter of the bore.
When used it is attached to the end of the cylinder-staff. The
_searcher_ consists of four flat springs turned up at the end, and
attached to a socket which is screwed on to the end of the
cylinder-staff. It is used to feel for cavities in the surface of the
bore. The _trunnion-gauge_ verifies the diameters of the trunnions and
rimbases. The _trunnion-square_ is used to verify the position of the
trunnions with regard to the bore. The _trunnion-rule_ measures the
distance of the trunnions from the rear of the base-ring. _Calipers_,
for measuring exterior diameters. A _standard-rule_, for verifying other
instruments. The _vent-gauges_ are two pointed pieces of steel wire,
0.005 inch greater and less than the true diameter of the vent, to
verify its size. The _vent-searcher_ is a hooked wire, used to detect
cavities in the vent. A _rammer-head_, shaped to the form of the bottom
of the bore, and furnished with a staff, is used to ascertain the
interior position of the vent. A _wooden rule_, to measure exterior
lengths. A _mirror_, a _wax taper_, _beeswax_; _rammer_, _sponge_, and
_priming-wire_. _Figure_ and _letter-stamps_, to affix the required
marks. The objects of inspecting cannon are to verify their dimensions,
particularly those which affect the accuracy of the fire, and the
relation of the piece to its carriage, and to detect any defects of
metal and workmanship that would be likely to impair their strength and
endurance.
=Inspection of Projectiles.= The principal points to be observed in
inspecting shot and shells are, to see that they are of proper size in
all their parts; that they are made of suitable metal; and that they
have no defects, concealed or otherwise, which will endanger their use
or impair the accuracy of their fire.
_Inspection of Shot._--The instruments are one _large_ and one _small_
gauge, and one _cylinder-gauge_; the cylinder-gauge has the same
diameter as the large gauge; it is made of cast iron, and is 5 calibers
long. There are also, one _hammer_ with a conical point, six _steel
punches_, and one _searcher_ made of wire. The shot should be inspected
before they become rusty; after being well cleaned each shot is placed
on a table and examined by the eye, to see that its surface is smooth
and that the metal is sound and free from seams, flaws, and blisters. If
cavities or small holes appear on the surface, strike the point of the
hammer or punch into them, and ascertain their depth with the searcher;
if the depth of the cavity exceeds 0.2 inch, the shot is rejected; and
also if it appears that an attempt has been made to conceal such defects
by filling them up with nails, cement, etc. The shot must pass in every
direction through the large gauge, and not at all through the small one;
the founder should endeavor to bring the shot up as near as possible to
the _large gauge_, or to the true diameter. After having been thus
examined the shot are passed through the _cylinder-gauge_, which is
placed in an inclined position, and turned from time to time to prevent
its being worn into furrows; _shot_ which _slide_ or _stick_ in the
cylinder are rejected. Shot are proved by dropping them from a height of
20 feet on a block of iron, or rolling them down an inclined plane of
that height against another shot at the bottom of the plane. The average
weight of the shot is deduced from that of three parcels of 20 to 50
each, taken indiscriminately from the pile; some of those which appear
to be the smallest should also be weighed, and they are rejected if they
fall short of the weight expressed by their caliber more than
_one-thirty-second_ part. They almost invariably exceed that weight.
_Inspection of Grape- and Canister-shot._--The dimensions are verified
by means of a large and small gauge attached to the same handle. The
surface of the shot should be smooth and free from seams.
_Inspection of Hollow Projectiles._--The inspecting instruments are a
_large_ and _small gauge_ for each caliber, and a _cylinder-gauge_ for
shells of 8 inches and under. _Calipers_ for measuring the thickness of
shells at the sides. _Calipers_ to measure the thickness at the bottom.
_Gauges_ to verify the dimensions of the fuze-hole and the thickness of
the metal at the fuze-hole. A _pair of hand-bellows_; a _wooden plug_ to
fit the fuze-hole, and bored through to fit the nozzle of the bellows. A
_hammer_, a _searcher_, a _cold chisel_, _steel punches_.
_Inspection._--The surface of the shell and its exterior dimensions are
examined as in the case of shot. The shell is next struck with the
hammer, to judge by the sound whether it is free from cracks; the
position and dimensions of the ears are verified; the thickness of the
metal is then measured at several points on the great circle
perpendicular to the axis of the fuze-hole. The diameter of the
fuze-hole, which should be accurately reamed, is then verified, and the
soundness of the metal about the inside of the hole is ascertained by
inserting the finger. The shell is now placed on a trivet, in a tub
containing water deep enough to cover it nearly to the fuze-hole; the
bellows and plug are inserted into the fuze-hole, and the air forced
into the shell; if there be any holes in the shell, the air will rise in
bubbles through the water. This test gives another indication of the
soundness of the metal, as the parts containing cavities will dry more
slowly than other parts. The mean weight of shells is ascertained in the
same manner as that of shot. Shot and shells rejected in the inspection
are marked with an X made with a cold chisel,--on shot near the gate,
and on shells near the fuze-hole.
=Inspector-General.= A staff-officer of an army, whose duties are those
of inspection, and embrace everything relative to organization,
recruiting, discharge, administration, accountability for money and
property, instruction, police, and discipline. In the French army, a
certain number of general officers are annually designated to make
inspections.
=Inspector-General of the Cavalry.= In the British service, a general
officer whose particular duty is to inspect all cavalry regiments, to
report the state of the horses, and to receive specific accounts from
the different corps of their actual state. He communicates directly and
confidentially with the commander-in-chief. Inspector-general of the
recruiting service is an officer of rank, through whom the
field-officers of districts, and colonels of regiments (when they
personally manage the recruiting service of their own corps), transmit
their several returns to the adjutant-general’s office.
=Inspector-General’s Department.= In the United States, the law provides
for one inspector-general, with the rank of brigadier-general; two
inspectors-general, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel; and two with
the rank of major. Also, that the Secretary of War may, in addition,
detail officers of the line, not to exceed four, to act as
inspectors-general.
=Installation.= The act of investing any one with a military order.
=Instruction.= The education or training of soldiers in military duties.
In the U. S. service the colonel has general charge of the instruction
of his regiment.
=Instructions.= Military directions or orders.
=Instruments, Military Musical.= The instruments which are peculiar to
the cavalry of most nations are the trumpet and bugle. In France,
dragoon regiments in general formerly adopted the drum in common with
the infantry; they now use the trumpet for garrison, and the bugle for
field service. A certain number of fifers are likewise allowed in foot
regiments. In the U. S. army, the drum, fife, and bugle are used by
foot, and the trumpet by mounted troops. There is allowed a band of
musicians to each regiment, which usually serve at regimental
headquarters, and is partly maintained by the regimental fund. (See
FUND.) There is also a band employed at the West Point Military Academy,
which is maintained by the government. In the U. S. navy there is a band
allowed to each commander-in-chief of a fleet, which is also maintained
by the general government.
=Instruments, Warlike Musical.= The Turks made use of wind and clashing
instruments of different shapes and sizes; all, except one wind
instrument, are better calculated for pomp and ceremony, than adapted to
military service. The clashing instruments, which the French call
_instrumens à choc_, consist of two sorts of drums, and an instrument
which is made of two plates of metal. Their wind instruments consist of
a winding or crooked trumpet, and of a wooden fife. The big drum which
they call _daul_, stands 3 feet high. It is carried by a mounted
drummer, who makes use of a thick stick, with which he strikes the upper
part, and a small one, with which he plays upon the lower part; these he
applies alternately, with much dexterity of hand and great gravity of
countenance. This is the only instrument which the Turks use in military
exercises or manœuvres, and is constantly beaten when the enemy is near,
and round all the outposts, in order to keep the sentinels on the alert.
On these occasions the drummer exclaims with a loud voice, _Jagda
Allah!_ that is, “God is good!”
=Insubjection.= Want of subjection; state of disobedience to government.
=Insubmission.= Want of submission; disobedience.
=Insubordinate.= Not submissive; not submitting to authority.
=Insubordination.= The quality of being insubordinate; want of
subordination; disorder; disobedience to lawful authority; a serious
military offense.
=Insubres.= A Gallic people, who crossed the Alps, and settled in Gallia
Transpadana, in the north of Italy. Next to the Boii, they were the most
powerful and warlike of the Gallic tribes in Cisalpine Gaul. They were
conquered by the Romans shortly before the commencement of the second
Punic war.
=Insufficiency.= The quality of being insufficient; want of sufficiency;
deficiency; inadequateness; as, the insufficiency of provisions for a
garrison.
=Insult, To.= In a military sense, is to attack boldly and in open day,
without going through the slow operations of trenches, working by mines
and saps, or having recourse to those usual forms of war, by advancing
gradually towards the object in view. An enemy is said to insult a coast
when he suddenly appears upon it, and debarks troops with an immediate
purpose to attack.