technical phrase among the French to denote the order and the
disposition which a body of men or an army is directed to observe in its
march from one camp to another, or to any particular quarter or
destination.
=Itzehoe.= An ancient town in the duchy of Holstein. The original castle
around which Itzehoe was built by Charlemagne in 809. This town was
twice taken by Tilly in the Thirty Years’ War, and in 1657 a great
portion of it was burned down by the Swedes.
=Ivry-la-Bataille.= A town of France, department of Eure, 40 miles west
of Paris. It is celebrated for the decisive victory which was gained by
Henry IV. of Navarre over the forces under the Duke of Mayenne in 1590.
=Ixcaquixtla.= A town in the southern part of the state of Puebla,
Mexico. It is noted in Mexican history as the scene of a sharp battle
fought January 1, 1817, between Mexican insurgents under Gen. Mier of
Teran, and the Spanish troops under La Madrid.
=Izucar.= A city of the state of Puebla, Mexico. Near here Gen.
Matamoros, lighting for the independence of his country, gained a
victory over the Spaniards, February 24, 1812.
J.
=Jaca=, or =Jacca=. A fortified town of Spain, in the province of
Aragon, situated at the foot of the Pyrenees, on the river Aragon. It is
a town of great antiquity, and, from its position, has been the scene of
many sanguinary contests. Its occupation was eagerly coveted by every
invader of the Peninsula, from Cato and Julius Cæsar to the generals of
Napoleon.
=Jack.= See IMPLEMENTS.
=Jack= (Fr. _jacque_). A coat of defensive armor, quilted and covered
with leather, worn particularly by horsemen; a buff-jerkin; rarely, a
coat of mail.
=Jack, Hydraulic.= See HYDRAULIC JACK.
=Jack in the Box.= A very handy engine, consisting of a large wooden
male-screw turning in a female one, which forms the upper part of a
strong wooden box, shaped like the frustum of a pyramid. It is used by
means of levers passing through holes in it as a press in packing, and
for other purposes.
=Jack Wambasium.= A sort of coat armor, formerly worn by horsemen, not
of solid iron but of many plates fastened together, which some persons
by tenure were bound to furnish upon any invasion.
=Jack-boots.= Cavalry boots, made of thick, firm leather, hardened in a
peculiar manner. They were sometimes lined with plates of iron.
=Jacket.= A short, close garment, extending downward to the hips; a
short military coat is so called. In the manufacture of ordnance a tube
inclosing and reinforcing another tube is called a jacket.
=Jack-man.= One wearing a jack; a horse-soldier; a retainer.
=Jack-screw.= See IMPLEMENTS.
=Jacob, St.= A Swiss hamlet, about a mile south of Basle, on the Bienne
road, and the scene of a great battle fought in 1444, between 1600 Swiss
and a vastly more numerous French force, under the dauphin, afterwards
Louis XI. The Swiss fought for ten hours, slew three times their number
of the enemy, but were themselves cut off to 10 men. This battle is
known as the “Swiss Thermopylæ.”
=Jacobins.= One of those clubs which played so conspicuous a part in the
first French revolution. In 1792 they took the name of “The Society of
the Friends of Liberty and Equality.” Immediately after the fall of the
king, the Jacobins began that struggle against the Girondists which
ended in the destruction of the latter. After the fall of Robespierre
during the Convention they rapidly lost influence, and were at last
suppressed.
=Jacobites.= This name was given to those who, at the English revolution
in 1688, adhered to the cause of the dethroned James II. In Ireland the
adherents of the Stuarts rose in rebellion, but were vanquished by force
of arms. In Scotland attempts were made in 1715 and 1745 by the
descendants and adherents of James II. to expel the house of Hanover.
Both were unsuccessful, and involved the ruin of many noble families.
=Jacob’s-staff.= A mathematical instrument for taking heights and
distances, used by military engineers.
=Jacquerie, Insurrection of the.= The name given to the war of the
French peasantry, which broke out in 1358. The immediate occasion of it
was the enormities perpetrated by Charles the Bad, king of Navarre, and
his adherents; but it was really caused by long-continued oppression on
the part of the nobles. Suddenly rising against their lords, the
peasants laid hundreds of castles in ruins, murdered the nobles, and
violated their wives and daughters, practicing every enormity, and
acting, as they said, on the principle of doing as had been done to
them. For some weeks they were successful; but the magnitude of the
danger induced the nobles to make common cause against them, and on June
9 the peasants were defeated with great slaughter near Meaux by Captal
de Buch and Count of Foix. This put an end to the insurrection.
=Jade= (_Fr._). A very hard stone, of an olive color, from which the
handles of swords and sabres are manufactured in Poland and Turkey.
=Jaen.= Formerly an independent Moorish kingdom; is now a province of
Spain. It was conquered by the Moors on their entrance into Spain. Jaen
maintained its independence as a Moorish state till 1234, when it fell
into the hands of Ferdinand III., and was added to the kingdom of
Castile.
=Jaffa=, =Yafa=, or =Joppa=. A town of Asiatic Turkey, in the province
of Syria, on the Mediterranean. This place attained its greatest
prosperity in the times of the Crusaders, when it became the principal
landing-place of the warriors of Christendom. In 1799 it was stormed by
the French under Bonaparte, and here was perpetrated his shameful
massacre of Turkish prisoners. In 1832, Mohammed Ali made himself master
of it; but the Turks, with the assistance of the British and Austrians,
took it from him again in 1840.
=Jaffna=, or =Jaffnapatam=. The capital of the district of Jaffnapatam,
in Ceylon. The town is fortified, and possesses a good citadel; but it
was taken, after a short resistance, by the British troops in 1795.
=Jaghire.= An Indian term, signifying the assignment of the revenues of
a district to a servant or dependant of government, who is hence called
_Jaghirdar_. Jaghires are frequently given in India to persons as a
reward and compensation for their military services.
=Jaghire Asham.= An Indian term, signifying land granted for the support
of the troops.
=Jahpoor.= A town of Hindostan, in the presidency of Bengal, 15 miles
from Agra. This place has been the scene of two decisive battles; the
first fought in 1688, between Aurungzebe and his brother Darah Sheeoh;
and the second, in 1707, between Alum and Azain Usbaum, all Indian
princes.
=Jalapa.= A city of the Mexican confederation, 60 miles west-northwest
of Vera Cruz. In 1847-48 the American troops occupied it.
=Jalet= (_Fr._). See GALET.
=Jalons= (_Fr._). Long poles with a wisp of straw at the top. They are
fixed at different places and in different roads, to serve as signals of
observation to advancing columns, when the country is inclosed, etc.
They are likewise used as camp colors to mark out the ground on days of
exercise.
=Jamaica.= One of the West India Islands, or Greater Antilles, which
belongs to Great Britain, and forms the most considerable and valuable
of its possessions in that quarter. It was discovered by Columbus in
1494, and colonized by the Spaniards in the early part of the 16th
century. In 1655 it was taken by the English, when 3000 British
soldiers who had served in the Parliamentary army settled there. In
1866 a revolt of a large portion of the negro population took place,
which was promptly suppressed.
=Jamb.= To squeeze tight.
=Jambeaux=, or =Jambes= (_Fr._). Greaves; armor for the legs, made of
waxed leather or metal; much used in the Middle Ages.
=James of the Sword, St.= A military order in Spain, instituted in 1170
under the reign of Ferdinand II., king of Leon and Galicia. Its object
was to put a stop to the incursions of the Moors; these knights obliging
themselves by a vow to secure the roads. The highest dignity in that
order is that of grand master, which has been united to the crown of
Spain. The knights were obliged to give proof of their descent from
families that had been noble for four generations on both sides; they
were also required to make it appear that their ancestors were neither
Jews, Saracens, nor heretics, nor had ever been called into question by
the Inquisition.
=James Island.= One of the sea islands of Charleston Co., S. C., having
Charleston harbor and Ashley River on the north. The battle of
Secessionville (June 11, 1863) and several other spirited engagements
occurred upon this island during the late civil war.
=James Projectile.= See PROJECTILES.
=James Rifle.= An American sporting rifle, which was popular many years
ago.
=James, St.= A town of France, in the department of Manche. William the
Conqueror built a strong fortress here, which remained in possession of
the English till 1448.
=Jamestown.= A former village of James City Co., Va., on the north bank
of the James River. The first English settlement in the United States
was made at this place in 1608, but nothing now remains but a few ruins.
The forces of Wayne and Lord Cornwallis had an engagement near here in
1781.
=Jangar.= A kind of ponton constructed of two boats with a platform laid
across them, which is used by the natives in the East Indies to convey
horses, cattle, etc., across rivers.
=Janissar-Agasi.= Commander-in-chief of the Janissaries.
=Janissaries= (Turk, _ieni tcheri_, “new soldiers”). An order of
infantry in the Turkish army: originally prisoners trained to arms; were
first organized by Orcan, about 1330, and remodeled by his son Amurath
I., 1360; their numbers being increased by following sultans. In later
days they degenerated from their strict discipline, and several times
deposed the sultan. During an insurrection, June 14-15, 1826, when
nearly 3000 of them were killed, the Ottoman army was reorganized, and a
firman was issued on June 17 abolishing the Janissaries.
=Januarius, Order of St.= An order of knighthood founded by King Charles
of Sicily (afterwards Charles III. of Spain) on July 6, 1738. It was
abolished after the French invasion of 1806, and re-introduced in 1814.
The badge is a gold octagonal white and red enameled cross, with gold
lilies in the upper and side angles. The obverse represents St.
Januarius in episcopal robes with an open book. The round middle of the
reverse shows a golden open book, and two phials partly filled with
blood. The knights are either _Cavalieri di Giustizia_, who must count
four noble generations, or _Cavalieri di Grazia_.
=Japan.= An Asiatic empire, composed of Japan, or Niphon, and 3850
isles, with nearly 40,000,000 inhabitants. For military events in Japan,
see separate articles in this book.
=Jargeau.= A town of France, in the department Loiret, 10 miles from
Orleans. This place was taken, after a short siege, by the Earl of
Salisbury, in 1428.
=Jarnac.= A town of France, situated on the Charente. The Protestants
under Coligny and the Prince of Condé were defeated near Jarnac in 1659,
when the latter was slain.
=Jassy=, or =Yassy=. The chief town of Moldavia, and the residence of
the hospodar or prince of that country. Jassy has been frequently taken
by the Russians, but it has always been restored at the conclusion of
each war with Turkey. In 1822 it was burned by the Janissaries, from
which disaster it has never recovered.
=Jauts=, or =Jats=. A people of Hindostan, who have at different times
made some figure in its annals. The first historical mention of them
occurs in the beginning of the 11th century, on the invasion of India by
Mahmoud the Gaznevide, when they were completely defeated and driven
into the mountainous districts of the interior of India. We find them
afterwards, under the growing imbecility of Aurungzebe’s successors,
continually extending their conquests. They suffered a reverse, however,
at the hands of Ahmed Shah, the sovereign of Cabul, who invaded Northern
India, and overran a great portion of their territory. The Jaut chief
afterwards became an ally of Ahmed Shah, having treacherously betrayed
his former allies, the Mahrattas, at the battle of Paniput, January 14,
1761. When the British power became predominant, the rajah of the Jauts,
Rungeet Sing, sought security by concluding a treaty by which he agreed
to assist England against all enemies, and by this means he retained the
government of his territories. In 1808, however, on the defeat of Holkar
by the British, he received into Bhurtpore the discomfited army. The
city was besieged, and cost the British an immense number of lives; but
at length, despairing of effectual resistance, the rajah agreed to
compel Holkar to quit the place. For this breach of the terms of the
treaty he was compelled by the English to pay a heavy fine. Disputes
about the succession to the throne afterwards led to the interference
of the British, and the hitherto impregnable fortress of Bhurtpore was
taken by Lord Combermere, January 18, 1826, after a desperate resistance
on the part of the Jauts.
=Java.= A large island in the Eastern Archipelago; is said to have been
reached by the Portuguese in 1511, and by the Dutch in 1595. The latter,
who now possess it, built Batavia, the capital, about 1619. The
atrocious massacre of 20,000 of the unarmed natives by the Dutch,
sparing neither women nor children, to possess their effects, took place
in 1740. The island capitulated to the British, September 18, 1811; but
it was restored to Holland in 1814.
=Javelin= (Lat. _pilum_). A short and light spear used for darting
against an enemy. In the ancient Roman legions, the first and second
lines were armed with them, and in those days they were considered
excellent offensive weapons.
=Je Maintiendrai= (“I will maintain”). The motto of the house of Nassau.
When William III. came to the throne of England, he continued this, but
added “the liberties of England and the Protestant religion,” at the
same time ordering that the old motto of the royal arms, “_Dieu et mon
droit_” should be retained on the great seal, 1689.
=Jean de Pied de Port, St.= A town of France, in the department of the
Lower Pyrenees, on the Nive. Near this place is the pass of Roncevaux,
or Roncesvalles, where, in 778, the army of Charlemagne was defeated,
and Rolland, the distinguished Paladin, mortally wounded.
=Jelalabad.= A town of Afghanistan; capital of a province of the same
name, 75 miles southeast from Cabul (Cabool). It is memorable for the
successful resistance made there in 1841-42 by Sir Robert Sale, with a
handful of British troops against a large besieging force of Afghans.
Its fortifications were destroyed by the British in 1842, when they
evacuated the country.
=Jeloudar.= An East Indian term, signifying to belong to the train or
equipage.
=Jemadar.= A native lieutenant in an Indian native infantry or cavalry
regiment.
=Jemappes.= A village and commune of Belgium, in the province of
Hainault, 2 miles west from Mons. In 1792, the French under Dumouriez
gained a great victory over the Austrians near this place.
=Jemaulabad.= A town and fortress in the south of India, province of
Canara, which was originally called Narasingha Augady. The first, which
was built by Tippoo, stands on the summit of an immense rock, which may
be deemed impregnable, as it is wholly inaccessible except by one narrow
way. After the fall of Seringapatam, it sustained a siege of six weeks
from the British, when being bombarded, it was taken, and the commander
having poisoned himself, his principal officers were hanged. It was
afterwards surprised and taken by a band of insurgents or plunderers,
when it was reduced, after a blockade of three months, and all that did
not escape were summarily executed.
=Jena.= A town of Germany, in the grand duchy Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach,
situated in a romantic valley at the confluence of the Leutra with the
Saale. In this vicinity was fought the great battle of Jena, October 14,
1806, between the French and Prussian armies, in which the latter was
totally defeated.
=Jenizer-effendi.= An appointment among the Turks, which in some degree
resembles that of provost-marshal in European armies. The only functions
which this officer is permitted to exercise are those of judge to the
company. He sits on particular days for the purpose of hearing the
complaints of the soldiers, and of settling their differences. If a case
of peculiar difficulty should occur, he reports the case to the _Aga_,
whose opinion and determination are final.
=Jericho.= Once one of the most flourishing cities of Palestine,
situated a few miles northeast of Jerusalem. The Israelites captured and
destroyed it on their first entry into Canaan. In the time of Herod it
was rebuilt, but was destroyed in the reign of Vespasian, and again
rebuilt under Hadrian. During the Crusades, it was repeatedly captured,
and at last destroyed. At the present day its place is occupied by a
miserable village called Richa.
=Jersey.= One of the Channel Islands, and the largest and most southerly
of the group, situated about 15 miles west from the coast of France, and
belonging to Great Britain. Various attempts have been made by the
French to possess themselves of this island, but without success. The
most remarkable was in 1781, when they were repulsed by the local
militia.
=Jerusalem.= A celebrated city of Syria, the capital of the ancient
Judæa and the modern Palestine. This city was called Salem in 1913 B.C.;
its king was slain by Joshua, 1451 B.C. It was taken by David, 1048
B.C., who dwelt in the fort, calling it the City of David. Jerusalem was
taken by the Persians in 614; retaken by the emperor Heraclius, 628; by
the Saracens, 637; and by the Crusaders, when 70,000 infidels were put
to the sword; taken by Saladin, 1187; by the Turks, who drove away the
Saracens, 1217 and 1239. It was held by the French under Bonaparte,
February, 1799.
=Jet= (_Fr._). A term signifying the motion of any body that is urged
forward by main force; it likewise means the space which is gone over by
any propelled body; and sometimes the instrument from which anything is
thrown or shot; as, the cross-bow, etc. _Jet des bombes_ is a phrase
adopted instead of _tir_, which formerly expressed the course that a
shell took when it was thrown out of a mortar by the power of gunpowder.
=Jets.= See PYROTECHNY.
=Jiddah=, or =Jeddah=. A trading town of the Hedjaz, Arabia, about 60
miles west from Mecca. On June 15, 1858, the inhabitants rose against
the Christians resident among them, and massacred a considerable number
of them. In August of the same year the town was bombarded by the
British, and satisfaction rendered.
=Jingal=, or =Jingall=. A small, portable piece of ordnance, to be fired
from the ground or on a wall, resting on a long, slender butt-end, and
two legs. This piece was used in India. See GINGALS.
=Joar.= An East Indian term, signifying a general massacre of the women
and children, which is sometimes performed by the Hindoos, when they
find they cannot prevent the enemy from taking the town. When this
dreadful and unnatural ceremony is to take place, a spot is selected
which is filled with wood, straw, oil, etc. The victims are inclosed and
the whole is set on fire.
=John (St.) of Jerusalem, Knights of.= See SAINT JOHN OF JERUSALEM, THE
ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS HOSPITALLERS OF.
=Join.= A technical word used in the British service, signifying to
effect the junction of one military body with another. In a more limited
sense, it means the accession of an individual, voluntary or otherwise,
to a corps or army. If an officer, on being ordered to join, omits to do
so willfully, he is liable to be tried by a general court-martial, or to
be peremptorily suspended for being absent without leave.
=Jooday Perraput.= An East Indian term, signifying a slave taken in war.
=Jour= (_Fr._). The tour of duty which is done in the course of a day
and night. _Etre de jour_, to be officer of the day, or to command a
body of troops at a siege or otherwise in the capacity of a general
officer, etc.
=Journal= (_Fr._). A public record or general orderly book, kept in the
French service, and in which every transaction that occurred during a
siege is entered by the governor of the town, for the inspection of a
superior authority. The general officer who carried on the siege of a
place likewise kept a document of the same kind, and minuted down
everything that happened under his command. So that the journal which
was kept in this manner was a circumstantial detail of what occurred,
day after day, during the attack and defense of a town.
=Journals of Defense.= In the American service during war, the commander
of a place, and the chiefs of engineers and of artillery, shall keep
journals of defense, in which shall be entered, in order of date,
without blank or interlineation, the orders given or received, the
manner in which they are executed, their results, and every event and
circumstance of importance in the progress of the defense. These
journals shall be sent after the siege to the Department of War.
=Journals of March.= Commanding officers of troops marching through a
country little known will keep journals of their marches according to a
form laid down in Army Regulations. At the end of the march a copy of
the journal will be retained at the station where the troops arrive, and
the original will be forwarded to the headquarters of the department or
_corps d’armée_. Thence, after a copy has been taken, it will be
transmitted, through the headquarters of the army, to the
adjutant-general, for the information of the War Department. The object
of the journal is to furnish data for maps, and information which may
serve for future operations. Every point of practical importance should
therefore be noted.
=Journée= (_Fr._). A term used among the French to express any
particular engagement or battle; as, _la journée de Marengo_, the battle
of Marengo. We frequently adopt the word in the same sense; thus, a
hard-fought _day_ signifies a hard-fought _battle_.
=Joust=, or =Just=. An exercise of arms and horsemanship, performed in
the Middle Ages by knights and nobles. In the joust, the combatants
engaged one another singly, each against his antagonist. The weapon most
in use in the joust was the lance, but sometimes the battle-axe and
sword were employed. To direct the lance anywhere but at the body of the
antagonist was reckoned foul play. In the joust of peace, or _joute de
plaisance_, a foot encounter preceded the mounted combat.
=Joute= (_Fr._). A close fight between two individuals. It likewise
means an engagement at sea.
=Joves= (_Fr._). The two sides in the epaulement of a battery which form
the embrasure are so called.
=Joyeuse= (_Fr._). A name given to the sword of Charlemagne.