Ages, if not from as early a period as the 4th century; it forms the
most southern part of Greece. Morea was overrun by the Goths and
Vandals, and became a prey in the second half of the 8th century to
bands of Slavic invaders, who found it wasted by war and pestilence.
Gradually, however, these barbarians were subdued and Grecianized by the
Byzantine emperors. In 1207 Morea was conquered by French knights; part
of the country was reconquered in 1261 by the Byzantine emperor Michael
VIII. Palæologus; but in 1460 the greater part of the Morea fell into
the hands of the Turks, who retained possession of it down to the period
of the Greek revolution, except from 1687 to 1715, when it was held by
the Venetians.
=Morella.= A strongly-fortified town of Spain, province of
Castellon-de-la-Plana. It was taken by Philip V. in 1707, surprised in
1838 by Cabrera, and retaken, after a brave defense, by Espartero in
1840. During the last civil war, the walls and magazines of the citadel
were destroyed.
=Morgarten.= A mountain of Switzerland, 5 miles north from Schwyz,
where, in November, 1315, the first battle was fought for Swiss
independence. On this occasion 20,000 of the Austrian forces were
defeated by 1300 Swiss. In 1798 the French were also defeated here by
the Swiss.
=Morglay.= A deadly weapon; a great sword.
=Morion.= An iron or steel head-piece worn by a man-at-arms in the days
when armor was used. It was distinguished from the helmets of the
knights and esquires in having neither visor nor beaver. Under the
Norman laws, every yeoman between certain ages was bound to keep his
morion ready for service.
=Mormons.= A modern sect who profess the religious doctrines of one
Joseph Smith. Polygamy is one of the prominent features of their
religion. The sect has its headquarters at Salt Lake City, Utah.
=Morne.= The head of the lance used in tilting or other peaceful
encounters. It was curved so that an adversary might be unhorsed, but
not wounded, by a stroke.
=Morning Gun.= The gun fired at the first note of reveille in military
barracks, forts, etc.
=Morning Star.= A weapon consisting of a ball with projecting spikes
attached by a chain to a short staff. Used as late as the time of Henry
VIII. by the train-bands of London.
=Morocco.= An empire in Northern Africa, formerly Mauritania. In 1051 it
was subdued for the Fatimite caliphs, by the Almaravides, who eventually
extended their dominion into Spain. They were succeeded by the Almohades
(1121), the Merinites (1270), and in 1516 by the Scherifs, pretended
descendants of Mohammed, the now reigning dynasty. The Moors have had
frequent wars with the French, Spaniards, and Portuguese, due to piracy.
=Moron=, or =Moron-de-la-Frontera=. A town of Andalusia, Spain, about 32
miles northeast of Seville. On a hill east of the town are the ruins of
an ancient castle erected by the Moors, which was one of the most
important strongholds in Spain for several centuries. It was blown up by
the French in 1812.
=Morris Island.= A low sand island, about 5 miles long, on the south
side of Charleston harbor, S. C. A Confederate battery erected on its
northern extremity aided in the capture of Fort Sumter, April 12-13,
1861, after which Fort Wagner and other batteries were erected for the
defense of Charleston. An expedition against the city having been
contemplated, the military occupation of the island by the Federals, and
the erection of land-batteries for the reduction of Fort Sumter were
deemed necessary. As the latter was a task requiring engineering skill,
the duty was assigned to Gen. Q. A. Gillmore, who took command of the
department. He took possession of the south end of the island on July
10, 1863, and on the 11th and 18th made two attempts to capture Fort
Wagner near the north end by assault, his object being to get within
more effective breaching distance of Fort Sumter. His efforts, however,
were unsuccessful, and it was accordingly determined to reduce Fort
Wagner by a regular siege. Gen. Gillmore commenced by the erection of
parallels, which he pushed forward with such diligence in spite of all
difficulties, that by August 13 his works were within about 400 yards of
Wagner. On the morning of the 17th, having completed his batteries,
which numbered about 60 pieces, and obtained the range, his guns opened
fire on Sumter. The fleet, consisting of the frigate “Ironsides” and the
monitors, aided by some wooden gunboats, made an attack at the same time
upon Fort Wagner and Fort Gregg, another Confederate work, both of
which were nearly silenced. On August 26, having completed a parallel
and sap which extended very close to Fort Wagner, Gen. Gillmore
determined to possess a ridge of sand which interposed, and was
necessary to the success of his operations. It was constantly occupied
by a strong body of the enemy’s pickets and at night by a force
protected by rifle-pits. A bombardment of the position was made just
before dark, after which it was carried by the 24th Massachusetts, and
one company of North Carolina troops captured. After a terrific
bombardment of forty-two hours, September 5-6, it was determined to
carry the place by storm on the next day, but during the night the enemy
evacuated the fort, and Gen. Gillmore became master of the whole island.
=Morris-pike.= An ancient Moorish pike.
=Mortar.= Short cannon for throwing shells, usually fired at angles from
45° to 60° elevation, called “vertical fire,” in contradistinction to
the fire of long cannon, usually made at low angles. Mortars--so called
from their similarity of form to the mortar for pulverizing, which has
retained its familiar shape from the earliest ages--are believed to have
been the first guns used, and, though changed from age to age frequently
in form of chamber, size, and projectile, all ages have found them too
useful in their special way to suppress or essentially alter them. The
“Coehorn” mortar--so called from the famous Dutch engineer, Gen.
Coehorn, who first proposed them in 1674--is to-day in use, of the same
pattern and for the like service then suggested. Monster mortars have
been constructed from time to time, in the hope of producing immense
destruction in bombardments with single shells containing a large
quantity of powder. The most recent of these, the monster mortar made by
Mallet for the British government, weighing 114,000 pounds, with a bore
of 36 inches and a shell of 2912 pounds, failed to be of any service.
Perhaps the most unique mortars ever made were to be found in the island
of Malta in the last century. The solid rock had been hollowed out into
immense mortars, some of them 6 feet wide at the mouth. These tremendous
_fougasses_ (the proper term for them) were to be filled with stones,
shells, and missiles of various kinds, to descend in a crushing shower
upon an enemy attempting a landing. For different kinds of mortars now
in use, see ORDNANCE.
=Mortara.= A walled town of Italy, situated on the right bank of the
Arbogna, 14 miles south-southeast of Novara. In 774, the Lombards were
here defeated by Charlemagne with great slaughter.
=Mortar-bed.= See BEDS, and ORDNANCE, CARRIAGES FOR.
=Mortar-fuze.= See LABORATORY STORES.
=Mortar-piece.= An old term for a mortar.
=Mortar-scraper.= See IMPLEMENTS.
=Mortar-wagon.= A wagon used to transport mortars, mortar-beds, spare
guns, and projectiles. See ORDNANCE, CARRIAGES FOR.
=Mortfontaine.= A village of France, in the department of the Oise, in
the castle of which peace between France and the United States was
signed in 1800.
=Mortimer’s Cross.= Four cross-roads about 6 miles northwest from
Leominster, in Herefordshire, England, where the Yorkists defeated the
Lancastrians in 1461.
=Mortlach.= A parish of Scotland, in Banffshire. In this parish the
Danes were defeated by Malcolm II. in the 11th century.
=Mortne.= See MORNE.
=Moscow.= A city of Russia in Europe, situated on the river Moskwa, 375
miles southeast from St. Petersburg. It was the ancient capital of
Russia, and was founded about 1147. It was plundered by Timur, 1382; by
the Tartars, 1451 and 1477; ravaged by Ladislas of Poland in 1611. It
was entered by Napoleon I. and the French, September 14, 1812; the
governor, Rostopchin, ordered it to be set on fire (11,840 houses burnt,
besides palaces and churches), September 15, 1812. It was evacuated by
the French in October, 1812.
=Moskirch= (Baden). Here the Austrians were defeated by Moreau and the
French, May 5, 1800.
=Moskwa, Battle of.= See BORODINO.
=Moslem.= Pertaining to the Mohammedans.
=Moss-troopers.= A name formerly applied to the raiders and
cattle-thieves who infested the borders of England and Scotland.
=Mothir al Moolk.= In the East Indies, fortifications, barricades,
intrenchments, or breastworks, are so called.
=Motion.= Each movement in the manual of arms is divided into motions to
facilitate instruction of recruits.
=Motion of Projectiles.= See PROJECTILES.
=Moton.= In ancient armor, a small plate covering the armpits of a
knight, used when plate-armor was worn.
=Motto.= In heraldry, is a word or short sentence which forms an
accompaniment to a coat of arms, crest, or household badge. In modern
heraldry it is customary to place the motto in an escrol either above
the crest or below the shield.
=Motya.= An ancient town in the northwest of Sicily, situated on a small
island (now _Isola di Mezzo_), only 6 stadia from the coast. It passed
from Sicily into the hands of the Carthaginians; was taken from them by
Dionysius of Syracuse about 397 B.C., and was finally captured by the
Carthaginian general Himilco, who transplanted all its inhabitants to
the town of Lilybæum. From this time it disappears from history.
=Moulinet.= A circular swing of the weapon in sword exercise.
=Moultrie, Fort.= See FORT MOULTRIE.
=Mound.= A bulwark for offense or defense.
=Mound.= In heraldry, a representation of a globe, surmounted with a
cross (generally) pattée. As a device, it is said to have been used by
the emperor Justinian, and to have been intended to represent the
ascendency of Christianity over the world. The royal crown of England is
surmounted by a mound, which first appeared on the seal of William the
Conqueror, though the globe without the cross was used earlier.
=Mount.= The means or opportunity for mounting, especially a horse; and
the equipments necessary for a mounted horseman.
=Mount.= To place one’s self on, as a horse or other animal, or anything
that one bestrides or sits upon; to bestride. Hence, to put on
horseback; to furnish with animals for riding; to furnish with horses.
“To mount the Trojan troop.” See DISMOUNT.
=Mount.= To put anything that sustains and fits, for use; as, to mount a
gun on a carriage. To prepare for being worn or otherwise used, as a
sword-blade by adding the hilt and scabbard. A ship or a fort is said to
mount cannon when they are arranged for use in and about it.
=Mount.= A word of command in the cavalry exercise for the men to mount
their horses.
=Mount a Breach, To.= To run up in a quick and determined manner to any
breach made in a wall, etc. _To mount guard_, to do guard duty in a
town, garrison, camp, etc.
=Mount Desert Island.= A mountainous island in the Atlantic, and in
Hancock Co., Me.; is 14 miles long and 7 wide. The French settled it in
1608; they were driven out by the English in 1616. The English settled
it in 1761.
=Mountain Artillery.= A species of light artillery which is used in the
United States and other countries in mountain warfare. See MOUNTAIN
BATTERY.
=Mountain Battery.= A battery of mountain pieces. The pieces and
carriages are carried separately upon the backs of animals, by means of
pack-saddles of special construction. These have, however, of late been
almost entirely superseded for this purpose by the aparejo. A portable
forge also accompanies each battery, and is carried with a bag of coal
upon a pack-saddle.
=Mountain-carriage.= See ORDNANCE, CARRIAGES FOR.
=Mountain-gun.= See MOUNTAIN ARTILLERY.
=Mountain-howitzer.= The howitzer used in the U. S. service is a
12-pounder brass gun of old pattern with cylindrical chamber. The gun
weighs 220 pounds and has an extreme length of 37.21 inches. This gun is
ignored in the Light Artillery Tactics.
=Mounted Troops.= Cavalry.
=Mounting Guard.= See GUARD MOUNTING.
=Mourne.= That part of a lance or halbert to which the steel or blade is
fixed.
=Mouser.= In the British army, a sobriquet which was sometimes used in
sport to distinguish the battalion men from the flank companies. It was
indeed generally applied to them by the grenadiers and light bobs,
meaning that while the latter are detached, the former remain in
quarters, like cats to watch the mice, etc.
=Mousquetaires=, or =Musketeers=. A body of horse-soldiers under the old
French _régime_, raised by Louis XIII. in 1622. This corps was
considered a military school for the French nobility. It was disbanded
in 1646, but was restored in 1657. A second company was created in 1660,
and formed Cardinal Mazarin’s guard.
=Mouth.= See MUZZLE.
=Mouth.= The outer opening of an embrasure.
=Movement.= A term used to express the changes of position which troops
undergo in performing their evolutions.
=Mow.= To cut down with speed; to cut down indiscriminately, or in great
numbers or quantity; to sweep away; as, a discharge of grape-shot mows
down whole ranks of men.
=Moyan.= A species of early artillery.
=Moyen= (_Fr._). The bastions which are constructed on the angles are
called royal bastions. Some engineers have distinguished those bastions
by the name of _moyens royaux_, or medium royals, whose flanks contain
from 90 to 100 toises.
=Moyenne= (_Fr._). An ancient 4-pounder, 10 feet long, weighing 1300
pounds. In the time of Charles IX. (1572) it was a 2³⁄₄-pounder.
=Moyenne Ville= (_Fr._). A term formerly given by the French to any town
in which the garrison was equal to a third of the inhabitants, and which
was not deemed sufficiently important to bear the expense of a citadel;
more especially so because it was not in the power of the inhabitants to
form seditious meetings without the knowledge of the soldiers who were
quartered on them.
=Moyens Côtés= (_Fr._). In fortification, are those sides which contain
from 80 to 120 toises in extent. They are always fortified with bastions
on their angles. The _moyens côtés_ are generally found along the extent
of irregular places, and each one of these is individually subdivided
into small, mean, and great sides.
=Mozyr.= A town in the southeast of the government of Minsk, in European
Russia, situated on the Pripet, a tributary of the Dnieper. It is a town
of considerable antiquity, and played a rather important part in the
wars between the various Russian princes previous to the Tartar
invasion. It was unsuccessfully besieged by the Tartars in 1240.
=Muff and Collar.= See ORDNANCE, CARRIAGES FOR, LIMBER.
=Muffle.= To wrap with something that dulls or renders sound inaudible;
to deaden the sound of; as, to muffle a drum.
=Mufti.= The civilian dress of a military officer when off duty; hence,
a citizen’s dress, as distinguished from military uniform.
=Muhlagis.= Turkish cavalry composed of expert horsemen, who generally
attend the beglierbeys. They are not very numerous.
=Muhlberg.= A town of Prussian Saxony, situated on the Elbe. Here, on
April 24, 1547, a battle was fought between Johann-Friedrich, elector of
Saxony, and the emperor Charles V., a battle fraught with the most
important results to the cause of Protestantism in Germany. The battle
was soon decided in favor of the emperor; the elector was taken
prisoner, and stripped of his territories. From this time till 1552, the
Catholics were triumphant in Germany.
=Muhldorf.= In Bavaria, near which place Frederick, duke of Austria, was
defeated and taken prisoner by Louis of Bavaria, September 28, 1322.
=Mulct.= A soldier is said to be mulcted of his pay when put under fine
or stoppages for necessaries, or to make good some dilapidations
committed by him on the property of the people or the government.
=Mule.= See PACK AND DRAUGHT ANIMALS.
=Mullet.= In heraldry, is a charge in the form of a star, generally with
five points, intended to represent a spur-rowel. It is a mark of cadency
assigned to the third son.
=Multan=, or =Mooltan=. An ancient and important city of India, in the
Punjab, 200 miles southwest from Lahore. Multan is a military station,
with a small redoubt in the rear of the cantonment. In 1849 it was taken
by the British troops under Gen. Whish, and annexed with its territory
to the British possessions.
=Multi-charge Gun.= Many attempts have been made by inventors to utilize
the accelerating effect on the projectile of several charges
successively fired in a gun. _Lyman’s multi-charge_ gun has a series of
pockets along the bore, the charges in which are successively fired as
the projectile passes them. _Bessemer_ proposed plan is to use a gun of
great length. The charges are placed separately in holes at the breech,
to be fired in succession by electricity.
=Multiple Lines.= In fortification, several lines of detached walls for
the defense of a position.
=Munchengratz.= A town of Bohemia, on the Iser, 8 miles northeast from
Jungbunzlau; it was taken by the Prussians under Prince Frederick
Charles, after a severe action, June 28, 1866. The Austrians lost about
300 killed and 1000 prisoners, and the prince gained about 12 miles of
country. There is a palace here, in which the emperors of Austria and
Russia and the king of Prussia met in 1833.
=Munda.= A Roman colony and an important town in Hispania Bætica,
situated on a small river, and celebrated on account of two battles
fought in its neighborhood, the victory of Cn. Scipio over the
Carthaginians in 216 B.C., and the important victory of Julius Cæsar
over the sons of Pompey in 45.
=Munich= (Ger. _München_). The capital of the kingdom of Bavaria,
situated on the Iser, 117 miles southeast from Stuttgart. It was taken
by Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in 1632; by the Austrians in 1704, 1741,
and 1743; and by the French under Moreau, July 2, 1800.
=Munifice= (Lat. _munifex_), Fr. A Roman soldier who was subjected to
every kind of drudgery-work in camp.
=Munimell.= A stronghold, fortification, etc.
=Munition.= Whatever materials are used in war for defense, or for
annoying an enemy; ammunition; also, stores and provisions; military
stores of all kinds.
=Munkacs.= A market-town of East Hungary, 80 miles northeast from
Debreczin. It was taken by the Imperialists in 1687, after a siege of
three years.
=Munsees=, or =Minsees=. A tribe of Indians of Algonkin stock, who were
closely allied to the Delawares. Many of them became converts to
Christianity. A few of them now reside on the reservation of the
Stockbridge Indians in Wisconsin, and about 60 are settled in Kansas.
=Münster.= A city of Germany, on the small river Aa, 77 miles northeast
from Cologne. It is the capital of a government of the same name in
Prussian Westphalia. It was seized by the French in 1806; part of the
duchy of Berg, 1809; annexed to France, 1810; ceded to Prussia, 1815. It
was the headquarters of the Anabaptists under John Leyden, who defended
it against the bishop of Münster, 1534-35. Here was signed the treaty of
Westphalia or Münster, October 24, 1648.
=Münsterthal.= Two valleys of Switzerland, one in the canton Grisons,
the other in Berne, where, in 1444, the battle of St. Jacob was fought
between the French and Swiss, when the latter were nearly annihilated.
=Muotta Valley.= A secluded valley of Switzerland, canton of Schwytz,
traversed by the river Muotta, an affluent of Lake Lucerne. Here a
sanguinary struggle took place in 1799, between the French under
Lecourbe, Mortier, and Masséna, and the Russians under Suwarrow. The
latter was hemmed in on all sides, but by a desperate onslaught he cut
his way through the French lines, and made a masterly retreat.
=Muradal, Battle of.= See TOLOSA.
=Murage.= Money appropriated to the repair of military works; anciently
so called.
=Mural Crown.= In Roman antiquity, a golden crown, or circlet of gold,
indented so as to resemble a battlement; bestowed on him who first
mounted the wall of a besieged place, and there lodged a standard.
=Murcia.= An old kingdom in the southeast of Spain, now divided into the
modern provinces of Murcia and Albacete. It was conquered by the Arabs
in 711 (712, 713); after the fall of the caliphate of Cordova, it became
an independent Arab kingdom, but six years afterward was subjugated by
King Ferdinand II. of Castile.
=Murcia.= A city of Spain, capital of the ancient kingdom and modern
province of its own name, 30 miles north-northwest of Carthagena. It was
taken by the Moors in 713; wrested from them by Ferdinand of Castile. In
1810 it was taken and sacked by the French.
=Murderer.= A great piece of artillery. Among the ordnance given up to
Monk with Edinburgh Castle in 1650 is mentioned “The great iron
murderer, Muckle Meg.”
=Murdresses.= In ancient fortification, a sort of battlement with
interstices, raised on the tops of towers in order to fire through.
=Muret= (Southern France). Here the Albigenses under the Count of
Toulouse were defeated by Simon de Montfort, and their ally, Peter of
Aragon, killed, September 12, 1213.
=Murfreesboro’.= A town and capital of Rutherford Co., Tenn., about 30
miles southeast of Nashville. A Federal force which occupied this place
in 1862 was surprised and captured by a body of Confederates under Gen.
Forrest. Near here, on December 31, 1862, the Army of the Ohio under
Gen. Rosecrans encountered the Confederates under Gen. Bragg, and a
desperate battle ensued, continuing at intervals and with varying
success until January 3, 1863, when the Confederate army retreated, and
Gen. Rosecrans occupied Murfreesboro’. The Federal loss was about 8500
killed and wounded, and 3600 missing; the Confederates represented their
loss at 10,000, of which 9000 were killed and wounded. This battle is
known as the battle of Murfreesboro’, or of Stone River.
=Murviedro.= A fortified town of Spain in the province of Valencia, 17
miles north from Valencia. It was taken by Hannibal 219 B.C.
=Muscule=, or =Testude=. In ancient times, a machine of war; a mantelet;
shed; low, long, and sharp-roofed shed, which enabled the besiegers to
advance to and sap the wall of the besieged.
=Music.= A general term for the musicians of a regimental band.
=Music, Phrygian.= A martial sort of ancient music, which excited men to
rage and battle; by this mode Timotheus stirred up Alexander to arms.
=Musicians.= See BAND, DRUMMER, FIFER, and TRUMPETER.
=Musket=, or =Musquet= (Fr. _mousquet_). The fire-arm for infantry
soldiers, which succeeded the clumsy arquebuse, and has itself given way
before the rifle (which see). The first muskets were matchlocks; after
which came wheel-locks, asnaphans or snaphance muskets, and lastly
percussion muskets, which were a vast improvement both for accuracy and
lightness on all which had gone before. Compared, however, to the
present rifle, the musket was a heavy, ugly, and ineffective weapon.
=Musket Baskets.= These are about a foot or a foot and a half high, 8 or
10 inches diameter at bottom, and a foot at the top, so that being
filled with earth there is room to lay a musket between them at the
bottom, being set on low breastworks, or parapets, or upon such as are
beaten down.
=Musketeer.= A soldier armed with a musket.
=Musketoon.= An obsolete weapon; was a short musket of very wide bore,
carrying a ball of 5 ounces, and sometimes bell-mouthed like a
blunderbuss. Also one who was armed with such a weapon.
=Musket-proof.= Capable of resisting the effects of musket-balls.
=Musketry.= Muskets in general or collectively. “The rattle of
musketry.”
=Musselburgh.= A royal burgh of Scotland, county of Mid-Lothian, at the
mouth of the Esk, 6 miles east of Edinburgh. The town is historically
important on account of the battle of Pinkie, which was fought in the
neighborhood in 1547, when the Scottish army was defeated by the English
under the Earl of Somerset.
=Mustang.= The wild horse of the prairies in Mexico, California, etc. It
is small, hardy, and easily sustained.