being broken up, is continued on full or half-pay. He preserves the
right of seniority, and continues in the way of preferment by brevet.
=Re-fortification.= A fortifying anew, or a second time.
=Re-fortify.= To fortify anew.
=Refusal to Receive Prisoners.= See APPENDIX, ARTICLES OF WAR, 67.
=Refuse, To.= In a military sense, is to refuse a wing, to throw it
back, or to keep it out of that regular alignment which is formed when
troops are upon the point of engaging an enemy. _To refuse any part of
the line in battle_, as the centre or a wing, to keep that part retired,
while the remainder is advanced to fight.
=Regardant.= A term used in heraldry, with reference to an animal whose
head is turned backwards. See PASSANT and RAMPANT.
=Regensburg.= See RATISBON.
=Reggio= (anc. _Rhegium_, which see). A city in Southern Italy which was
taken by Garibaldi, August, 1860.
=Regillus Lacus.= A lake in Latium, memorable for the victory gained on
its banks by the Romans over the Latins, 498 B.C.
=Regiment.= In all modern armies, is a colonel’s command, and the
largest permanent association of soldiers. Regiments may be combined
into brigades, brigades into divisions, and divisions into corps and
armies; but these combinations are but temporary, while in the regiment
the same officers serve continually, and in command of the same body of
men. The strength of a regiment may vary greatly even in the same army,
as each may comprise any number of battalions. French and Austrian
regiments have ordinarily four to six battalions. Among British infantry
the smallest regiments are those numbered from the 26th upwards (except
the 60th), which, unless serving in India, have 1000 men each, composing
one battalion. Regiments in India have 1200 to a battalion. The largest
regiment is the Royal Artillery, comprising 34,713 officers and men. The
strength of a regiment, however, is changed from time to time; usually
by the addition or withdrawal of private soldiers. In the U. S. service
the strength of cavalry regiments is about 1200 men each, artillery
about 600, and infantry about 500 each. The regimental system could only
exist where standing armies were maintained. Accordingly the Macedonian
syntagmata and the Roman cohorts were evidently regiments in a strict
sense. During the Middle Ages, feudal organization precluded the system,
and its first appearance was in France. Francis I. formed legions of
6000 men each, which were divided into independent companies, the latter
being, in fact, battalions, and each legion a regiment. The word
regiment began to be applied to bodies of British troops in Elizabeth’s
reign; regiments are spoken of at the time of the Armada, 1588, and as
composing the force in Ireland, 1598. From that time forward the army
and militia of Britain have been organized in regiments.
=Regimental.= Anything belonging to a regiment.
=Regimental Colors.= See COLORS.
=Regimental Court-martial.= Is a legal tribunal convened for the
punishment of offenders in the army. It is composed of three members and
a judge-advocate. See COURT-MARTIAL, JUDGE-ADVOCATE, and TRIAL.
=Regimental Courts-martial.= See COURT-MARTIAL.
=Regimental Inspection.= See INSPECTION.
=Regimental Necessaries.= See NECESSARIES.
=Regimental Orders.= See ORDERS, REGIMENTAL.
=Regimental Schools.= In Great Britain, are educational establishments
maintained by the state in every regiment, for the instruction of
soldiers and soldiers’ children. There is a schoolmaster for the
soldiers and elder boys, and a trained schoolmistress--usually the
schoolmaster’s wife--to teach the girls and infants of both sexes.
Attendance at the schools is compulsory for the soldiers and optional
for the children. Religious instruction takes place on Monday mornings,
when children can be kept from school if their parents object to the
instruction imparted. The girls’ school comprises an “industrial”
section for needle-work, etc.
In France, _écoles primaires_ or _regimentaires_, “primary or regimental
schools,” were founded in 1818, in which the soldiers were taught
writing, reading, and arithmetic.
In Prussia, there are established garrison schools (_Garnisons Schulen_)
for the instruction of soldiers’ children; and battalion schools
(_Bataillons Schulen_), in which non-commissioned officers and privates
are instructed in writing, reading, orthography, and arithmetic; also in
making out reports and other official papers.
=Regimentals.= The uniform worn by the troops of a regiment.
=Register.= A list or roll; as, the army register; which is a list of
the officers, with rank and date of commission, etc.
=Regulars.= Are those troops whose conditions of enrollment are not
limited to time or place, in contradistinction to militia or volunteer
corps; troops permanently in service.
=Regulation Sword.= A sword of the kind or quality prescribed by the
official regulations. Also regulation cap, uniform, etc.
=Regulations.= Under the Constitution of the United States, rules for
the government and regulation of the army must be made by Congress.
Regulation implies regularity; it signifies fixed forms; a certain
order; method; precise determination of functions, rights, and duties.
(See MILITARY REGULATIONS.) A “regulation” of an executive department is
a rule by the head of such department for its action, under a statute
conferring such power, and has the force of law; a mere order of the
President, or of the Secretary of the department, is not a regulation.
The power of the Executive to establish rules and regulations for the
government of the army is undoubted. The power to establish implies
necessarily the power to modify or repeal, or to create anew. The
Secretary of War is the regular constitutional organ of the President
for the administration of the military establishment of the nation; and
rules and orders publicly promulgated through him must be received as
the act of the Executive, and as such be binding upon all within the
sphere of his legal and constitutional authority. Such regulations
cannot be questioned or defied, because they may be thought unwise or
mistaken. But as it sometimes occurs that rights of rank, command, and
pay, concerning which Congress has legislated, are subjects of dispute,
and variable expositions of laws regulating those essentials of good
government have been by different Executives, with an increasing
tendency to invalidate rank created by Congress; there should be a law
passed by Congress to enable cases to be brought before the Federal
civil courts, in order that the true exposition of military statutes and
authorities in dispute may be determined. With such a remedy, laws,
however defective they may be, would at least be known, and rights,
powers, and duties, established by law would be well determined.
=Regulators.= The popular name of a party in North Carolina, which arose
in 1768, and had for its object the forcible redress of public
grievances.
=Reigate.= A town of England, in the county of Surrey. Its castle was
destroyed in 1648. Its church contains the tomb of Lord Howard, who
commanded the English fleet against the Armada.
=Reign of Terror.= A term applied to a period of anarchy, bloodshed, and
confiscation, in the history of the French revolution, during which the
country was under the sway of the actual terror inspired by the
ferocious measures of its governors, who had established it avowedly as
the principle of their authority. It commenced after the fall of the
Girondists, May 31, 1793, and extended to the overthrow of Robespierre
and his accomplices, July 27, 1794. Thousands of persons were put to
death during this short time.
=Reims.= See RHEIMS.
=Rein.= A crack or vein in a musket-barrel.
=Reinforce.= In gunnery, is the thickest part of the body of the gun, in
front of the base-ring or base-line; if there be more than one
reinforce, that which is next the base-ring or base-line is called the
_first reinforce_; the other the _second reinforce_. See ORDNANCE,
CONSTRUCTION OF, MOLDING.
=Reinforce.= To strengthen with new force, assistance, or support;
especially, to strengthen, as an army or a fort, with additional troops,
or a navy with additional ships.
=Reinforce Band.= Is at the junction of the first and second reinforces.
=Reinforcement.= The act of reinforcing. That which reinforces;
additional force; especially additional troops or force to augment the
strength of an army, or ships to strengthen a navy.
=Reitres= (_Fr._). A body of armed horsemen, who came out of Germany and
entered the French service during the reign of Henry III. They were
incorporated with the carabineers.
=Rejoin.= To join again; to return; as, the officer rejoined his
regiment.
=Rejoinder.= In military law, the defendant’s answer to the plaintiff’s
replication. The weight of authority is against permitting a rejoinder
on the part of the prisoner, unless evidence has been adduced in the
reply of the prosecutor. But such evidence should not be permitted in
reply, and there should be no rejoinder.--_Hough’s “Military Law
Authorities.”_
=Relais= (_Fr._). A term used in fortification to signify a space,
containing some feet in breadth, which is between the foot of the
rampart and the scarp of the fosse. It serves as a convenient receptacle
for the earth that occasionally crumbles off.
=Relative Rank.= Signifies the comparative rank, as regards precedence,
etc. The following is the relative rank of officers in the army and navy
of the United States:
Army. Navy.
General Admiral.
Lieutenant-general Vice-admiral.
Major-general Rear-admiral.
Brigadier-general Commodore.
Colonel Captain.
Lieutenant-colonel Commander.
Major Lieut.-commander.
Captain Lieutenant.
First lieutenant Master.
Second lieutenant Ensign.
The officers of the marine corps are of rank corresponding to that of
those of the same titles in the army.
=Release of Prisoners.= See APPENDIX, ARTICLES OF WAR, 69.
=Relief.= A fresh detachment of troops, ordered to replace those already
upon duty. Also, the body of men proceeding to take the places of, or
_relieve_, the existing sentinels. Guards are usually divided into three
_reliefs_. See GUARD, RUNNING.
=Relief.= In fortification, is the height to which works are raised
above the bottom of the ditch. If the works are high and commanding,
they are said to have a bold _relief_; but if the reverse, they are said
to have a low _relief_. The _relief_ should provide the requisite
elevations for the musketry and artillery, to insure a good defense.
=Relieve, To.= Is to take a man or a body of men off any kind of duty;
as, to relieve a sentinel; to relieve the guard, etc.; also to succor,
to deliver; as, to relieve a besieged town.
=Reliever.= An iron ring fixed to a handle, by means of a socket, so as
to be at right angles to it. It serves to disengage the searcher of a
gun, when one of its points is retained in a hole, and cannot be
extracted otherwise.
=Relieving the Enemy.= See APPENDIX, ARTICLES OF WAR, 45.
=Reload.= To load anew, as a gun, etc.
=Reloading Implements.= Are implements used in reloading
cartridge-shells,--to perform the various operations of measuring the
powder, setting home the bullet or charge, removing exploded primer,
recapping, etc.
=Remaining Velocity.= In gunnery, is the velocity of the projectile at
any point of the flight.
=Remand.= To send back; as when a soldier who has been discharged from
prison or the guard-house, for the purpose of being examined or tried,
is sent back to await the final decision of his case.
=Remarks.= Army returns, regimental returns, guard reports, etc., have a
column allotted for observations relative to extraordinary occurrences,
and these are headed “remarks.” The word is also applied with reference
to a reviewing officer’s observations on the verdict of a court-martial.
=Remblai.= Is the quantity of earth in the mass of rampart, parapet, and
banquette.
=Remedy.= The rules and articles for the government of the army are
defective in not providing sufficient remedies for wrongs. The army of
the United States is governed by law. The law should therefore provide a
sufficient remedy for cases in which the rights of officers are wrested
from them by illegal regulations, purporting to interpret the true
meaning of acts of Congress. In cases arising in the land and naval
forces of the United States, where the true construction of any act of
Congress is in dispute, legislation is wanted to enable an officer who
thinks himself wronged by an illegal executive decision, to bring the
matter before the Federal civil courts to determine the true exposition
of the statute or authority in dispute.
=Remi=, or =Rhemi=. One of the most powerful people in Gallia Belgica.
They formed an alliance with Cæsar when the rest of the Belgæ made war
against him, 57 B.C.
=Remington Rifle.= See SMALL-ARMS.
=Remit.= To lessen; as, to remit a part of a soldier’s sentence.
=Remonstrate.= To make a representation of a case or cases wherein one
or more may consider themselves to be aggrieved. Military men may
remonstrate through their superior officers; but where the duty of the
service is concerned, that duty must be first performed with
cheerfulness and fidelity.
=Remount.= A supply of good and serviceable horses for the cavalry. _To
remount the cavalry_, is to furnish them with horses in the room of
those which have been either killed, disabled, or cast.
=Renchen.= A town of Baden, on the Rench, 8 miles northeast from
Offenburg. The French defeated the Austrians here in 1796, and entered
Suabia.
=Rendezvous.= A place appointed for a meeting; especially, the appointed
place for troops, or for the ships of a fleet, to assemble; sometimes a
place for enlistment. Also, to assemble or meet at a particular place,
as troops, ships, etc.
=Rendsburg.= A fortified town of Holstein, on an island in the Eyder, at
the commencement of the Kiel Canal. It was taken by the Imperialists in
1627; by the Swedes in 1643; and by the Prussians and confederate troops
in 1848. It was reoccupied by the Danes in 1852, and taken by the
Prussians after a serious conflict, July 21, 1864.
=Renegade.= One who deserts from a military or naval post; a deserter.
=Rennes= (anc. _Condate_). A town of France, capital of the department
of Ille-et-Vilaine, 60 miles north of Nantes. After the fall of the
Roman empire it fell into the hands of the Franks. In 1357, Rennes was
unsuccessfully besieged by the Duke of Lancaster; and at the time of the
revolution was the scene of some conflicts, being always firmly attached
to the popular cause.
=Reorganize.= To organize anew; to reduce again to an organized
condition; to cause to assume wonted or regular functions; as, to
reorganize an army.
=Repair of Arms.= The keeping in constant good order the different
fire-arms belonging to a troop or company, such as rifles, etc. In the
British army, a half-yearly allowance is made to captains of troops and
companies for this purpose. In the U. S. service the cost of repairs of
damage done to arms, equipments, etc., through negligence of an officer
or soldier, is deducted from the pay of said officer or soldier.
=Repeater.= A fire-arm that may be discharged many times in quick
succession; especially, a form of fire-arm so constructed that the
charges are successively introduced, by an action of the lock, from a
chamber containing them, into the breech, and fired or are discharged
from a revolving chamber at the breech. See REVOLVER and MAGAZINE GUN.
=Repel.= To drive back; to force to return; to check the advance of; to
repulse; as, to repel an enemy or an assailant.
=Reply.= It is the duty of a court to prevent new matter from being
introduced into the prosecution or defense, but a prisoner may urge in
his defense mitigating circumstances, or examine witnesses as to
character or services, and produce testimonials of such facts, without
its being considered new matter. If any point of law be raised, or any
matter requiring explanation, the judge-advocate may explain. No other
reply to be admitted.--_Hough._
=Report.= Sound; loud noise, as that made by the discharge of a rifle or
a cannon.
=Report.= A specific statement of any particular occurrences. Officers
making written reports are required to sign them, specifying the
regiment to which they belong, and their rank.
=Reporting Prisoners.= See APPENDIX, ARTICLES OF WAR, 68.
=Repose, In= (Fr. _en repos_). This term, which is manifestly taken from
the French, applies to troops that are allowed to be stationary for any
given period during an active campaign, either through sickness or from
some other cause. Thus, the 5th regiment being in repose, the 24th was
ordered to the front.
=Repository.= A place, or repertory, in which anything is preserved.
Thus, the British repository at Woolwich contains models of every sort
of warlike stores, weapons, and fortifications; whether invented by
officers of the army or civilians, as well of other nations as of
Britain, receipts being given to preserve the title to the inventor.
=Repress.= To press back or down effectually; to crush down or out; to
quell; to subdue; as, to repress rebellion.
=Reprimand.= A reproof for some error or misconduct. A reprimand is
sometimes publicly conveyed to officers, either in orders or at the head
of a regiment, by direction of the President or a general officer in
command. Non-commissioned officers and privates are sometimes
reprimanded. See APPENDIX, ARTICLES OF WAR, 52.
=Reprisal.= Is the retaking, from an enemy, goods which he has seized,
or the capture from him of other goods, as an equivalent for the damage
he has wrought.
=Reproachful or Provoking Speeches.= See APPENDIX, ARTICLES OF WAR, 25.
=Repulse.= To repel; to beat or drive back. The condition of being
repelled or driven back. Also, the act of repelling or driving back.
=Requisitions.= Are forms prescribed for the demand of certain
allowances, as forage, rations, etc. It also signifies the act of
exacting either men or things for the public service. Requisitions are,
however, an uncertain and unequal means of supply and only enable an
army to live from hand to mouth, and although practicable in offensive
wars, are only justifiable in rapid movements, where time does not admit
the employment of more certain means of supply. The system is less
odious than pillage. Bonaparte skillfully adopted another method, in
harmony with the spirit of wars of invasion, and also more reliable as a
means of support. He substituted himself in place of the supreme
authorities of the invaded country, and exacted _pecuniary
contributions_, paying, or promising to pay, for all provisions and
other supplies needed for his army. This system was well executed by
Marshal Suchet in Spain, and a similar system was also matured and
published in orders by Gen. Scott while in Mexico. A treaty of peace,
however, soon after was made, which put an end to military operations,
and the system was therefore only partially executed. But with a
sufficient army in a fertile country, the experience of the world has
shown that if the inhabitants are protected from injuries, they will
very generally sell to the best paymasters. It is therefore the interest
of an invading army not to interfere with the ordinary avocations of
citizens, and such is the modern usage.
=Rereward.= The part of an army that marches in the rear, as the guard;
the rear-guard.
=Resaca de la Palma.= A ravine which crosses the Matamoras road about 3
miles north of that place; the position taken by the Mexican general
Arista to resist the further advance of Gen. Taylor’s army. Although the
latter was outnumbered three to one, the Mexicans were routed after a
short conflict (May 9, 1846) and driven across the Rio Grande.
=Rescue.= The retaking by a party captured of a prize made by the enemy.
=Reservation, Military.= Land set aside from the public domain by the
President of the United States for military purposes.
=Reserve.= In army affairs, is a body of troops held somewhere in the
rear, generally out of fire, and kept fresh, in order that they may
interfere with decisive force at any point where yielding troops require
support, or an advantage gained needs powerful following up. The reserve
of ammunition is a magazine of warlike stores, situated between an army
and its base of operations, sufficiently retired from the front to be
safe from sudden raids of the enemy, and at the same time advanced
enough to allow of the supply actually in the field being speedily
replenished.
=Reserve, Army.= In Great Britain, is divided into first and second
class reserves. The first class consists of men who are serving or have
served in the regular army, and whose past service has not exceeded
their first term of enlistment. These men are liable to be called out
for training for a period not longer than twelve days in a year, and to
be permanently embodied for general service in case of imminent national
danger or great emergency. The second class consists of out-pensioners
of Chelsea Hospital, and persons enrolled in the force under the
provisions of the 6th, 7th, 9th, and 10th Victoria. The members of this
force may be called out for training as if they were in the first class,
but can only be permanently embodied in case of national danger or great
emergency, for service in the United Kingdom. For army reserve in
Prussia, see LANDWEHR.
=Reserve Equipage.= See PONTONS, BRIDGE EQUIPAGE.
=Ressaldar.= In the East Indies, is a native officer in a native cavalry
regiment. He commands the right troop of a squadron, and on parade leads
the squadron.
=Ressaldar Major.= In the East Indies, is the native commandant of a
native cavalry regiment.
=Rest.= In tactics, a word of command whereby the men are brought to a
position of rest; as, parade rest, in place rest.
=Rest on Arms.= A word of command which is used at military funerals.
=Retained Pay.= In the U. S. army, is pay that is retained from the
soldier until the expiration of his term of service.
=Retainers.= See APPENDIX, ARTICLES OF WAR, 63.
=Retaliation.= This should never be resorted to as a measure of mere
revenge, but only as a means of protective retribution, and, moreover,
cautiously and unavoidably; that is to say, retaliation is only to be
resorted to after careful inquiry into the real occurrence and the
character of the misdeeds that may demand retribution.
=Retiarius.= A kind of gladiator who fought in the amphitheatre during
the time of the Romans. He was dressed in a short coat, having a
_fuscina_, or trident, in his left hand, and a net, from which he
derived his name, in his right. With this he endeavored to entangle his
adversary, that he might then with his trident easily dispatch him. On
his head he wore only a hat tied under his chin with a broad ribbon.
=Retinue.= Applied strictly to the admiral’s suite or followers, though
it means an accompanying train in general; whether military, naval, or
civil.
=Retirade.= In fortification, a retrenchment, which is generally made
with two faces, forming a re-entrant angle, and is thrown up in the body
of a work, for the purpose of receiving troops, who may dispute the
ground inch by inch.
=Retire.= Signifies to fall back a short distance. Also, a bugle-sound
intimating to skirmishers that they are to fall back. This bugle-sound
in the U. S. service is termed “to the rear.”
=Retired Flank.= In fortification, a flank having an arc of a circle
with its convexity turned toward the place.
=Retired Full Pay.= See FULL PAY, RETIRED.