the army, with the rank, pay, and emoluments of a brigadier-general, and
400 enlisted men. The chief signal-officer is assisted in his duties by
commissioned officers detailed from the line for that purpose. In war
times the Signal Service of the U. S. army is equipped to maintain
communications by telegraph, signals, etc., between different sections
of an army or armies, or between land and sea forces. The enlisted men
are thoroughly drilled in the art of field telegraphy. In peace times
the Signal Service has a corps of observers stationed in large towns,
and important commercial centres, to give timely warning of the approach
of storms, rise of rivers, and all other important weather news for the
guidance of merchants and others.
=Signaling.= Is of remote origin. A rude code of signals addressed to
the eye is common among the savage races of the present day, and
doubtless existed from the earliest times among the historical races.
The Indians of the great plains of North America avail themselves for
night-signals of fires lighted on elevated points, and of dense clouds
of smoke made by suddenly heaping green brush upon a fire for
day-signals. Gen. Marcy, in his “Army Life on the Border,” shows that
similar signals can be used in this region with great advantage by
troops engaged in Indian campaigning. Messages exchanged in this way
must be preconcerted. This method of signaling dates from a remote
antiquity. Alphabetical signaling--a system in which a written language
is conveyed by means of its elements--is first described by Polybius,
about 260 B.C., and seems to have been devised, or at least greatly
improved by him. He formed a code by arranging the letters of the Greek
alphabet in several columns. A given letter was represented by a number
of lanterns or torches or other signals, which gave the number of the
column, and a second set of signals giving the number of the letter in
the column. Capt. John Smith, of Virginia fame, is said to have used the
system of Polybius during the siege of Vienna. Alphabetical signaling
thus early adopted remained without improvement, and too cumbersome for
general application till recent times. _Message signaling_ by torches,
flags, and rockets has been generally used, especially at sea, where it
has a wide application both in war and commerce. The signals usually
represented numbers, which were referred to printed codes. The invention
of the magnetic telegraph led to the Morse alphabet, which crystallized
the hitherto vague idea of representing letters by the combination and
arrangement of a few simple elements. In the _general service code_ of
the United States, there are used two elements. These can readily be
represented by sounds, motions, numbers, colors, etc. The ordinary
method of signaling is by waving a flag by day and a torch at night. See
also TELEGRAPH, FIELD.
=Sikh Wars.= Two brief but desperate contests waged between the British
power in India and the Sikhs in 1845-46, 1848-49, which resulted in the
destruction of the latter as an independent nation. The first had its
origin in the dissensions which convulsed the Sikh country after the
death of Runjeet Singh, and which necessitated the exercise of wary
regard on the part of the Calcutta authorities. At length an army of
Sikhs, flushed with their triumph over all lawful authority in their own
country, crossed the Sutlej, and extended their ravages over British
territory; but their advanced guard was met by Sir Henry Hardinge, the
governor-general, at the head of four regiments of infantry and one of
dragoons, and routed at Mudki with heavy loss. Three days after, the
main body, which had in the mean time crossed the river and intrenched
itself at Feroze-Shah, was attacked by a larger force of British under
Gough and Hardinge, and after a bloody conflict, which lasted two days,
also routed. Still undismayed by these reverses, they again intrenched
themselves at Sobraon; but a fresh body which had just crossed the
Sutlej at Aliwal 19,000 strong with 68 pieces of cannon, was wholly
routed and driven across the river by Sir Harry Smith, at the head of
7000 men, with 32 guns; and their main body was soon after similarly
dispersed at Sobraon (which see). The British then crossed the river,
took Lahore, and restored the authority of the young Maharajah from
whom they took the territory between the Beas and the Sutlej; the treaty
confirming this settlement being made at Lahore, March 9, 1846. But the
internal disturbances in the kingdom of Lahore soon became as active as
before, and induced the Maharajah’s prime minister to put the country
under the Company’s protection; and a residency with a guard of regular
troops was then established in the capital. On April 20, 1848, two
British officers were murdered by a Sikh chief, the dewan of Moolraj of
Multan; and as it was found to be but a premonitory symptom of a general
outbreak, a small force of British under Lieut. Edwardes, aided by a
body of Sikhs, under the rajah of Bhawalpur, gallantly attacked the army
of Moolraj, which, after a desperate conflict of nine hours, they
defeated on June 18, and, both sides in the mean time having received
reinforcements, again on July 1; Multan was then laid siege to, but the
defection of 5000 auxiliary Sikhs under Shere Singh (the son of the
Sirdar Chuttur Singh, the governor of Hazara, who had been for some time
in revolt, and had driven the British from his district), compelled the
British to retreat. For some time, the British authorities in the Punjab
were hampered by a want of military force, and though the Maharajah and
much of his army still opposed the Sikh rebels, little reliance could be
placed upon most of it. Shere Singh now succeeded in raising his army to
40,000, but was defeated by Lord Gough at Ramnuggur (November 22). The
inconsiderate haste of Gough at Chillianwalla, January 13, nearly lost
him that great battle, which was saved only by the extreme valor of his
soldiers; but amends for this fault were made at Gujerat, where the
power of Shere Singh and his allies was completely broken. Meanwhile,
the fortress of Multan had, after a protracted bombardment, been
captured, and the Company, seeing no other mode of protecting their
territories from annoyance by these warlike fanatics, annexed the
Punjab, March 29, 1849, and thus terminated the existence of the Sikhs
as an independent nation.
=Sikhs.= The term Sikh, a corruption of the Sanscrit _s’ishya_,
signifying “disciple,” is applied to a community of which the Punjab, in
Northern India, constitutes, substantially, the confines. Less commonly,
even among themselves, the members of this community are also known as
Sinhs (vulgarly Singhs), that is, “Lions,” a title given them by Govind,
the last and most influential of their hierarchs. Every name of a Sikh
male now terminates with the word Sinh. Originally a body of mere
religionists, the Sikhs, from the energy which they developed under
repression, and the inducements which they offered as proselytizers,
grew by degrees, in strength and numbers, and ended in a formidable
nationality. Their originator, Nanak, was born in 1469, in the vicinity
of Lahore, and died in 1539, not far from the place of his nativity.
=Silence.= To cause to cease firing by a vigorous cannonade; as, to
silence the batteries of an enemy.
=Silesia.= A province of the kingdom of Prussia, included in the limits
of the new German empire, lies south of the provinces of Brandenburg and
Posen. Formerly a province of Poland; was invaded by John of Bohemia in
1325; ceded to him, 1355. In 1740, Frederick II. of Prussia, taking
advantage of the helpless condition of Maria Theresa of Austria, laid
claims to certain portions of Silesia; and without declaring war,
marched into and took possession of the province, maintaining his hold
despite the utmost efforts of Austria in 1740-1742, and 1744-1745,
called the _first_ and _second_ Silesian wars. After the _third_
Silesian war, better known as the _Seven Years’ War_ (which see), it was
finally ceded (1763) to Prussia. It was overrun by the French in 1807.
=Silistria.= A strongly fortified town of Bulgaria, in Turkey in Europe,
on the right bank of the Danube. Here in 971, the Byzantine emperor,
John Zimisces, routed the Russians under Sviatoslav. It was taken by the
Russians, June 30, 1829, and held some years by them as a pledge for the
payment of a large sum of money by the Porte, but was eventually
returned. In 1854 it was again besieged by the Russians (30,000 strong),
under Prince Paskewitsch, and many assaults were made. The Russian
general was compelled to return in consequence of a dangerous contusion.
On June 2, Mussa Pasha, the brave and skillful commander of the
garrison, was killed. On June 9, the Russians stormed two forts, which
were retaken. A grand assault took place on June 13, under Prince
Gortschakoff and Gen. Schilders, which was vigorously repelled. On the
15th, the garrison assumed the offensive, crossed the river, defeated
the Russians, and destroyed the siege-works. The siege was thus raised,
and the Russians commenced their retreat as Omar Pasha was drawing near.
The garrison was ably assisted by two British officers, Capt. Butler and
Lieut. Nasmyth, the former of whom, after being wounded, died of
exhaustion. They were highly praised by Omar Pasha and Lord Hardinge,
and Lieut. Nasmyth made a major.
=Sill.= In fortification, the inner edge of an embrasure.
=Silladar Horse.= Indian irregular cavalry, raised and maintained on the
principle of every man furnishing and maintaining his own horse, arms,
equipments, etc., in return for his pay.
=Sillon.= In fortification, a work raised in the middle of a ditch, to
defend it when it is too wide. It has no particular form, and is
sometimes made with little bastions, half-moons, and redans, which are
lower than the works of the place, but higher than the covert way. It
is more frequently called an _envelope_.
=Silures.= A powerful people in Britain, inhabiting South Wales, who
long offered a formidable resistance to the Romans, and were the only
people in the island who at a later time maintained their independence
against the Saxons.
=Silver Stick.= Is the title given to a field-officer of the Life
Guards, when on duty at the palace. The _silver stick_ is in waiting for
a week, during which period all reports are made through him to the
_gold stick_ (which see), and orders from the _gold stick_ pass through
to the brigade. In the absence of the _gold stick_ on levees, and
drawing-room days, he goes to the royal closet for the parole.
=Simancas.= A town of Spain, province of Valladolid. Near it Ramirez II.
of Leon and Fernando of Castile gained a victory over Abderahman, the
Moorish king of Cordova, August 6, 938. The archives of Castile are kept
in the fortress of this place, and many valuable documents and records
were burnt by the French troops quartered in the town in 1809.
=Simonoseki.= A town of Japan, at the southwestern extremity of the
island of Nipon, and at the entrance of the island sea Suonada. In 1863
three vessels belonging to the American, Dutch, and French governments
were fired into from batteries on the shore of Simonoseki Strait; this
assault was subsequently returned by French and American war-vessels. In
1864 a combined fleet of Great Britain, France, Holland, and the U. S.
men-of-war bombarded and destroyed Simonoseki. The Japanese government
had to pay an indemnity of $3,000,000.
=Simulation.= The vice of counterfeiting illness or defect, for the
purpose of being invalided.
=Sinalunga.= A town of Central Italy, in the province of Sienna. Here
Garibaldi was arrested in 1867, whilst attempting to cross into the
Papal territory to take command of the volunteers who intended to march
upon Rome.
=Sinde=, or =Scinde=. (Called also _Sindh_, or _Sindia_, and _Sinday_,
from _sindhoo_, or _sindhu_, “a collection of waters.”) An extensive
territory of British India, included in the presidency of Bombay,
comprising the lower course and delta of the Indus. It was traversed by
the Greeks under Alexander, about 326 B.C.; conquered by the Persian
Mohammedans in the 8th century; tributary to the Ghaznevide dynasty in
the 11th century; conquered by Nadir Shah, 1739; reverted to the empire
of Delhi after his death, 1747. After various changes of rulers, Sinde
was conquered by the English. Sir Charles James Napier, the British
envoy, at the head of a considerable military force, marched against the
enemy, totally routed them at Meeanee (February 17, 1843), and by
defeating the ameers of Mirpur, at Dubba, near Hyderabad (March 24),
completed the subjugation of Sinde. For two years afterwards, Napier was
actively employed in reducing the marauding tribes of the west, who
pillaged the province; and so successful was the “Sheitanka bhai”
(Devil’s Brother), as the robber tribes named him, that they were
completely rooted out of their fastnesses, and most of them transported
to distant regions.
=Sine Die= (“without day”). When the court or other body rise at the end
of a session or term they adjourn _sine die_. In law this does not
preclude further proceedings by the same court.
=Single Combat.= A contest in which no more than two are engaged.
=Single-stick.= A cudgel used in fencing or fighting. Also, a game at
cudgels, in which he who first brings blood from his adversary’s head is
pronounced victor.
=Sinister.= In heraldry, the left-hand side of a shield. As shields are
supposed to be carried in front of the person, the sinister side is that
which covers the bearer’s left side, and therefore, lies to the
spectator’s right. See POINTS OF THE ESCUTCHEON.
=Sinopé= (Turk. _Sinub_). A town of Asiatic Turkey, province of
Anatolia, on the southern side of a little promontory running eastward
into the Black Sea, 80 miles northwest of Samsun. Ancient Sinopé was the
most important of all the Greek colonies on the shores of the Euxine.
Having been destroyed in the invasion of Asia by the Cimmerians, it was
restored by a new colony from Miletus, 632 B.C. It remained an
independent state till it was taken by Pharnaces I., king of Pontus.
After an obstinate resistance to the Romans under Lucullus, it was taken
and plundered, and proclaimed a free city. The bay of Sinopé, which
affords the finest anchorage for ships along the whole northern coast of
Asiatic Turkey, was the scene of a bloody naval engagement, or rather
massacre, November 30, 1853, when a Turkish squadron of 13 ships was
suddenly attacked and destroyed (except one vessel which conveyed the
tidings to Constantinople) by a Russian fleet of 6 sail of the line, 2
sailing-vessels, and 3 steamers; 4000 lives were lost by fire or
drowning, and Osman Pasha, the Turkish admiral, died at Sebastopol of
his wounds. In consequence of this event, the Anglo-French fleet entered
the Black Sea, January 3, 1854.
=Sinople.= In heraldry, the same as _Vert_ (which see).
=Sinuessa.= An ancient town of Italy, on the shore of the Mediterranean,
near the confines of Latium and Campania. It was colonized by the Romans
in 296 B.C. It suffered much during the invasion of Hannibal, who, in
217, carried his devastations up to the very gates.
=Sioux Indians.= See DAKOTA INDIANS.
=Sir.= The title of a knight or baronet, which, for distinction’s sake,
is always prefixed to the knight’s or baronet’s Christian name, either
in speaking or in writing to him.
=Siraceni=, =Siraci=, or =Siraces=. A powerful people of Sarmatia
Asiatica, dwelt in the district of Siracene, east of Palus Mæotis, as
far as the river Rha (now Volga). The Romans were engaged in a war with
them in 50.
=Sirmium= (now _Mitroviz_). An important city in Pannonia Inferior, was
situated on the left bank of the Savus. It was founded by the Taurisci,
and under the Romans became the capital of Pannonia, and the
headquarters of all their operations in their wars against the Dacians
and the neighboring barbarians. It contained a large manufactory of
arms, a spacious forum, an imperial palace, etc. It was the residence of
the admiral of the first Flavian fleet on the Danube, and the birthplace
of the emperor Probus.
=Siscia.= An important town in Pannonia Superior, situated upon an
island formed by the rivers Savus Colapis and Odra. It was a
strongly-fortified place, and was conquered by Tiberius in the reign of
Augustus, from which time it became the most important town in all
Pannonia.
=Sissopoli=, or =Sizeboli=. A town of Turkey in Europe, 80 miles
northeast from Adrianople. It was taken by the Russians in 1829.
=Sistova=, or =Schistab=, called also =Shtab=. A town of Turkey in
Europe, in Bulgaria, on the right bank of the Danube, 24 miles
east-southeast from Nicopolis. A treaty of peace (“peace of Sistova”)
was signed here between Austria and Turkey in 1791.
=Sit.= In a military sense, to take a stationary position; as, _to sit
before a fortification_, to lie encamped for the purpose of besieging
it.
=Sitka.= Called by the Russians New Archangel, is the most important
settlement in Alaska. It is situated on the west side of Baranoff
Island, in lat. 57° 3′. The population is mainly composed of Indians and
Russian half-breeds. A census taken in 1875 made the total number,
excluding Indians, 502. For many years Sitka was the headquarters of the
Russian American Company. Upon the transfer of the Territory, in 1867,
to the United States, Sitka became the headquarters of the military
department of Alaska. It remained an army post till 1877, when the
garrison was withdrawn. The inhabitants are at present protected from
the Indians by a naval vessel.
=Sixain.= In the Middle Ages, was an order of battle, wherein six
battalions being ranged in one line, the second and fifth were made to
advance, to form the vanguard; the first and sixth to retire, to form
the rear-guard; the third and fourth remaining on the spot, to form the
corps or body of the battle.
=Six-shooter.= A pistol with six barrels, or capable of firing six shots
in quick succession; especially a six-barreled or six-chambered
revolver.
=Size, To.= In a military sense, to take the height of men for the
purpose of placing them in military array, and of rendering their
relative statures more effective.
=Skalitz.= A small town of Austria, in the northwest of Hungary, near
the borders of Moravia, on the left bank of the March. It was stormed by
the Prussian general Steinmetz, June 28, 1866; whereby the junction of
the divisions of the Prussians was greatly facilitated.
=Skean=, =Skeen=, or =Skeine=. A Celtic word which signifies a knife. It
was a weapon in the shape of a small sword or knife, which was worn by
the Irish in ancient times.
=Skedaddle.= To betake one’s self to flight; to run away with
precipitation, as if in a panic; to withdraw, as an army, or part of an
army, from the presence of an enemy, especially in a hasty or secret
manner.
=Skeleton.= A word applied to regiments that have become reduced in
their number of men.
=Sketch, Military.= The delineation of a small portion of ground for
military purposes. The scale is generally larger than that of a map.
=Skid.= In military language, is any timber which is used as a base to
keep one object from resting on another. Thus, a row of cannon in store
will be kept from the ground by skids. The term is also applied to the
drag which is put on the wheels of carriages in going up hills, to
prevent rolling backwards.
=Skierniwice.= A town of Russia, situated on the Bzura, 38 miles
southwest from Warsaw. The French were defeated here, in 1809, by the
Russians.
=Skinners.= A name assumed by a predatory band in the Revolutionary war,
who, professing allegiance to the American cause, but influenced by a
desire to plunder, roamed over the “neutral ground” lying between the
hostile armies, robbing those who refused to take the oath of fidelity.
=Skipton.= A town of England in the West Riding of Yorkshire, 38 miles
west of York. The old castle of Skipton was founded in the time of
William the Conqueror; it was a place of great strength in the 17th
century, and held out for three years against the Parliamentary forces.
In 1649 it was dismantled, but subsequently rebuilt by the Countess of
Pembroke.
=Skirmish.= A slight fight in war; a light combat between detachments
from armies which are yet at a considerable distance from each other, or
between detached and small parties.
=Skirmish.= To fight slightly or in small parties; to engage in a
skirmish; to act as skirmishers.
=Skirmisher.= One who skirmishes; one of such troops as are sent forward
in advance, or move deployed in loose order on the flanks of a marching
column, to discover and intercept hostile forces.
=Skiver.= A dirk to stab with.
=Skottefer.= Formerly a name applied to an archer.
=Sky-rocket.= See PYROTECHNY.
=Slash.= A cut; a wound; also, a cut in cloth. It was formerly used to
express the pieces of tape or worsted lace which were placed upon the
arms of non-commissioned officers, in order to distinguish them from
privates.
=Slash.= To strike violently and at random with an edged instrument; to
lay about one indiscriminately with blows.
=Slashed.= Cut in stripes or lines. Hence, slashed sleeves and pockets,
which are peculiar to the British cavalry, when the officers or men wear
long coats.
=Slaughter.= The extensive and unnecessary destruction of human life;
carnage. Also, to visit with great destruction of life; to kill; to slay
in battle.
=Slavonia=, or =Sclavonia= (called by the native _Slavonska_). A
territory or province of the Austrian empire, formerly incorporated with
Hungary, but now forming part of the kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia.
The country anciently formed part of the province of Pannonia. During
the barbarian migrations, the land was overrun, now by one and now by
another tribe, and at length remained in the possession of the Avars.
These, however, were conquered about the end of the 8th century by
Charlemagne, who settled in their place a tribe of Slavonians from
Dalmatia. When, in the 10th century, the Hungarians conquered Pannonia,
they also made themselves masters of the whole of Slavonia, except
Syrmia, which still remained subject to the Eastern emperors. It was,
however, the object of contention, and the scene of bloody conflicts
between the Greeks and the Hungarians, until, after various
vicissitudes, it was finally ceded to the latter in 1165. From 1526,
when it was conquered by the Turks, Slavonia remained in their
possession till it was restored to Hungary by the peace of Carlowitz in
1699. In 1734 its size was diminished by the formation of the Military
Frontier, and in 1848 it was separated from Hungary.
=Slavonians=, or =Slaves= (native name _Slowene_, or _Slowane_). The
general name of a group of nations belonging to the Aryan family, whose
settlements extend from the Elbe to Kamtschatka, and from the Frozen Sea
to Ragusa on the Adriatic, the whole of Eastern Europe being almost
exclusively occupied by them. The original names of the Slavic tribes
seem to have been Winds, or Wends (_Venedi_), and Serbs. The latter of
these names is spoken of by Procopius as the ancient name common to the
whole Slavic stock. The Slavonians proper are a handsome, tall, and
slender race.
=Sleepers.= Small joists of timber, which form the foundation for the
platform of a battery, and upon which the boards for the flooring are
laid. Also, the undermost timbers of a gun or mortar.
=Sleets.= The parts of a mortar extending from the chamber to the
trunnions, to strengthen that part.
=Sleeves, Gunner’s.= See IMPLEMENTS.
=Sliding-rings.= See ORDNANCE, CARRIAGES FOR, NOMENCLATURE OF ARTILLERY
CARRIAGE.