_A_{p}R²_; dividing this by _P_/_g_, or the mass, we get the resistance
on a unit of mass. Calling this 1/(2_c_) we have,
1 _A_{p}R²_ _P_
---- = ---------, or 2_gc_ = --------.
2_c_ _P_ _A_{p}R²_
---
_g_
Substituting for _P_ its value in the equation of vertical descent, we
have,
( _v_)
2_gc_ = _v_²(1 + ---);
( _r_)
from which we see that _v_ depends only on _c_; but
_RD_
_c_ = ²⁄₃----- (17)
_gA_
hence, the _final velocity_ of a projectile falling through the air is
directly proportional to the product of its diameter and density, and
inversely proportional to the density of the air, which is a factor of
_A_. The expression for the value of _c_ shows that the retarding effect
of the air is less on the larger and denser projectiles. To adapt it to
an oblong projectile of the pointed form, the value of _D_ should be
increased (inasmuch as its weight is increased in proportion to its
cross-section), while that of _A_ should be diminished. It follows,
therefore, that for the same caliber an oblong projectile will be less
retarded by the air than one of spherical form, and consequently with an
equal and perhaps less initial velocity, its range will be greater.
=Velocity of Light.= See LIGHT, VELOCITY OF.
=Velocity of Sound.= See SOUND.
=Vendée, La.= A department in the west of France. The _wars of La
Vendée_ denote the armed opposition to the religious and political
changes in France, which burst out into a species of partisan warfare in
1793, 1794, 1795, 1799, and 1815.
=Venezuela.= A republic in the northwest of South America. The east
coast of Venezuela was discovered by Columbus in 1498; Ojeda and
Vespucci followed in 1499. The first settlement was made at Cumana in
1520, by the Spaniards; and Venezuela remained subject to Spain till it
claimed independence in 1811. In 1812, it returned to allegiance to
Spain, but again revolted in 1813, and, forming with New Granada and
Ecuador the republic of Colombia, it was declared independent in 1819.
In 1831, the states separated. During the ten years from 1861-1871,
upwards of 60,000 persons were killed in the civil wars. The revolution
triumphed, and Guzman Blanco attempted to establish a government at
Caraccas, which was captured by revolutionists, April, 1870.
=Venice.= A fortified city of Northern Italy, one of the noblest, most
famous, and singular cities in the world, is built upon a crowded
cluster of islets, in the lagoon of the same name, on the northwest
fringe of the Adriatic Sea, 23 miles east of Padua. It was founded by
families from Aquileia and Padua fleeing from Attila, about 452. Under
their third doge (720-737) the Venetians entered upon that career of
enterprise in which their prudence and valor were almost always
conspicuous, and which they continued to pursue to the last. Venice
after a series of enterprises which covered a period of 700 years, and
in which she was nearly always successful, gaining territory and
prestige, entered into a war with the Turks in 1461, which lasted until
1477, and in which she lost many of her Eastern possessions. The
Venetians took Cyprus in 1475, and helped to overcome Charles VIII. of
France in 1495; they excited the Turks against Charles V. in 1504, and
were nearly ruined by the league of Cambray in 1508. They also assisted
in defeating the Turks at Lepanto in 1571, but lost Cyprus to the Turks
in the same year. The Venetians gained several important naval victories
over the Turks at Scio in 1651, and in the Dardanelles in 1655, but lost
Candia, one of their possessions, in 1669; recovered part of the Morea
in 1683-99, but lost it again in 1715-39. Venice was occupied by
Bonaparte in 1797, who, by the treaty of Campo Formio, gave part of its
territory to Austria, and annexed the remainder to the Cisalpine
republic. In 1805 the whole of Venice was annexed to the kingdom of
Italy by the treaty of Presburg; but was transferred to the empire of
Austria in 1814, and the city declared a free port in 1830. An
insurrection began in Venice on March 22, 1848, and the city, which was
defended by Daniele Manin, surrendered to the Austrians after a long
siege on August 22, 1849. It was transferred to Italy, October 17, 1866,
by the treaty of Vienna.
=Venlo.= A small but strongly fortified town in the Netherlands,
province of Limburg, situated on the right bank of the Maas, 45 miles
north-northeast from Maastricht. Venlo was walled by Duke Reynold of
Gelder in 1343. It has many a time felt the horrors of a siege, and has
been taken and retaken, the last time by the Belgians in 1830, in whose
hands it remained till the conference of London, June 22, 1839, when it
returned to the Dutch.
=Vennones.= A people of Rhætia, and, according to Strabo, the most
savage of the Rhætian tribes, inhabiting the Alps near the sources of
the Athesis.
=Vent.= In gunnery, is the aperture through which fire is communicated
to the charge. It should be as small as the use of the priming-wire and
tube will allow. See ORDNANCE, CONSTRUCTION OF, INTERIOR FORM OF CANNON.
=Ventail.= That part of a helmet which is made to lift up.
=Vent-gauges.= See INSPECTION OF CANNON.
=Vent-piece.= In some ordnance is a piece of copper containing the vent,
and screwed in at the proper position.
=Vent-punch.= See IMPLEMENTS, EQUIPMENTS AND MACHINES.
=Vent-searcher.= See INSPECTION OF CANNON.
=Vera Cruz.= An ancient city on the east coast of Mexico, about 185
miles east of the city of Mexico. The castle of Ulloa and the city were
bombarded and taken by the Americans in 1847, and the city was taken by
the allies, December 17, 1861. Vera Cruz was retaken by the liberals,
under Juarez, June 27, 1867.
=Verat= (_Fr._). A 12-pounder gun of 17 calibers, weighing 2300 pounds,
having a charge of 8 pounds.
=Verbal Orders.= Instructions given by word of mouth, which, when
communicated through an official channel, are to be considered as
equally binding with written ones.
=Vercelli= (anc. _Vercellæ_). A town of the kingdom of Sardinia, capital
of a province of the same name. Near this place Varus defeated the
Cimbri, 101 B.C. It was the seat of a republic in the 13th and 14th
centuries. It was taken by the Spaniards in 1630; by the French in 1704;
and allies, 1706; it subsequently partook of the fortunes of Piedmont.
=Verden.= A town in Hanover, Germany, on the right bank of the Aller.
Here Charlemagne massacred about 4500 Saxons, who had rebelled and
relapsed into idolatry, 782.
=Verdict.= See FINDING.
=Verdoy.= In heraldry, a term indicating that a bordure is charged with
flowers, leaves, or vegetable charges. Thus a bordure argent verdoy of
oak-leaves proper, is equivalent to a bordure argent charged with eight
oak-leaves proper.
=Verdun= (anc. _Verodunum_). A fortified town of France in the
department of Meuse, on the right bank of the river of that name, about
150 miles (direct line) east-northeast from Paris, it was fortified by
Vauban, and its defenses consist of a wall with bastions and a citadel.
It was acquired by the Franks in the 6th century, and formed part of the
dominions of Lothaire by the treaty of Verdun, 543, when the empire was
divided between the sons of Louis I. It was taken and annexed to the
empire of Otho I. about 939. It surrendered to France in 1552, and was
formally ceded in 1648. It was taken and held by the Prussians
forty-three days, September-October, 1792. Gen. Beaurepaire, the
commandant, committed suicide before the surrender, and fourteen ladies
were executed in 1794, for going to the king of Prussia to solicit his
clemency for the town. Verdun surrendered to the Germans, November 8,
1870, after a brave defense, two vigorous sallies being made October 28.
Above 4000 men and 108 cannon were captured, and much arms and
ammunition.
=Vere, de.= The name of an ancient and noble family of England,
descended from a Norman knight who had a high command at the battle of
Hastings. His son became earl of Oxford, and minister of Henry I. The
third earl was one of the barons who extorted the Magna Charta from King
John. John de Vere, seventh earl, was a famous commander, and fought at
Crécy and Poitiers (1356). The thirteenth earl was a leader of the
Lancastrian party in the war of the Roses, and commanded the van of the
army of Henry VII. at Bosworth (1485). The twentieth earl was Aubrey de
Vere, who fought for Charles I. in the civil war, and after the
restoration became lord-lieutenant of Essex.
=Vergette= (_Fr._). In heraldry, a pallet or small pale; hence, a shield
divided by pallets or pales.
=Vermeuil.= A town of France, in the department of the Eure, situated on
the Arve. It was the scene of a battle between the Burgundians and
English, under the Duke of Bedford, and the French, assisted by the
Scots, commanded by the Count de Narbonne and the Earls of Douglas and
Buchan, etc. The French at first were successful; but some Lombard
auxiliaries, who had taken the English camp, commenced pillaging. Two
thousand English archers then came fresh to the attack; and the French
and Scots were totally defeated, and their leaders killed.
=Vermont.= One of the United States of America, and one of the five New
England States; it was the first State received after the adoption of
the Federal Constitution. Vermont is bounded on the north by Canada, on
the east by the Connecticut River, which separates it from New
Hampshire, on the south by Massachusetts, and on the west by New York,
from which it is separated for 100 miles by Lake Champlain. The first
settlement made in this State was in 1724, when it was claimed as a part
of the New Hampshire grants. In 1763, it was claimed by New York, under
grants of Charles II. to the Duke of York. For ten years the New York
officers were resisted, and sometimes tied to trees and whipped by the
lawless settlers. These contests were stopped by the Revolution, but
this State, a refuge for settlers from the other States, remained eight
years out of the Union. It was chiefly the Vermont militia that gained
the victory of Plattsburg, on Lake Champlain, in 1812; and the Green
Mountain State contributed largely to the Union forces in the war of the
Rebellion.
=Verolamium=, or =Verulamium= (now _Old Verulam_, near St. Alban’s). The
chief town of the Catuellani in Britain, probably the residence of the
king Cassivellaunus, which was conquered by Cæsar. It was subsequently
made a Roman _municipium_. It was destroyed by the Britons under
Boadicea, in their insurrection against the Romans, but was rebuilt, and
continued to be an important place.
=Verona.= An ancient city of Northern Italy, in Venetia, 72 miles west
of Venice by railway. Verona is a fortress of the first rank, a member
of the famous Quadrilateral (which see), and has always been considered
a place of strength since it was surrounded with walls by the emperor
Gallienus, 265. Its modern fortifications are among the most
extraordinary works of military engineering in Europe. After passing
into the hands of the Austrians, in 1815, it was greatly strengthened;
and since 1849 every effort has been made to render it impregnable. The
early history of Verona is involved in obscurity. It fell into the hands
of the Romans, and under the empire became one of the most flourishing
cities in the north of Italy. Constantine took it by assault in 312;
Stilicho defeated the Goths here in 402; and on September 27, 489,
Theodoric defeated Odoacer, king of Italy. Charlemagne took it in 774,
and made it the royal residence of his son, King Pepin. In 1405 the city
gave itself over to Venice, in order to free itself from its tyrants,
who were alternately of the Scala, the Visconti, or the Carrara
families. It was held by Venice till its capture by the French general
Masséna, June 3, 1796. Near here Charles Albert of Sardinia defeated the
Austrians, May 6, 1848. It was surrendered to the Italian government,
October 16, 1866.
=Versailles.= A celebrated city of France, and long the residence of the
French court, capital of the department of Seine-et-Oise, 11 miles
southwest from Paris. Here was signed the treaty (September 3, 1783), at
which England recognized the independence of the United States of
America. On the same day a treaty was signed here between Great
Britain, France, and Spain, by which Pondicherry and Carical, with other
possessions in Bengal, were restored to France, and Trincomalee restored
to the Dutch. Here was held the military festival of the royal guards,
October 1, 1789, which was immediately followed (on the 5th and 6th) by
the attack of the mob, who massacred the guards and brought the king
back to Paris. Versailles, with the troops there, surrendered to the
Germans September 19, 1870, and the crown-prince of Prussia entered the
next day. On September 26, he awarded the iron cross to above thirty
soldiers at the foot of the statue of Louis XIV. The palace was
converted into a hospital. The royal headquarters were removed here from
Ferrières, October 5.
=Vert.= In heraldry, coats of arms are distinguished from one another
not only by the charges or objects borne on them, but by the color of
these charges, and of the field on which they are placed. _Vert_ (green)
is indicated in uncolored heraldic engravings by diagonal lines from
dexter chief to sinister base.
=Vertical Fire.= See FIRE, VERTICAL.
=Vervels=, or =Varvels=. Small rings attached to the ends of the jesses
of a hawk, through which a string was passed to fasten them to its leg.
They occur as a heraldic charge.
=Vervins.= A town of France, in the department of the Aisne, 23 miles
northeast from Laon. A treaty of peace was concluded here in 1598
between Philip II. of Spain and Henry IV. of France.
=Veseronce.= In Southeast France, near Vienne. Here Gondemar, king of
the Burgundians, defeated and killed Clodomir, king of Orleans, and
revenged the murder of his brother Sigismond and his family, 524. This
conflict is also called the battle of Voiron.
=Vespers, Sicilian.= See SICILIAN VESPERS.
=Vestini.= A Sabellian people in Central Italy, lying between the
Apennines and the Adriatic Sea. They are mentioned in connection with
the Marsi, Marrucini, and Peligni; but they subsequently separated from
these tribes, and joined the Samnites in their war against Rome. They
were conquered by the Romans, 328 B.C., and from this time appear as the
allies of Rome. They joined the other allies in the Marsic war, and were
conquered by Pompeius Strabo in 89.
=Veteran.= Long exercised in anything, especially in military life and
the duties of a soldier; long practiced or experienced; as, a veteran
officer or soldier.
=Veteran.= One who has been long exercised in any service or art,
particularly in war; one who has grown old in service, and has had much
experience.
=Veteran Corps.= Are among the military reserves of all nations. They
consist of old soldiers past the prime of active manhood, and incapable
of taking the field. Their discipline and steadiness, however,
admirably fit them for garrisons or fortresses, and for the instruction
of young troops. During the civil war in America (1861-65), a
veteran reserve corps was established under the command of the
provost-marshal-general. The men admitted into this corps were drawn
from three sources, viz.: (1) By taking officers and men still in the
field, who had been disabled by wounds or by disease contracted in the
line of duty; (2) By taking officers and men who were absent sick in
hospitals or convalescent camps; and (3) By accepting officers and men
who had been honorably discharged on account of wounds or disease
contracted in the line of duty, and who desired to re-enter the service.
This corps was divided into companies, battalions, and regiments, and
was employed to enforce the enrolling and drafting of men for active
service, for arresting deserters, stragglers, etc., and as a garrison
for permanent barracks, etc. Upon the reduction of the army in 1869, the
corps was discontinued.
=Veterinary.= Of or pertaining to the art of healing or treating the
diseases of domestic animals, as horses, etc. In England and some other
European countries, a veterinary surgeon is a commissioned officer, who
has medical charge of horses used in the military service. In the U. S.
service there is one veterinary surgeon allowed to each of the regiments
of cavalry, and the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th regiments of cavalry have an
additional veterinary surgeon. These veterinary surgeons are recognized
as civilians.
=Vetterlin Rifle.= See SMALL-ARMS.
=Vexilla.= Flags or streamers, given to the Roman soldiers who
distinguished themselves. They were embroidered in silk, and fixed on
the top of a spear. _Vexillum roseum_ was a red flag, which the general,
on any sudden tumult or unforeseen danger, brought out of the Capitol,
and encouraged the people to flock to it as recruits for infantry.
=Viazma.= A town of European Russia, on the river of the same name, in
the government and 100 miles east-northeast from Smolensk. The French
were defeated here by the Russians, October 22, 1812, when a great part
of the town was destroyed by fire.
=Vibo= (now _Bivona_). The Roman form of the Greek town Hipponium,
situated on the southwestern coast of Bruttium. It was destroyed by the
elder Dionysius, who transplanted its inhabitants to Syracuse. It was
afterwards destroyed, and at a later time it fell into the hands of the
Bruttii by the Romans, who colonized it 194 B.C., and called it Vibo
Valentia.
=Vicenza.= A city of Northern Italy, in the province of Venice, 39 miles
west from Venice. Vicenza was a Roman station, and suffered greatly on
the irruption of the northern tribes. It was successively pillaged by
Alaric, Attila, the Lombards, and the emperor Frederick II. In the
early part of the 15th century it came into the possession of the
Venetians, who held it till 1796, when it became the scene of sanguinary
conflicts between the French and Austrians.
=Vicksburg.= A city and port of Mississippi, on the Mississippi River,
408 miles north of New Orleans, and is the chief town between Memphis
and New Orleans. It was strongly fortified in 1861, and provided with a
large garrison. In January, 1862, it was attacked by the Federal naval
forces from Memphis and New Orleans, but without success. In April,
1863, a naval attack was combined with the land forces under Gen. Grant,
who defeated Gen. Pemberton near Jackson, cut off supplies and
reinforcements from the garrison, and with a close siege and continual
assaults, compelled a surrender, July 4, 1863, with 30,000 prisoners of
war, 200 cannon, and 70,000 stand of arms.
=Victor.= The winner in a contest; one who gets the better of another in
any struggle; especially, one who conquers in war; a vanquisher; one who
defeats an enemy in battle.
=Victoria Cross.= The peculiarities of this decoration, which was
instituted on the termination of the Crimean campaign in 1856, are, that
it may be granted to a soldier of any rank, and for a single act of
valor. The Cross of the Legion of Honor, as was felt during the Crimean
campaign, served a purpose in the French army which was served by none
of the British decorations, and it was in imitation of it that the
Victoria Cross was founded, with the inscription “For Valor,” and which
can be given to none but those who have performed, in presence of the
enemy, some signal act of valor or devotion to their country. The
general distribution of the crosses earned in the Crimean war took place
in Hyde Park on June 26, 1857. The recipients were 62 in number. The
Victoria Cross is in the form of a Maltese cross, formed from the cannon
captured at Sebastopol. In the centre is the royal crown, surmounted by
the lion, and below, on a scroll, the words, “For Valor.” The ribbon is
blue for the navy, and red for the army. On the clasp are two branches
of laurel, and from it the cross hangs, supported by the initial “_V_.”
The decoration is accompanied by a pension of £10 a year.
=Victorious.= Belonging or relating to victory, or a victor; having
conquered in battle or contest; having overcome an enemy; conquering;
winning; triumphant; as, a victorious general; victorious troops;
victorious army. Producing conquest; as, a victorious day. Emblematic of
conquest, indicating victory. “Brows bound with victorious wreaths.”
=Victory.= The defeat of an enemy in battle, or of an antagonist in
contest; a gaining of the superiority in war, struggle, or combat;
conquest; triumph.
=Victuals.= Food or sustenance allowed to the troops, under certain
regulations, whether on shore or embarked in transports. Relieving the
enemy with money, victuals, etc., is punishable by court-martial. See
APPENDIX, ARTICLES OF WAR, 45.