To regulate the retreat and relative sup_A military dictionary

attached to the several columns.

In order to add practical knowlege to theory, and to adapt the

observations of established military writers to local experience, every

survey or reconnoitring of country, for the retreat or advance of

columns; for offensive or defensive positions; for encampments, or the

construction and erection of batteries, &c. is made upon spots that are

actually in the neighborhood of the establishment; and every object of

instruction is applied to the local circumstance of the ground as it

actually exists. It is required, that plans of these different surveys,

&c. should at all times accompany and be given in with the lesson of

instruction.

Officers of the senior department must not only be well acquainted

with these particulars, but they must further know how to regulate the

cantonments of an army.

To estimate the resources of a country, in green and dry forage, in

cattle, grain, horses, and carriages, together with the population.

To draw out plans of resources, general plans of operations and

subordinate ones of position, and of cantonments.

According to the season of the year, and the state of the weather,

officers are employed in acquiring the theory, or applying in practice

on the ground, the several points of instruction to which their

attention has been directed.

It is required of them, individually, to reconnoitre a given tract or

line of country.

The military positions they take up, as well as the disposition they

make of troops, whether in camp or in order of march, are invariably

represented by plans in drawing, and all instruction is exemplified

by applications which are made in the field, and are adapted to the

local circumstances of ground. In order to render the different lessons

familiar to the mind, and to make them practically easy, imaginary

marches are made from one supposed camp to another, and the various

orders which relate to the movements of troops are given out and

explained, as if they were to be actually carried into effect. Points

of attack or defence are taken up, ambuscades are laid, and all the

chicane of what the French so justly call _le petite guerre_, is

entered into with as much promptitude and caution, as if the enemy were

in the neighborhood of the college. The manœuvres of light troops are

particularly practised; and the different instructions which have been

published in French on that branch of military tactics by Mons. Jarry,

are practically taught, as time and circumstances permit.

The elements of field fortification, and the higher branches of attack

and defence, are not only inculcated with the greatest perspicuity, but

they are reduced to practice by imaginary lines of circumvallation and

contravallation; by posts and positions suddenly taken, and quickly

fortified; whilst the manifold feints and stratagems of war which

have been practised by the best generals, are locally attempted, for

the double purpose of applying practice to established facts, and of

seizing some new idea that may grow out of ancient practice.

Whenever an officer has completed his studies, he is reported

to the commander in chief, as having qualified himself for the

quarter-master-general’s department; and returns to his regiment,

having had his name previously registered at the college, in order that

he may be employed on the general staff of the army when his services

are required.

When an officer wishes to be admitted to the military college, his

application must be addressed to the commander in chief, for the time

being, through the medium of the colonel or commanding officer of

his regiment, who sends it, under cover, to the official or public

secretary at the Horse Guards, with his own certificate of the good

conduct of the applicant.

When an officer, thus admitted, is found deficient in any of the

branches of elementary knowlege, which he is expected to have acquired

previous to his entrance into the senior department, he may have the

advantage of instruction from the professors and masters of the junior

department. It would, however, be more gratifying to all parties, were

such officers to qualify themselves before they quit their corps.

The same allowances which are established for troops in barracks, are

made to officers who attend the instructions of the senior department.

Every officer admitted to this department is required to have a horse

to attend his duty in the field, and regular rations of forage, &c. are

issued to him for his keeping.

The officers of the senior department mess together, and their table is

regulated by specific statutes of the college.

_Junior department._

This department is calculated to receive three hundred students from

the age of fourteen to sixteen. Fifty out of this number may be cadets

of the hon. East India company’s service; one hundred the sons of

noblemen and gentlemen who are intended for the army; one hundred

the sons of officers actually in the service; and fifty the sons

of officers who have died, or have been disabled in his majesty’s

service, and are left in pecuniary distress.

The students are formed into four companies; and proper persons are

appointed for their care and superintendance.

They are to wear an established uniform, and to be conducted as

a military body; regard being had to their youth, and certain

instructions adapted for its government.

The course of study which is arranged for this department is of a

preparatory nature, leading gradually to branches of a higher class

that are fitted for the staff; and adding to classical knowlege, every

accomplishment that is required to form the character of a perfect

gentleman and officer.

The students are taught the several branches of mathematics, field

fortification, together with the general principles of gunnery and

artillery service. They are instructed in drawing military plans,

military movements, and perspective. They are also made acquainted with

the first rudiments of war, the science of military manœuvre, with

geography and history, as well as with the German and French languages.

Professors and masters are appointed to teach the Hindoo and Persian

tongues, as being immediately necessary to the service of India.

Masters are likewise provided to instruct cadets in the geography of

India, and to make them familiarly acquainted with the local knowlege

of the settlement for which they are severally intended.

The directors of instruction are made particularly responsible for the

proper management of the studies, and different elementary branches

which constitute an essential part of the establishment.

The professors and masters are employed generally to instruct in both

departments, under the control of the chief director.

The whole establishment, which has military knowlege and improvement

for its basis, is conducted upon strict military principles, and in

scrupulous conformity to the rules and discipline which are issued by

authority for the government of the army at large.

A sufficient number of masters are constantly resident in the college,

for the instruction of such students as may wish to continue their

classical studies. Frequent lessons are given them on moral and natural

philosophy.

They are likewise taught riding, swimming, fencing, and the sabre and

sword exercise.

The instruction of the department is divided into two parts, forming a

junior and senior division of study.

Public examinations are held in this department, in order to remove

students from the lower to the higher division of study; and also for

the purpose of granting certificates to such as are qualified to

act as commissioned officers in the service, at an age under what is

required by the present regulations of the army.

From this department students will join the regiments into which

they severally enter; and after having obtained some experience, by

going through the different duties of a regimental officer, they will

be qualified to return to the college, and to enter into the senior

department, if they are disposed to study the service of the general

staff.

The public examinations are held in presence of one or more visitors or

inspectors, nominated by the commander in chief; and it is required,

that they should be members of the supreme board of the college.

The expence attending the education of a young gentleman in this

department, is according to the foundation on which he is admitted to

the college.

The sons of noblemen and gentlemen pay 80_l._ per annum.

The sons of officers in service pay 40_l._ per annum; and orphans, who

are the sons of officers that have died in the service, or the sons of

those that have been disabled and are straitened in circumstances, are

educated, clothed, and maintained free of all expence.

The board, clothing, and accommodation, are included in the several

sums above specified.

There are two vacations in the course of twelve months, viz.--At

Christmas and Midsummer, for a term not exceeding one month each

vacation.

The administration of the funds of the establishment, is under the

direction of the collegiate board.

The accounts are balanced at the expiration of six months in every

year, and are laid before the supreme board; at which periods,

reports of progress made in the several branches of literature and

technical science, and of the public examinations, are made before the

committee. These documents, accompanied by well digested remarks and

seasonable suggestions, for the preservation of good order, &c. and

the improvement of the institution, are laid before the king by the

commander in chief, as president and governor of the college.

The supreme board of the college is composed in the following manner:

The commander in chief for the time being, president.

Secretary at war.

Governor.

Master-general of the ordnance.

Governor of Chelsea college.

Quarter-master-general.

And two honorary members.

Barrack-master general.

Lieutenant colonel Le Marchant, as lieutenant governor.

General Jarry as commandant of the senior department.

These are the members of the supreme board, and such others may, from

time to time, be named.

A secretary to the supreme board.

A president to the college.

_The military_ SCHOOL _at Paris_, (_école royale militaire de Paris_,

_Fr._) This celebrated establishment, which for so many years supplied

France with superior talents, and to which Bonaparte is indebted for

the solid groundwork of that military knowlege that has astonished

and conquered Europe, owes its origin to Henry IV. who first erected

a public building in Anjou, for the free education of the children of

poor noblemen; it was called the college of _La Fléche_, wherein one

hundred young boys of the above description were supported, &c. at

the king’s expence. They were there taught Latin and the liberal arts

by the Jesuits, whose learning, and aptitude at teaching others to

learn, have been so deservedly admired in every quarter of the globe.

This order, however, having been banished out of France in 1770, by

Louis XV. because the members interfered with the government (whilst

all their crimes consisted in being too virtuous to countenance the

debaucheries of that weak monarch); the direction of the college was

entrusted to the secular priests, and the number of students was

increased to 350. On this occasion it was distinguished by a particular

mark of royal favor, and was called the royal college.

In addition to this provincial establishment, Louis XV. instituted

the royal military school in the neighborhood of Paris, where 250

young lads received a regular education under the most able masters;

particularly in those branches which contributed to military knowlege.

During their vacations, and at periods of intermission from classical

pursuits, they were attended and instructed by experienced officers.

They generally remained until the age of 18, and were after that

distributed among the different regiments with appropriate commissions.

They were then distinguished by being permitted to wear a cross, which

was tied to a crimson piece of riband, and hung from a button-hole

in their coat. The cross, on one side, represented the figure of the

Virgin Mary; and on the other, there was a trophy adorned with three

fleurs de lis. They had likewise an annual pension of 200 livres,

(about 40 dollars) which was paid them without deduction, until they

obtained the rank of captain, provided they had a certificate of good

behaviour from the staff or état major of their corps. They received,

moreover, when they quitted the school, a small kitt of linen, a hat,

sword, and an uniform coat. They were replaced in the military school

by an equal number of youths who came from the college of La Fléche,

for that purpose, at the age of 13 or 14.

Both these establishments underwent a considerable alteration during

the administration of the count de St. Germain, in April 1776. This

minister persuaded Louis XVI. that great public benefit might be

derived from increasing the number of these colleges, and admitting

youths from every class of his subjects. When these alterations

took place in the royal military school, all the young men that

were 18 years old were incorporated with the regiments of gentlemen

cadets. These enjoyed all the advantages which their predecessors had

possessed; with this exception, that they did not wear the uniform of

their corps, nor the cross. Those lads who had not reached the period

in question, were placed in different corps, and several remained

in the military school who were afterwards provided for on another

footing. The number of young men was gradually increased, not only by

fresh arrivals from La Fléche, but by the admission of several others

for whom a yearly pension was paid by their parents. The latter, were

not, however, entitled to any advantage or indulgence beyond what was

generally allowed.

On the 28th of March 1776, the king gave directions, that ten

colleges should be established, over the gates of each of which

was written--_Collége Royale Militaire_; royal military college.

These colleges were under the immediate care and instruction of the

Benedictine monks, and other religious persons.

The secretary of state held the same jurisdiction over these colleges

that he possessed over La Fléche, and the military school at Paris.

There were always 50 at least, and never more than 60 young men placed

for education in each of these colleges, at the expence of the king;

amounting annually per head to 700 livres, about 150 dollars. For this

sum each student was supplied with a blue coat with red cuffs, and

white buttons, a blue surtout or great coat, two white waistcoats,

two pairs of black breeches, twelve shirts, twelve handkerchiefs,

six cravats, six nightcaps, two dressing-gowns, two hats, two pairs

of shoes, combs, and powder-bag. These articles were, in the first

instance, to be provided by the young man’s parents or friends, and

when he quitted, he was furnished with the same articles at the expence

of the college. Travelling expences, postage of letters, &c. were

defrayed by the parents or friends of the different students. The

secretary of state’s letter, conveying the king’s approbation, was

the voucher for admission; but no child could be received unless he

had previously learned to write and read. Candidates for admission,

underwent a close examination on the very day they arrived, and if they

were found deficient in any of the necessary qualifications, they were

sent back to their friends with directions not to return until the year

following, provided they got properly instructed during that period.

No person could be admitted who was lame, or otherwise deformed; and

certain proofs of nobility were to be established and given in, as

well as proofs of property, vouched for by two gentlemen who lived in

the neighborhood of the applicant, and confirmed by the intendant of

the province, or by the governor. And in order to afford the parents

ample time to collect the necessary vouchers, the preliminary consent

of the king was forwarded to them six months before July, announcing

that their children might be presented to the college on the 7th of

September next following.

The king’s students, or those young lads for whom 700 livres (150

dolls.) were annually paid out of his privy purse, were taught in the

subordinate colleges, as in the military school at Paris, every thing

that could be useful to a military character, besides music and other

accomplishments. They were, moreover, regularly supplied with foils

for fencing, and with mathematical and musical instruments. In order

to excite emulation, prizes and rewards were distributed according to

merit; and an allowance for pocket money was made in the following

manner:--20 _sols_, or 10_d._ English per month, to each boy under

twelve; and 40 _sols_, or 20_d._ to all above that age. The royal

pensions and allowances were paid every quarter, commencing on the

1st of April 1776. These payments were regulated by specific returns,

which were regularly forwarded on the 15th of each month preceding the

expiration of the quarter, to the secretary at war, and were signed

by the heads or superiors of each college, accompanied by an exact

muster-roll of all the students. By direction of the secretary at

war, every species of necessary furniture and utensil that was found

for La Fléche, and the military school at Paris, was distributed,

in equal proportions, among the subordinate colleges; a preference,

however, was uniformly given to the calls and necessities of those two

establishments. The colleges that were appointed to pass the final

examination of students received a double quantity of each article.

Every student who was admitted into any of the subordinate colleges

at eight or nine years old, was obliged to remain there six years

before he could appear at the final examinations; that period being

thought necessary to complete his education. With respect to those

who were entering into their tenth or eleventh year, and even those

who were orphans, they were not forced to fill the term of six years

instruction, provided they had already acquired sufficient knowlege to

entitle them to a favorable report from their superiors.

The king directed that the pensions for 50 students upon the

establishment, should be paid three months in advance to the

several colleges, for the purpose of enabling them to complete the

necessary buildings, &c. Each of those students was allowed a small

separate apartment, with a key to the door. They were distributed

in a particular quarter of the building, that they might be more

easily attended to; having no other communication with the honorary

pensioners, or those who had an allowance from their parents, than

what was absolutely necessary to carry on the public instruction and

discipline of the place.

The college of Brienne, a small town in Champagne, was fixed upon

for the admission of the young lads whose pensions were paid by

their parents. The latter likewise defrayed the expences of the

journey; but they were entitled to the same indemnification that was

afterwards granted to the king’s students. The same rules and method

of instruction were pursued by the different colleges, in order

that all the candidates might be brought together at the same time

for examination. This examination was made in the presence of the

principal, and under inspector of the schools, and of other literary

men, who were appointed by the secretary of state for that purpose,

and received 1200 livres, or 250 dollars, as a gratification for

their attendance, besides board and lodging at the king’s expence.

The _concours_, or meeting for examination, took place every year,

and lasted from the 1st to the 15th of September; the original one

commencing in September 1778. The young men that passed the examination

to the full satisfaction of these gentlemen, were placed in different

regiments, and received commissions accordingly.

The four best informed and most able of the young candidates, received

pensions or temporary allowances in the following manner:--The two

first got 150 livres, between 6_l._ and 7_l._ sterling; and the two

next 100 livres, equal to 4_l._ odd per annum, until they were promoted

to companies. They were further entitled to wear the ancient cross

of the military school. If any of them quitted the service before

they had obtained the above rank of captain, the pension ceased. They

likewise received, (in common with all the other students that left the

establishment) 200 livres, between 8_l._ and 9_l._ on their becoming

lieutenants in the army.

The young men that were not found sufficiently instructed to join

a regular corps, as gentlemen cadets, remained at the _Collége de

Concours_, or college of examination, until the following year, when

they were again questioned as to every particular which regarded a

military education. But, let their success on this occasion be what

it might, they ceased to be entitled to those marks of distinction

and temporary allowances which were given to the first successful

candidates. Those boys, who were brought by their parents, and for

whom a pension was to be paid, lost all pretensions to the notice of

government if they failed to give satisfaction at this final hearing.

Proper representations of their incapacity were made by the inspector

of military schools to the secretary of state, which representations

were formally attested and corroborated by the opinion and judgment

of the superior of the college of Brienne, in order that an accurate

account might be given to his majesty, and that the parents might be

officially directed to send or come for their children.

The superior or head of each subordinate college was directed, from

the 1st of July 1778, to send, under cover to the secretary at war, an

effective return of those students that had finished their course of

education, and were prepared for examination. An order was then issued

from the war-office for their attendance at the college of Brienne.

The heads of colleges were enjoined to transmit, annually, to the

secretary of the war department, an analysis of the various elementary

tracts which they had perused, accompanied by comments and observations

thereon, together with original suggestions of their own. 6000 livres,

or 1250 dollars, were allowed out of the annual revenue of the

military school at Paris, for the specific purpose of rewarding those

writers who should publish the best treatises relative to the military

education of youth; and when this intent was fulfilled, the surplus or

the sum entire was appropriated to the purchase of books, which were

equally distributed among the different colleges, each of which had a

separate library for the convenience and improvement of the students.

The king left it to the discretion of the different religious orders,

to select such persons, as were best calculated to undertake the

direction of the colleges, and to chuse the different masters and

professors. He reserved, however, to himself the power of displacing

any of them, if, upon mature and correct representation they were found

inadequate to the trust.

The four professors, belonging to the colleges in which the four

successful candidates at the general examination had been educated,

received four golden medals, each worth 150 livres, 25 dollars, as

a testimony of his majesty’s approbation. The king’s likeness was

on one side of the medal, and on the other was engraved, _Prix de

bon Instructeur_; the good teacher’s prize. With the laudable view

of collecting the best and most able masters, various rewards were

imagined, and occasionally distributed among the different persons

employed in the instruction of young beginners.

The different vacancies which occurred in consequence of the public

examination that took place once a year, were regularly filled up at

that period.

The secretary of state transmitted to the heads of colleges a list,

containing the names of the young men that were to succeed.

Louis XVI. exclusively of the 600 students who were placed in the

different colleges pursuant to the new regulations, restored the

ancient foundation of La Fléche, which had originally been established

by Henry IV. for the benefit of 100 poor boys, who were of noble

families, and whose parents had rendered some service to the state

in the civil, military, or ecclesiastical line. They were educated

according to the bent of their talents and disposition, and fitted to

any of those professions; provisions and regulations having been made

in the college of La Fléche for these purposes, which differed from the

general system pursued in the other military colleges.

Those boys, who at 13 or 14 years old, discovered a partiality to

civil or ecclesiastical functions, left the subordinate colleges, and

repaired to La Fléche. Their number was limited to five, who might

annually be admitted in consequence of an order for that purpose from

the secretary at war; which order was obtained by their parents, on a

representation being made to him of their talents and dispositions,

confirmed and vouched for by the inspector general, and by the heads

and superiors of each college.

An extraordinary allowance was made by the king to enable these

students to acquire a knowlege of law, and to become acquainted with

every species of theological learning.

These students were never permitted to leave college under a pretext

of seeing their friends or parents, however near the residence of the

latter might be.

The heads or superiors of each college transmitted every quarter to

the secretary of state for the war department, and to the inspector

general of schools, a minute account of the actual state of the

college, and of the progress which each student had made in the several

branches of education. If any extraordinary occurrence happened, these

communications were to be made forthwith, and at broken periods,

without waiting for the regular expiration of three months. They were

likewise instructed to communicate with the parents of such children,

as were paid for by them, giving an account of their progress in

education, and stating what they had written on that subject to the

secretary of state.

The inspector and under inspector-general went every year to the

different colleges, to examine personally into every thing that

concerned the management of each institution, and to report accordingly

to his majesty.

The secretary of state for the war department was directed by the king

to be present at the annual distribution of prizes, which were given

in each college, in order to give every aid and consequence to these

public marks of royal attention. In case of the secretary’s death or

sickness, the inspector-general of the schools attended for the same

well judged purpose.

On the 26th of July 1783, an order appeared, by which the king

directed, that the young gentlemen who, by a former regulation could

only be admitted into the royal colleges between the ages of eight

and eleven, should be received from the age of seven to that of ten.

Orphans alone could be admitted as late as the full completion of

twelve years. The parents of such children as had been approved of by

his majesty, were, without delay, to send in proofs and certificates

of their nobility; in failure whereof one year after their nomination,

they were deprived of the situation which had been destined for them.

No family could solicit a letter of admission for more than one child

at a time; and when it was granted, no application could be made in

favor of another child until the first had completed his education, and

was provided for in a regiment, or elsewhere.

The wisdom of this regulation is manifest. It was calculated to prevent

every species of partiality and undue influence, and it kept the door

open for many a meritorious youth, that might otherwise be deprived of

the advantages of this useful institution. Like every other system,

however, of that ill-fated monarchy, the principles were gradually

perverted; and what was intended as a general good, became subservient

to the intrigues of Versailles, the secret views of inspectors and

commissaries, and the venal pliancy of individuals that acted under

them. This evil was not confined to France. It has existed, and does

still exist in other nations: the transactions in the case of the duke

of York, in England, shews the profligate venality with which the

sale of military offices was conducted. So strict was the regulation

in France to prevent any monopoly of interest or patronage, that

particular instructions were issued to commissaries to repair into the

different provinces in which the several colleges stood, and to see

that no students were sent to the general examination at Brienne, who

had any brother or brothers under the same establishment.

On the 21st of January 1779, the following regulation appeared for the

better management and advantage of the students belonging to the French

royal military school:--

It was ordained, that the privilege of being received as members of

the military orders of Notre Dame, of Mont-Carmel, and St. Lazarus, of

Jerusalem, which had been hitherto given, without distinction, to all

the students of the different colleges, should in future be considered

as the reward of peculiar merit, and be rendered the means of exciting

emulation among the gentlemen cadets of the royal military school only.

To this end the secretary of the war department was instructed to give

in a list of six students who should have passed an examination before

the inspector-general, with a minute account of their progress in the

different arts and sciences, as well as of their general good conduct,

natural disposition, &c. From this number three were selected by the

grand master, and were made knights of the order, with permission to

wear the cross according to prescribed rules and regulations. All the

students that were so distinguished received from the revenue or funds

of the order an annual allowance of 100 livres, equal to about twenty

dollars; which sum was paid them exclusively of the 200 livres or forty

dollars, which they got from the royal military school. They continued

to receive the annual pension as long as they remained in the service;

and if they were under the necessity of retiring through sickness, or

wounds, it was continued to them during their natural lives.

Whenever a student who had been placed in a regiment, and was entitled

to wear the cross of the royal military school, distinguished himself

on service by some brilliant action, or gave an extraordinary proof

of military knowlege, he was recommended to the grand-master, and on

the attestation of the general commanding the army, countersigned by

the secretary at war, he was instantly invested with the order of

St. Lazarus. Thus the re-union of these two crosses, (which could

only happen in cases of singular merit, and under the circumstances

already stated) would always bear undeniable testimony of the service

rendered by the individual. The pension, in fact, would neither incur

the suspicion of partiality, by having been a mere sinecure, nor the

honorary mark, the imputation of undue influence, and ill-applied

patronage.

In consequence of the king’s approbation, the following specific

regulation, relative to the orders of Mont-Carmel, and St. Lazarus, of

Jerusalem, was issued on the 21st of January 1779, by Louis Stanislaus

Xavier de Franks, brother to his majesty, and grand master of those

orders, (the present head of the Bourbons, who uses the title of Louis

XVIII.)

It was therein stated, that, in future, the order of Notre Dame du

Mont-Carmel, should be reserved for such students belonging to the

royal military school, as had been approved of in every respect,

conformably to the prescribed instructions on that head, for the

purpose of being admitted knights of the order. The mark by which

they were distinguished consisted of a small cross similar to the

one, already described, which was formerly worn by the students.--The

candidates were obliged to prove four degrees of nobility on the

father’s side, and to produce the certificates required by the

different colleges. Three out of the six received the cross, and became

entitled from the day of their admission to an annual allowance of

100 livres, or twenty dollars, which they continued to enjoy as long

as they remained in the service, and after they quitted it, provided

they retired from the causes already stated. If a knight of the

order of Notre Dame du St. Carmel, did any singular act of bravery,

or discovered talents of superior military knowlege, on a proper

attestation being produced of the same, signed by the general under

whom he served, and countersigned by the minister of war, he became

knight of the order of St. Lazarus, and by thus uniting the two orders,

preserved an uncontestable proof of the service he had rendered.

This regulation, however, did not interfere with the ancient forms and

rules of the royal military school, as far as they concerned those

students who had already been received into two orders. It only went to

restrict the number of such as might lay claim to the particular marks

of distinction, &c. which were thereby granted to the newly admitted.

In these schools, and in those of the artillery noted below, is to be

found the true foundation of the military triumphs of France from 1792

to 1810.

The great military school of France is now established at Fontainbleau

by Bonaparte.

The French had likewise a marine school, (_école de marine_), which

was kept at the expence of government, and was regularly attended to,

in one of the departments. There was also a ship, distinguished by the

name of school, (_école_) which was regularly manned and equipped for

the instruction of young marines.

There were several schools of artillery, _écoles d’artillerie_,

distributed in different parts of the kingdom, and supported at the

public charge. The five principal ones were at _La Fêre_, _Metz_,

_Grenoble_, _Strasburgh_, and _Perpignan_.

They were under the direction of an inspector-general, who had the rank

of a lieutenant-general in the army. Each school was superintended

by three commandants, and was composed of ordinary and extraordinary

commissaries belonging to the artillery, of officers who had the

immediate direction of the levelling and pointing pieces of ordnance,

and of volunteer cadets.

These schools were open throughout the year; advantage being taken

of occasional fine weather during the winter months to practise

and exercise. They were divided into schools of theory, _écoles de

théorie_, and into schools of practice, _écoles de pratique_.

The theoretical establishments were for the immediate instruction of

all officers belonging to the engineer and the artillery departments.

The practical schools were open indiscriminately to all officers and

soldiers. There was also a particular school for the information of

those persons who directed their attention to mining and sapping; this

school was called _L’école des Sappeurs_. The miner’s school. There was

likewise a school established at _La Fére_, to which none but artillery

officers could be admitted. The students consisted of one company,

whose number never exceeded 50. They had the rank of sub-lieutenants,

and received a monthly subsistence, amounting to forty French livres, a

little more than seven dollars.

The school at Méziéres, which was established before the additional one

at La Fére, for the exclusive use and advantage of the artillery, was

calculated to receive 30 officers; and those who went from La Fére had

the rank of second lieutenants, with 60 livres, something more than ten

dollars, as monthly subsistence.

It will naturally strike every observer, from these several

establishments, which were all supported by government, and warmly

patronised by the different reigning monarchs in France, that military

science constituted one of the chief objects of French policy; and

it is only bare justice to say, that their encouragement was not

fruitlessly bestowed. All Europe has testified to the effect; the

_neglect_ of military science in other nations is equally striking,

and ought to produce more wise precautions. The Turks have a military

school, called the school for the Agemolans, or young men attached to

the corps of Janizaries. This institution was created by Amurat, for

the purpose of enuring a certain number of persons to every possible

hardship of military service.

_Fencing_ SCHOOL, (_école d’armes_, _Fr._) Every French regiment, when

in barracks or otherwise conveniently quartered, has a room allotted

for the exercise of the small sword, the spadroon, &c. Some active

clever serjeant or soldier is authorised to teach his comrades, and

to derive what benefit he can from giving lessons abroad. We need

scarcely add, that some internal regulation of the kind would be highly

advantageous to officers every where.

SCIAGE, (_Bois de Sciage_, _Fr._) Sawing. Wood that is proper to be

sawed in planks, or to be made fit for any use in carpentry.

SCIAGRAPHY, (_Sciagraphe_, _Fr._) The profile or section of a building

to shew the inside thereof.

SCIE, _Fr._ a saw.

SCIENCE. Any art or species of knowlege; as military science, &c.

SCIENCE _de la guerre_, _Fr._ Military knowlege, or the science of war.

SCITIE, _or_ SETIE, _Fr._ a small decked barge with Levant sails.

SCORPION, (_Scorpion_, _Fr._) a sort of long thick javelin or arrow,

which was used among the ancients. For a specific description, see

Vegetius and Justus Lipsius. The Cretans are supposed to have invented

the scorpion.

SCIMITAR, a short crooked sword, more or less incurvated.

_To_ SCOUR, (_Battre à toute volée_, _Fr._) This term is frequently

used to express the act of firing a quick and heavy discharge of

ordnance or musquetry, for the purpose of dislodging an enemy.--Hence

to scour the rampart or the covert way. It likewise signifies to clear,

to drive away, viz. _To scour the seas_: Ecumer les mers, _Fr._--_To

scour the streets_: Ecumer les rues; also to run about in a loose

desultory manner, as to scour the country.

_To_ SCOUR _a line_, is to flank it, so as to see directly along it,

that a musquet ball, entering at one end, may fly to the other, leaving

no place of security.

SCOUTS, are generally horsemen sent out before, and on the wings of an

army, at the distance of a mile or two, to discover the enemy, and give

the general an account of what they see. See VIDETTES.

SCREW, (_Escrou_, _Fr._) One of the mechanical powers, which is defined

a right cylinder cut into a furrowed spiral. Wilkins calls it a kind of

wedge, that is multiplied or continued by a helical revolution about a

cylinder, receiving its motion not from any stroke, but from a vectis

at one end of it.

SCREWS, in _gunnery_, are fastened to the cascable of light guns and

howitzers, by means of an iron bolt, which goes through a socket fixed

upon the centre transom, to elevate or depress the piece with, instead

of wedges.

SCREW _of direction_, (_Vis de Pointage_, _Fr._) The screw of

direction, used in the artillery, is formed of a brass horizontal

roller, placed between the two cheeks of the carriage. The trunnions of

the roller move upon two vertical iron pivots, which are fixed against

the interior sides of the cheeks. By means of this screw the direction

of pieces is either raised or lowered with a regular movement, and in

the smallest space.

The screw of direction, or _Vis de Pointage_, is equally used for

howitzers as well as for heavy pieces of ordnance. It has been invented

by the French, and serves in lieu of the _Coins à Cremaillère_, or

indented coins. So little progress has military science made in the

United States, that there are many old officers in the U. States’

service who know nothing even of this little but important particular.

_Lock_ SCREWS. Small screws which are attached to the lock of a musquet.

SCULLCAP. See HELMET.

SCURVY, (_Scorbut_, _Fr._) A disease to which soldiers and seamen are

peculiarly exposed, from idleness, inattention to cleanliness of

person and food, eating salted meat and drinking bad water, &c.

Scute _or Canot_, _Fr._ In Dutch _Schoot_, and Canot, is pronounced

with us as if written _cannoo_. Any small boat which is used in

navigation for the accommodation of a ship.

SEARCHER, an instrument used by the founders to discover any flaws in

the bore of cannon, &c. See PROOF.

_To_ SEASON. In a military sense, to accustom, to enure. Soldiers are

frequently sent to Gibraltar in order to be seasoned for a hot climate.

SEASONED _Troops_. Troops that have been accustomed to climate, and are

not so liable to become the victims of any endemical disorder, as raw

men must unavoidably be. The French use the word _acclimater_; to get

accustomed to a change of climate. Hence _Troupes acclimatees_; troops

that have been seasoned.

SEAT _of war_. The country in which war is carrying on.

SECANT, (_Secante_, _Fr._) A line which cuts another, or divides it

into two parts. See table at the end of the word GUNNERY.

SECANT _of an arch_. In trigonometry, is a right line drawn from the

centre of the circle to the extremity of the tangent.

SECANT _of an angle_. Supposing an angle to be terminated by a base

that is perpendicular to one of the sides, and that the smallest side

of the angle be taken for the radius or whole sinus, the greatest of

the two sides of that angle will be its secant.

SECOND, (_Second_, _Fr._) The next in order to the first. The ordinal

of two. The next in dignity, place, or station. The French use the word

_Second_ in military matters, somewhat differently from the English,

viz.

_Compagnie en_ SECOND, _Fr._ This literally means second company, but

according to the old French regulations it signifies a company which

consists of half the number of men that other companies are composed

of. This was however, applied to the cavalry only.

_Capitaine en_ SECOND _ou reformé en pied_, or _Lieutenant en_ SECOND,

_ditto_, _Fr._ are officers whose companies have been reduced, but who

do duty in others, and are destined to fill up the first vacancies. We

have borrowed the expression and say, _to be seconded_. When an officer

is _seconded_, he remains upon full pay, in the British service, his

rank goes on, and he may purchase the next vacant step, without being

obliged to memorial in the manner that a half-pay officer must. Should

the latter have taken a difference, he will find much difficulty in

getting upon full pay, and he can only avail himself of his standing

in the army when the last object is accomplished. So that a _seconded_

officer stands in a more favorable light. He is besides likely to be

appointed to the vacant commission of the regiment in which he is

seconded.

_Prendre pour son_ SECOND, _Fr._ To take for a second.

_Les_ SECONDS _de côté et d’autre se sont tués_, _Fr._ Both the seconds

were killed; or the seconds on each side killed one another. It was

very usual among the French for the seconds to make common cause with

their principals, and to fight upon the decease of the former. The

practice is reprobated and out of date.

_To_ SECOND, (_seconder_, _Fr._) To aid or assist, to support.

SECOND _covert way_, that beyond the second ditch. See FORTIFICATION.

SECOND _ditch_, that made on the outside of the glacis, when the ground

is low, and there is plenty of water. See FORTIFICATION.

SECOND _Flanc_, _Fr._ See _Flank oblique_ in FORTIFICATION.

SECOURIR _une place_, _Fr._ To throw succours into a besieged town or

place. It sometimes signifies to force an investing or attacking army

to raise the siege.

SECRECY. In a military economy this quality is peculiarly requisite. It

signifies fidelity to a secret; taciturnity inviolate; close silence.

Officers, in particular, should be well aware of the importance of it,

as the divulging of what has been confidentially entrusted to them,

especially on expeditions, might render the whole project abortive. The

slightest deviation from it is very justly considered as a breach of

honor, as scandalous conduct, unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.

In official matters the person so offending is liable to the severest

punishment and penalty.

SECRET, (_Secret_, _Fr._) Under this word may be considered the caution

and circumspection which every good general should observe during a

campaign; the feints he may think proper to make for the purpose of

covering a projected attack; and the various stratagems to which he may

resort to keep his own intentions concealed, and to get at those of

others.

SECRET. Kept hidden, not revealed. Hence secret expedition, secret

enterprise, &c. Secret articles of a treaty, being the correlative

words to public articles.

SECRET, _Fr._ The spot chosen by the captain of a fire-ship to apply

the saucisson of communication.

SECRET _expedition_. Those are often called such, which in fact are

known to the enemy before they are put in execution; they should never

be communicated to any other than the commander of the troops, and the

first naval officer, until they are in absolute readiness to act, and

but a few hours before the enterprize is put in execution: no officer

being allowed to open his instructions until he is either at his

destination, or at sea. See EXPEDITION.

SECRETAIRE, _Fr._ The clerk belonging to the Swiss regiments in the

old French service, was so called. He acted likewise as quarter master

serjeant, and was styled _Musterschreiber_.

SECRETAIRE _général d’artillerie_, _Fr._ A place of trust, which,

during the French monarchy, was in the nomination of the grand master.

SECRETARY _at war_, (_Secrétaire de guerre_, _Fr._) The first officer

of the war department.

SECRETARY _of state_. (_Secrétaire d’etat_, _Fr._) The secretary who

has charge of the foreign relations.

_To_ SECRETE, to hide; to keep private; to harbor; to conceal, &c. By

the articles of war it is provided, that if any person shall harbor,

conceal, or assist any deserter from his majesty’s service, knowing

him to be such, the person so offending shall forfeit, for every such

offence, the sum of five pounds.

SECTION. (_Section_, _Fr._) from the Latin word _sectio_, which is

derived from _seco_, to cut, a part of a thing divided, or the division

itself. Such particularly are the subdivisions of a chapter, called

also paragraphs and articles. Sometimes we find the term section

divided into articles; as in the articles of war.

SECTION. (_Section_, _Fr._) A certain proportion of a battalion or

company, when it is told off for military movements and evolutions. A

section may consist of four or any other number of files. This relates

to the infantry; the cavalry into ranks by three’s, and after that in

any number of files or sections. The French use the word section for

the same purpose; and form their companies into platoons, and divide

their platoons into any number of sections.

SECTOR, (_Secteur_, _Fr._) A mathematical instrument of great use in

finding the proportion between quantities of the same kind, as between

lines and lines, surfaces and surfaces, &c. for which reason the French

call it the compass of proportion.

The great advantage of the sector, above common scales, &c. is, that

it is adapted to all radii, and all scales. The sector is founded on

the fourth proposition of the sixth book of Euclid. The sector consists

of two equal legs, or rules of brass, &c. riveted together, but so as

to move easily on the rivet; on the faces of the instrument are placed

several lines; the principal of which are: the line of equal parts,

line of chords, line of sines, line of tangents, line of secants, and

line of polygons.

_To_ SECURE, in a military sense, to preserve, to keep, to make

certain. As to secure a place, to secure a conquest. In the management

of the firelock, it signifies to bring it to a certain position, by

which the locks are secured against rain. Hence

SECURE _arms!_ a word of command which is given to troops who are

under arms in wet weather. To bring your firelock to the secure; 1st,

throw your right hand briskly up, and place it under the cock, keeping

the piece steady in the same position.

2d. Quit the butt with the left hand, and seize the firelock with it at

the swell, bringing the elbow close down upon the lock: the right hand

kept fast in this motion, and the piece still upright.

3d. Quit the right hand, and bring it down to your right side, throwing

the firelock nimbly down to the secure; the left hand in a line with

the waist-belt. In order to _shoulder_ from the secure, you must 1st,

bring the firelock up to a perpendicular line, seizing it with the

right hand under the cock.

2d. Quit the left hand, and place it strong upon the butt.

3d. Quit the right hand, and bring it smartly down the right side.

SEDITION, in a military sense is to disobey orders; to cabal or

form factions against the officer or officers in command; to loosen

confidence; to resist or oppose orders, or to stir up mutiny. It is an

offence in military law of the most fatal character and always punished

in a most exemplary manner. See MUTINY.

SEER, _Ind._ A weight nearly equal to a pound.

SEESAR, _Ind._ the dewey season.

SEEARISH, _Ind._ A recommendation.

SEEPEEYA, _Ind._ A triangle to which culprits are tied to be punished.

SEFFY, _Ind._ A dynasty of Persia.

SEGBANS. Horsemen among the Turks, who have care of the baggage

belonging to cavalry regiments.

SEGMENT, a figure contained between a chord and an arch of the circle,

or so much of the circle as is cut off by that chord.

SEJA, _Ind._ A fenced terrace.

SEILLURE, (_Sillage, eau, bouage ou ouiache_, _Fr._) terms used among

the French to express the way a ship makes: it corresponds with our

naval word _Wake_, which is also called _Eaux_.

SEJOUR, _Fr._ In a military sense signifies a halting day. In a naval

one, the time that a ship remains in port.

SCION, _Fr._ A sand-crack in a horse’s hoof.

SEIN, _Fr._ In the midst. The French say figuratively, _porter la

guerre dans le sein d’un royaume_. To carry a war into the heart of a

kingdom. _Au sein de ses soldats._ In the midst of his soldiers.

SEL, _Fr._ Salt. Before the revolution of 1789, the French troops were

allowed a specific quantity of salt, which was regularly accounted for

at the back of the muster-rolls.

SEL, _Fr._ The salt used in the artillery is lixivial, and of a fixed

quality. It is extracted from saltpetre, and must be thoroughly washed,

as no saltpetre can be good which has the least saline or greasy

particle about it.

SELICTAR. A Turkish sabre.

_To_ SELL, to give for a price; the word correlative to _buy_. Hence to

buy and sell commissions.

SELLE, _Fr._ A saddle. See BOUTE-SELLE.

SELLE _rase_, _Fr._ A saddle without a bow.

SELLE _à arcon_, _Fr._ A bow-saddle.

SEMBLABLES, _Fr._ In geometry, similar, alike, equal. This term is

applied to any two figures, the sides of one of which correspond with

the sides of the other, and are always in the same ratio. So that

semblable or alike, only means in this sense _equal_. Two circles,

though unequal in their sizes, may still be alike; that is, their

several parts may agree according to a certain ratio.

_Les_ SEMELLES, _Fr._ The axle-trees belonging to the carriage of a gun.

SEMESTRE, _Fr._ This word literally signifies a term of six months;

but it is generally understood to express any term of leave of absence

which is granted to officers or soldiers. With respect to the latter,

it means furlough.

SEMICIRCLE, part of a circle divided by the diameter.

SEMIDIAMETER, half of the line which divides a circle into two equal

parts.

SEMIORDINATE, a line drawn at right angles to be bisected by the axis,

and extending from one side of the section to the other.

SENAU, _Fr._ A small skiff or tender calculated for quick sailing.

SENECHALE, _Fr._ The seneschal’s wife or lady.

SENESCHAL, (_Senéchal_, _Fr._) One who had in great houses the care of

feasts, or domestic ceremonies.

SENS-_dessus-dessous_, _Fr._ Topsy-turvy.

SENS-_devant-derriére_, _Fr._ Wrong way.

SENIORITY, in military matters, is the difference of number in two

regiments, whereby the one is said to be so much senior to the other.

All regiments take place according to seniority.

SENTENCE. Decision; determination, final judgment. There is an appeal

allowed from the sentence of a regimental court-martial to the opinion

of a general one.

SENTINEL, SENTRY, is a private soldier, placed in some post, to watch

the approach of the enemy, to prevent surprises, to stop such as would

pass without order, or discovering who they are. Sentries are placed

before the arms of all guards, at the tents and doors of general

officers, colonels of regiments, &c.

All sentries are to be vigilant on their posts; they are not, on any

account to sing, smoke tobacco, nor suffer any noise to be made near

them. They are to have a watchful eye over the things committed to

their charge. They are not to suffer any light to remain, or any fire

to be made near their posts in the night-time; neither is any sentry

to be relieved, or removed from his post, but by the corporal of the

guard. They are not to suffer any one to touch or handle their arms, or

in the night-time to come within 10 yards of their post.

No person is to strike or abuse a sentry on his post; but when he has

committed a crime, he is to be relieved, and then punished according to

the rules and articles of war.

A sentinel, on his post in the night, is not to know any body, but by

the countersign: when he challenges, and is answered, _relief_, he

calls out _stand, relief! advance, corporal!_ upon which the corporal

halts his men, and advances alone within a yard of the sentry’s

fire-lock (first ordering his party to port arms, on which the sentry

does the same) and gives him the same countersign, taking care that no

one hears it. See ROUNDS.

SENTINELLE, _Fr._ Sentinel; sentry. This word is likewise used to

express the duty done by a sentinel. _Faire sentinelle._ To stand

sentry.

SENTINELLE _perdue_, _Fr._ A sentry posted in a very advanced

situation, so as to be in continual danger of surprise from the enemy.

SEPTANGULAR, having seven angles.

SEPTILATERAL, having seven sides.

SEPTUPLE. Seven-fold.

SERASKIER, (_Serasquier_, _Fr._) Among the Turks, the next in rank to

the Vizier, in whose absence he commands, but to whose orders he is

constantly subservient.

SERGENT _d’armes_, _Fr._ During the old monarchy of France,

particularly in the reign of Philip Augustus, a guard was composed

of firm trusty men for the safety of the king. This guard was called

_Sergens d’armes_, from the Latin words _servientes armorum_. The

company of the _Sergens d’armes_ was composed of one hundred and fifty,

or two hundred men. The number was reduced by Philip de Valois to one

hundred. Charles V. during the regency broke the company, keeping only

six men of that description round his person; and Charles VI. had only

eight, half of whom did duty alternately every month. With us the

serjeant at arms is a person appointed to attend a public body, arrest

traitors, and persons offending.

SEPADAR, _Ind._ An officer of the rank of brigadier-general.

SEPAHI, _Ind._ A feudatory chief, or military tenant; a soldier. See

SEPOYS.

SEPHARRY, _Ind._ Afternoon.

SEPOYS, _Ind._ derived from the Persian _Spahi_. Natives who have

inlisted themselves into the service of the East India Company,

and are attached to the infantry. These troops have both native and

European commissioned and non-commissioned officers; but the Europeans

at all times command. The Sepahis make excellent soldiers, are

remarkably clean, and feel a natural predilection for arms. See SPAHI.

SERAKHUR, _Ind._ SERANG, Native non-commissioned officers who are

employed in the artillery, and on board ships of war. In the artillery

the title answers to that of _serjeant_; in the naval service to that

of _boatswain_.

SERASKUR, _Ind._ This word is sometimes written Seraskier, and

signifies the commander in chief of a Turkish army.

SERDANS. Colonels in the Turkish Service are so called.

SERGENT, _Fr._ See SERGEANT or SERJEANT.

SERGENT _noble_, _Fr._ A post of honor which existed during the first

periods of the French monarchy. The French compiler, from whose work

we have occasionally translated much matter relative to the military

history, &c. of France, has the following passage concerning the

term itself. We shall give his meaning literally:--“This term does

not come from _serviens_, as I have imagined in common with many

other etymologists. Monsieur Beneton, in his _Histoire de la Guerre_,

says, that the serjeant who seemed to think he could trace the

origin of his title in the Latin word _Serviens_, was a gentleman by

birth, who during the prevalence of military fiefs, was liable to do

military service, in consequence of the feodal tenure, called _Fief

de Sergenterie_, by which he held his land. His superior officer was

called _Suzerain_, the functions of whose situation corresponded with

those of a modern adjutant. It was the business of the _Sergent Noble_,

or gentleman serjeant, to assemble all the vassals of the Suzerain, for

the purpose of incorporating them under one standard, and of rendering

them fit for war.

SERGENT _de bande_, _Fr._ Serjeant in the common acceptation of the

term. The etymology of this word is different from that of Sergent

Noble. It evidently comes from the French _Serregens_, or men

that close or lock up, the same as serrefiles; shewing that this

non-commissioned officer was placed to take charge of the rear files,

whilst the commissioned one was in the front. It was his business to

see that the rear conformed itself to the orders which were given in

the front; to make the files lock up and dress, &c.

SERGENT _de bataille_, _Fr._ Field Serjeant. This was an appointment of

considerable trust in the old French armies. The _sergens de bataille_

held commands, and did the duty of modern inspectors. They ranked

next to a field marshal, or _marechal de bataille_. The _sergens de

bataille_, or field serjeants, existed under Francis the First. But

these field serjeants were only at that time _sergens de bandes_, or

train serjeants. There were likewise, under the same king, _sergens

generaux de bataille_, general field serjeants. These were officers of

rank, and did the duty of a modern major general.

There were also officers of the same description in the reign of Henry

IV. This appointment appears to have been dropped after the peace of

the _Pyrenees_. The author of the _Histoire de la Milice Francaise_,

observes, that the appointment and duty of the different officers,

called marshals, or field serjeants, varied according to the will

and pleasure of the French kings, and their war-ministers. He agrees

with us, that the situation of field serjeant was originally of great

consequence, but that it gradually declined, and was eventually

made subservient to a superior officer, who was called _Marechal de

bataille_, or field-marshal, whose duties corresponded with those of

the French adjutant-general in the present times.

There have been officers of the same denomination both in Spain and

Germany, who did the duty of Maréchaux de Camp; another term, we

presume, for field marshal. But the general field serjeants in those

countries were divided into two classes; one class was confined, in

its functions, to the infantry, and the other to the cavalry; and

both acted independently of one another; whereas in France they acted

together.

According to the present establishment of the French army, there is

a serjeant major belonging to each company. The _sergens majors d’un

régiment_, or _d’une place_ of the old French service, were what are

now simply called _majors_, majors of regiments, or town majors. The

senior serjeant of every company is called _serjeant major_ in the

French army at this time. In the British army the _serjeant major_

is the head of the non-commissioned officers, and though sometimes

attached to a company, is generally a detached staff officer. See

SERJEANT MAJOR.

SERGENTER, _Fr._ A word frequently used by the French in a figurative

sense, signifying to press, to importune. _On n’aime pointe à être

sergenté_; one does not like to be pressed; or as we familiarly say, to

be dragooned into a thing.

SERHUD, _Ind._ A boundary, or frontier.

SERGEANT, SERJEANT, SERGENT, _Fr._ in _war_, is a non-commissioned or

inferior officer in a company or troop, and appointed to see discipline

observed; to teach the private men their exercise; and to order, and

form ranks, files, &c. He receives the orders from the serjeant-major,

which he communicates to his officers. Each company has generally four

serjeants.

SERJEANT-_Major_. The serjeant-major is the first non-commissioned

officer in the regiment after the quarter-master in the English army.

He is, in fact, an assistant to the adjutant.

It is his peculiar duty to be perfect master of every thing which

relates to drills; and it is always expected, that he should set an

example to the rest of the non-commissioned officers, by his manly,

soldier-like, and zealous activity.

He must be thoroughly acquainted with all the details which regard

the interior management and the discipline of a regiment. For this

purpose he must be a good penman, and must keep regular returns of

the serjeants and corporals, with the dates of their appointments, as

well as the roster for their duties, and rosters of privates orderly

duty and commands, as far as relates to the number which each troop

or company is to furnish. He is in every respect responsible for the

accuracy of these details. He must look well to the appearance of the

men, and order such to drill as he sees awkward, slovenly, or in any

way irregular. If it be meant as a punishment, he specifies the time

for which they are sent to drill: if only for awkwardness, they remain

there until their faults are removed.

When he has occasion to put a non-commissioned officer in arrest, he

must report him to the adjutant.

It is the duty of the serjeant-major, under the direction of the

adjutant, to drill every young officer who comes into the regiment in

the manual and marching exercises: he is likewise to instruct him in

the slow and quick marches, in wheeling, &c.

He reports regularly to the adjutant the exact state of the awkward

drill, &c.

It is scarcely necessary to observe in this place, that the good or bad

appearance of a regiment, with or without arms, depends greatly upon

the skill and activity of the serjeant major; and that he has every

inducement to look forward to promotion.

_Quarter-master_ SERJEANT. A non-commissioned officer who acts under

the quarter-master of a regiment; he ought to be a steady man, a good

accountant, and to be well acquainted with the resources of a country

town or village.

_Pay_-SERJEANT. An honest, steady, non-commissioned officer, (who is a

good accountant, and writes well) that is selected by the captain of

a company in the infantry, to pay the men, give out rations, and to

account weekly to him, or to his subaltern, (as the case may be) for

all disbursements. He likewise keeps a regular state of the necessaries

of the men, and assists in making up the monthly abstract for pay,

allowances, &c.

_Covering_ SERJEANT. A non-commissioned officer who during the exercise

of a battalion, regularly stands or moves behind each officer,

commanding or acting with a platoon or company. When the ranks take

open order, and the officers move in front, the covering serjeants

replace their leaders; and when the ranks are closed, they fall back in

their rear.

_Drill_ SERJEANT. An expert and active non-commissioned officer, who,

under the immediate direction of the serjeant major, instructs the raw

recruits of a regiment in the first principles of military exercise.

When awkward or ill-behaved men are sent to drill, they are usually

placed under the care of the drill serjeant. This non-commissioned

officer will do well to bear constantly in mind the following

observations from page 135, Vol I. of the _Règlemens pour l’Infanterie

Prusienne_.

“In teaching young recruits their first duties, the greatest caution

must be observed not to give them a disgust to the service, by harsh

treatment, angry and impatient words, and much less by blows. The

utmost mildness must, on the contrary, be shewn, in order to endear the

service to them; and the several parts of exercise must be taught them

by degrees; so that they become insensibly acquainted with the whole

of the discipline, without having been disgusted in the acquirement.

Rustics and strangers must be used with extreme lenity.”

The principle of kind conduct is not less worthy of the officers of

a free nation like the United States; a generous but firm conduct is

always better calculated to assure good discipline, than violence or

brutality. Men learn sooner, learn better, and like what they learn

when treated as _men_, not as brutes. There yet prevails too much of

the barbarity of the British and German systems in the American army.

_Lance_ SERJEANT. A corporal who acts as serjeant in a company, but

only receives the pay of corporal.

_White_ SERJEANT. A term of just ridicule, which is applied to those

ladies who, taking advantage of the uxoriousness of their husbands, and

neglect their household concerns, to interfere in military matters.

SERMENT, _Fr._ Oath.

_Prêter_ SERMENT, _Fr._ To take an oath.

SERPE, _Fr._ A billhook.

SERPE _d’armes_, _Fr._ An offensive weapon; so called from its

resemblance to a hedging bill.

SERPENTEAU, _Fr._ A round iron circle, with small spikes, and squibs

attached to them. It is frequently used in the attack and defence of

a breach. It likewise means a fusee, which is filled with gunpowder,

and is bent in such a manner, that when it takes fire, it obtains

a circular rapid motion, and throws out sparks of light in various

directions.

SERPENTEAUX _et serpenteaux brochettes_, _Fr._ A species of lardon or

fusee, which is garnished or loaded upon a stick or spit that is a

third of the length of the cartridge.

SERPENTIN, _Fr._ The cock of a musquet or firelock.

SERRE-_File_, _Fr._ The last rank of a battalion, by which its depth

is ascertained, and which always forms its rear. When ranks are

doubled, the battalion resumes its natural formation by means of the

serre-files. Serre-file literally signifies a bringer up.

SERRE _demi File_, _Fr._ That rank in a battalion which determines

the half of its depth, and which marches before the demi-file. Thus a

battalion standing six deep, has its _serre-demi file_ in the third

rank, which determines its depth.

_Capitaine de_ SERRE-_File_, _Fr._ The officer who commands a rear

guard when a regiment is on its march.

SERRER, _Fr._ To close up. _Serrez vos rangs._ Take close order.

SERRER _la bride_, _Fr._ To pull in the bridle.

SERRURE, _Fr._ A lock.

SERRURIER, _Fr._ A locksmith.

SERVANS _d’armes_, or _Chevaliers Servans_, _Fr._ Persons belonging

to the third class of the order of Malta are so called. They are not

noblemen, although they wear the sword and the cross.

_To_ SERVE, (_Servir_, _Fr._) In a military sense, to do duty as an

officer or soldier.

_To_ SERVE _a piece_. In the artillery, to load and fire with

promptitude and correctness. The French use the term in the same sense,

viz. _L’artillerie fut bien servie à ce siege_. The artillery was well

served at this siege.

SERVICE, (_Service_, _Fr._) In a general sense of the word, as far

as it relates to war, every species of military duty which is done

by an inferior under the influence and command of a superior. It

likewise means exploit, achievement. It also points out the particular

profession to which a man belongs, as land service, sea service, and

the degree of knowlege which he may have acquired by practice, viz. He

has seen a great deal of service.

SERVICE likewise means the period during which a man has done duty, or

followed the military profession in an active manner.

_To see_ SERVICE. To be in actual contact with an enemy.

_To be on_ SERVICE. To be doing actual duty with a corps or detachment.

_To enter into the_ SERVICE. To receive a commission in the army.

The individual must be recommended to the commander in chief, or to

the secretary at war, (as the case may be) stating him to be fully

qualified to hold that situation.

_To retire from the_ SERVICE. To quit the army, or resign.

No officer can resign his commission, or retire from the service,

without having previously obtained permission through the commander in

chief, or the secretary at war, as the case may be.

_To retire from the_ SERVICE, _keeping one’s rank_. It has sometimes

happened, that an officer has obtained permission to quit the army,

keeping his rank. By which means he has been enabled to return into

the service, and to take advantage of his original standing. A very

meritorious officer, of high rank at present, was permitted to retire

in this manner. There have been instances of officers retiring not only

with their rank, but with a certain allowance from the regiment.

_Infantry_ SERVICE. Service done by foot soldiers.

_Cavalry_ SERVICE. Service done by soldiers on horseback.

_Faire son_ SERVICE, _Fr._ To do one’s duty.

_Etre de_ SERVICE, _Fr._ To be on duty.

_Etre de_ SERVICE, _chez le roi_. To do duty at the palace.

_Service_ likewise means tour of duty, or routine of service.

SERVICE _de l’infanterie en marche_, _Fr._ The regular duties, or

routine of service which an infantry regiment goes through when it

receives orders to march. These are, the general, _la génêrale_ ou _le

premier_. The assembly, _l’assemblée_. The troop, _le drapeau_ ou _le

dernier_.

SERVICE _des places_, _Fr._ The regular duty, or routine of service,

which is performed in fortified towns or places. Of this description

are garrison duties. See _l’Essai sur la science de la guerre_

par Mons. le baron D’Espagnac, tom. iii. p. 355, and _les Elémens

Militaires_, tom. ii. p. 116, where specific regulations on this head

may be seen. We likewise recommend to the perusal of every engineer and

artillery officer, a late valuable publication, entitled Essai Générale

de Fortification et d’Attaque et Defence des places.

SERVICE _de campagne_, _Fr._ Field duties: This subject has been ably

treated by several French writers, and among others by the author of

_les Elemens Militaires_, tom. ii. p. 1, &c. and in tom. iv. p. 68, &c.

_A letter of_ SERVICE. See LETTER.

_Home_ SERVICE. In a military sense, the duty which is done within

the limits of the United States. This term is frequently used to

distinguish such troops as are not liable to serve beyond specified

limits, from those that have been raised for general service; as the

militia in the several stares of the union.

_Foreign_ SERVICE. Military duty, or service done abroad.

_Secret_ SERVICE. Any service performed by an individual, in a

clandestine secret manner. It likewise means intelligence, or

information given by spies when countries are engaged in war, for which

they receive pecuniary compensation.

_Secret_ SERVICE _money_. The reward, or compensation which is given

for secret intelligence.

SERVICEABLE, capable of performing all necessary military duty.

SERVICES. Pecuniary disbursements, or payments which are made for

military purposes.

SERVIR _le canon_, _Fr._ To serve the cannon.

SERVIR _l’artillerie_, _Fr._ To serve the artillery.

_To_ SET _a sentry_, (_Poser une sentinelle_, _Fr._) To place a soldier

at any particular spot for its security.

_To_ SET _on_, (_Attaquer_, _Fr._) To attack.

_To_ SET _at defiance_, (_defier_, _Fr._) To defy; to dare to combat,

&c.

_To_ SET _up_. To make a man fit for military movements and parade,

according to the old and ridiculous method of military instruction; by

which a man was placed in _stiff_ and _awkward_ attitudes, with the

notion of making him supple and active! But that excess of setting up

which stiffens the person, and tends to throw the body backward instead

of forward, is contrary to every true principle of movement, and must,

therefore, be most carefully avoided. By the new principles nature is

consulted, and instead of teaching one man awkward positions, fifty or

an hundred are taught at once to move in an easy and natural manner.

SETENDY, _Ind._ The militia.

SETTER, _in gunnery_, a round stick to drive fuzes, or any other

compositions, into cases made of paper.

SHAFT-_rings_. See RINGS.

SEUIL, _Fr._ A threshold.

SEUIL _d’ecluse_, _Fr._ A thick piece of wood which is laid cross-ways

between two stakes at the bottom of the water, for the purpose of

supporting the flood-gate.

SEUIL _de pont levis_. A thick piece of wood with a groove, which is

fixed on the edge of the counterscarp of a fosse or ditch, in order to

bear the weight or pressure of the draw-bridge, when it is lowered. It

is likewise called _sommier_, a _summer_ or principal beam.

SEWER. In military architecture, a drain, conduit, or conveyance, for

carrying off water, foliage, &c. It is necessary that every building

have conveniencies for discharging its refuse water, and other useless

and offensive matters. These are obtained by digging and laying sewers

and drains at proper depths, and with the necessary outlets: the great

care is, that they be large enough; that they be placed sufficiently

deep, and have a proper descent; that they be well arched over, and

have so free a passage, that there be no danger of their choaking up;

the cleaning them being a work of trouble and expence.

Instead of making the bottom of the sewer a flat floor, it should be

in the form of an inverted arch, answering in part to the sweep of the

arch above. Every one knows that the freest passage is through circular

channels; and these might easily be constructed so as to wear that

form; they would resemble so many water-pipes of a circular base,

and there would be no danger of their filling up. The perpendicular

walls would not retain any thing, because there are no angles in their

joining; and the bottom being round and free, all would run off. These

circular sewers are with us called _culverts_.

SEX-_angled_, having six angles.

SEXTANT, (_Sextant_, _Fr._) In mathematics, an instrument which serves

to measure angles. It is the segment of a circle, or an arch of 60

degrees, which makes the sixth part of a circle.

SEYMAR-_Bassy_, _or first lieutenant general of the Janizaries_. An

officer among the Turks who not only commands the Janizaries that are

called _Seymenis_, but when the Aga, (which signifies chief guardian,

and Aga-si, chief or guardian of) takes the field, who further takes

the title of Kaymekan, or his lieutenant at Constantinople. He is

authorised to put his own seal upon the different dispatches which

he sends, and takes rank of all the sardars or colonels in his

jurisdiction. He is likewise entrusted with the entire direction and

management of all that concerns or relates to the interior government

of the Janizaries.

SHAKEE, _Ind._ A small coin, of the value of about three-pence.

SHAKER, _Ind._ A city.

SHAIT, _Ind._ Bridge, embankment.

SHAFT, an arrow; a missive weapon.

SHAFT, in mining; a narrow, deep perpendicular pit.

SHAFTS _of a carriage_, are two poles joined together with cross bars,

by which the hind horse guides the carriage, and supports the fore part

of the shafts; the hind part turning round an iron bolt.

SHAFT-_bars_, are two pieces of wood to fasten the hind ends of the

shafts together, into which they are pinned with wooden pins.

SHALLIE, _Ind._ The same as batty, which signifies rice in the husk.

SHAMROCK. The Irish word for trefoil, clover, or three leafed grass. It

is worn by the Irish in their hats on the 17th of March, St. Patrick’s

day.

SHANK. The long part of any instrument.

SHAROCK, _Ind._ A silver coin, equal in value to about one shilling.

SHAUMIARIS, _Ind._ A canopy of cotton cloth.

SHAW, _Ind._ A king.

SHAWZADA, _Ind._ The king’s son.

SHEED, _Ind._ A witness.

SHEICK. A chief of a tribe among the Arabs. Mr. Morier, in his account

of a campaign with the Ottoman army, relates that in 1800, a fanatic

sheick, who pretended to be inspired, headed the Fellahs, (the lowest

class of inhabitants are so called among the Arabs) of the district of

Demanhour, and caused a detachment of 80 Frenchmen to be put to death

in the night; this was effected by first securing the sentinel.

SHELLS, in _gunnery_, are hollow iron balls to throw out of mortars or

howitzers with a fuze hole of about an inch diameter, to load them with

powder, and to receive the fuze: the bottom, or part opposite the fuze,

is made heavier than the rest, that the fuze may fall uppermost; but in

small elevations this is not always the case, nor is it necessary; for,

let it fall as it will, the fuze sets fire to the powder within, which

bursts the shell, and causes great devastation. The shells had much

better be made of an equal thickness, for then they burst into more

pieces.

_The following shells may also be fired from guns._

Hand grenades from 6 Prs.

4²⁄₅ shells 12 Prs.

5¹⁄₂ shells 24 Prs.

8 inch 68 Pr. carronades.

Shells may likewise be thrown from guns to short distances, in case of

necessity, though the bore be not of a diameter sufficient to admit the

shell. For this purpose the gun may be elevated to any degree that will

retain the shell upon its muzzle, which may be assisted by a small line

going from the ears of the shell round the neck of the gun. To produce

a greater effect, the space between the shell and the charge may be

filled with wads or other substance.

_Shells for Mortars and Howitzers--Their Dimensions, Weight, &c._

+---------+-----------------+-------+--------+--------+

| | | | con- | Powder |

| | | | tained | for +

+---------+-----------------+-------+--------+--------+

|13 inch. | 1 3 2 | 12³⁄₄ | 10 4 | 6 12 |

|10 -- | 3 9 | 9³⁄₄ | 4 5 | 2 10 |

| 8 -- | 1 11¹⁄₂ | 7³⁄₄ | 2 12 | 1 14 |

| 5¹⁄₂ -- | 15¹⁄₄ | 5¹⁄₄ | 1 | 12 |

| 4²⁄₅ -- | 8 | 4¹⁄₅ | 7 | 5 |

|H. Gren.{| 3 11 | 3·49 | | |

| {| 1 13 | 2·77 | | 1 |

| | | | | |

+---------+-----------------+-------+--------+--------+

+---------+---------------+-------+

| | Diameter of | |

| | Fuze Hole. | Thick-|

| +-------+-------+ ness |

| | Out- | In- | of |

+---------+-------+-------+-------+

|13 inch. | 1·837 | 1·696 | 2·05 |

|10 -- | 1·57 | 1·45 | 1·575|

| 8 -- | 1·219 | 1·127 | 1·2 |

| 5¹⁄₂ -- | 0·894 | ·826 | 0·822|

| 4²⁄₅ -- | 0·832 | ·769 | 0·653|

|H. Gren.{| | | |

| {| | | |

| | | | |

+---------+-------+-------+-------+

_To find the weight of a shell of iron._

Take ⁹⁄₆₄ of the difference of the cubes of the external and internal

diameters for the weight of the shell.

_To find how much powder will fill a shell._

Divide the cube of the internal diameter of the shell in inches by

57·3, for the pounds of powder.

_To find the size of a shell to contain a given weight of powder._

Multiply the pounds of powder by 3.75, and the cube root of the product

will be the diameter in inches.

_To find the weight of a_ SHELL. _Rule._

Double the difference of diameters of the shell and hollow sphere, and

7 times the result gives the weight in pounds, cutting off the two

right hand figures of whole numbers.

_Example._ Let the diameter of the shell be 13 inches, and that of

the hollow sphere 9·5. Then the cube of 13 is 2197, and that of 9·5,

is 857·357; the difference is 1339·625, its double is 2679·25, which

multiplied by 7, gives 18754·625; and cutting off two places in whole

numbers, the result is 187 lb. or 1 cwt. 2 qrs. 21 lb. the weight of

the shell.

_French Shells, in French weights and measures._

+-------+-------+-------+--------+--------+-------------------+------+

+-------+-------+-------+--------+--------+---------+---------+------+

|12 inch| 150 | 12 | 17 | 5 | 15 9 | 15 | 16 |

|10 ----| 100 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 15 9 | 15 | 16 |

| 8 ----| 43 | 8 | 4 1 | 1 | 12 | 11 | 10 |

| 6 ----| 23 | 6 | 2 8 | 12 | 11 | 10 6 | 10 |

+-------+-------+-------+--------+--------+---------+---------+------+

_Dimensions of shells for guns and carronades made with an equal

thickness of metal._

+--------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

| Kind. | 42 Pr.| 32 | 24 | 18 | 12 |

+--------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

| {Diameter of{Exterior| 6·684 | 6·105 | 5·547 | 5·04 | 4·4 |

| {the shell {Interior| 4·404 | 4·005 | 3·767 | 3·4 | 2·8 |

| {Thickness of | | | | | |

|Guns.{metal | 1·14 | 1·05 | 0·89 | 0·82 | 0·8 |

| {Diameter of{Exterior| 0·892 | 0·894 | 0·894 | 0·832 | 0·832 |

| {fuze hole {Interior| 0·826 | 0·826 | 0·826 | ·769 | ·769 |

| {Powder for | | | | | |

| {bursting oz.| 14 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 5¹⁄₂ |

| +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

| {Diameter of{Exterior| 6·64 | 6·05 | 5·48 | 4·935 | 4·295 |

| {shell {Interior| 4·36 | 3·95 | 3·48 | 3·235 | 2·695 |

|Car- {Thickness of | | | | | |

|ron- {metal | 1·14 | 1·05 | 1· | ·85 | 0·8 |

|ades.{Shell’s weight lbs.| | 22 | | 12 | |

| {Contains powder oz.| | 12¹⁄₂ | | 9 | |

| {Powder for | | | | | |

| {bursting oz.| | 10 | | 7 | |

+--------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

Shells are likewise sometimes quilted into grape. See the word SHOT.

For the method of proving shells, see PROOF.

The Germans do not name their shells from the diameter of the bore

which receives them, but from the weight of a stone ball that fits

the same bore as the shell. Thus, a 7lb. howitzer admits a stone ball

of that weight; the shell for this weighs 15 lb. and answers to the

English 5¹⁄₂ inch. The 30 lb. howitzer shell weighs 60 lb. and is

rather more than 8 inches in diameter.

Shells were, till lately, made thicker at the bottom than at the fuze

hole; but are now cast of the same thickness throughout, and are found

to burst into a greater number of pieces in consequence.

_Message_-SHELLS, are nothing more than howitz shells, in the inside

of which a letter, or other papers, are put; the fuze hole is stopt up

with wood or cork, and the shells are fired out of a royal or howitz,

either into a garrison or camp. It is supposed that the person to whom

the letter is sent, knows the time, and accordingly appoints a guard

to look out for its arrival.

SHELL. A particular part of a sword, which serves as a shield to the

hand when it grasps the hilt. The British regulation sword, which is

directed to be worn in a cross belt, has its shell so constructed that

one side can fall down, by which means the hilt hangs more conveniently.

SHELL. A short jacket without arms, which was worn by light dragoons,

and in some instances by the infantry, before the new regulations took

place, respecting the clothing of the British army. At the commencement

of the present war, some militia colonels derived no inconsiderable

emolument from this mode of dress.

SHERISCHER-_war_, _Ind._ A word which corresponds with Saturday.

SHERISTA, _Ind._ An office; a registry; serishtadar, a linguist or

secretary.

_To_ SHIFT. In a military sense, to change place or station. Hence,

to shift quarters. In the exercise, &c. of a battalion, officers

commanding divisions are, upon particular occasions, such as marching

past, &c. to shift from the right to the left, to conduct the heads of

files, or the pivot flanks, in column or echellon. Whenever officers

shift, they must pass briskly by the rear, and never along the front of

the division. The covering serjeants always move with them.

_The_ SHILLINGS. A phrase in familiar use among British army brokers,

to express a certain profit or per centage which they gain in the sale,

purchase, and exchange of commissions. The regulated price of a company

in any regiment of foot being 1500_l._ only, that sum can be lodged at

an agent’s, or a banker’s; but if the company be what is called in the

market, the broker who transacts the business, receives one shilling in

the pound, and in order to produce this premium, the purchaser gives

1500 guineas, out of which the shillings amounting to 75_l._ are paid

to the broker, leaving the nett regulation untouched.

_Head-quarter_ SHIP. The ship on which the commander in chief of

an expedition is embarked, and from which signals are made for the

commanding officers, adjutants, &c. of corps, to attend.

_Hospital_ SHIP. The ship in which the sick and wounded soldiers, &c.

are taken care of on expeditions, and during sea voyages.

_Prison_ SHIP. A ship appropriated for the reception of prisoners of

war, &c.

SHOCCA, _Ind._ Any letter written by the king.

SNOOKREWAR, _Ind._ A word which corresponds with Friday.

SHOOTING. See GUNNERY and PROJECTILE.

SHORTEN _your bridle_. A word of command used in cavalry, viz.

1st. Seize the upper end of the reins of the bridle, which is to lie on

the right side of the horse, with the right hand.

2d. Bring it up as high as your chin, keeping your right elbow on a

level with the shoulder.

3d. Slip your left hand along the reins of the bridle, and take hold of

the loop or button, which is near the upper end of the reins.

4th. Slip the loop down with the left hand as low as the pommel of the

saddle.

5th. Bring the right hand down with life on the right holster-cap,

quitting the reins of the bridle with both hands.

SHORT-_roll_. See SIGNALS.

SHOT. A denomination given to all kinds of balls used for artillery

and fire-arms; those for cannon being of iron, and those for guns and

pistols, &c. of lead.

_Grape_ _Chain_ _Case_ SHOT. See LABORATORY.

_To find the weight of an iron Shot_ whose diameter is given; and

the contrary. _Rule._ Double the cube of the diameter in inches, and

multiply it by 7; so will the product (rejecting the 2 last or right

hand figures) be the weight in pounds.

_Example._ What is the weight of an iron shot of 7 inches diameter.

The cube of 7 is 343, which doubled is 686, and this multiplied by 7

produces 4802, which with the right hand figures rejected, gives 48

pounds, the weight required.

N. B. This rule is sufficiently exact for practical uses.

_To find the diameter of the Shot_, when the weight is given. _Rule._

Multiply the cube root of the weight in pounds by 1.923, and the

product is the diameter in inches.

_Example._ What is the diameter of an iron shot of 52 pounds? The cube

root of 52 is 3.732, which multiplied by 1.923 gives 7.177 inches, the

diameter required.

_Rule by logarithms._

To ¹⁄₃d of the log. of 52 0.572001

Add the constant log. 0.283979

And the sum is the log. of the diameter 7.177 0.855980

_To find the diameter of a_ SHOT, from the impression or cavity it

makes by striking a brass gun, or other object. _Rule._ Divide the

square of the radius of the cavity by the depth of it, and add the

quotient to the depth; so will the sum be the diameter of the shot

required.

_Example._ A shot having struck upon a brass gun, made a cavity of

1.49 inches deep, and 4.94 inches diameter; what was the size of the

shot? The radius of the cavity is 2.47, and its square is 6.1009, which

divided by the depth 1.49, the quotient is 4.1, to which adding 1.49,

the sum 5.59 inches is the diameter required, answering to a 24 pounder.

SHOT.--_Rules for finding the number in any pile._

_Triangular pile._

Multiply the base by the base + 1, this product by the base + 2, and

divide by 6.

_Square pile._

Multiply the bottom row by the bottom row + 1, and this product by

twice the bottom row + 2, and divide by 6.

_Rectangular piles._

Multiply the breadth of the base by itself + 1, and this product by 3

times the difference between the length and breadth of the base, added

to twice the breadth + 1, and divide by 6.

_Incomplete piles._

Incomplete piles being only frustrums, wanting a similar small pile

on the top, compute first the whole pile as if complete, and also the

small pile wanting at top; and then subtract the one number from the

other.

_Rules for finding the dimensions and weight of shot._

The weight and dimensions of shot or shells might be found by means of

their specific gravities; (see the word GRAVITY,) but they may be found

still easier, by means of the experimented weight of a ball of a given

size, from the known proportion of similar figures, namely, as the

cubes of their diameters.

1st. _To find the weight of an iron ball from its diameter._--An iron

ball of 4 inches diameter weighs 9 lb. and the weights being as the

cubes of their diameters, it will be as 64, (the cube of 4,) is to 9,

so is the cube of the diameter of any other ball to its weight.

2d. _To find the weight of a leaden ball._ A leaden ball of 4¹⁄₄ inches

diameter weighs 17 lb. therefore, as the cube of 4¹⁄₄ is to 17, (as 9

to 2 nearly,) so is the cube of the diameter of any leaden ball to its

weight.

3d. _To find the diameter of an iron ball._ Multiply the weight by 7¹⁄₉

and the cube root of the product will be the diameter.

4th. _To find the diameter of a leaden ball._ Multiply the weight by 9,

and divide the product by 2; and take the cube root of the quotient for

the diameter.

_Table of diameters of English iron round shot_.

+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+

|Kind | 68 | 42 | 32 | 24 | 18 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 1 |

+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+

|Inches|8· |6·684|6·105|5·547|5·040|4·403|4·000|3·498|2·775|1·92 |

+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+

| _Diameter of French iron round shot in English inches._ |

+------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+

|Kind | 36 | 24 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 4 |

+------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+

|Inches| 6·648 | 5·808 | 5·074 | 4·610 | 4·027 | 3·196 |

+------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+

_Table of grape shot, for sea and land service._

-----------+-------------+------------

| |Total weight

| Weight of |of the grape

Kind. | each shot. | complete.

-----------+-------------+------------

|lbs. oz. |lbs. oz.

42 pounders| 4 0 | 46 6

32 ---- | 3 0 | 34 1

24 ---- | 2 0 | 25 5

18 ---- | 1 8 | 19 15¹⁄₂

12 ---- | 1 0 | 10 15

9 ---- | 0 13 | 7 6

6 ---- | 0 8 | 5 8¹⁄₂

4 ---- | 0 6 | 3 14¹⁄₂

3 ---- | 0 0 | 2 10¹⁄₂

¹⁄₂ ---- | 0 ³⁄₄ lead| 8³⁄₄

-----------+-------------+------------

_Table of English case shot for different services._

-----+------------------------+-------------------------------

| Sea service. | Carronades.

+------+------+----------+--------+------+------+--------

| of | in | each | | of | in |each

-----+------+------+----------+--------+------+------+--------

Pr. | oz. | No. |lbs. oz. | Pr. | oz. | No. |lbs oz.

32 | 8 | 70 | 33 8 | 68 | 8 | 90 | 46 2

24 | 8 | 42 | 22 15 | 42 | 8 | 66 | 32 8

18 | 6 | 42 | 15 8 | 32 | 8 | 40 | 21 4

12 | 4 | 42 | 11 5 | 24 | 8 | 32 | 16 1

9 | 3 | 44 | 8 9 | 18 | 6 | 31 | 12 2

6 | 2 | 40 | 5 2 | 12 | 4 | 32 | 8 2

4 | 2 | 28 | 4 -- +--------+------+------+--------

3 | 2 | 20 | 2 15 |

1 | 1¹⁄₄ | 12 | 1 2¹⁄₄| Tier shot for field service.

-----+------+------+----------+--------+------+------+--------

| | oz. | No. |lbs. oz.

Common land service. |12 pr.} | 18 | 15 | 18 8

|Med. } | 6!!!| 42 | 17 11

-----+------+------+----------+6 pr. }| 8- | 15 | 9 --

Pr. | oz. | No. |lbs. oz. |Med. }| 3- | 42 | 8 14

24 | 4 | 84 | 21 11 |3 pr. } | 4- | 15 | 4 10

12 | 2 | 84 | 12 1 |Med. } | 1- | 42 | 4 6

6 | 1¹⁄₂ | 55 | 5 10¹⁄₂|12 pr. }| 14 | 12 | 14 14

3 | 1¹⁄₄ | 52 | 2 14 |light }| 6 | 34 | 14 11

| | | |6 pr. } | 8- | 12 | 7 3

| | | |light } | 3- | 34 | 7 7

| | | |3 Pr. }| 4- | 12 | 3 10

| | | |light }| 1- | 34 | 3 11

-----+------+------+----------+--------+------+------+--------

_Table of case shot.--Continued._

----------------------------+----------------------

For mortars | Howitzers.

-----+------+------+--------+------+------+--------

| of | shot | of | of | shot | of

-----+------+------+--------+------+------+--------

In. | oz. | No. |lbs. oz.| oz. | No. |lbs. oz.

10 | 8 | 170 | 91 8 | -- | -- | -- --

8 | 6 | 90 | 38 4 | 6 | 90 | 38 8

5¹⁄₂| 3 | 55 | 12 6 | 3 | 55 | 12 8

4 | 2 | 55 | 8 1 | 2 | 55 | 8 2

-----+------+------+--------+------+------+--------

Small shells, as 4²⁄₅ inches, and hand grenades were quilted into grape

for 13 inch mortars at Gibraltar. The fuzes were turned inwards next

the iron tompion, and leaders of quick match for communicating fire to

the fuzes were introduced through holes made in the wooden bottom, and

placed as near the fuzes as possible in the centre of the grape. These

answered very well for short ranges.

_Hot Shot._--The powder for firing with hot shot must be in strong

flannel cartridges, without any holes, lest some grains should remain

in the bore, in putting the cartridge home. Over the powder must be

rammed a good dry wad, then a damp one, and then the hot shot; and if

the gun lays at a depression, there must be a wad over the shot, which

may be rammed home. If the above precautions be attended to, the

gun may be pointed after being loaded, without the smallest danger,

as it is well known that the shot will grow cold in the gun, without

burning more than a few threads of the wads next it. This is not the

mode usually taught of loading with hot shot, but is that which was

practised during the siege of Gibraltar. Mr. Durtubie proposes putting

the shot when heated, into a tin cannister, as an effectual method of

preventing accidents.

The grates usually made for heating shot will generally make them red

hot in three-fourths of an hour.

SHOULDER. The upper part of the blade of a sword is so called. The

shoulders of regimental sword-blades, for the infantry, should be one

inch broad at least.

SHOULDER _of a bastion_. In fortification. See EPAULE.

SHOULDER-_belt_, so called because it hangs over the shoulder, to carry

the bayonet or sword: it is made of strong leather.

_To_ SHOULDER. In a military sense; to lay on the shoulder, or to rest

any thing against it. Hence to shoulder a musquet.

SHOULDER _arms_. A word of command which is used in the manual

exercise. See MANUAL.

_Right_ SHOULDERS _forward_. _Left_ SHOULDERS _forward_. Two terms of

command in the British service, when a column of march (in order to

follow the windings of its route) changes its direction in general,

less than the quarter of the circle. This is a clumsy translation of

the _line of science_, or oblique facing of the French system; the

proper word of command is _half_ or _quarter face_ to the right or left.

SHROF, _Ind._ A banker; a moneychanger, or one who keeps a shop for

the accommodation of the public in pecuniary matters, and who derives

considerable advantage from the circulating medium of other people’s

property.

SHROFFING, _Ind._ The act of examining and sorting money.

SHUMSERTREEPUT, _Ind._ Avowal, acknowlegement, confession.

_To_ SHUT. To close; to make not open.

SHUT _pans_. A word of command used in the inspection of arms. Place

the inside of your fingers against the back part of the hammer, and

bring it briskly to in one motion. In opening pans, you place the thumb

against the inside of the hammer.

SHUTERNAUL, _Ind._ A sort of arquebuss, which is fixed upon the back of

a camel.

SICK and _hurt_. A board so called, to which the agents, commissaries,

&c. belonging to the several military hospitals in Great Britain, are

responsible.

SIDE-_pieces_, of _gun-carriages_. See CARRIAGES.

SIDE-_straps_, in a _field carriage_, are flat iron bands which go

round the side-pieces, in those places where the wood is cut across the

grain, to strengthen them near the centre and the trail.

SIEGE, (_Siege_, _Fr._) The position which an army takes, or its

encampment before a fortified town, or place, for the purpose of

reducing it. The term comes from _siege_, which signifies seat,

chair, &c. Hence; to sit down before a place, signifies in a military

sense, to chuse a position from which you may commence the necessary

operations to attack and get possession of it. The French use the word

generally as we do.

_To undertake the_ SIEGE _of a town_. _Entreprendre le siege d’une

Ville._ To invest it, to form lines of circumvallation, to open

trenches, &c.

_To lay_ SIEGE _to a town_, (_faire le siége d’une ville_, _Fr._) To

draw your forces round a town, for the purpose of attacking it.

_To carry on a_ SIEGE, (_continuer un siége_, _Fr._) To persevere by

regular approaches, &c. in gaining ground upon the garrison.

_To lay close_ SIEGE, (_presser le siége_, _Fr._) To approach close

to the walls for the purpose of making a breach and storming, or of

starving out the garrison. For a full and scientific explanation of the

different methods, which are adapted in modern times, for the attack

or defence of places, particularly of sieges, see _Essai General de

Fortification, d’attaque et defense de places_, tom. 1, page 61, &c. &c.

SIEGE _brusque_, _Fr._ An expression used among the French, to signify

the prompt and immediate movement of a besieging army, against a

fortified town or place, without waiting for the regular formation of

lines, &c. In this case the troops make a vigorous attack upon all

the outworks, and endeavour to make a lodgment upon the counterscarp.

When they have succeeded, they instantly throw up temporary lines, &c.

behind them, in order to secure a retreat, should the garrison force

them to quit their ground.

SIEGE, in the _art of war_, is to surround a fortified place with an

army, and approach it by passages made in the ground, so as to be

covered against the fire of the place.

The first operation of a _siege_ is investing. The body of troops

investing a town should, at least, be as strong again as the garrison:

so as to be able to divide itself into several parties, in order to

take possession of all the avenues leading to the place. By day they

should keep themselves out of cannon shot: but as soon as it is dusk

they must approach much nearer, the better to be able to support each

other, and to straiten the town.

_General phrases and terms used at a_ SIEGE _are_, _viz._

_To besiege a place._ See SIEGE.

_To accelerate the_ SIEGE, (_Presser le Siege_, _Fr._) is when an army

can approach so near the place as the covert-way, without breaking

ground, under favor of some hollow roads, rising grounds, or cavities,

and there begin their work.

_An attack_, is when the besieging army can approach the town so near

as to take it, without making any considerable works.

_To form the_ SIEGE, _or lay siege to a place_, (_Mettre le Siege à

une place_, _Fr._) there must be an army sufficient to furnish five

or six reliefs for the trenches, pioneers, guards, convoys, escorts,

&c. and artillery, with all the apparatus thereto belonging; magazines

furnished with a sufficient quantity of all kinds of warlike stores;

and a general hospital, with physicians, surgeons, medicines, &c.

_To raise a_ SIEGE, (_Lever le Siege_, _Fr._) is to give over the

attack of a place, quit the works thrown up against it, and the posts

formed about it. If there be no reason to fear a sally from the place,

the _siege_ may be raised in the day-time. The artillery and ammunition

must have a strong rear guard, lest the besieged should attempt to

charge the rear: if there be any fear of an enemy in front, this order

must be altered discretionally, as safety and the nature of the country

will admit.

_To turn a_ SIEGE _into a blockade_, (_Convertir le Siege en blocus_,

_Fr._) is to give over the attack, and endeavor to take it by famine;

for which purpose all the avenues, gates, and streams, leading into the

place, are so well guarded, that no succor can get in to its relief.

_To insult a work_, to attack it in a sudden and unexpected manner,

with small arms, or sword in hand.

_Surprise_, is the taking a place by stratagem or treason.

_To escalade a place_, is to approach it secretly, then to place

ladders against the wall, or rampart, for the troops to mount and get

into it that way.

_To petard a place_, is privately to approach the gate and fix a petard

to it, so as to break it open for the troops to enter.

_Line of circumvallation_, is a kind of fortification, consisting of a

parapet, or breast-work, and a ditch before it, to cover the besiegers

against any attempt of the enemy in the field.

_Line of countervallation_, is a breast-work, with a ditch before it,

to cover the besiegers against any sally from the garrison, in the same

manner that the line of circumvallation serves to protect them in the

field.

_Lines_, are works made to cover an army, so as to command a part of

the country, with a breast-work and a ditch before it.

_Retrenchment_, a work made round the camp of an army, to cover it

against any surprise.

_Line of counter-approach_, a trench which the besieged make from the

covert-way to the right and left of the besiegers attacks, in order

to scour their works. This line must be perfectly enfiladed from the

covert-way and the half-moon, &c. that it may be of no service to the

enemy, in case he gets possession of it.

_Batteries_ at a _siege_, cannot be erected till the trench is advanced

within reach of the cannon of the place; that is, within what is

generally understood to be a point-blank range, which is reckoned about

300 toises, or 1800 feet.

_Cannon_ is made use of at a _siege_ for two different purposes; the

first to drive away the enemy from their defences; and the second, to

dismount their guns. To produce these two effects, the batteries should

not be above the mean reach of cannon-shot from the place: therefore

there is no possibility of constructing them, till the first parallel

is formed; and as the distance of the first parallel from the second is

generally 300 toises, the batteries must be on this line, or beyond it,

nearer the town.

The construction of batteries belongs to the officers of the royal

artillery, who generally consult with the engineer that has the

direction of the siege, as well about their situation as about the

number of their guns and mortars. They must be parallel to the works

of the town which they are to batter. It is customary to place the

mortar-batteries and gun-batteries side by side, and in the same line,

to the end that they may batter the same parts. The use of both is to

demolish the enemy’s works, to dismount their guns, to penetrate into

their powder magazines, and to drive the besieged from their works

and defences; as also to ruin and destroy the principal buildings, by

setting fire to the town; and to fatigue and distress the inhabitants

in such a manner, that they shall press the garrison to surrender.

_To sally at a siege_, is to go privately out of a besieged town, fall

suddenly upon the besiegers, and destroy part of their works, spike

their cannon, and do every other possible damage.

_A sally_, a secret movement which is made out of a besieged town or

place, by a chosen body of troops, for the purpose of destroying an

enemy’s out-works, &c. Sallies are seldom made when the garrison is

weak; for although they molest the enemy, and keep him on the alert,

yet the chance of losing men renders it prudent to keep within the

works.

_Saps_ in a _siege_, are trenches made under cover from the fire of the

place, behind a mantlet or stuffed gabion: they are generally ten or

twelve feet broad.--This work differs from the trenches, in as much as

the latter are made uncovered. The sap has also less breadth; but when

it is as wide as the trench, it bears the same name. There are various

sorts of saps, viz.

_Single sap_, is that which is made on one side only, or, which is the

same thing, has only one parapet.

_Double Sap_, has a parapet on each side, and is carried on wherever

its two sides are seen from the place.

_Flying sap_, is that in which the besiegers do not give themselves the

trouble of filling the gabions with earth: it is made where the workmen

are not much exposed, and in order to accelerate the approaches.

_Sap-faggots_, are a kind of fascines, but only three feet long, and

about six inches in diameter.

_Saucissons_, are another species of fascines, from 12 to 19 feet long,

and from 8 to 10 inches in diameter, and are used in making batteries,

and repairing the breaches.

_Sortie._ See SALLY.

_Tail_, or _rear of the trench_, (_Queue de la tranche_, _Fr._) is the

first work the besiegers make when they open the trenches.

_Tambour_, is a kind of traverse, at the upper end of the trench or

opening made in the glacis to communicate with the arrows. This work

hinders the besiegers from being masters of the arrow, or discovering

the inside of the place of arms belonging to the covert-way.

_Traverse_, in a _siege_, a kind of retrenchment which is made in the

dry ditch, to defend the passage over it.

_Trenches_, are passages or turnings dug in the earth, in order to

approach a place without being seen from its defences.

_Wool-packs_, used in a _siege_, differ from sand-bags, in this only,

that they are much larger, and, instead of earth, they are filled with

wool. They are used in making lodgments in places where there is but

little earth, and for other similar purposes. They are about five feet

high, and 15 inches in diameter.

_Rear of an attack_, is the place where the attack begins.

_Front, or head of an attack_, that part next to the place.

_Mantlets_, are wooden fences, rolling upon wheels, of two feet

diameter; the body of the axle-tree is about four or five inches

square, and four or five feet long; to which is fixed a pole of eight

or ten feet long, by two spars; upon the axle-tree is fixed a wooden

parapet, three feet high made of three-inch planks, and four feet long,

joined with dowel-pins, and two cross-bars: this parapet leans somewhat

towards the pole, and is supported by a brace, one end of which is

fixed to the pole, and the other to the upper part of the parapet.

Mantlets are used to cover the sappers in front against musquet shot.

_Maxims in_ SIEGES are, 1st. The approaches should be made without

being seen from the town, either directly, obliquely, or in the flank.

2. No more works should be made than are necessary for approaching the

place without being seen; _i. e._ the besiegers should carry on their

approaches the shortest way possible, consistent with being covered

against the enemy’s fire.

3. All the parts of the trenches should mutually support each other;

and those which are farthest advanced, should be distant from those

that defend them above 120 or 130 toises, that is, within musquet shot.

4. The parallels, or places of arms the most distant from the town,

should have a greater extent than those which are the nearest, that the

besiegers may be able to take the enemy in flank, should he resolve to

attack the nearest parallels.

5. The trench should be opened or begun as near as possible to the

place, without exposing the troops too much, in order to accelerate and

diminish the operations of the siege.

6. Care should be taken to join the attacks; that is, they should have

communications, to the end that they may be able to support each other.

7. Never to advance a work, unless it be well supported; and for this

reason, in the interval between the 2d and 3d place of arms, the

besiegers should make, on both sides of the trenches, smaller places of

arms, extending 40 or 50 toises in length, parallel to the others, and

constructed in the same manner, which will serve to lodge the soldiers

in, who are to protect the works designed to reach the third place of

arms.

8. Take care to place the batteries of cannon in the continuation of

the faces of the parts attacked, in order to silence their fire; and to

the end that the approaches, being protected, may advance with great

safety and expedition.

9. For this reason the besiegers shall always embrace the whole front

attacked, in order to have as much space as is requisite to place the

batteries on the produced faces of the works attacked.

10. Do not begin the attack with works that lie close to one another,

or with rentrant angles, which would expose the attack to the cross

fire of the enemy.

_Stores required for a month’s_ SIEGE _are as follows_:

Powder, as the garrison is more or less strong 8 or 900,000 lb.

Shot{for battering pieces 6000

{of a lesser sort 20,000

Battering cannon 80

Cannons of a lesser sort 40

Small field-pieces for defending the lines 20

Mortars for throwing{shells 24

{stones 12

Shells for mortars 15 or 16,000

Hand-grenades 40,000

Leaden bullets 180,000

Matches in braces 10,000

Flints for musquets, best sort 100,000

Platforms complete for guns 100

Platforms for mortars 60

{carriages for guns 60

Spare{mortar-beds 60

{spunges, rammers, and ladles, in sets 20

Tools to work in trenches 40,000

Several hand-jacks, gins, sling-carts, travelling forges, and other

engines proper to raise and carry heavy burdens; spare timber, and all

sorts of miner’s tools, mantlets, stuffed gabions, fascines, pickets,

and gabions.

SIENS, _Fr._ The plural of sien, _his_, _her’s_ or _one’s_ own. This

word is used among the French, to signify the same as _gens_, men,

people, soldiers; viz. _ce général fut abandonné par les siens_. That

general was abandoned by his own soldiers.

SIEVE, an instrument, which by means of hair, lawn, or wire, is capable

of separating the fine from the coarse parts of any powder. See

GUNPOWDER, LABORATORY, &c.

SIFFLEMENT, _Fr._ Literally means the noise of a whistle. It is used to

express the sound which a ball or bullet makes when it cuts the air; as

_sifflement des armes à feu_. The whistling or whizzing noise of fire

arms.

SIES or SHIAS, _Ind._ A tribe of people in the N. West of India.

SIFFLET, _Fr._ A whistle. The French make use of the whistle on board

their ships in the same manner as we do. It answers the same purpose

at sea, that the drum and trumpet do on shore. The boatswain’s whistle

pipes all hands up, as occasion requires in a ship: and the drum and

trumpet collect troops together, in camp, garrison, or elsewhere.

SIG, an old Saxon word, importing victory.

SIGHT, (_La Mire_, _Fr._) a small piece of brass or iron which is fixed

near to the muzzle of a musquet or pistol, to serve as a point of

direction, and to assist the eye in levelling.

SIGN, a sensible mark or character, denoting something absent or

invisible. As the trace of a foot, the hand-writing or mark of a man;

also the subscription of one’s name.

SIGN _Manual_. The king’s signature is so called. All commissions in

the regular army of Great Britain, army warrants, &c. bear the sign

manual. The appointments of officers in the volunteers have been so

distinguished during the present war. Adjutants only in the militia

have their commissions signed by the king; those of the field officers,

captains, and subalterns, &c. are signed by the lords lieutenants of

counties, or by their deputies for the time being, sanctioned by a

previous intimation from the secretary of state, that the king does not

disapprove of the names which have been laid before him.

SIGNAL, (_Signal_, _Fr._) Any sign made by sea or land, for sailing,

marching, fighting, &c. Signals are likewise given by the short and

long rolls of the drum, during the exercise of a battalion.

SIGNAL, in the _art of war_, a certain sign agreed upon for the

conveying intelligence, where the voice cannot reach. _Signals_ are

frequently given for the beginning of a battle, or an attack, usually

with drums and trumpets, and sometimes with sky-rockets, &c.

SIGNAL _of attack or assault_, _(Signal d’une attaque, ou d’un assaut_,

_Fr._) This signal may be given in various ways. By the discharge of a

lighted shell, by sky-rockets, by colors displayed from a conspicuous

spot, &c. In 1747 marshal Lowendal made use of lighted shells or

bombs, when he laid siege to the town of Bergen-op-zoom. During the

consternation of the inhabitants, which was excited by a continual

discharge of these signal shells, the grenadiers entered a practicable

breach, and took the town by storm.

SIGNAL-_flags_ in _ancient military history_, was a gilded shield hung

out of the admiral’s gallery; it was sometimes a red garment or banner.

During the elevation of this the fight continues, and by its depression

or inclination towards the right or left, the rest of the ships were

directed how to attack their enemies, or retreat from them.

SIGNALS _made by the colors of an army_, (_Signaux des enseignes_,

_Fr._) The ancients had recourse to all the various methods which

could be used by signals, to express the particular situation of

affairs, and to indicate measures that should be adopted. If, during an

engagement, victory seemed inclined more to one side than another, the

colors belonging to the victorious party were instantly bent towards

its yielding antagonist. This signal was conspicuous to the men, and

excited them to fresh efforts. They imbibed the most lively hopes of

success, and eagerly pressed forward to reap the advantages of bravery

and good conduct.

When an army was hard pressed by its enemy, the colors of the former

were raised high in the air, and were kept in a perpetual flutter and

agitation, for the purpose of conveying to the soldiers, that the issue

of the battle was still doubtful, and that nothing but courage and

perseverance could determine the victory. If, in the heat of action,

any particular regiment seemed to waver and give way, so as to cause an

apprehension that it might finally be broken, its colors were instantly

snatched out of the bearer’s hands by the general or commanding

officer, and thrown into the thickest of the enemy. It frequently

happened that the men who were upon the point of yielding ground and

flying, received a fresh impulse from this act, rallied, and by a

desperate effort of courage recovered the colors, and restored the day.

This method of re-animating their legions was generally resorted to by

the Romans. We have had instances in modern times, where the fortune

of the day has been wholly decided by some sudden and unexpected

act of an individual. In the reign of Louis XIV. a private soldier

threw his hat into the midst of the enemy during a hard fought and

doubtful battle, expressing thereby that fresh succours were arrived to

strengthen the French army. This circumstance, so apparently trifling,

produced the desired effect. It threw the enemy into confusion, gave

the French fresh spirits, and finally determined the victory in their

favor. We read of various instances in which signals have been used

to express the personal danger of a king or general, who was fighting

at the head of a select body of men. The knowlege of the critical

position in which their leader stood, excited fresh courage in the rest

of the troops, and drove them to acts of the greatest intrepidity. In

the course of the present war some examples of the same sort might be

adduced, both on the side of Austria, and on that of France. The bridge

of Lodi, the passage of the Tagliamento, &c. would illustrate any

observations we could make upon the subject.

To regulate the retreat and relative support of the rear guards