SUPPLEMENT. Addition; augmentation, in case of deficiency.

SUPPLEMENT _of an arch_. In geometry or trigonometry, the number of

degrees which it wants of being an entire semicircle; as complement

signifies what an arch wants of being a quadrant.

SUPPLEMENT _d’un angle_, _Fr._ Supplement of an angle. The number of

degrees which are wanting in an angle to constitute or make up two

angles.

SUPPLEMENT, _Fr._ A certain pecuniary allowance, over and above the

ordinary pay or subsistence, which was given by the king to officers

belonging to the old French service.

SUPPLEMENTAL, SUPPLEMENTARY, (_Supplementaire_, _Fr._) Additional; such

as fills up what is wanting.

SUPPLY. Relief of want; making up of deficiencies. A fresh supply of

troops, ammunition, &c.

_To_ SUPPLY. To makeup deficiencies. To aid; to assist; to relieve

with something wanted. To fill any room made vacant. Thus, covering

serjeants supply the places of officers when they step out of the

ranks, or are killed in action.

_To_ SUPPORT. To aid, to assist; it likewise signifies to preserve

untarnished, viz. To support the ancient character of the corps.

_Well_ SUPPORTED. Well aided, well assisted. It likewise signifies

well kept up, as _a well supported fire from the batteries_; a well

supported fire of musquetry.

SURAPAN, _Ind._ An honorary dress, which is given to an inferior by a

superior.

SURAT _Haal_, _Ind._ A state or representation of the case.

SURCINGLE. A girth with which the saddle or any other burden is bound

upon a horse.

SURFACE, in _fortification_, is that part of the side which is

terminated by the flank prolonged, and the angle of the nearest

bastion: the double of this line with the curtain is equal to the

exterior side.

SURGEON, (_Chirurgien_, _Fr._) A staff officer, who is chief of the

medical department in each regiment or hospital, &c.

SURGEON-_general_. The first or senior surgeon of an army.

Particular instructions to the regimental surgeons of the line in the

British service.

Each regimental surgeon of the line, when provided with a chest of

medicines, is required half yearly to make a return to the inspector

of regimental hospitals, (under cover to the secretary at war,) of the

medicines used by him during the preceding six months, and what remain;

and this return must be accompanied by an affidavit taken before a

magistrate, that none of the medicines have, to his knowlege, been

converted to private purposes, or applied to any use but that of the

regiment, or some other military service; for which he must produce

the special orders of the commanding officer, or of the inspector of

regimental hospitals.

Should a regiment of the line be placed in an unhealthy situation; or,

from any prevailing disease, should the surgeon’s stock of a particular

medicine be exhausted before the next yearly supply becomes due, he is

to apply to the inspector of regimental hospitals, (under cover to the

secretary at war) for a fresh supply; the existence of such cause for

the extraordinary consumption of the medicines to be certified by the

commanding officer.

If a medical officer of the line desires to use a medicine not in the

dispensatory, he must procure it at his own expence.

Whenever wine is necessary for the sick of a regiment of the line, a

return of the consumption thereof is to be made weekly to the inspector

of regimental hospitals.

The medical and hospital expences of regiments of the line, and of

their respective detachments, are to be inserted in the public accounts

of the respective corps.

Every regimental surgeon is to make a report to the inspector of

regimental hospitals, of the situation, size, rent, &c. of the

hospital he proposes to hire; and unless on very pressing emergencies,

no engagement is to be entered into without the permission of that

officer, to whom is to be transmitted half yearly, viz. June 24th

and December 24th, an abstract of the regimental hospital contingent

expences, approved by the commanding officer of the regiment,

accompanied with regular vouchers signed and certified by the paymaster.

When a soldier is punished, it is the duty of the regimental surgeon

to attend at the execution of the sentence, and to see that the life

of the culprit is not endangered by excessive rigor. He is, in fact,

paramount to the commanding officer on this occasion, and ought to

interfere whenever his judgment dictates. If any commanding officer

should be hardy enough to continue the chastisement in spite of the

surgeon’s interposition, the responsibility will then rest with him.

_Assistant_ SURGEON. The person who acts immediately under the

regimental surgeon. In the regulations for improving the situation of

British regimental surgeons and mates, which took place in 1796, it is

expressed, that surgeon’s mates in future are to be stiled assistant

surgeons, and to be appointed by commission from the king, or by

generals authorised by him. For further particulars respecting surgeons

and assistant surgeons, see Military Finance, page 46.

_Veterinary_ SURGEON. See VETERINARY.

SURINTENDANT _des Fortifications_, _Fr._ A place of great trust and

considerable importance during the old French government. It was his

duty to submit plans of places that were to be fortified, or of others

that wanted repairing, to give in estimates of the expences that

would attend the works, and to state to the directors the degrees of

skill and activity which he had discovered in the different engineers

who acted under him. He likewise communicated with the king on every

weighty branch of ordnance. His allowance was fifty thousand livres per

annum, out of which he gave six thousand livres, or 1200 _dolls._ to a

first clerk, who received the like sum from the king for under-clerks

and stationary.

SURINTENDANT _général des poudres et salpêtres de France_, _Fr._

Superintendant general of powder and saltpetre magazines of France. An

appointment in the old French artillery, which was created in 1634, and

paid the Paulette.

SURMENER, _Fr._ To founder. A term in the French manege, signifying to

over-ride or over-work a horse. Hence, _un chéval surmené_. A jaded

horse, or one spoiled by too much work.

_Les_ SURPENTES, _Fr._ The slings or straps used in the artillery.

_To_ SURPRISE, (_Surprendre_, _Fr._) in _war_, to fall on an enemy

unexpectedly, in marching through narrow and difficult passes, when

one part has passed, so as not easily to come to the succour of the

other; as in the passage of rivers, woods, enclosures, &c. A place is

surprised by drains, casemates, or the issues of rivers or canals; by

the encumbering the bridge or gate, by waggons meeting and stopping

each other; sending soldiers into the place, under pretence of being

deserters, who, on entering, _surprise_ the guard; being sustained

by troops in ambush near the place, to whom they give entrance, and

thereby seize it. Soldiers dressed like peasants, merchants, Jews,

priests, or women, are sometimes employed for this purpose. The enemy

sometimes send in their soldiers, as if they were yours coming from the

hospitals, &c. they also dress their soldiers in your regimentals, who,

presenting themselves at your gate as such, are immediately admitted,

seize the guard, and become masters of the place. Sometimes houses are

set on fire, and whilst the garrison comes out to extinguish it, troops

who lay in ambush march in, and surprise the place. Officers commanding

guards at the principal gates are lured out under various pretences;

matters being so contrived that a party seize the gate in coming in

with them. Sometimes an alarm is given at one side of the garrison,

whilst you enter secretly at the other, which at that time is too often

neglected.

SURPRISES, (_Surprises_, _Fr._) In a military sense, may apply either

to those measures which are adopted by one army in the field to

surprise another, or to those which are followed in the attack of

fortified places. The French make a distinction between _surprises

de campagne_, and _surprises des places_, or the surprises which are

practised against an army in the field, and those which are executed

against fortified towns or places. What has been said under the

article _Stratagems of War_, will equally apply to the latter system.

When it is found expedient to attempt a surprise in the field, a

sufficient number of men must be collected for the purpose, not only

of advancing with confidence against the enemy, but of being able to

make good a retreat, should he prove stronger than was suspected. The

troops that are selected for this duty should be remarkable for their

fidelity, and be able to undergo the greatest fatigue. Intelligent and

faithful guides must be distributed among the different troops and

companies, in order to keep up the continuity of the march, and put

those of the rear in the right paths, should they have deviated from

the direct route or line of march.

If the detachment or corps, that is entrusted with the secret

expedition or surprise, be marched out of an entrenched camp, proper

precautions must be taken, to prevent any intercourse between the

enemy and persons employed to send or give intelligence. To do this

effectually, the instant the rear guard has left the camp, the gates

must be shut, and the strictest orders be issued to prevent spies or

deserters from stealing out. Small parties of cavalry and riflemen

must likewise be sent forward, to scour the roads, and to pick up

stragglers. Care is taken to have it understood by the people of the

country, that these parties are detached, for no other purpose than to

escort some waggons, which are expected for the use of the army, to

parley, or apparently to execute some business that can neither create

jealousy, nor give uneasiness.

About an hour after, it must be proclaimed, in and about the camp and

adjacent country, that no officer, soldier, sutler, or inhabitant

of the villages, &c. shall on any account go more than one quarter

of a league from the army. Small scouring parties, with the provost

marshal’s field patroles, must be distributed beyond these limits,

in order to pick up stragglers, and to search their persons lest

they should be the bearers of letters, &c. A great number of small

ambuscades must be laid along the leading avenues between the enemy’s

camp and your own. If, notwithstanding all these precautions, you

should learn, that the enemy has gained some information respecting

your movement, a report must be instantly spread to make him imagine,

that you have some other design in contemplation.

If, during the night, or in the course of the day, small reconnoitring

parties, belonging to the enemy, should be discovered upon the road,

or about it, one half of your patrole or scouring detachment, must be

placed in ambush along one side of the road, in order to take them in

the rear, whilst the other half attacks them in front, and by thus

surrounding them, prevents any intelligence from being carried to the

enemy.

When such parties consist of a regular advanced detachment from the

enemy’s forces, that challenges you on your approach, your out-scouts

must instantly give the name of the power or general against whose

troops you are marching, or make them imagine, that you are returning

from some secret expedition which had been undertaken in his favor,

or that you came out of a neighboring state. As you draw near, proper

measures must be adopted to get upon its flanks, so as ultimately to

surround the whole guard, and to prevent any information from being

forwarded to the main body of the enemy. This operation cannot fail of

success, if you act with promptitude; and most especially if you can

get possession of the enemy’s watchword or countersign.

Such are the leading precautions to be observed at the first outset of

an army, whose design is to surprise its enemy. But these are not all.

A perfect knowlege of his position must have been likewise acquired;

correct descriptions of all the posts and stations, local as well as

artificial advantages, must likewise have been given in, with a special

account of the bridges, fords, &c. the state of his provisions, and of

the general’s head-quarters.

If it be your design to surprise any strong holds, or particular

posts, to fall suddenly upon some detached generals, or to carry the

head-quarters themselves, you must be made thoroughly acquainted with

all the intricacies of ground about them, with the number of men which

may be opposed against you; and, when you have gained the necessary

information respecting these matters, particularly the latter, you must

assemble a body of active and zealous troops, whose number shall be one

third at least greater than that of the enemy, to execute your plan.

When your project has been completed, you must call your men

together. For in all expeditions of this sort, desultory operations

are unavoidably necessary, and the troops employed upon them, must

be dispersed. Should any be found absent at the roll-calling of the

different companies or detachments, it may reasonably be presumed, that

they are engaged in pillaging the place they entered. In which case you

must set fire to the houses, if you cannot withdraw the free-booters by

any other method. Strict orders should be given out, that no soldier or

follower of the army shall move before the detachment returns to the

main body, after having effected the surprise, or remain behind when

it marches off. It frequently happens, that a few irregular soldiers,

&c. will avail themselves of the confusion of the moment, to conceal

the property that may have fallen into the hands of the detachment,

and thereby to avoid sharing it with their comrades. Patroles must be

sent out of the camp, and be posted along the road or roads that lead

to the place which has been surprised, with strict injunctions to stop

all stragglers; and the quarter and rear-guards of the camp itself

must see, that none enter before the detachment is regularly marched

in. When any are found guilty of this unmilitary practice, they must

not only be stripped of their booty, but they must also be severely

punished for the sake of example. If there should not be a sufficient

number of waggons to bring off the wounded, the cavalry must dismount,

and the wounded be put upon their horses. But if it be found expedient

to make use of the horse, you must then convey the disabled in the best

manner you can, by taking all the horses, &c. which may have been found

in the place you have surprised.

After a _surprise_ has been accomplished, the troops employed upon that

service, must, if possible, be marched back to head-quarters, by a

different road to the one they took in advancing against the enemy. For

it would be extremely impolitic to expose them even though their number

were a third greater than that of the enemy, to a second action; under

the manifest disadvantages of being fatigued with the march, and the

attack they had just made, and of being encumbered with the booty, &c.

of the place they had surprised. Their retreat must be effected through

the shortest way back. But if there should be the least ground to

apprehend, that any attempt might be made by the enemy to cut them off,

the first movement must be upon the same road they came, and when the

night approaches, the troops must be suddenly countermarched, in order

to take a different road, and to avoid any ambush that might be laid by

the enemy.

Under these circumstances, every measure must be embraced to deceive

the enemy. Some prisoners may be suffered to escape, before the troops

have been countermarched, in order to give false information; some

mules or horses may be left on the road, and small parties of drummers,

&c. be detached forward to keep beating along the first road, as if

the whole body were marching that way. Fires may also be lighted by

patroles sent forward for the purpose. Among other means, which may be

resorted to, to induce the enemy to believe that the original line of

march has been continued, that of sending horses and men forward to

mislead them by their footsteps is not the worst imagined.

It is more than probable, that if the retreat be made during the night,

and through an enclosed or intersected country, the enemy will scarcely

run the risk of pursuing, lest ambuscades should be formed to surprise

him on his march.

If, notwithstanding all your precautions, the enemy should get

intelligence of what has happened, and in consequence thereof he should

have time to collect his forces together in order to attack you in

your retreat; under these circumstances a position must be taken that

is best suited to the kind of troops you have with you, and to their

effective number.

If there be a ford, a bridge, or a defile, near to the ground you

have taken up, which the enemy must unavoidably pass, the greatest

expedition must be made to get beyond the obstacle, so as to have it

securely in your rear. Should the obstacle be upon either of your

flanks, a detachment must be posted there to keep the enemy in check,

while your main body continues on its march. If you cannot conveniently

send forward your booty, for fear of weakening your forces, it must

be placed in such a manner as not to be in the way when you find it

necessary to engage the enemy.

As soon as the enemy approaches, the whole body must be halted, and the

proper dispositions be made for battle. The guard that is entrusted

with the care of the prisoners, must instantly strip them of their

swords, bayonets, and of every offensive weapon, (supposing them to

have had permission to wear them) and must order them to sit down,

threatening to shoot or cut down the first man that should presume to

stir. On this account, the men who compose the guard, should always be

ready to do their duty upon the least symptom of irregularity. A small

cavalry detachment is usually employed upon this service, as it would

not be in the power of the infantry to act with so much promptitude

and activity. Before the troops are ranged in order of battle,

directions must be given for every soldier to take off his knapsack, or

havre-sack; for if the men were allowed to retain this load of baggage

and booty, it would not be in their power to act.

History furnishes us with various instances in which fortified places,

strong holds, and gates, have been surprised. There are others again in

which _surprises_ have been practised with success by means of spies,

and of secret intercourse with one or more of the party against whom

you are engaged. In 1707 several Miquelets disguised themselves as

peasants, entered Balvastro, and remained concealed in the houses of

some of the inhabitants, who supplied them with arms to enable them to

attack the gate of Monsons, in order to co-operate with a detachment

which was advancing towards that quarter for the purpose of surprising

the place. But they did not succeed; for two regiments which lay in

the town to guard the hospitals and magazines belonging to the army,

instantly flew to arms, marched against the detachment, and forced them

to retreat. Had the latter been superior in force, it is more than

probable, that the stratagem used by the Miquelets, and seconded by

the treachery of the inhabitants, would have amply succeeded. In 1580,

count Egmont surprised Courtray, by ordering a number of determined

good soldiers to get into the town _à la débandade_, and to remain

concealed in the houses of the Roman catholics. See _Stratagemes de

Guerre_, page 164, &c. &c. For various interesting particulars that

regard the article we have been cursorily discussing, we refer our

reader to _La Suite de l’essai sur la science de la guerre_, tom. iii.

page 259; and tom. iv. page 87. Likewise _Les Œuvres Militaires_, tom.

ii. page 69; and to the _Stratagemes de Guerre_, page 173.

_To prevent a_ SURPRISE. Turpin in his Art of War, observes, that it

is not sufficient for the security of the quarters, that they are well

distributed, that the guards of horse are posted on the outside, and

guards of foot on the inside, and that patroles also are added to them;

detachments must be sent out in advance of the guards, in order to make

discoveries.

A quarter should never be imagined to be totally secure, whilst there

are only guards before it: it would not be difficult for the enemy to

come close up to them, particularly if the country is enclosed, either

during the day or night; and if it is an open country, in the night

time only.

Detachments in advance of the quarters are absolutely necessary, even

when there are guards; they should be increased according to the number

of the troops, and in proportion to the extent of country to be guarded.

These detachments should march separately in the front, and they should

occupy as much country as possible upon the flanks; they must march

upon the roads leading to the enemy. In the day time, they must scour

the hedges, thickets, and woods, the villages, the hollows, and every

sort of place that may serve for an ambuscade: in the night time, they

must draw near the quarter, and remain at the distance of at least four

hundred paces, and even further if the country is open. In the night,

detachments must march very leisurely, not advancing, but crossing each

other; and beside the word given out in orders, they will have another

particular one to recognize each other. Every now and then they must

stop and listen, in order to discover, whether they can hear any thing.

The officers commanding the detachments should avoid fighting till the

last extremity; they should constantly bear in mind, that the sole

purpose of their being ordered to advance, is to preserve the quarters

from a surprise.

These detachments should not continue out above six or eight hours, and

consequently should never dismount. If there are any hussars in the

quarters, they should be employed in these detachments preferably to

any other troops, as they are better calculated to scour a country than

heavy cavalry, or even dragoons; their horses being more in wind and

less liable to be fatigued. It is, besides, the sort of war which is

natural to hussars.

As soon as these detachments are returned, others should be sent out

for the same purpose, as the quarters should never be uncovered in

front. If these detachments hear any thing in the night, the commanding

officer should send to discover what it is, and must afterwards

convince himself of the truth of it: if it should be occasioned by

troops, he will directly send an hussar to the commanding officer of

one of the guards, if there are any in the front of the quarters; but

if not, then to the commandant of the first quarter, who will apprise

the general. He must conceal himself in some place, from whence,

without being discovered, he will with greater ease be able to form a

judgment of what is marching towards him; and when he shall be more

confirmed that they are enemies, he will send a second hussar to give

notice to the first post, who will inform the general; and will always

continue to observe their motions by marching either on their flank, or

before them. See _Am. Mil. Lib._

_To_ SURRENDER, (_Rendre_, _Fr._) To give up a town, post, or other

fortification, agreeably to articles, &c.

_To_ SURRENDER, (_Se rendre_, _Fr._) To lay down your arms, and give

yourself up as a prisoner of war.

SURRENDER, (_Reddition_, _Fr._) The act of giving up. As the surrender

of a town or garrison.

SURRENDER of general Burgoyne, 17th October, 1777, at Saratoga.

SURRENDER of general Cornwallis 19th October, 1779, at Yorktown.

_To_ SURROUND. In fortification, to invest. In tactics, to outflank and

cut off the means of retreating.

SURROUNDED. Inclosed; invested. A town is said to be surrounded when

its principal outlets are blocked up; and an army, when its flanks are

turned, and its retreat cut off.

SURSOLID. The fourth multiplication or power of any number whatever

taken as the root.

SURVEILLANCE, _Fr._ Inspection; superintendance; the act of watching.

The substantive is new among the French, and comes from _Surveiller_,

to watch.

SURVEY. A survey is an examination of any place or stores, &c. to

ascertain their fitness for the purposes of war, &c.

SURVEYING. In military mathematics, the art or act of measuring lands;

that is, of taking the dimensions of any tract of ground, laying down

the same in a map or drawing, and finding the content or area thereof.

_Surveying_, called also _geodæsia_, is a very ancient art; it is even

held to have been the first or primitive part of geometry, and that

which gave occasion to, and laid the foundation of all the rest.

Surveying consists of three parts: the first is the taking of the

necessary measures, and making the most necessary observations, on

the ground itself: the second is, the laying down of these measures

and observations on paper: and the third, the finding the area or

quantity of ground there laid down. The first is what we properly

call _surveying_; the second we call _plotting_, _protracting_, or

_mapping_; and the third _casting up_.

The first, again, consists of two parts, viz. the making of

observations for the angles, and the taking of measures for the

distances. The former of these is performed by someone or other of

the following instruments, viz. the theodolite, circumferenter,

semi-circle, plain table, or compass. The latter is performed by means

either of the chain, or perambulator.

The second branch of surveying is performed by means of the protractor,

and plotting scale. The third, by reducing the several divisions,

inclosures, &c. into triangles, squares, trapeziums, parallelograms,

&c. but especially triangles; and finding the areas or contents or

these several figures. See _American Mil. Lib._

SURVEYOR _of the Ordnance_. See ORDNANCE.

SUSBANDE, _Fr._ The iron band or plate which covers the trunnion

belonging to a piece of ordnance, or to a mortar, when either is fixed

upon its carriage.

SUSPECT, _Fr._ A term adopted by the modern French to signify any

person suspected of being an enemy, or indifferent to the cause of

the revolution. Hence--_Classe des suspects_, _Fr._ The list of the

suspected. _Reputé suspect_, _Fr._ Looked upon as a suspected person.

_To_ SUSPEND, (_Suspendre_, _Fr._) In a military sense to delay, to

protract. Hence to suspend hostilities. It is likewise used to express

the act of depriving an officer of rank and pay, in consequence of

some offence. This sometimes happens by the sentence of a general

court-martial, or by the summary order of the president through

the secretary at war. In both cases it is usual for the commanding

officer of the regiment to report him to the general of the district,

by whom he is again reported to the commander in chief through the

adjutant-general. He is then directed, by letter to the commanding

officer of the regiment, to be suspended agreeably to the nature of the

transgression. In a trifling case, he is only suspended from pay, and

is respited accordingly upon the next muster roll for the government of

the regimental agent. But when the offence is aggravated by palpable

neglect, or obstinacy in not sending a satisfactory reason for his

absence, (which can only be done by vouchers from the medical board,

&c.) he is suspended from both rank and pay. So that to be suspended

is either partially or generally to be deprived of the advantages of a

military appointment.

_To_ SUSPEND _hostilities_. To cease attacking one another.

SUSPENSION _of Arms_. A short truce that contending parties agree on,

in order to bury their dead without danger or molestation; to wait for

succours; or to receive instructions from a superior authority.

SUSPENSION, as a military punishment, was probably intended to operate

as pecuniary fining does in that of the common law; but (to use Mr.

Sullivan’s words, in his treatise on martial law) it can neither

be considered as deprivation or degradation. It does not divest an

officer of his military character, though it puts him under a temporary

incapacity to exercise the duties of his station: he still possesses

his rank, though he does not reap any immediate advantage from it:

It, in fact, may be looked upon and considered as borrowed from the

ecclesiastical system of jurisdiction, which admitted suspension as a

minor excommunication.

One stubborn difficulty, however, seems to present itself from

suspension; and that is the article of pay and allowance. For if an

officer shall have been suspended from the exercise of the authority

annexed to his rank, and to have the pay of his allowance also

suspended, he certainly seems warranted to plead such suspension in bar

to the proceedings of a court-martial; there being always an implied

contract between a soldier and his employer, that in consideration

of certain pay and advantages granted by the one, the other shall

submit to military discipline; and the obligation being mutual, when

one fails in the performance of his part, he frees the other from

the observance of his; therefore, when the pay and other advantages

are suspended by the employer, the subjection to military discipline

would _seem_ also suspended. But this difficulty is easily removed,

from the circumstances of the officer so suspended, still holding

his commission; and from his submitting himself to the punishment

which hath been inflicted on his transgression. The latitude of this

principle hath even been seen to go farther, and under the sanction of

such authority, that (since his majesty hath been graciously pleased to

direct, in cases of doubt, members of a court-martial shall be guided

by their consciences, the best of their understandings, and the custom

of war in the like cases) it may be said to establish a precedent,

which may with safety be appealed to. We here allude to the trial of

lord George Sackville, who, at the time he was put upon the judgment of

a general court-martial, had (so dear are the honor and reputation of a

soldier) _neither military employ nor commission_ under his majesty;

and yet he was deemed entitled to an awful and solemn investigation of

his conduct; application, indeed, having been previously made in his

name, and he having declared himself willing to abide by the decision

of the court. In a word, then, it may, without risking too much,

be asserted, that an officer under suspension may be considered as

_strictly amenable_ to martial law for any trespass or transgression

he shall commit. The same writer observes, in a preceding page, that

suspension is a specific punishment, for a specific crime; but it is a

punishment which does not free a man from his military obligations. On

the contrary, he still is considered as in the service; he holds his

commission, and at the expiration of the term of suspension, becomes

a perfect man again. If therefore during the continuance of this

chastisement, he should attempt to go over to the enemy, to desert, or

hold treasonable correspondence, he certainly is, in such cases, to be

dealt with according to martial law. Pages 86, 87, and 88, Thoughts on

Martial Law.

The late Mr. Tytler, deputy judge advocate of North Britain, who has

published an essay on military law, quotes the case of lord George

Sackville, when he treats of officers under suspension, and agrees in

every point with the author just referred to. Suspension, he observes,

though it has the effect of depriving an officer for the time of his

rank and pay, and putting a stop to the ordinary discharge of his

military duties, does not void his commission, annihilate the military

character, or dissolve that connection which exists between him and

the sovereign, of whom he is a servant, He retains his commission, and

is at all times liable to a call to duty, which would take off the

suspension. See Essay on Military Law, pages 131, 132.

SUSTAIN. To sustain is to aid, succour, or support, any body of men in

action, or defence.

SUTLER _and Victualler_ maybe considered as synonimous terms as far

as they relate to military matters; most especially when an army lies

encamped, or rather takes the field. A sutler may be considered as

one who follows the camp, and sells all sorts of provisions to the

soldiers. There are also sutlers in garrison towns, who serve the

soldiery, and are subject to military regulations.

Among the French, according to the present establishment of their

army, a sutler is a soldier or inferior officer, who is authorised to

follow head quarters, and to be constantly with the corps to which

he is attached. He is permitted to sell the necessaries of life to

the soldiers, and under certain restrictions, to deal in wines and

spirituous liquors.

The sutlers are usually chosen from the regiments to which they belong,

and are subordinate to the quarter-masters, after they have been

appointed by the regimental committee or council of administration.

They receive a licence enabling them to sell and buy, which licence

must be approved of by the chief of the etat major, or staff of the

division, in which the corps is stationed, or under which it acts.

The sutlers attending head-quarters are licensed by the quarter-master

general. In order to distinguish them from adventitious travellers or

pedlars, &c. it is wisely recommended by Paul Thiebault, author of a

treatise upon the duties of an etat major, or staff in general, that

they should have a particular number, which is to be engraved upon

a tin plate, and constantly worn by them, as a mark of their being

licensed by the quarter-master general.

When an army moves, the sutlers accompany the baggage. As many

irregularities must naturally grow out of this necessary evil, the

conduct of sutlers ought, at all times, to be narrowly watched, and

severe penalties to be announced in general orders for every instance

of unlawful depredation among the inhabitants, or of disorder in their

booths. It is the duty of the piquet, at night, to be particularly

watchful on this ground.

SUTURE. A manner of sewing or stitching, particularly of stitching

wounds.

SWALLOW’S-_tail_. In fortification, an out-work, differing from a

single tenaille, as its sides are not parallel, like those of a

tenaille; but if prolonged, would meet and form an angle on the middle

of the curtain; and its head or front composed of faces, forming a

reentering angle. This work is extraordinarily well flanked, and

defended by the works of the place, which discover all the length of

its long sides, &c.

SWAMMIES, _Ind._ Pagan gods or idols.

SWAMP. See MARSH.

SWAY. The swing or sweep of a weapon. Likewise power, as military sway.

SWEEP-_bar_, of a waggon, is that which is fixed on the hind part of

the fore guide, and passes under the hind pole, which slides upon it.

SWEEPING. A word which is peculiarly attached to one of the sections or

clauses in the articles of war. Hence, _Sweeping Clause_.

SWEEPING _Clause or Section_. This comprehensive clause states, that

all crimes not capital, and all disorders and neglects, which officers

and soldiers may be guilty of, to the prejudice of good order and

military discipline, though not specified in any of the foregoing rules

and articles, are to be taken cognizance of by a general or regimental

court-martial, according to the nature and degree of the offence, and

to be punished at their discretion.

This wisely imagined clause serves as a check to the paltry tricks

and subterfuges, which are sometimes resorted to by men who are not

thoroughly soldiers. It frequently happens, even among officers,

that the service is hurt and embarrassed by the ingenuity of evasive

characters, who think they are safe, provided they do not glaringly

transgress specific rules and regulations. Another advantage

is likewise derived from this clause: It enables officers at a

court-martial, in cases where the offence is manifestly felt but cannot

be brought under any specific article, to do justice to the service by

punishing the delinquent under an indisputable clause.

_To_ SWINDLE, (_Escroquer_, _Fr._) A cant word signifying to cheat;

to impose upon the credulity of mankind, and thereby defraud the

unwary, by false pretences, fictitious assumptions, &c. This criminal

and unmanly practice oftentimes proves successful under the garb of a

military dress and character, and sometimes under that of holy orders.

The records of Bow-street are filled with pseudo-majors, captains,

parsons, &c.

SWINDLER, (_Escroc_, _Fr._) A sharper; a cheat. This word is evidently

taken from the German _Schwindler_, which, we presume, comes from

_Schwindel_, giddiness of thought; giddy pate. See J. J. Eschenburg’s

English and German Dictionary, Part II. Page 197. With us, however, it

signifies a person who is more than thoughtless or giddy. We affix to

the term the character of premeditated imposition; so that a swindler

comes under the criminal code, and may be prosecuted accordingly.

Swindlers almost always assume a military name. Perhaps the army

might, in some degree, be rescued from these _pretenders_, were it

ordered that no officer shall appear with any military badge unless he

be regimentally dressed; and that when so dressed, he shall have the

number of his regiment marked upon the button of his hat, &c.

SWING-_tree_ of a waggon. The bar placed across the foreguide, to which

the traces are fastened.

SWIVEL, (_Pierrier_, _Fr._) A small piece of ordnance which turns on a

pivot or swivel.

SWIVELS, (_Tourniquets de fer_, _Fr._) commonly called _Loop and

Swivel, and Guard and Swivel_. Two iron rings attached to a musquet,

through which the sling passes.

SWORD. A weapon used either in cutting or thrusting. The usual weapon

of fights hand to hand. It also signifies, figuratively, destruction by

war; as fire and sword; _à feu et à sang_, _Fr._

_Broad_ SWORD. The Spanish and Scots kind, sometimes called a _Back

Sword_, as having but one edge: it is basket handled, and three feet

two inches long.

_Regulation_ SWORD. The sword which is worn by British officers may

be properly called a long cut and thrust. It is a manifest imitation

of the Austrian sword, and has been introduced this war. It is not

however, so conveniently used by the British as it is by the Austrians.

The latter have it girded round their waists, so that it hangs without

any embarrassment to the wearer close to the left hip or thigh; whereas

with the British it is suspended in an awkward diagonal manner from a

cross belt over the loins, and is scarcely visible in front, except

occasionally, when it is drawn, or gets between the officer’s legs,

and sometimes trips him up when off duty. We could exemplify our ideas

upon this subject by various known occurrences, such as the sword being

suspended so much out of the grasp of the wearer, that his right hand

has appeared to run after the hilt, which has as constantly evaded

its reach by the left side bearing it off, in proportion as the right

turned towards it; by officers being reduced to the necessity of

applying to their serjeants, &c. to draw their swords, &c. but it is

not our wish to turn any regulation into ridicule. It is, however, our

duty, and the duty of all men who write for the public, to point out

practical inconveniences, &c. Perhaps it may not be thought superfluous

on this occasion to remark, that the sword ought not to be considered

as a mere weapon of offence or defence in an officer’s hand; for unless

that officer should be singly engaged, which scarcely ever happens upon

service, the very notion of personal safety will take his mind off

the superior duty of attending to his men. Officers, in fact, should

always bear in mind, that they are cardinal points which direct others.

Their whole attention should consequently be paid to their men, and

not the slightest idea must interfere with respect to themselves. We

are therefore convinced, with due deference to the superior judgment

of others, that the swords of infantry officers, and of the staff in

general, should be for service, sufficiently long to dress the leading

files, &c. and extremely portable. Every officer ought to know the use

of his sword, and there should be a fencing-master, or drill swordsman,

for every company in the service, who should be armed with sabres or

good cut and thrusts.

_Position of the_ SWORD _at open Order_. When an officer stands or

marches in front of his company, &c. the position of the sword is

diagonal across the chest, with the edge upward. At close order, or

when the officer is on the flank of his company, &c. the hilt is close

to the right thigh, and the blade in the hollow of the right shoulder,

with the edge to the front. When mounted, he carries it diagonally

across the bridle hand.

When troops or squadrons of cavalry advance:--In the walk, the sword

is carried with the blade resting on the right arm; in the trot and

gallop, the right hand must be steadied on the right thigh, the point

of the sword rather inclining forward; and in the charge, the hand is

lifted, and the sword is carried rather forward, and crossways in front

of the head, with the edge outwards. See _Am. Mil. Lib._

SWORDSMAN, (_Homme d’épée_, _Fr._); This word was formerly used to

signify a soldier, a fighting man. But at present it generally means

a person versed in the art of fencing. Hence a good swordsman. The

French use the terms _Bretteur_ and _Bretailleur_. The former is more

immediately applicable to a man who wears a sword and piques himself

upon the exercise of it: the latter means a person who frequents

fencing schools, and often exercises himself in that art.

SWORDED. Girt with a sword.

SWORD-_player_. A gladiator; one who fences publicly.

SWORD-_belt_. A belt made of leather, which hangs over the right

shoulder of an officer, by which his sword is suspended on the left

side.

SWORD-_bearer_, (_Porte épée_, _Fr._) One who wears a sword. It also

signifies a public officer.

SWORD-_cutler_, (_Fourbisseur_, _Fr._) One who makes swords.

SWORD-_knot_, (_Nœud d’épée_, _Fr._) A ribband tied to the hilt of a

sword. All officers should wear sword-knots of a peculiar color and

make. They are made of blue silk and gold or silver.

SYCOPHANT. A dirty, mean, groveling creature that sometimes finds its

way into the army, and gets to the ear of a superior officer, for the

purpose of undermining the good opinion which honest valor and open

manhood may have obtained.

SYEF, _Ind._ A long sword.

SYEF-_ul Mulk_, _Ind._ The sword of the kingdom.

SYMBOL. In a military sense, badge. Every regiment in the British

service has its peculiar badge.

SYMBOLE, _Fr._ The French make use of this word in the same sense that

they apply _Enseigne_. Symbole means with them, in a military sense,

what badge does with us.

SYMMETRY, (_Symmetrie_, _Fr._) A word derived from the Greek. True

symmetry consists in a due proportion, or in the relation of equality

in the height, length, and breadth of the parts, which are required to

make a beautiful whole, or in an uniformity of the parts with respect

to the whole.

SYRTES or _sables mouvans_, _Fr._ Quicksands.

SYSTEM, (_Systeme_, _Fr._) A scheme which reduces many things to

regular dependence or co-operation. This word is frequently applied

to some particular mode of drilling and exercising men to fit them

for manœuvres and evolutions. Hence the Prussian system, the Austrian

system, _the new or mathematical system_, &c.

_Military_ SYSTEM. Specific rules and regulations for the government

of an army in the field, or in quarters, &c.

SYSTEMS, (_Systemes_, _Fr._) In fortification, a particular arrangement

or disposition of the different parts which compose the circumference

of a town or fortified place, according to the original idea or

invention of an engineer. The systems best known under this head, and

most followed, are those of Vauban, Cohorn, De Ville, Pagan, &c. See

FORTIFICATION.

T.

T. The form of a subterraneous arrangement in mining; so called from

its resemblance to that letter.

TABAC, _Fr._ Tobacco. During the monarchy of France there was a

specific allowance made of tobacco to the cavalry and infantry, when

they were in camp, quarters, or garrison. They were likewise supplied

by the captains of troops or companies, with a certain quantity whilst

on the march from one province or quarter to another.

TABARD, TABELD, A herald’s coat.

TABLE, in military affairs, a kind of register to set down the

dimensions of carriages for guns, mortars, &c. also for the practice of

artillery, charges of mines, &c.

TABLE _des officiers généraux et principaux_, _Fr._ Mess or table as

directed to be kept for the general and other superior officers of the

old French army.

The only military table which is regulated in Great Britain, is at

the Horse Guards; and that is charged to the extraordinaries of the

army. Good order and discipline are intimately connected with a system

of messing. This truth holds good with respect to the soldier, and a

regulation is the consequence of its propriety. With regard to the

officers it is well known, that in corps where they do not mess,

perpetual bickerings among themselves, and occasional obstacles to the

service, occur.

The French regulation took place on the 1st of April 1705, and was

again renewed, with additional clauses, on the 20th of January 1741,

on the 1st of December 1746, on the 17th of February 1753, and on the

9th of March 1757. The curious are referred to a French publication,

intitled _Elemens Militaires_.

Before the abolition of the French monarchy, it was usual for officers

belonging to the line in that service, to mess together according

to their several ranks; the colonel excepted, who had a private

table to which he occasionally invited the officers of the corps. A

regular roster was kept for this purpose. The lieutenant-colonel and

major uniformly messed with the captains; the different tables were

generally composed of eight or ten officers of the same rank. The

lieutenants dined together; so did the sub-lieutenants; each paying

towards the mess in proportion to the receipt of daily subsistence.

TABLE _de capitaine de vaisseau_, _Fr._ A mess or table which was

regularly provided at the public expence, for the superior officers who

served on board.

TABLE _d’hote_, _Fr._ An ordinary.

_Tenir_ TABLE _ouverte_, _Fr._ To keep open house.

TABLE _en saille_, _Fr._ In architecture, a table which juts out of the

facing of a wall, or of a pedestal.

TABLE _fouillee_, _Fr._ That which instead of being saliant is

indented: it is commonly adorned with a border.

TABLE _d’attente_, _Fr._ See RUSTICATED TABLE.

_Crowned_ TABLE. In architecture, one which is covered with a cornice,

and in which is cut a basso relievo; or a piece of black marble

incrustated for an inscription.

_Razed_ TABLE. In architecture, an embossment in a frontispiece for the

putting an inscription, or other ornament in sculpture.

_Rusticated_ TABLE. In architecture, one which is picked, whose surface

appears rough, as in grottoes.

TABLE. In literature, an index, a repertory, at the beginning or end of

a book to direct the reader to any passage in it.

_The Round_ TABLE. A table to distinguish military merit, which

was first invented by king Arthur, who succeeded his father Uther

Pendragon, king of the Britons, who was brother to Aurelius Ambrosius,

and third son of Constantine. Arthur was the 11th king of England, from

the departure of the Romans, and was crowned about the year 516.

Having expelled the Saxons out of England, conquered Norway, Scotland,

and the greatest part of France, (where at Paris he was crowned) this

monarch returned to his native country, and lived in so great renown,

that many princes and knights came from all parts to his court, to give

proof of their valor in the exercise of arms. Upon this he erected

a fraternity of knights, which consisted of twenty-four, of whom he

was the chief; and for the avoiding controversies about precedency,

he caused a round table to be made, from whence they were denominated

_Knights of the Round Table_. This table, according to tradition, hangs

up in the castle at Winchester, where they used to meet at Whitsuntide.

TABLE _de marbre_, _Fr._ A marble table. During the monarchy of France,

there were two courts of jurisdictions, which were called _Tables

de Marbre_, or marble tables; one was that of the constable, and

the Maréchaussée or police of France; and the other that which gave

directions for the general clearing of the forests, and the purifying

of stagnant waters. They are so called from the meeting being held

round a _large marble table_.

TABLEAU, _Fr._ A description, a catalogue. It likewise signifies a

chimney-piece.

TABLETTE, _Fr._ A flat thin stone, which is used to cover the outside

of a wall belonging to a terrace, or the border of a bason, &c.

TABLIER, _Fr._ Apron. It likewise signifies an outside cover made for

ornament, or to prevent any thing from being damaged by the weather. In

the old French army the kettle drums had two of these aprons or covers;

one made of damask or sattin, on which were embroidered the arms of the

king, or of the general to whom they belonged, and the other of black

leather.

TABLIER _de pont levis_, _Fr._ That part of a draw-bridge, which is

raised for the purpose of shutting a gate, and to prevent access to it,

and upon which persons pass when the bridge is let down.

TABLOUINS, _Fr._ A word used in the artillery. The thick boards or

planks that constitute the platform upon which cannon is mounted in

battery.

TABOUR, TABOURET, TABOURINE, TABRET. A small drum, beat with one stick

to accompany a pipe. It was anciently used in war.

TACHE, _Fr._ properly means job, or a regular rate for labor. Workmen

are thus hired and paid by the day or by the lump.

TACKLE. The weapon or arrow shot from a bow, was so called by the

ancient Welsh.

TACKLES are more particularly used for small ropes running in pullies,

the better to manage all kinds of ordnance. See GIN.

TACTICS. A word derived from the Greek, signifying _order_. Tactics

consist of a knowlege of order, disposition, and formation, according

to the exigency of circumstances in warlike operations. These

dispositions are severally made, or one disposition follows another by

means of manœuvres and evolutions. Hence the necessity of paying the

greatest attention to the first principles of military art; and hence

the absurdity and ignorance of some men, who would pass for great and

able tacticians, without having grounded themselves in the elements of

their professions. As well might a person assume the character of a

complete arithmetician under a total ignorance of the first rules.

_General tactics_ are a combination or union of first orders, out of

which others grow of a more extensive and complicated nature, to suit

the particular kind of contest or battle which is to be given, or

supported. Let it not, however, be inferred from this, that evolutions

or movements and tactics are one and the same. They are, but there is

still a discernable difference between each of them.

Tactics (or as the French say, _La Tactique_, tactical art) may be

comprehended under order and disposition: an evolution is the movement

which is made by one corps among a larger number of corps, and

eventually leads to order. Manœuvres consist of the various evolutions

which several corps of a line pursue to accomplish the same object.

The higher branches of tactics, or _la grande tactique_, should be

thoroughly understood by all general officers; it is sufficient for

inferior officers and soldiers to be acquainted with evolutions. Not

that the latter are not to be known by general officers, but that

having already acquired a full knowlege of them, they ought to direct

their attention more immediately to the former; carefully retaining at

the same time a clear apprehension of every species of military detail,

and thereby obviating the many inconveniences and embarrassments which

occur from orders being awkwardly expressed to the staff, and of

course ill understood by the inferior officer. It may be laid down as

a certain rule, that unless a general officer make himself acquainted

with particular movements and dispositions, and preserve the necessary

recollections, it is morally impossible for him to be clear and correct

in his general arrangements. Of all mechanical operations, founded upon

given principles, the art of war is certainly the most compendious, the

most enlarged, and the most capable of infinite variety. Almost every

other science and art are comprehended in it; and it should be the

constant object, the chief study, and the ultimate end of a general’s

reflections. He must not be satisfied with a limited conception of its

various branches; he should go deeply into all its parts, be aware of

its manifold changes, and know how to adapt movements and dispositions

to circumstances and places.

It will be of little use to a general to have formed vast projects,

if, when they are to be executed, there should be a deficiency of

ground: if the general movements of the army should be embarrassed by

the irregularity of some particular corps, by their overlapping each

other, &c. and if through the tardiness of a manœuvre, an enemy should

have time to render his plan abortive by more prompt evolutions. A good

general must be aware of all these contingencies, by making himself

thoroughly master of tactics.

The Prussian tactics under Frederic the Great, had for their principal

object to concentrate forces, and thereby choose the most suitable

points to attack an enemy, not at one and the same time, but one after

another; the tactics which have been uniformly pursued by the French,

since the commencement of their revolution, have been founded upon the

same principles: as well as to apply the method to several points, and

to attack all points with divided forces, at one and the same time.

TACTICS _of Europe_. The following observations respecting the tactics

of Europe, may be useful to those who have not the _Am. Mil. Lib._

In the time of the Romans, the Gauls and other nations on the continent

fought in the phalanx order; it is this order which still prevails

through all Europe, except that it has been till lately deficient

in the advantages and utility which Polybius ascribes to it, and is

injured, by defects unknown in the ancient phalanx.

In Turenne’s days, troops were ranged 8 deep, both in France and

Germany. Thirty years after, in the time of Puysegur, the ranks were

reduced to 5: in the next Flanders war to 4; and immediately after to

3, which continues to be the order of the French armies; the ranks of

light troops only are reduced to 2.

This part of the progression from 8 to 3 being known, we easily

conceive how the files of the phalanx had been diminished from 16 to 8

in the ages preceding Turenne. It is to be presumed, that this depth

was considered as superfluous, and it was judged necessary to diminish

it, in order to extend the front. However, the motive is of very little

consequence, since we are now reduced to three ranks; let us see what

qualities of the phalanx have been preserved, and what might have been

added thereto.

To shew that the defects of the phalanx were preferred in Europe, we

suppose two bodies of troops, one of eight thousand men, ranged as

a phalanx, sixteen deep; the other a regiment of three battalions,

consisting only of fifteen hundred men, drawn up in three lines, after

the same manner. Those two bodies shall be perfectly equal and alike

in extent of front, and shall differ in nothing but in the depth of

their files: the inconveniences and defects, therefore, occasioned by

the length of the fronts are equal in both troops, though their numbers

are very different; hence it follows, that, in Europe, the essential

defects of the phalanx were preserved and its advantages lost.

Let the files of this body of eight thousand, be afterwards divided,

and let it be reduced to three in depth, its front will then be found

five times more extensive, and its depth five times less: we may,

therefore, conclude, that the defects of the phalanx were evidently

multiplied in the discipline of Europe, at the expence of its

advantages, which consisted in the depth of its files.

The progress which has taken place in the artillery, has contributed

greatly to this revolution. As cannon multiplied, it was necessary to

avoid its effects; and the method of avoiding, or at least of lessening

them, was to diminish the depth of the files.

The musquet, likewise, has a great share in the alteration; the

half-pike was entirely laid aside for the bayonet; and in order to have

no fire unemployed, it was thought necessary to put it in the power of

every soldier to make use of his firelock.

Those are, we think, the two principal causes of the little solidity,

or depth given to the battalion.

Thus the defects of the phalanx were multiplied in the European

discipline, and its advantages and perfections injudiciously

diminished. The system of Prussia, made some alterations, but with

every other power until the French revived the principles of the

phalanx in their columns of attack, the system was much inferior to

the phalanx, and had nothing but the single effect of fire-arms to

counterbalance all its advantages. The effect, however, of fire-arms

is a partial power, and does not originally belong to the manner of

disciplining troops, the sole aim of which, should be to employ man’s

natural action. It is man, therefore, and not his fire, which is to be

considered as the principal agent; and from hence the European systems

before the French revolution were very much inferior to the phalanx,

and still more to the Roman arrangement, which so far surpassed that of

Greece.

The light troops of both those people were much heavier than modern

battalions, and had more power and solidity for a shock or conflict.

However, the Roman discipline, notwithstanding its superiority, is not

calculated for our times; because, as we are obliged to engage first

at a distance, ours, by its cannon, would destroy the Roman order of

battle in a very short time, and would be exposed to a loss much less

considerable itself, supposing even the artillery was equal on both

sides; we should then, in order to perfect our arrangements, endeavor

to procure them all the advantageous qualities of the legionary

regulations, as the only means of giving them the superiority.

Many people are of opinion, that we now imitate the Romans, and that we

give battle according to their system, because our troops are drawn up

in lines, some of which are full, and others vacant. But it is shewn,

that three battalions have the same front, and the same inconveniences

that eight thousand men ranged in the phalanx order. Our lines are

formed by brigades, regiments, or battalions, and the distance of one

corps from the other is equal to the front of one of those corps: so

that those lines, both full and vacant, are composed of detachments

equal in front; each has a phalanx of six, eight, or twelve thousand

men. This order of battle consequently, can be no more at most than a

kind of medium between those of Greece and Rome.

TACTICS _of Bonaparte_. It is well known that the greater part of

the victories of Bonaparte may be imputed to the admirable system

adopted by this general; a system which, however often repeated, has

still been attended with the same success--a system, to which the

established tactics have as yet applied no remedy, or rather, to which

the confirmed habits of men, educated in the ancient system, are as

unwilling as unable to accommodate themselves.

The minor discipline is his great secret; the simple methods of the

first drills, are merely facings and wheelings in a discretionary

order, all his rules, are like general principles, the results of which

may be produced by a different process of the same elements. All his

movements are at rapid time; and the rotation of evolutions, though

laid down in regulation, is not pursued in practice, the soldier is

taught not so much how to execute a set of movements, as how to perform

any that the variety of ground and the incidents of action, never twice

alike, call for. These are the elementary rules, on which the system is

founded.

His system of action is comprehended in the following principles:

1st. To select some partial point of attack, most frequently the

enemy’s centre, but occasionally one or other of the wings--and then,

strengthening that part of his own army which is opposed to the point

of attack, by drafts from the other divisions, to bear down upon the

point of attack, with the advantage of numbers, and consequently of

greater physical force.

2d. To counteract the effect of the weakness of the other divisions,

by assigning them a defensive part only; a purpose which evidently

requires a less power than is necessary to attack.

2. By some advantage of position. This is either natural, as a strong

position properly so called, or relative, as where the weaker divisions

are so placed as either to be protected by the stronger, or, in case of

dispersion, to be enabled to fall in with the main body.

3d. The necessary, the inevitable effects of this system are--

That the part of the enemy, which is the point of attack, is almost

invariably broken, driven back, in a word, defeated.

That, in the mean time, the weaker divisions of the army which attack,

according to this system, are either enabled to maintain their ground,

against the strongest wings of the enemy, or they are repulsed.

That, if the divisions maintain the ground, the defeat of their enemy

is certain, complete, and irrecoverable.

The main body of the attacking army, having driven before it the point

of attack, has now become the rear of those other divisions of the

enemy which are contending with its own divisions. The divisions of the

enemy are thus between two bodies. The divisions they are in the act of

attacking, and the victorious main body, which, having accomplished

its own part, is hastening to the relief of its divisions.

That, on the other hand, if the weaker divisions of the attacking

army, (attacking according to the system) should happen to be

dispersed; confident of their final victory, they exert themselves like

conquerors, with the spirit of hope, and courage of assured victory.

They dispute the ground, retreat inch by inch, and, if they cannot

prevent, still protract their defeat, till the victorious main body

shall come to their aid.

Finally, and indeed, most materially, though the weaker divisions of

the attacking army should be absolutely defeated, the victorious main

body cannot but necessarily recover every thing. The divisions of the

enemy, which have succeeded in defeating the divisions of the attacking

army, must be equally dispersed by pursuit, as the defeated divisions

by defeat. It is, indeed, an essential part of this system, to contrive

that they should so be dispersed, by the scattered flight of the

divisions defeated. By this means the victorious main body, formed

by the exactest discipline to keep their ranks, returning from their

pursuit at the word of command, and in the very moment of opportunity

have an easy conquest over scattered divisions, which are thus likewise

under the circumstance of being placed between two fires.

Such is the celebrated system. Three singular inferences must be

deduced from it:--

That, where an army attacks according to this system, the defeat of one

part of the army of its enemy is the defeat of the whole.

That the defeat of the smaller divisions by the defending army, is no

defeat at all; the defeat, or at least, repulse of these divisions,

being one of the means of the victory of the attaching army.

That it is the event of the main attack, and not the repulse or even

defeat of the subordinate and merely defensive divisions that should

decide the victory.

_Maritime_ TACTICS, or _manœuvres, &c. at sea_. Like those practised

on land may be considered under two heads. The first contains what the

French term _historique_ or detail, in which are included the orders

and signals directed to be observed by fleets going into action;

together with a specific account of the different manœuvres which have

been executed in the principal engagements. The second comprehends a

knowlege of the rates of ships, and of the method of constructing them.

The vessels of the ancients made their way by means of sails and oars.

The rows of oars were proportioned to the different sizes, from what

was called _unus-ramus_, which was the smallest, and had only one row;

to the _quinque-rami_, which had five rows.

The particular method in which these ships were constructed, as well as

of the arrangements that were made within, in order that a sufficient

number of rowers might be commodiously placed to work them, is not

perfectly known to the moderns; nor have the ancients left us documents

sufficiently clear and accurate on that head.

With respect to naval tactics, or the art of fighting at sea, it is

confessedly less ancient than tactics on shore, or what is generally

called land service. Mankind were accustomed to contend for the

possession of territory long before they determined on, or even dreamed

of, making the sea a theatre of war and bloodshed.

Setting aside the many fabulous accounts which are extant concerning

naval tactics, we shall remain satisfied with what has been transmitted

to us by the Roman writers of the Vth and VIth centuries of that

republic. We shall there find specific details of the different

manœuvres which were practised at sea during the Punic war. In those

times naval armaments began to be regularly fitted out; ships of

different forms and sizes were constructed, and certain offensive and

defensive machines, that served as a species of artillery, were placed

upon them. They had already been drawn out according to system; being

divided into certain proportions which were then called divisions, but

are now named squadrons; and the persons who commanded them, exerted

all their skill and genius to gain advantages over their enemies, by

opportunely getting to windward, by seizing the favorable occurrence of

the tide, or by mooring in advantageous situations.

At the battle of Actium, Augustus finding himself inferior to Mark

Antony in the number of his ships, had the sagacity to draw up his line

of battle along the entrance of the gulph of Ambracia, and thereby to

make up for his deficiency. This naval manœuvre, as well as that of

getting to windward of the enemy, in order to bear down upon him with

more certainty and effect, exists to the present day.

We act precisely upon the same principles in both cases, by which the

ancients were governed, with the additional advantage, in fighting to

windward, of covering the enemy’s line with smoke from the discharge of

ordnance and fire-arms. The French call this being in possession of the

closest line--_Occuper la ligne du plus prés_.

In those times, ships were boarded much sooner than they are at

present. Most engagements at sea are now determined by cannon shot.

Among the ancients, when two ships endeavored to board each other, the

rowers drew in their oars, to prevent them from being broken in the

shock.

The manœuvre which was practised on this occasion, was for the ship

that got to windward of its adversary, to run upon its side, with the

prow, which being armed with a long sharp piece of iron, made so deep

an impression in it, that the ship thus attacked, generally sunk. The

voyages which were afterwards made on the ocean, rendered it necessary

to construct ships that carried more sail, and were double decked; and

since the invention of gunpowder, tiers of guns have been substituted

in the room of rows of oars.

On the decline and fall of the Roman empire, the Saracens got the

ascendancy in naval tactics. They took advantage of this superiority,

and extended their conquests on all sides. The whole extent of

coast belonging to the Mediterranean, together with the adjacent

islands, fell under their dominion. Mankind are indebted to them for

considerable improvements in naval tactics.

It was only under Charlemagne that the Europeans may be said to have

first paid any great attention to their navy. That monarch kept up

a regular intercourse with the caliphs of the East; and having just

grounds to apprehend an invasion from the Normans, he constructed

vessels for the defence of his coasts.

During the reign of the first French kings, belonging to the third

race, naval tactics were little attended to, on account of the small

extent of maritime coast which France possessed at that period. It

was only in the days of Louis the Younger, and of Louis, surnamed the

Saint, that we discover any traces of a considerable fleet; especially

during the crusades.

Under Charles the Vth, and his successor Charles the VIth, the French

got possession of several sea-ports, and had command of a long line of

coast. Yet neither they nor the English, with whom they were frequently

at war, had at that period any thing like the fleets which are fitted

out now.

The discovery of America by Columbus, and the more lucrative possession

of the East Indies, induced the principal states of Europe to encrease

their naval establishments, for the purpose of settling colonies, and

of bringing home, without the danger of molestation, or piracy, the

wealth and produce of the Eastern and Western worlds.

The French marine was far from being contemptible under Francis

the first; but it grew into considerable reputation during the

administration of cardinal Richelieu, in the reign of Louis the XIIIth;

and continued so until the battle of La Hogue. From that epoch it began

to decline; while the English, on the other hand, not only kept up the

reputation they had acquired under Cromwell and his predecessors, but

rendered themselves so thoroughly skilled in naval tactics, that they

have remained masters of the sea to this day. In corroboration of what

we have advanced, we refer our readers to a history of the Sovereignty

of the Ocean, by the American editor of this work.

TACTIQUE _Maritime_, _Fr._ Naval tactics, or sea manœuvres, &c. See

NAVAL TACTICS.

TAGBEERE, _Ind._ Dismission.

TAIGAU, _Ind._ A sabre.

TAIL _of the trenches_. The post where the besiegers begin to break

ground, and cover themselves from the fire of the place, in advancing

the lines of approach.

TAILLE _du soldat_, _Fr._ The size, height, and stature most proper for

a soldier.

TAILLER, _Fr._ To cut. _Tailler en pièces_, to cut to pieces.

TAILLOIR, _Fr._ Trencher. It likewise signifies in architecture a

square piece of stone, or wood which is placed above the capital.

_To_ TAKE. This verb, as Dr. Johnson observes, like _prendre_ in

French, is used with endless multiplicity of relations. Its uses are so

numerous, that they cannot easily be exemplified; and its references

to the words governed by it so general and lax, that they can hardly

be explained by any succedaneous terms. But commonly that is hardest

to explain which least wants explanation. We shall content ourselves

with giving a few general terms, in which the verb _take_ is used with

respect to military matters.

_To_ TAKE. To make prisoner.

_To_ TAKE _advantage of_. To avail oneself of any peculiar event or

opening, whereby an enemy may be overcome, viz.--He took advantage of

the debaucheries which were daily committed in the enemy’s camp, to

surprise the army.

_To_ TAKE _ground to the right or left_. To extend a line towards

either of those directions.

_To_ TAKE _up quarters_. To occupy locally; to go into cantonments,

barracks, &c. To become stationary for more or less time.

_To_ TAKE _up the gauntlet_. The correlative to throw down the

gauntlet. To accept a challenge.

_To_ TAKE _up arms_. To embody and troop together for offensive or

defensive purposes. We likewise say, to take arms.

_To_ TAKE _down_. To minute; to commit to paper what is spoken or given

orally. Hence to take down his words.

_To_ TAKE _the field_. To encamp. It likewise means generally to move

with troops in military order.

_To_ TAKE _in_. A low phrase, signifying to cheat, to gull. Officers,

especially the junior classes, are frequently _taken in_.

_To_ TAKE _oath_. To swear.

_To_ TAKE _up_. To seize; to catch; to arrest; as to take up a

deserter.

_To_ TAKE _on_. An expression in familiar use among soldiers that have

enlisted for a limited period, to signify an extension of service by

taking a fresh bounty.

_To_ TAKE. To adopt any particular formation:

_Rear ranks take open order_ _Rear ranks take close order_ Words of

command which are used in the discipline of troops. For the manner in

which they are executed see ORDER.

_To_ TAKE _cognisance_. To investigate with judicial authority.

TALC, (_Talc_, _Fr._) In natural history, a shining, squamous, fissile

species of stone, easily separable into thin lamina or scales,

improperly called Isinglass.

There are two kinds of talc, viz. the white talc of Venice, and the red

talc of Muscovy.

TALE. Information; disclosure of any thing secret.

TALE, _Ind._ An Indian coin equal to six shillings and eight pence.

TALEBEARER. One who gives officious or malignant intelligence. With

respect to the interior economy of military life, a talebearer is the

most dangerous creature that could insinuate itself among honorable

men; and however acceptable domestic information may sometimes seem

to narrow minds, it will be found even by those who countenance

the thing, that such means of getting at the private sentiments of

others, not only defeat their own ends, but ultimately destroy every

species of regimental harmony. The only way to secure a corps from

this insidious evil, is for commanding officers to treat those with

contempt, who would endeavor to obtain their countenance by such base

and unofficer-like conduct. For it is a known axiom, that if there were

no listeners, there would be no reporters.

TALENT. Count Turpin, in his essay on the Art of War, makes the

following distinction between genius and talent:--Talent remains

hidden for want of occasions to shew itself; genius breaks through all

obstacles: genius is the contriver, talent the workman in military

affairs. Talent is properly that knowlege acquired by study and labor,

and ability to apply it; genius takes, as by intuition, a glance of

whatever it is occupied on, and comprehends at once without labor the

true character of the subject; genius must however not be devoid of

acquired knowlege.

TALK. The Indian tribes of the United States, on public occasions, such

as treaties, depute persons to deliver discourses to those with whom

they treat, and those discourses are called TALKS: they often abound

with eloquence.

_To_ TALK. To make use of the powers of speech. Officers and soldiers

are strictly forbidden to talk under arms.

TALLOW. A well known name for the fat of animals. It is used as a

combustible in the composition of fireworks. See LABORATORY.

TALON, _Fr._ In architecture, an ornamental moulding, which is concave

below and convex above.

TALON _renversé_, _Fr._ An ornamental moulding which is concave above.

This word is likewise applied to many other things, as the upper part

of a scythe, &c. the end of a pike, &c.

TALON _d’un cheval_, _Fr._ A horse’s heel, of the hind part of his

hoof. Talon literally means heel.

TALOOK, _Ind._ A farm under rent; or a number of farms or villages let

out to one chief.

TALOOKDAR, _Ind._ The head of a village under a superior.

TALPATCHES, _Fr._ A nickname which is given to the foot soldiers in

Hungary. It is derived from TALP, which, in the Hungarian language,

signifies sole of a shoe, and plainly proves, from the ridicule

attached to it, that the Hungarians would rather serve on horseback

than on foot. All persons are strictly forbidden to call them by this

name.

TALUS, _Fr._ This word is sometimes written _Talut_. For its

signification see FORTIFICATION.

TALUTED, from _taluter_, is sloped or graduated from a given height to

a less.

TALUTER, _Fr._ To give a slope to any thing in fortification.

TAMBOUR, in fortification, is a kind of work formed of pallisades,

or pieces of wood, 10 feet long and 6 inches thick, planted close

together, and driven 2 or 3 feet into the ground; so that when

finished, it may have the appearance of a square redoubt cut in two.

Loopholes are made 6 feet from the ground, and 3 feet asunder, about 8

inches long, 2 inches wide within and 6 without. Behind is a scaffold

2 feet high, for the soldiers to stand upon. They are frequently made

in the place of arms of the covert-way, at the saliant angles, in the

gorges, half-moons, and ravelins, &c.

TAMBOURS, in fortification, solid pieces of earth which are made in

that part of the covert way that is joined to the parapet, and lies

close to the traverses, being only 3 feet distant from them. They

serve to prevent the covert-way from being enfiladed, and obstruct

the enemy’s view towards the traverses. When tambours are made in the

covert-way, they answer the same purposes that works _en cremaillére_

would.

Tambour likewise means, in fortification, a single or isolated

traverse, which serves to close up that part of the covert-way where

a communication might have been made in the glacis for the purpose of

going to some detached work.

TAMBOUR also signifies, both in French and English, a little box of

timber-work covered with a cieling, within side the porch of certain

churches, both to prevent the view of persons passing by, and to keep

off the wind, &c. by means of folding doors. In many instances it is

the same as porch.

TAMBOUR, _Fr._ See DRUM.

_Marcher_ TAMBOURS _battans et drapeaux flottans_. To march with drums

beating and colors flying.

TAMBOUR, _Fr._ See DRUMMER. We frequently use the word Drum in the same

sense that the French do, viz. to signify drummer. We likewise say fife

for fifer; as, one drum and one fife to each company.

TAMBOUR _major_, _Fr._ Drum major.

_Batteries de_ TAMBOUR, _Fr._ The different beats of the drum. The

principal beats among the French are--_La générale_, the general;

_L’assemblée_, the assembly; _Le dernier_, the last beat; _Le drapeau_,

the troop; _Aux champs_, to the field; _La marche_, the march; _La

diane_, the reveille; _L’alarme_, to arms, or the alarm; _La chamade_,

the parley; _L’appel_, the roll or call; _La fascine ou brelogue_, the

workman’s call. _Le ban et la rétraite._

_Aux champs, ou le premier_, is beat when any particular corps of

infantry is ordered to march; but if the order should extend to a whole

army, it is then called _La générale_, the general. They do not make

this distinction in the British service, but omit the _premier_ or

first beat when one regiment, detachment, or company, marches out of a

camp or garrison where there are other troops.

_Le second, ou l’assemblée_, is to give notice that the colors are to

be sent for.

_La marche_ is beat when troops march off their parade.

_Battre la charge, ou battre la guerre._ To beat the charge, or the

point of war. This occurs when troops advance against an enemy. This

beat may be conceived by repeating in seconds of time the sound--_bom!

bom! bom! bom!_ _Battre la rétraite_ is to beat the retreat, to cease

firing, or to withdraw after the battle. It is likewise used in

garrisons to warn soldiers to retire to their quarters.

_Battre la fricassée._ To beat the long roll. A beat which is practised

to call soldiers suddenly together.

_Battre la diane._ To beat the reveille. This is done in a camp or

garrison at break of day. When an army besieges a town, the reveille

is confined to those troops belonging to the infantry that have

mounted guard, particularly in the trenches; and it is then followed

by the discharge of those pieces of ordnance which had ceased firing

on account of the darkness of the night, that prevented their being

properly pointed against the enemy’s works.

TAMBOUR _de basque_, _Fr._ A tabor.

TAMBOUR _battant_, _Fr._ Drums beating.

_Sortir_ TAMBOUR _battant, enseignes deployées_, _Fr._ To go out drums

beating and colors flying.

TAMBOUR in architecture. A term applied to the Corinthian and

composite capitals, as bearing some resemblance to a drum, which the

French call _Tambour_.

TAMBOUR likewise denotes a round course of stone, several whereof form

the shaft of a column not so high as a diameter.

_Un_ TAMBOURIN, _Fr._ A timbrel.

TAMBOURINE. A drum, somewhat resembling the tabor, but played in our

military bands without either stick or pipe.

TAMIS, _Fr._ A sieve.

TAMPIONS, or TOMBIONS, are wooden cylinders to put into the mouth of

the guns, howitzers, and mortars, in travelling, to prevent the dust or

wet from getting in. They are fastened round the muzzle of the guns,

&c. by leather collars.

They are sometimes used to put into the chambers of mortars, over the

powder, when the chamber is not full.

TAMPIONS, in sea-service artillery, are the iron bottoms to which the

grape-shot are fixed, the dimensions of which are as follows, viz.

_Diameter._

42 pounders, 6⁶⁄₁₀ths inches.

32 ditto 6

24 ditto 5⁴⁄₁₀ths

18 ditto 4⁹⁄₁₀ths

12 ditto 4³⁄₁₀ths

9 ditto 3⁹⁄₁₀ths

6 ditto 6³⁄₄ths

4 ditto 2⁹⁄₁₀ths

1¹⁄₂ ditto 2¹⁄₁₀th

¹⁄₂ ditto 1⁴⁄₁₀ths

TAMPON, _Fr._ A wooden peg or instrument which is used to plug up

cartridges, petards, &c. A stopper.

TAMPONS, _Fr._ In mason-work are wooden pegs by which beams and boards

for floors are fastened together.

TAMPONS, _Fr._ Flat pieces of iron, copper, or wood, which are used by

the French on board their men of war, to stop up holes that are made by

cannon-balls during a naval engagement.

TAMPONS _de canon_, _Fr._ The apron made of cork or lead, which is put

over the vent of any piece of ordnance.

TANGENT, (_Tangente_, _Fr._) In trigonometry, is a right line raised

perpendicularly on the extreme of the diameter, and continued to a

point, where it is cut by a secant, that is, by a line drawn from the

centre, through the extremity of the arch, whereof it is the tangent.

TANGENT. See GUNNERY.

TANGENT _scale_.--·21 of an inch is the tangent of 1 degree to every

foot of a gun’s length, from the base ring to the swell of the

muzzle: Therefore, if the distance in feet, between these two points

be multiplied by ·21, the product will be the tangent of 1 degree;

from which the dispart being subtracted, will give the length of the

tangent scale above the base ring for one degree of elevation for that

particular gun. If the scale is to be applied to the quarter sight of

the gun, of course the dispart need not be subtracted.

_Tangent of one degree to the following British ordnance._

----------------+--------+---------+--------

| | Tangent,|

| Length.| 1°. |Dispart.

----------------+--------+---------+--------

|Ft. In. | In. | In.

12 pr. medium | 6 6 | 1·365 | 1·475

12 pr. light | 5 -- | 1·05 | 1·

6 pr. heavy | 7 -- | 1·47 | 1·32

6 pr. light | 5 -- | 1·05 | 1·

3 pr. heavy | 6 -- | 1·26 | 1·08

10 inch howitzer| 3 11¹⁄₂| ·84 | --

8 do. howitzer | 3 1 | ·64 | --

5¹⁄₂ do. light | 2 2³⁄₄| ·47 | --

4²⁄₅ do. | 1 10 | ·384 | --

----------------+--------+---------+--------

_Tangent of one degree to the following French guns._

-------+---------------------+---------------------

| Siege. | Field.

+----------+----------+----------+----------

| Tangent | | Tangent |

Kind. | of 1°. | Dispart. | of 1°. | Dispart.

-------+----------+----------+----------+----------

|in. li. p.|in. li. p.|in. li. p.|in. li. p.

24 pr. | 2 1 5 | 1 2 4 | -- | --

16 -- | 2 - - | 1 1 - | -- | --

12 -- | 1 10 6 | 1 - - | 1 4 - | 1 3 2

8 -- | 1 8 3 | 1 - - | 1 2 ¹⁄₂| 1 2 -

4 -- | -- | -- | 1 - - | 1 - -

6 in.}| -- | -- | 0 5 6 | --

how’r.}| | | |

-------+----------+----------+----------+----------

As the French tangent scales are marked off in inches and lines, the

above dimensions are given in the same, for the more ready turning the

French elevations into degrees, and thereby comparing their ranges with

the English.

TANK, _Ind._ A pond or pool of water. A reservoir to preserve the water

that falls in the rainy season.

TANNADAR, _Ind._ A commander of a small fort, or custom house.

TAP. A gentle blow, as a tap of the drum.

TAPABORD, _Fr._ A sort of cap or slouched hat made in the English

fashion which the French sailors wear. Its sides hang over the

shoulders, and shield them from rain in wet weather. It likewise

signifies a riding-cap, a montero.

TAPE-_cul_, _Fr._ That part of a swipe or swinging gate which serves to

raise and let down a draw-bridge.

TAPE-_cul_, _Fr._ A falling gate.

_En_ TAPINOIS, _Fr._ Slyly, secretly.

_Se_ TAPIR, _Fr._ To lie squat.

TAPIS, _Fr._ This word literally means carpet, and is used by the

French in a figurative sense, viz.

_Amuser le_ TAPIS, _Fr._ To trifle.

_Mettre une affaire sur le_ TAPIS, _Fr._ To open any particular

transaction, to move a business.

_La_ TAPE, _le_ TAPON, _ou_ TAMPON, _Fr._ The tampion.

TAPER _ou_ TAMPONNER _un Canon_, _Fr._ To put in the tampion. _Détaper

un Canon_, _Fr._ To take out the tampion.

TAPPEE, _Ind._ The post letter carrier on the coast of Coromandel. An

express.

TAPROBANE, _Ind._ The ancient name for the island of Ceylon. It is

derived from _tapoo_ an island, and _bany_, a ferry.

TAP-TOO. TAT-TOO. See DRUM.

TAR. A kind of liquid pitch used in the composition of some sorts of

fireworks.

TAR and FEATHERS. A method of punishment invented in the American

revolution, which consisted in pouring a bucket of tar over the head

of the culprit, and loosing a bag of feathers over it. See the poem of

_M‘Fingal_.

TARANTHE, _Fr._ A thick iron peg which is used to turn the screw in a

press.

TARAU, _Fr._ An instrument which is used in making the nut of a screw.

It is a round piece of steel with a spiral shape.

TARAUDER, _Fr._ To make a hole like that which is effected by the

operation of the _Tarau_.

TARE, _Fr._ A word adopted by the French from the English term Tar.

TAREAU, _Fr._ A screw-tap.

TARGE, _Fr._ See TARGET. It is generally pronounced _Targue_, from

whence is derived the figurative expression _Se targuer_, to plume

one’s-self, or to be self-sufficient. _Le poltron se targue du courage

de son père_--The coward plumes himself upon the courage which his

father possessed.

TARGET, a sort of shield, being originally made of leather, wrought out

of the back of an ox’s hide.

TARGET, is also a mark for the artillery, &c. to fire at in their

practice.

TARIERE, _Fr._ Auger, wimble, gimlet. The French make a distinction

with respect to the gender of this word. When they express a large

sized auger or wimble, they say, _Un gros Tarière_, making it

masculine, and when they mean a small sized one, they say, _Une petite

tarière_, making it feminine.

TARIERE, _Fr._ Likewise signifies a miner’s tool with which he bores

into the earth. It is used to force a lighted match into the chamber of

a countermine, and to make it explode.

TARPAULINGS, are made of strong canvas, thoroughly tarred and cut into

different sizes, according to their several uses in the field; such as

to cover the powder-waggons and tumbrels (carrying ammunition) from

rain: each field-piece has likewise one to secure the ammunition-boxes.

_To be_ TARRED. A cant word used among soldiers to signify the

punishment which privates undergo among themselves, when they have been

tried and sentenced by their own comrades.

TARTARES, _Fr._ A word used in the French army to distinguish officers’

servants and batmen from the soldiers that serve in the ranks.

_Tartare_ likewise means a groom.

TARTARS, (_Tartares_, _Fr._) Asiatics, whose principal arms are the bow

and arrow, and sabre or pike. Some few have firelocks and pistols.

_Calmuc_ TARTARS. A free people inhabiting the borders of the Caspian

Sea, and the banks of the river Wolga. They are under the immediate

protection of Russia, and in consideration of the security they enjoy,

they are obliged to serve when called upon. They consist of wandering

hordes, live in tents, and are armed with bows and arrows. Some have

rifle guns, with one or two pistols. But they are extremely cruel, and

worse disciplined than the Cossacks.

TARTES, _Fr._ Bogs.

TAS, _Fr._ A heap. When the works of a fortification are lined with

turf and fascines, &c. small beds of earth are previously prepared and

laid one over another, till the necessary thickness is obtained; when

completed it is called _Tas de gazon_ ou _de placage_. A heap of turf

or a placage, which see. _Tas_ is likewise used in a sense of contempt

to signify a croud--_Un tas de fainéans_. A heap or croud of parasites.

_Un_ TAS _de mensonges_. A heap of lies.

TASA, _Ind._ A kind of drum, formed from a semisphere of copper,

hollowed out and covered with goat skin. It is hung before from the

shoulders, and beat with two rattans.

TAS _de charge_, _Fr._ An arch made in a particular manner. It is

generally found in Gothic buildings.

TASSEAU, _Fr._ A small anvil. It likewise signifies a bracket.

TASSES. Armor for the thighs, so called.

TASSETTE, _Fr._ A tass in armor.

TATTEE, _Ind._ A bamboo frame; which encloses an herb called jawassea

or kuskus. Frames of this sort are made to put to the different

openings of a room; they are shaped like a sash, and one being laid

on a floor and covered with the kuskus grass, the other is laid upon

it, and the two are tied together at the angles, which correspond with

the panes; by throwing water against them, the hottest wind in passing

through becomes cool, and the air is made fragrant by the kuskus.

TAUGOUR, _Fr._ A small lever which is used for various purposes.

TAUPINS, _Francs-Taupins_, _Fr._ A name which was formerly given

to a body of free-archers, or Francs-archers, in France. This body

consisting chiefly of countrymen and rustics, they were probably so

called from _taupe_, a mole; of which there are great quantities in the

fields. Taupin likewise signifies swarthy.

TAX. A tribute or duty rated on land, &c.

TE, _Fr._ A term used among miners to express a figure which greatly

resembles the letter T, and which consists of a certain arrangement and

disposition of the furnaces, chambers, or lodgments that are made under

any particular part of a fortification, in order to blow it up. The

Té has four lodgments; the double Té has eight; and the triple Té has

twelve.

TECHNICAL, (_Technique_, _Fr._) All terms, or words which have been

invented for the purpose of expressing particular arts, are called

_technical_.

_Mots_ TECHNIQUES, _Fr._ Technical words.

TE DEUM. As far as it concerns _military matters_, is a religious hymn

sung in thanksgiving for any victory obtained.

TEEP, _Ind._ A contract or note of hand.

TEFTERDAR _Effendi_. The commissary general is so called among the

Turks.

TEINT, _Teinte_, _Fr._ In painting, an artificial or compound color, or

the several colors which are used in a picture, considered as more or

less, high or bright, or deep or thin, or weakened, &c.; to give the

proper relievo, or softness, or distance, &c. of several objects.

TEINT, _which is used to draw a plan_, _Teinte dont on se sert pour

lever un plan_, _Fr._ Teint, in a general acceptation of the word,

means any shade that is given to an object which is raised from the

canvas, paper, &c. and placed in perspective.

TELAMONES. A term used in ancient architecture, to express the figures

of men supporting entablatures, and other projections, the same as

_Cariatides_.

TELESCOPE, (_Télescope_, _Fr._) An optical instrument, composed of

lenses, by means of which remote objects appear as if near at hand. The

telescope was invented by Galilæo.

TELINGHI, _Ind._ The mountaineers on the Coromandel coast are

denominated _Telinghis_; which is also the name of their nation,

language or dialect.

_To_ TELL _off_. A term used in military formations, to designate the

relative proportions of any given body of men. Thus a battalion may be

told off into wings, grand divisions, divisions, companies, platoons,

half platoons, sub-divisions, and sections. It is the peculiar duty of

every adjutant, and serjeant major to be particularly expert at telling

off. Squadrons of horse are told off by half squadrons, divisions,

sub-divisions, ranks of threes, and files right and left. But all

troops, whether infantry or cavalry, should be accustomed to _tell

themselves_ off; that is to move off at the word of command, without

delaying to be _told off_. The skilful officer will understand this,

the unskilful cannot.

TEMOIN, _Fr._ A witness. It likewise signifies the second in a duel.

TEMOINS, _Fr._ In civil and military architecture, are pieces of earth

left standing as marks or witnesses in the fosses of places which the

workmen are emptying, that they may know exactly how many cubical

fathoms of earth have been carried.

TEMPER. A state of steel or other metal, that best fits it for the use

to which it is to be applied. Thus, the blade of a sword should be so

tempered as to admit of considerable flexure without breaking, yet so

elastic as to return to its shape, on the pressure being removed.

_To_ TEMPER. In a military sense, to form metals to a proper degree of

hardness.

TEMPEST, (_Tempête_, _Fr._) According to Dr. Johnson, the utmost

violence of the wind: the names by which the wind is called according

to the gradual increase of its force seem to be, a breeze; a gust; a

gale; a storm; a tempest.

TENABLE, (_Tenable_, _Fr._) Such as may be maintained against

opposition; such as may be held against attacks.

TENAILLE, _Fr._ (This word literally means _shears_.) A military

evolution which was performed in the times of the ancients.

A phalanx, attacked by a lozenge or triangular wedge, bent its right

and left forward by a half-quarter wheel each wing on their common

centre; and when they found themselves opposite the sides of the

enemy’s arrangement, they each marched on their own side, perpendicular

to their line; by which means they both inclosed and attacked the enemy

together, at the same time, while the head was engaged and at blows

with the centre of the phalanx that had kept its ground. Such is the

description authors have left us of the design and effects of this

manœuvre.

The tenaille had considerable advantage over the triangular wedge; but,

according to Chevalier Folard, it was not equally efficacious against

the column. The latter could alter the direction of its march, and fall

upon one of the wings, whether in motion or not, or detach the section

of the tail or rear to take its wings in flank, while it was occupied

in making the quarter conversion. The column and _tenaille_ were formed

for acting against each other, and could only be victorious over one

another by the superior abilities of their commander. However, the

column was always exposed to less danger than the _tenaille_, for the

latter could not pursue the column without changing its order; whereas

the column must destroy, and in a manner annihilate the _tenaille_, in

case it should once break it.

The tenaille is unquestionably an excellent manœuvre, and strictly

conformable to a very wise maxim, which directs us to multiply our

strength and efforts as much as possible against one point. It is

sometimes made use of in war without being sensible of its advantages;

turning a flank with a longer line, is in fact the _tenaille_. This,

however, does not hinder the manœuvre from being well performed;

for the nature of ground not being level like a sheet of paper, the

commander in ranging his troops, according to the advantages of the

situation, does not form a perfect _tenaille_, such as may be drawn or

sketched out, but one of an irregular kind, which produces the same

effects; and this is what should be sought on all occasions. This order

is also called a _potence_.

TENAILLES, in fortification, are low works made in the ditch before

the curtains. There are three sorts: viz. the first are the faces of

the bastions produced till they meet, but much lower; the second have

faces, flanks, and a curtain; and the third have only faces and flanks.

_Single_ TENAILLE, (_Tenaille simple_, _Fr._) is a work whose front is

advanced towards the country, having two faces, forming a re-entering

angle: its two long sides terminate on the counterscarp, opposite to

the angle of the shoulder.

_Double_ TENAILLE (_Tenaille double, ou flanquée_, _Fr._) is a work

whose front, having 4 faces, forms 2 re-entering, and 3 salient

angles: its long sides are likewise parallel, and terminate on the

counterscarp, opposite to the angle of the shoulder. Both the single

and double tenailles have this fault, viz. that they are not flanked or

defended at the re-entering angle, because the height of the parapet

hinders the soldiers from discovering before that angle. Therefore

tenailles should only be made when there is not room enough to make

horn-works. The ramparts, parapets, ditches, covert-way, and glacis of

tenailles, are the same with other out-works.

TENAILLE _of a place_, is what is comprehended between the points of

two neighboring bastions; as the faces, flanks, and curtains. Hence it

is said, the enemy attacked the whole tenaille of a place, when they

made two attacks on the faces of the two bastions.

TENAILLES, _Fr._ Pincers, nippers, sheers, tenails.

TENAILLER, _Fr._ To tear off the flesh with red hot pincers. This

punishment existed in civilized Europe, until the French revolution.

TENAILLON, _Fr._ This is sometimes called among the French _grande

lunette_. It is a work composed of two parts, each of which covers the

faces of the half-moon; in whose front the tenaillon is constructed.

_Un_ TENAILLON, _Fr._ A little tenaille. See FORTIFICATION.

TENDELET, _Fr._ An awning; such as is used on board of ship, and over

carriages, in hot countries.

TENDRE, _Fr._ To stretch; to spread. This word has various

significations in the French language. In military matters, it is

common to say,

TENDRE _un piège à quelqu’un_, _Fr._ To lay a snare for any body.

TENDRE _une marquise_, _une tente_, _Fr._ To pitch a marquee, a tent.

TENIR, _Fr._ To hold, to keep, &c.

TENIR _tête à quelqu’un_, _Fr._ To cope with any body.

_Se_ TENIR, _Fr._ To remain; to stay; to hold fast.

_Se_ TENIR _bien à cheval_, _Fr._ To sit well on horseback, to have a

good seat.

TENON, (_Tenon_, _Fr._) Any thing that holds or keeps fast; that part

of a frame work which is cut to fit a mortise.

TENON _d’arquebuse_, _Fr._ Loop of a gun.

TENT, (_Tente_, _Fr._) This word is originally derived from the Latin

_tendo_, I stretch; whence _tendre_, to stretch. A soldier’s moveable

lodging place, commonly made of canvas, and extended upon poles.

The sizes of the officers tents are not fixed; some regiments have them

of one size, and some another. A captain’s tent and marquee should be

10¹⁄₂ feet broad, 14 deep, and 8 high: those of the subalterns are a

foot less: the major’s and lieutenant-colonel’s, a foot larger; and the

colonel’s 2 feet larger.

The subalterns lie two in a tent, those of engineers but one.

The tents of private men should be 6¹⁄₂ feet square, 6 feet high, and

hold 5 soldiers each.

The tents for the horse seven feet broad, and 9 feet deep: they hold

likewise 5 men and their horse accoutrements.

_Common Infantry_ TENT. Length of ridge pole is 7 feet; length of

standards 6 feet. They hold only 5 men each. Weight complete 27 lbs.

Great alterations have taken place in tents since the French revolution.

_Bell_ TENT. This was the name of a small tent that was formerly in

use, also called a tent of arms, being used only for holding arms in

the front of the line; the use of it is now exploded; and the form

being given to those now used for infantry or cavalry; weight, complete

with poles, 43 lbs. length of pole 9 feet, contain 12 men each, require

40 pegs.

_Marquee._ Weight complete, 1 cwt. 17 lbs. ridge pole 9 feet; standard

8 feet.

_Round_ TENT. A circular tent which contains 12 men; the weight

complete, with poles, 43 lbs. Length of pole 10 feet.

_Hospital_ TENT. A large commodious tent, which is appropriated for

the sick. It sometimes happens, that when a contagious disorder breaks

out in a camp, or in barracks, the persons infected are removed

from the hospital and lodged in a tent, which is pitched for that

purpose in the neighborhood. It is usual for the commanding officer

of the regiment to order one or more sentries to be furnished to the

regimental hospital, and the same to the hospital tent, which sentries

are directed to permit no person to enter but those concerned in the

hospital, the staffs and officers of the regiment. They are to be

particularly careful in preventing liquor, or any thing improper, from

being carried into the hospital; nor are they to permit any patient to

go out (to the necessary excepted) without a ticket of leave from the

attending surgeon.

_Laboratory_ TENT, in artillery, a large tent which is sometimes

carried to the field for the convenience of fire-workers and

bombardiers. The weight complete, with poles, pins, &c. 3 cwt. 24 lbs.

length of ridge pole 18 feet, length of poles 14¹⁄₂ feet.

TENT _bedstead_. A small portable bedstead, so contrived as to

correspond with the shape of an officer’s tent.

TENT-_Pins_, pieces of wood, which are indented at the top, and made

sharp at the bottom, to keep the cords of a tent or marquee firm to the

earth. There are four large ones which serve for the weather cords.

TENT-_Poles_. The poles upon which a tent or marquee is supported.

TENT _walls_. See WALL.

TENT likewise means lint to put in a wound.

TENTED. Having tents pitched on it. Hence “the tented field.”

TERRAIN, _Fr._ This word is sometimes written _terrein_, and signifies,

generally, any space or extent of ground.

_Gagner du_ TERRAIN _peu-à-peu_, _Fr._ To gain ground little by little.

_Perdre du_ TERRAIN, _Fr._ To lose ground.

_Menager son_ TERRAIN, _Fr._ To make the most of your ground. It is

likewise used in a figurative sense, viz. _Un homme est fort quand il

est sur son terrain_, _Fr._ A man always speaks with great confidence

when he is thoroughly master of the subject.

TERRAIN _du camp_, _Fr._ The ground within the lines of encampment.

_Lever le_ TERRAIN, _Fr._ To reconnoitre, to take a survey of ground.

_Chicaner le_ TERRAIN, _Fr._ To dispute the ground; to fight it inch by

inch.

_Tenir un grand_ TERRAIN, _Fr._ To take up much ground.

TERRASS. See MORTAR.

TERRASSE, _Fr._ Terrace, platform.

_Contre_-TERRASSE, _Fr._ A terrace that is raised above another.

TERRASSER, _Fr._ To throw down, to rout completely.

TERRASSIER, _Fr._ This word is used among the French not only to

signify the person who undertakes to see heaps of earth removed, &c.

for any specific purpose, but likewise the man who actually carries it.

TERRE, _la_ TERRE, _Fr._ Earth, the earth.

TERRE-PLEIN, _Fr._ See FORTIFICATION.

TERRER, _se Terrer_, _Fr._ To hide under ground. The French say,

_des gens de guerre se sont bien terres_; meaning thereby, that they

had thrown up entrenchments with earth, so as to be covered from the

enemy’s fire. _Terrer une artifice_, to cover the head of any fire-work

with earth.

TERRES-_Amendees_, _Fr._ Earths that have been used in the cleansing of

saltpetre. Saltpetre-men call these earths _Terres reanimees_.

TERREUR, _Fr._ Fear, apprehension.

TERREUR _panique_, _Fr._ See PANIC.

TERTIATE, in gunnery, is to examine the thickness of the metal of a

piece of artillery, in order to judge of its strength. This is usually

done with a pair of calliper compasses.

TERTIATING _a piece of ordnance_, is to find whether it has its due

thickness, at the vent, trunnions, and neck; if the trunnions and neck

are in their due order, and the chase straight, &c.

TERTRE, _Fr._ A small rising ground that stands unconnected with any

other.

TESSONS, _Fr._ Potsherds.

TESTAMENT _Militaire_, _Fr._ Among the French, a will which is made in

the presence of two witnesses only, and is not committed to paper.

TESTIMONY. Verbal declaration given upon oath or honor before any court

martial. The testimony of a witness should neither be influenced nor

interrupted, and the precise words used by him should be written down

in the proceedings without any alteration.

TESTUDO, in the military art of the ancients, was a kind of cover or

screen, which the soldiers of each company made themselves of their

bucklers, by holding them up over their heads, and standing close to

each other. This expedient served to shelter them from darts, stones,

&c. thrown upon them, especially those from above, when they went to

the assault.

TESTUDO, was also a kind of large wooden tower, which moved on several

wheels, and was covered with bullocks’ hides: it served to shelter the

soldiers when they approached the walls to mine them, or to batter them

with rams.

TETE, _Fr._ Head.

TETE _du Camp_, _Fr._ The head of the camp, or the front ground which

looks towards the country; and where troops bivouac.

TETE _de la Sappe_, _Fr._ Head of the sap.

TETE _de Chevalement_, _Fr._ A cross beam which lies upon two upright

stays, and supports any part of a wall, &c. whilst it is in repair.

_Faire (ou tenir)_ TETE _à quelqu’un_, _Fr._ To oppose a person; to

keep him at bay.

_Avoir quelqu’un en tête_, _Fr._ To have any person opposed to one,

viz. _Turenne avoit en Tête Montecuculli_; Turenne was opposed by

Montecuculli.

TETES, _Fr._ In the plural number, are the same as men or lives, viz.

_La prise d’une place a coute bien des Tetes_. The reduction or taking

of a place has cost many lives or men.

_Avoir la Tete de tout_, _Fr._ To be the most advanced.

TETE _de Pont_, _Fr._ That part of a bridge which is on the enemy’s

side. When the bridge is fortified on both sides, the French say, _Les

deux tetes de pont_.

TETE _de Porc_, _Fr._ This word means literally a hog’s head. It is

used to denote a military arrangement of the triangular kind. Those

mentioned under the term wedge, were composed of ranks, greater one

than another, in a regular progression from the incisive angle to the

base. The tete de porc was formed of small bodies ranged in lines

in the same sense, and in the same progression as the ranks in the

preceding wedges; that is to say, a small body (probably square) was

placed at the head, another of the same size was posted behind it,

having two others, one on its right, the other on its left, both

extending the full length of their front beyond the wings of the first.

Behind those three, five others were ranged in the same order, and so

on successively until all were placed.

This arrangement is equal to the former (viz. that of the wedge) with

regard to defects; as to advantages it has but one only, which will

never be of weight enough to gain it any degree of reputation; it is

this, that being composed of small bodies, each having its leader or

commander, all the different parts are more or less capable of defence

should they be attacked at the time they are forming or dividing; and

if the enemy attempted to form the _Tenaille_, they might detach some

of those small bodies to interrupt their motions, or to attack them in

flank.

This disposition corresponds with the movement by echellons from the

centre, or both wings thrown back; it is in the modern mode a most

imposing and important disposition, where the force that uses it is

inferior in number, and well disciplined to rapid evolution.

TETHER. A string by which horses are held from pasturing too wide. We

say, figuratively, to go the length of one’s tether; to speak or act

with as much freedom as circumstances will admit.

TETRAEDRON, (_Tetraëdre_, _Fr._) In geometry, one of the five regular

bodies. It is a pyramid which is terminated by four equilateral

triangles, that are equal to each other; in the same manner that the

tetragon is a recontilineal figure of four equal sides, which has four

right angles.

TETRAGONAL. Square, having equal sides and angles.

TETRARCH. A Roman governor of the fourth part of a province.

TEUTONIC, (_Teutonique_, _Fr._) See ORDERS.

TEVEEL, _Ind._ The treasury.

TEVEELDAR, _Ind._ The treasurer.

THANE. An ancient military title of honor, now obsolete.

_To_ THANK. In military matters, to make honorable mention of a person

or persons for having behaved gallantly in an action, or otherwise

rendered a public service.

_To be_ THANKED. To receive a public testimony of good conduct.

Officers, &c. are generally thanked in public orders.

THANKS. Public acknowlegements for gallant actions.

_Vote of_ THANKS. It has been customary in all civilized countries

for the legislature to pay a public tribute of applause to those

warriors who have fought their country’s battles with success, and have

otherwise distinguished themselves by particular feats of gallantry and

good conduct. The French, during the progress of their revolution, have

had frequent recourse to this mode of adding new zeal and fresh courage

to their armies, and of expressing national gratitude.

THEATRE _of war_. Any extent of country in which war is carried on may

be so called. The French say _Théatre de la guerre_. It signifies the

same with us as seat of war. According to Turpin, page 21, in his essay

on the Art of War, there are but three sorts of countries which may

become the theatre of war; an open country divided by rivers, a woody,

or a mountainous one. The dispositions for a march must of course be

varied as the situation of places differ.

THEODOLITE. A mathematical instrument useful to engineers and

artillerists, in taking heights and distances.

THEOREM, (_Théoreme_, _Fr._) In mathematics, a proposition which is

purely speculative and tends to the discovery of some hidden truth.

_An universal_ THEOREM, in mathematics, is one that extends universally

to any quantity without restriction; as that the rectangle of the sum,

and difference of any two quantities, is equal to the difference of

their squares.

_A particular_ THEOREM is when it extends only to a particular quantity.

_A negative_ THEOREM is one that demonstrates the impossibilities of

an assertion, as that the sum of two biquadrate numbers cannot make a

square.

_A local_ THEOREM. That which relates to surface; as the triangles of

the same base and altitude are equal.

THEORETICAL, (_Théorique_, _Fr._) What appertains to theory.

THEORY, (_Théorie_, _Fr._) The speculative part of any particular

science, in which truths are demonstrated without being practically

followed. Or more distinctly; a theory is an opinion formed in the

mind, that certain effects must arise from certain combinations of

matters or circumstances; the matters or circumstances being known, the

result or consequence not yet demonstrated by experiment.

_School of_ THEORY. In order to secure to the army intelligent and well

informed officers, it has been wisely suggested, that there should be

a school of military theory in each regiment. The persons selected

for this purpose are to pass an examination before competent persons,

whenever the vicinity of regimental quarters will allow them to attend.

_Order of_ MARIA THERESA. A military order of knighthood, which was

founded and established by the house of Austria on the 18th of June,

1757, and was distinguished by the name of the reigning queen and

empress, being called the Imperial Military Order of Maria Theresa.

THERMES, _Fr._ Small barges or boats in which persons formerly bathed.

THERMOMETER, (_Thermometre_, _Fr._) An instrument for measuring the

heat of the air, or of any matter.

THERMOSCOPE, (_Thermoscope_, _Fr._) An instrument by which the degrees

of heat are discovered; a thermometer.

THIEF. Any person that robs another. The character of a thief is of so

foul a cast in a military life, that the least imputation of dishonesty

incapacitates either officer or soldier from remaining in the service.

_Soldier’s_ THIGH. A well-known part of the human frame which takes its

peculiar military application from the notorious poverty of army men in

general. Hence, Soldier’s Thigh figuratively means an empty purse, or,

speaking familiarly, a pair of breeches that fit close and look smooth,

because the pockets have nothing in them.

THILL. The shafts of a waggon; hence, the horse which goes between the

shafts is called the thill horse, or thiller.

_To_ THIN. To make less numerous. As to thin the ranks by a heavy

discharge of ordnance and firearms.

THIRTEEN. A shilling is so called in Ireland; thirteen pence of that

country’s currency being only equal to twelve pence English.

THREE DEEP. Soldiers drawn up in three ranks, consisting of front,

centre, and rear, are said to be _three deep_. It is the fundamental

order of the infantry, in which they should always form and act in

close order, and for which all their operations and movements are

calculated.

THREES. A term used in the telling off in squadron, because the front

of three horses in rank, is equal to the length of one horse from head

to tail.

_Ranks by threes._ Each half squadron is told off by threes. See

CAVALRY, _Mil. Library_.

_To_ THROW. To force any thing from one place to another; thus

artillerists say, to _throw_ a shot or shell, or so many shot or shells

were thrown.

THRUST. Hostile attack with any pointed weapon, as in fencing. When one

party makes a push with his sword to wound his adversary with the point

it is called a thrust.

THUMBSTALL. A piece of leather which every careful soldier carries with

him to secure the lock of his musquet from moisture.

THUNDERING-_legion_, was a legion in the Roman army consisting of

Christian soldiers, who, in the expedition of the emperor Marcus

Aurelius against the Sarmatæ, Quadi, and Marcomanni, saved the whole

army, then ready to perish from thirst, by procuring, by their prayers,

a very plentiful shower thereon, and at the same time a furious storm

of hail, mixed with lightning and thunderbolts, on the enemy.

This is the account commonly given by ecclesiastical historians, and

the whole history is engraven in bass-relievos on the Antonine column.

TIDEGATE. See SLUICE-GATE.

TIERCE. A thrust in fencing, delivered at the outside of the body over

the arm.

TILE, TYLE, _in military building_, a sort of thin, factitious,

laminated brick, used on the roofs of houses; or more property a kind

of clayey earth, kneaded and moulded of a just thickness, dried and

burnt in a kiln, like a brick, and used in the covering and paving of

different kinds of military and other buildings. The best brick earth

should only be made into _tiles_.

The _tiles_ for all sorts of uses may now be comprised under 7 heads,

viz. 1. The _plain-tile_, for covering of houses, which is flat and

thin. 2. The _plain-tile_, for paving, which is also flat, but thicker;

and its size 9, 10, or 12 inches. 3. The _pan-tile_, which is also

used for covering of buildings, and is hollow, and crooked, or bent,

somewhat in the manner of an S. 4. The _Dutch glazed pan-tile_. 5. The

_English glazed pan-tile_. 6. The _gutter-tile_, which is made with a

kind of wings. 7. The _hip_, _ridge_, or _corner-tile_.

_Plain_-TILES, are best when they are firmest, soundest, and strongest.

Some are duskier, and others ruddier, in color. The dusky-colored are

generally the strongest. These _tiles_ are not laid in mortar, but

pointed only in the inside.

_Paving_-TILES, are made of a more sandy earth than the common or

_plain-tiles_: the materials for these last must be absolutely clay,

but for the others a kind of loam is used. These are made thicker and

larger than the common _roof-tiles_; and, when care has been taken in

the choice of the earth, and the management of the fire, they are very

regular and beautiful.

_Pan_-TILES, when of the best kind, are made of an earth not much

unlike that of the _paving-tiles_, and often of the same; but the best

sort of all is a pale-colored loam that is less sandy; they have about

the same degree of fire given them in the baking, and they come out

nearly of the same color. These _tiles_ are laid in mortar, because the

roof being very flat, and many of them warped in the burning, will not

cover the building so well as that no water can pass between them.

_Dutch glazed Pan_-TILES, get the addition of glazing in the fire.

Many kinds of earthly matter running into a glassy substance in great

heat, is a great advantage to them, preserving them much longer than

the common _pan-tiles_, so that they are very well worth the additional

charge that attends the using them.

_English glazed Pan_-TILES, are in general not so good as the Dutch

ones under that denomination; but the process is nearly the same.

_Dutch_ TILES, for chimnies, are of a kind very different from all the

rest. They are made of a whitish earth, glazed and painted with various

figures, such as birds, flowers, or landscapes, in blue or purple

color; and sometimes quite white: they are about 6.5 inches each way,

and three quarters or an inch thick. They are seldom used at present.

_Gutter_-TILES, are made of the same earth as the common _pan-tiles_,

and only differ from them in shape; but it is adviseable that

particular care be taken in tempering and working the earth for these,

for none are more liable to accidents. The edges of these _tiles_ are

turned up at the larger ends for about 4 inches. They are seldom used

where lead is to be had.

_Hip_ or _Corner_-TILES, are at first made flat like _pan-tiles_ of

a quadrangular figure, whose two sides are right lines, and the ends

arches of circles; the upper end concave, and the lower convex; the

latter being about 7 times as broad as the other: they are about 10.5

inches long; but before they are burnt are bent upon a mould in the

form of a _ridge-tile_, having a hole at the narrow end, to nail them

on the hip corner of the roof.

_Ridge_-TILES are used to cover the ridges of houses, and are made in

the form of a semi-cylindrical surface, about 13 inches in length, and

of the same thickness as _plain-tiles_; their breadth at the outside

measures about 16 inches.

TILLAC, _Fr._ The same as _pont_, which signifies the deck of a ship.

_Franc_-TILLAC, _Fr._ The lower deck.

TILT, a thrust, or fight with rapiers; also an old military game. See

TOURNAMENT.

TILTER, one who fights or contests in a tournament.

TIMBALE, _Fr._ A brass kettle-drum, such as is used by European

cavalry. French soldiers say figuratively, _Faire bouillir la timbale_;

to make the pot boil.