Seneffe, orSenef. A town in the province of Hainault, Belgium, about 11 miles northwest of Charleroi. Seneffe is notable for its proximity to the battle-field on which William of Orange (III. of England), at the head of the forces of the coalition against France, fought the French army under the great Condé, August 11, 1674. In William’s army there were four lieutenants,—Montecuculi, Duke Charles of Lorraine, the Prince of Waldeck, and the Prince of Vaudemont, the first three of whom subsequently attained prominence as military commanders. Of the allied forces of 60,000 men, the Dutch lost from 5000 to 6000 men, the Spaniards 3000, and the Imperialists 600; while the French army, which entered into the conflict 30,000 strong, could scarcely muster 20,000 after the battle. Under the walls of Seneffe, Moreau, in 1794, defeated the Austrians.
Senegal.French colonies on the river of that name in Senegambia, West Africa, settled about 1626; several times taken by the British, but recovered by the French, to whom they were finally restored in 1814.
Seneschal.In the origin of the office, probably an attendant of the servile class, who had the superintendence of the household of the Frankish kings. In the course of time, however, the seneschalship rose to be a position of dignity, held no longer by persons of servile race, but by military commanders, who were also invested with judicial authority. The lieutenants of the great feudatories often took the title of seneschal. A similar office in England and Scotland was designated steward.
Seniority.Priority of rank and standing in the army. As regards regiments, this precedence is regulated by the number of the corps; among individuals, it is decided by the date of the commission. Where commissions of the same date interfere, reference is to be had to the dates of former commissions.
Senones.A powerful people in Gallia Lugdunensis, dwelt along the upper course of the Sequana (nowSeine). A portion of this people crossed the Alps about 40B.C., in order to settle in Italy; but the greater part of Upper Italy being already occupied by other Celtic tribes, the Senones were obliged to penetrate a considerable distance to the south, and took up their abode on the Adriatic Sea, between the modern Ravenna and Ancona. They extended their ravages into Etruria; and it was in consequence of the interference of the Romans while they were laying siege to Clusium, that they marched against Rome and took the city, 390B.C.They were defeated by Camillus, 367B.C.They defeated Metellus, the consul, at Arretium, 284, but were almost exterminated by Dolabella, 283. They invaded Greece in 279; were defeated by Antigonus Gonatus, 278, and sued for peace. SeeRome.
Sent to the Front.A term applied to bodies of troops or individual soldiers when ordered from camp or garrison to the scene of active hostilities.
Sent to the Rear.A term applied to bodies of troops or individual soldiers whenordered from the immediate scene of active hostilities to the rear of the command in which they are serving, so as to be out of immediate danger.
Sentence.Decision, determination, final judgment. There is an appeal allowed from the sentence of a regimental court-martial to the opinion of a general one.
Sentinel, orSentry(from the Lat.sentire, “to feel or perceive,” through the Ital.sentinella). A private soldier, marine, or sailor, posted at a point of trust, with the duty of watching the approach of an enemy, or any person suspected of hostile intentions. Sentinels mount guard over dépots of arms, the tents of commanding officers, etc. During the night, each sentinel is intrusted with the “word,” or countersign; and no person, however exalted in position, may attempt to approach or pass him without giving that as a signal. In such case, the sentinel is bound to arrest the intruder, and if necessary to shoot him. It has happened before now that the commander-in-chief of an army has been prisoner in the hands of one of his own sentinels. When an army is in the field, the sentinels are its eyes, for they guard the approaches in every direction some distance in front of the main body of troops. In the event of an attack, they give the alarm, and retire slowly on their supports. There is usually an agreement, tacit or expressed, between commanders that their outlying sentinels shall not fire upon one another, which would only be productive of useless bloodshed. Under martial law, death is the penalty to a sentinel sleeping on post. Sentinels will present arms to general and field-officers, to the officer of the day, and the commanding officer of a post; to all other officers they will carry arms. Staff-officers above the rank of captain are entitled to the same compliments from sentinels as are given to field-officers.
Sentinum, Battle of.SeeRome.
Sentry.The same as sentinel. “Sentry go,” is the warning given by the sentry at the guard-room or tent that it is time to relieve sentries.
Sentry-box.A box to cover a sentinel at his post, and shelter him from the weather.
Sepadar.Is an East Indian term for an officer of the rank of brigadier-general.
Sepahi.An East Indian term for a feudatory chief, or military tenant; a soldier.
Sepoy.Corrupted from the Indian wordsipahi, “a soldier.” This word sipahi, in its more familiar form ofspahis, is known in most Eastern armies; and is itself derived fromsip, “a bow and arrow,” the ordinary armament of an Indian soldier in ancient times. The word Sepoy now denotes a native Hindoo soldier in the British army in India. The Sepoys consist of Mohammedans, Rajpoots, Brahmans, and men of other castes, besides Sikhs, Ghoorkas, and men of various hill-tribes. They are generally officered by Europeans.
Septembrizers.In the French revolution a dreadful massacre took place in Paris, September 2-5, 1792. The prisons were broken open and the prisoners butchered, among them an ex-bishop, and nearly 100 non-juring priests. Some accounts state the number of persons slain at 1200, others at 4000. The agents in this slaughter were named Septembrizers.
Sepulchre, Knights of the Holy.A military order, established in Palestine about the year 1114. Those of this class chose Philip II., king of Spain, for their master, in 1558, and afterwards his son; but the grand master of the order of Malta prevailed on him to resign; and when afterwards the Duke de Nevers assumed the same quality in France, the same grand master, by his interest and credit, procured a like renunciation by him, and a confirmation of the union of this order to that of Malta.
Sequani.A Celtic nation of ancient Gaul. Before the conquest of Gaul by Cæsar, the Arverni and Ædui, the two most powerful nations of that country, were in a state of hostility; and the Sequani allied themselves with the former. In order more effectually to crush their enemies, these two nations hired a large body of Germans, under Ariovistus, from over the Rhine. With their assistance they totally defeated the Ædui; but the Germans seized for themselves a third part of the territory of the Sequani, and would have made further encroachments, had not Cæsar defeated them, and expelled them from the land.
Serakhur, Serang.In the East Indies are non-commissioned officers who are employed in the artillery and on board ships of war. In the artillery the former title answers to that of sergeant; in the naval service the latter to that of boatswain.
Seraphim, or Jesus, Order of The.An ancient Swedish order of knighthood, instituted in 1334; but dormant from the period of the Reformation until 1748. The number of knights, besides the king and members of the royal family, is limited to 24.
Seraskier, orSeri-Asker(Pers.“head of the army”). The name given by the Turks to every general having the command of a separate army, and, in particular, to the commander-in-chief or minister of war. The seraskier, in the latter sense, possesses most extensive authority, being subordinate only to the sultan and grand vizier. He is selected by the monarch from among the pashas of two or three tails.
Seraskur(Ind.). This word is sometimes writtenseraskier, and signifies the commander-in-chief of a Turkish army.
Serdans.Colonels in the Turkish service are so called.
Seregno.A town in the province of Milan, Italy, 13 miles north from Milan. It is noted for the heroic resistance which the women of the city made against the conscription, and which ultimately inducedBonaparte to rescind his order for the bombardment of the place. The Austrians, in 1848, severely chastised Seregno for its patriotism.
Sergeant.A non-commissioned officer in a company, battery, or troop, usually selected from among the corporals on account of his general intelligence and good conduct. He is vested with the command of small detachments, and sometimes with his company in the absence of his superior officers.
Sergeant, Armorer-.In the British service, is a trained artificer who repairs the arms of a corps.
Sergeant, Band-.In the British service, is a non-commissioned officer who is responsible for the discipline of the band, as is the bandmaster for instruction. In the United States service a principal musician performs this duty.
Sergeant, Color-.SeeColor-Sergeant.
Sergeant, Cook.In the British service, is a non-commissioned officer who superintends the cooking for the corps.
Sergeant, Covering.Is a non-commissioned officer, who, during the exercise of a battalion, regularly stands or moves behind each officer commanding or acting with a platoon or company.
Sergeant d’Armes(sergeant of arms), Fr. Philip Augustus, fearing to be assassinated on the instigation of the sheik of the mountain, during his stay in Palestine, organized for the protection of his person a corps ofsergeants d’armes, consisting of gentlemen, which he armed with bronze war-clubs, and bows and arrows, whose duty it was to accompany him everywhere.
Sergeant, Drill-.SeeDrill-Sergeant.
Sergeant, Hospital.In the British service, is a non-commissioned officer who carries out the orders of the surgeon as regards discipline in a hospital.
Sergeant Instructor in Fencing.In the British service, is a sergeant who performs the duties implied by his title in regiments of cavalry.
Sergeant Instructor in Gunnery.A sergeant of artillery who aids the officer instructor in teaching gunnery.
Sergeant, Lance-.Is a corporal who acts as a sergeant in a company, but only receives the pay of a corporal.
Sergeant-Major.The chief non-commissioned officer in a regiment, and, from the nature of his duties, in a great degree an assistant to the adjutant. He must be master of every point connected with the drill, interior economy, and discipline of a regiment. It is his duty, on receiving the orders from the adjutant, to assemble the orderly sergeants, and issue the orders and details correctly. He is to keep a regular duty roster of the sergeants and corporals, and to proportion the number of men to be furnished for duty according to the strength of their respective companies. Finally, it is always expected that he should set an example to the non-commissioned officers by his activity, zeal, and personal appearance. In the British cavalry service this non-commissioned officer is termed regimental sergeant-major, the chief non-commissioned officer of a troop being styled troop sergeant-major. Similarly in the artillery there are the brigade sergeant-major and the battery sergeant-major.
Sergeant, Orderly.SeeOrderly Sergeant.
Sergeant, Pay-.SeePay-Sergeant.
Sergeant, Paymaster-.SeePaymaster-Sergeant.
Sergeant, Pioneer.SeePioneer Sergeant.
Sergeant, Quartermaster.SeeQuartermaster Sergeant.
Sergeant, White.Is a term of ridicule in the British service, applied to those ladies who, taking advantage of the weakness of their husbands, neglect their domestic concerns to interfere in military matters.
Seringapatam(anc.Sri-Rungaputtun, “City of Vishnu”). A celebrated fortress of South India, and under Hyder Ali and Tippoo Sahib, the capital of Mysore, at the west angle of the island of the Cavery (Kaveri). Seringapatam was besieged by Lord Cornwallis in 1791, and again in 1792, when Tippoo purchased a peace by ceding half his dominions and paying 330 lacs of rupees to the British and their allies. It was again besieged in 1799 and taken by storm on May 3 (4), on which occasion Tippoo was killed, and the dynasty of Hyder terminated; the ancient Rajpoot line being restored to the sovereignty of Mysore.
Serjeant.SeeSergeant.
Serpenteau(Fr.). A round iron circle, with small spikes, and squibs attached to them. It is frequently used in the attack and defense of a breach. It likewise means a fusee, which is filled with gunpowder, and is bent in such a manner, that when it takes fire, it obtains a circular rapid motion, and throws out sparks of light in various directions.
Serpentine(Fr.). An ancient wall-piece, with a matchlock, carrying an 8-ounce leaden ball, with a charge of 4 ounces of powder. It was 6 or 7 feet long, and weighed from one to two hundred-weight.
Serpentix(Fr.). Cock of the ancient matchlock, also the lock itself. Also, an ancient 24-pounder gun, of 13 feet, weighing 4360 pounds, whose dolphins represented the figures of serpents.
Serre-demi File(Fr.). That rank in a battalion which determines the half of its depth, and which marches before the demi-file. Thus a battalion standing six deep, has itsserre-demi filein the third rank, which determines its depth.
Serre-file(Fr.). The last rank of a battalion, by which its depth is ascertained, and which always forms its rear. When ranks are doubled, the battalion resumes its natural formation by means of the serre-files.Serre-fileliterally signifies a “bringer up.”
Servans d’Armes, orChevaliers Servans(Fr.). Were persons belonging to the third class of the order of Malta. They were not noblemen, although they wore the sword and the cross.
Servants.In the British service, regimental and staff officers are allowed the indulgence of a steady and well-drilled soldier for a servant; and field-officers, keeping horses, two each. These soldiers are to take their share of any duty on which the officer to whom they are attached is employed, and they must fall in with their respective troops and companies at all reviews, inspections, and field-days. In the U. S. service, officers are not permitted to employ soldiers as servants.
Serve.To be in service; to do duty; to discharge the requirements of an office or employment; and, specifically, to act as a soldier, seaman, etc.To serve a piece, in the artillery, is to load and fire with promptitude and correctness.To serve the vent, to stop it with the thumb.
Servia.One of the Danubian principalities, nominally included in the Ottoman empire, but in reality only tributary to that power. It is bounded on the north by Austria, on the east by Wallachia and Bulgaria, on the south by Rumli and Bosnia, and on the west by Bosnia. In the earliest times of which we have any record, Servia was inhabited by Thracian or Illyrian races; shortly before Christ it was subjugated by the Romans, and formed part of the province of Illyricum, whose fortunes it shared during the vicissitudes of the empire. Overrun successively by the Huns, Ostrogoths, Longobards, etc., it reverted to the Byzantine rulers about the middle of the 6th century, but was wrested from them by the Avars in the 7th century, who in turn were routed by the Serbs, and compelled to give up the country. They were converted to Christianity in the 9th century, but this did not in the least abate their ardor for battle, and for nearly 200 years they were almost constantly at war with the neighboring Bulgarians,—the inveterate enemies of their Byzantine liege lord. In 1043, however, the royal governors were expelled, and they became an independent kingdom. For the next 100 years the Serbs had to fight hard to maintain their independence, and the struggle terminated in their favor; and in 1165, Stephen Nemanja founded a dynasty which lasted for two centuries, during which period the kingdom of Servia attained the acmé of its power and prosperity. Eventually the progress of the Turks, however, was fatal to its welfare, and in 1389 King Lazar fell in the disastrous battle at Kossovapolje. Sultan Bajazet divided the country between Lazar’s son and son-in-law, compelled them to pay tribute and follow him in war. Gradually the Serbs sunk more and more under the Turkish yoke, until, in 1459, Servia was thoroughly subjugated by the sultan Mahmoud. It was uniformly the theatre of the bloody wars between Hungary and Turkey, and frequently suffered the uttermost horrors of devastation. Prince Eugène’s brilliant successes for a moment flashed a ray of hope into the miserable hearts of the long-suffering Serbs, and by the treaty of Passarowitz (1718), a considerable portion of the country was made over to Austria; but in 1739 it reverted to Turkey, and for the next sixty years the cruelty and oppressions of the pashas and their Janissaries surpass all belief. At length the unhappy people could endure the tyranny of their foreign masters no longer, and in 1801 an insurrection broke out, headed by George Czerny, which, by the help of Russia, ended in the triumph of the patriots, and in the election of Czerny by the people as prince of Servia. The invasion of Russia by France, however, left the Serbs at the mercy of their late rulers and the war again broke out. Czerny was forced to flee, and the tyranny of the Turks became more ferocious than ever. Again the people flew to arms under the leadership of Milosch Obrenovitch, and were a second time successful in winning back their liberties. Milosch ruled as prince of Servia until 1839, when he was forced to abdicate; but in 1858 he was restored to his former dignity. In the war between Russia and Turkey in 1876, the Servians took the side of the former, but were not actively engaged.
Service.In a military sense is the art of serving the state in war. All studies, acts, and efforts of the profession of arms have this end in view. To belong to the army and to belong to the land service, are the same thing. In a more restricted sense, service is the performance of military duty. In its general sense, service embraces all details of the military art. But in its restricted sense, actual service is the exercise of military functions.To see service, is a common expression denoting actual collision with an enemy.To retire from service, to quit the army, or resign.
Service, Foreign.SeeForeign Service.
Service, Home.SeeHome Service.
Service, Secret.Any service performed by an individual in a clandestine secret manner. It likewise means intelligence or information, given by spies when countries are engaged in war, for which they receive pecuniary compensation.
Serviceable.Capable of performing all military duty, or of being used in the military service.
Servile or Slave War.SeeRome.
Session.The actual sitting of a court, council, etc., or the actual assembly of the members of such a body for the transaction of business. Hence, also the time, period, or term during which a court, council, and the like, meet daily for business; or the space of time between the first meeting and prorogation or adjournment.
Sestus.A town in Thrace, situated at the narrowest part of the Hellespont, opposite Abydos in Asia, from which it was only seven stadia distant. It was always reckoned a place of importance in consequence of its commanding, to a great extent, the passage of the Hellespont. It was for some time in possession of the Persians, but was retaken by the Greeks, 478B.C., after a long siege. It subsequently formed part of the Athenian empire.
Set.A word used in a military sense in various combinations; as, to set a sentinel, is to place a soldier at any particular spot for its security. Toset on, is to attack. Toset at defiance, is to defy, to dare to combat, etc. Toset up, is to make a man fit for military movements and parade.
Seteef, orSetif(anc.Sitipha, orSitifi). A town of Algeria, distinguished by the obstinate resistance it made against the Saracens, when Northern Africa was overrun by that fierce and warlike people. The old city is now in ruins.
Setendy.In the East Indies, the militia is so called.
Setia.An ancient town of Latium, in the east of the Pontine Marshes; originally belonged to the Volscian confederacy, but was subsequently taken by the Romans and colonized. It was here that the Romans kept the Carthaginian hostages.
Setter.In gunnery, a round stick, to drive fuzes, or any other compositions, into cases of paper.
Sevastopol.SeeSebastopol.
Seven Weeks’ War.The war declared by Prussia, on June 18, 1866, which ended in the total defeat of Austria and her allies. SeePrussia.
Seven Years’ War.This was the third, last, and by far the longest and most terrible of the contests for the possession of Silesia. This long and desperate war was maintained by Frederick II. of Prussia against Austria, Russia, and France, from 1756 to 1763. It made no change in the territorial distribution of Europe, but it increased tenfold the moral power of Prussia, and gave its army a prestige it retained till the battle of Jena. It cost Europe 1,000,000 lives, and prostrated the strength of almost all the powers who had engaged in it.
Seville, orSevilla(anc.Hispalis, orHispal). A famous city of Spain, capital of the province of the same name, on the left bank of the Guadalquiver, 60 miles north-northeast of Cadiz. It was captured by Julius Cæsar, 45B.C.It surrendered to the Moors at once, after the defeat of Don Roderick on the Guadalete, and it continued its allegiance to the caliph of Damascus until 756; it surrendered to Ferdinand III. of Castile on November 23, 1248, when 300,000 Moors left for Granada and Africa. In 1810 it was taken and ravaged by Soult. It was taken by assault by the British and Spaniards, August 27, 1812. It capitulated to Espartero in 1843. The peace of Seville between England, France, and Spain, and also a defensive alliance to which Holland acceded, was signed November 9, 1729.
Sevir.A captain of cavalry among the Romans was so called.
Sextant.An instrument of reflection for measuring angular distances between objects. It is constructed on the same optical principle as Hadley’s quadrant, but usually of metal, with a nicer graduation, telescopic sight, and its arc the sixth, and sometimes the third part of a circle.
Seymeny-bassy.Appellation given to the lieutenant-general of Janissaries in the Turkish service.
Shabrack, orShabraque.A Hungarian term, generally used among cavalry officers, to signify the cloth furniture of a troop-horse.
Shaft.A body of a long, cylindrical shape; a stem, stalk, trunk, or the like. Hence, the stem of an arrow, upon which the feather and head are inserted; hence, an arrow; a missile weapon. Also, the handle of a weapon; as, the shaft of a spear. It likewise means a perpendicular excavation into the earth for the purpose of mining.
Shafted.In heraldry, borne on a shaft;—applied to a spear-head.
Shaftesbury.A town of England, in Dorsetshire, 95 miles southwest of London. It was destroyed by the Danes both before and after 888, but each time it was afterwards restored.
Shag-bush.An old term for a hand-gun.
Shahporee, orShapuree.An island of British Burmah, lying off the coast of Aracan. The capture of this island by the Burmese led to the first British war with that nation, in 1824.
Sham.False; counterfeit; pretended; as, a sham fight.
Shamaka,Shamachi, orShemakha. A town of Russia in Asia, Transcaucasia, 207 miles east-southeast from Tiflis. It was taken and sacked by Nadir Shah in 1734.
Shambrie.In the manège, is a long thong of leather, made fast to the end of a cane or stick, for the purpose of animating a horse, or of punishing him if he refuses to obey the rider.
Shang-hae, orShanghai. A seaport city of China, in the province of Kiangsu, on the river Woo-sung, one of the five ports opened for European commerce. It was captured by the British, June 19, 1842, by the Taeping rebels, September, 1853; retaken by the imperialists, 1855. The rebels were defeated near here by the English and French, allies of the emperor, March 1, 1862.
Sharp.Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous. “In sharp contest of battle.”
Sharps Rifle.One of the oldest of successful breech-loading rifles. The chamber of this piece is fixed, and the barrel closed by a vertical sliding breech-piece, which moves nearly at right angles to the axis of the piece. The fire-arm is loaded by depressing the lever, or trigger-guard, which withdrawsthe slide and opens the breech for the insertion of the cartridge. Originally a paper cartridge was used, the rear end of which was broken open by the breech-piece in closing; this was superseded by a linen cloth cylinder to contain the powder, one end of which overlaps and is gummed to the base of the bullet; the other is closed with a layer of thin bank-note paper. The flame of the percussion-cap penetrates through this paper and ignites the powder. The linen case is carried out with the bullet and drops to the ground a short distance in front of the piece. A metallic cartridge is now used.
Sharpsburg.SeeAntietam Creek.
Sharpshooters.An old term applied in the army to riflemen.
Sharp-shooting.A shooting with great precision and effect.
Shawnees.A tribe of American Indians, which were first known on the banks of Fox River, Wisconsin, in 1648. They were a warlike tribe, and waged war with the Iroquois. The Shawnees eventually became a scattered race, and dispersed to several parts of the country; we find a part of them afterwards taking part with the French in their wars in America; joined in Pontiac’s conspiracy, but were subdued by Col. Boquet. They took a prominent part in the Western wars, especially against the expeditions of Harmer, Wayne, etc.; but made peace at Greenville in 1795. They afterwards effected an alliance with some tribes of Northwestern Indians, and under their celebrated leader Tecumseh gave battle to the whites under Gen. Harrison, at Tippecanoe, but were defeated. Tecumseh, with a band of Shawnees, proceeded to Canada at the outbreak of the war of 1812, and made an alliance with the English, who gave him a brigadier-general’s commission; he was killed while leading the right wing at the battle of the Thames in 1813. Since then the Shawnees have again reunited and are now upon reservations in Indian Territory, and numbered in 1870 about 800.
Sheaf.A bundle of arrows.
Sheathe.To put into a sheath, case, or scabbard; to inclose or cover with a sheath or case.To sheathe the sword, to put an end to war or enmity; to make peace.
Sheeting.The term sheeting is applied to the coarse hempen cloth used for making tarpaulins.
Sheffield.A large town of England in the West Riding of Yorkshire, at the confluence of the Sheaf and Don, 43 miles southwest from York. During the civil wars in the time of Charles I., the castle sustained a long siege for the king, but scarcely a vestige of it can now be discerned.
Shell.To throw shells or bombs upon; to bombard; as, to shell a town.
Shell Extractor.An instrument for extracting headless cartridge-cases from breech-loading small-arms.
Shell-hooks.SeeImplements.
Shelling.The act of bombarding a fort, town, or position.
Shell-jacket.An undress military jacket.
Shell-plug Screw.SeeImplements.
Shell-proof.Capable of resisting bomb-shells.
Shells.Hollow projectiles; also, the cases of metallic cartridges for use in small-arms. SeeProjectiles.
Shelter.In a military sense, that which protects the troops in the field. There are various means resorted to for this purpose. A common arrangement is as follows: A cross-bar is supported by two uprights; against this cross-bar a number of poles are made to lean; on the back of the poles abundance of fir branches are laid horizontally; and lastly, on the back of the fir branches is another set of leaning poles, in order to make all secure by their weight. A cloth of any kind is made use of to give shelter by an arrangement of this kind. The corners of the cloth should be secured by a simple hitch in the rope, and not by a knot. The former is sufficient for all purposes of security, but the latter will jam, and you may have to injure both cloth and string to get it loose again. It is convenient to pin a skewer in the middle of the sides of the cloth, round the ropes.
Shelter-tentsaffording an excellent protection for 6 soldiers may be made as follows: Three tent-sticks are fixed into the ground, whose tops are notched; a light cord is then passed round their tops, and fastened into the ground with a peg at each end. Two sheets are then buttoned together and thrown over the cord, then two others, which are buttoned to the previous ones. Lastly, another sheet is thrown over each of the slanting cords, and buttoned to the others. The sides of the tent are, of course, pegged to the ground. There are many modifications in the way of pitching these tents. For want of sticks muskets can be used.
Hutsare also frequently used as a means of protection by troops, as there is scarcely any place which does not furnish materials for their construction.
Walls.—Those principally in use are as follows: Skins, canvas, felt, tarpaulin, bark, reed mats, reed walls, straw walls, wattle-and-dab, log huts, fascines or fagots, boards, etc., fastened by malay-hitch, brick, sunburnt or baked, turf, stones, gabions, bags or mats filled with sand or shingle, snow huts, underground huts, tents over holes in earth.
Roofs.—Many of the above list would be perfectly suitable for roofs; in addition may be mentioned slating with flat stones, thatch, sea-weed, and wood shingles.
Straw wallsof the following kind are very effective, and they have the advantage of requiring a minimum of string (or substitute for string) in their manufacture. The straw or herbage of almost any description is simply nipped between two pairs of long sticks, which are respectively tied togetherat the two ends, and at a sufficient number of intermediate places. The whole is neatly squared and trimmed. A few of these would help in finishing the roof or walls of a house. They can be made movable so as to suit the wind, shade, and aspect. Even the hut door can be made on this principle.
Malay hitchis the name given to a wonderfully simple way of attaching together wisps of straw, rods, laths, reeds, planks, poles, or anything of the kind into a secure and flexible mat; the sails used in the far East are made in this way, and the movable decks are made of bamboos joined together with a similar but rather more complicated stitch.
Shenandoah.A river of Virginia, United States, the largest tributary to the Potomac, drains the beautiful and fertile valley between the Blue Ridge and the principal range of the Alleghanies. In the war of 1861-65, this valley was the scene of numerous conflicts, was successively occupied by the opposing armies, and finally laid waste by Gen. Sheridan in the autumn of 1864.
Shield.A piece of defensive armor, borne on the left arm, to ward off the strokes of the sword and of missiles. It has been constantly used from ancient times, through the Middle Ages, till the invention of fire-arms. The large shield worn by the Greeks and Romans (clipeus) was circular, and often ornamented with devices. Another form of shield (scutum) was used by the Roman heavy-armed infantry, square, but bent to encircle the body. The early shield or knightly escutcheon of the Middle Ages was circular in outline, and convex, with a boss in the centre; the body generally of wood, and the rim of metal. There were many other kinds of shields, made of leather, wood, basket-work, etc., employed up to the introduction of fire-arms, when they became practically useless, although some savage nations employ shields at the present time.
Shield.To cover, as with a shield; to cover from danger; to defend; to protect; to secure from assault or injury.
Shift.In a military sense, to change place or station. Hence, to shift quarters.
Shiloh.A locality in Tennessee, a few miles from Pittsburg Landing, situated on the Tennessee River. Here on April 6-7, 1862, a great battle was fought between the Union troops under Grant and the Confederate army under Albert Sydney Johnston and Beauregard. The Confederates began the attack, taking the Union forces by surprise, who, after a brave resistance during the first day, were compelled to retire before the victorious Confederates, who, however, lost their gallant chief, Gen. Johnston. The Federals having been reinforced during the night, commenced the attack on the 7th, along the whole of the rebel line, which was resisted gallantly, and the field was stubbornly contested until about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, when the Union army regained their lines of the day before, and drove the enemy off the field. The Confederates retreated to Corinth. The loss of the Confederates was 1735 killed, about 8000 wounded, and 960 missing. Grant’s loss was estimated at something under this number.
Shirvan, orShirwan. A province of Russia in Asia, in the country of the Caucasus. Shirvan formed until the 6th century a part of the monarchy of Armenia; but was afterwards conquered by the Persians, and made a part of that empire under Khosroo Nooshirvan, who called this country after his name. The rulers of Shirvan carried on many wars with Persia, over which country they repeatedly gained great advantages. Finally, in the end of the 15th century, it was completely brought under Persian sway. The Russians gradually invaded the country, and it was ceded to them in 1812.
Sholapore.Capital of the collectorate of the same name, in British India, in the Presidency of Bombay. It is strongly fortified, and was taken by escalade by a British force under Gen. Pritzter.
Shoomla.SeeSchumla.
Shoot.To let fly or cause to be driven with force, as an arrow or bullet;—followed by a word denoting the missile, as an object. Also, to discharge, causing a missile to be driven forth;—said of the weapon or instrument, as an object; as, to shoot a gun and the like.
Shooter.One who shoots; an archer; a gunner; a shot. Also, that which shoots; as, a five-shooter.
Shooting-iron.A fire-arm is sometimes so called.
Shoshones, orSnakes. A tribe of North American Indians inhabiting the country between the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains, and from Idaho southward into Utah. They have generally been peaceable; but they collided with the whites on several occasions, which resulted disastrously for them, several of their bands being almost annihilated. Treaties were formed with them on several occasions between 1863 and 1868, and attempts have been made to place them upon reservations. All the property of a dead Shoshone is buried with him, and formerly his favorite wife and horse were killed over the corpse. In 1870 they numbered about 4000 souls.
Shot.SeeProjectile.
Shot.The act of shooting; discharge of a missile weapon. Also, the flight of a missile weapon, or the distance which it passes from the engine; as, a cannon-shot; a musket-shot, etc. Also, a marksman; one who practices shooting; as, an excellent shot.
Shot.To load with shot over a cartridge; as, to shot the guns.
Shot, Canister-.SeeCanister-shot.
Shot, Case-.SeeCase-shot.
Shot, Chain-.SeeChain-shot.
Shot, Grape-.SeeGrape-Shot.
Shot-belt.A belt having a pouch for carrying shot.
Shot-gauge.An instrument for measuring the diameter of round-shot.
Shot-tower.A lofty tower for making shot, by dropping from its summit melted lead, which cools in the descent, and is received into water or other liquid.
Shoulder.The upper part of a blade of a sword. Also, the salient angle of the flank of a bastion.To shoulder, to lay on the shoulder, or to rest anything against it. Hence, to shoulder arms, a word of command in the manual exercise.
Shoulder-belt.SeeBelts.
Shoulder-knot.An ornamental knot of gold cord on cloth of the same color as the facings of the arm to which the officer belongs, with insignia of rank and number of regiment embroidered on the cloth ground. They are worn on the shoulder by commissioned officers of the army, and are sometimes embroidered. A kind of epaulette.
Shoulder-strap.A narrow strap, 13⁄8inches wide by 4 inches long, bordered with an embroidery of gold1⁄4inch wide. It is worn on the shoulder of a commissioned officer in the army, indicating by a suitable device the rank he holds in the service. SeeRank, Insignia of.
Shrapnel.SeeProjectile, Smooth-bore Projectiles.
Shrewsbury.An ancient town of England, in Shropshire, on the Severn. It was the scene of many military events, the inhabitants always taking an active share in the various contests of the most turbulent period of English history, from the conquest to the civil war. It was taken by Llewellyn the Great, prince of North Wales, in 1215, during the disturbances between King John and the barons. The famous battle of Shrewsbury, in which Henry IV., then prince of Wales, first distinguished himself in the field, and the fiery Hotspur was slain, was fought in 1403.
Shropshire, Battle of.In which the Britons were completely subjugated, and Caractacus, the renowned king of the Silures, became, through the treachery of the queen of the Brigantes, a prisoner to the Romans.
Shunt Gun.A rifled fire-arm having two sets of grooves, down one of which the shot is passed in loading, and along the other of which it passes out when fired, having been shunted from one set to the other, when at the bottom, by turning upon its axis.
Shuternaul.In the East Indies, is a sort of arquebuse, which is fixed upon the back of a camel.
Siberia, orSiberi. A vast territory in Northern Asia, belonging to Russia, and including all the Russian possessions in that continent, with the exception of the Transcaucasian and Armenian provinces. Siberia seems to have been first made known to the Russians by a merchant named Anika Stroganoff; and soon after the conquest of West Siberia was effected by the Cossack Vassili Yermak, an absconded criminal, at the head of a numerous band of wild followers. After Yermak’s death, in 1554, the Russians pursued their conquests eastward, founding Tomsk in 1604, and though they often experienced serious reverses, their progress was rapid, the Sea of Okhotsk being reached in 1639, and Irkutsk founded in 1661. Frequent disturbances have occurred between the Russians and the Chinese and Tartars, which have resulted in the extension southward of the Siberian boundary into Manchuria and Turkestan.
Sicarii(i.e.,Assassins). The name given by the Romans to certain savage mountain tribes of the Lebanon, who were, like theThugsof India, avowed murderers by profession. In the same mountains there existed, at the time of the Crusades, a branch of the fanatic sect called “Assassins,” whose habits resembled those of the Sicarii, and whose name the Crusaders imported into Europe; but these were of Arabian origin.
Sicilian Vespers.The name given to the massacre of the French in Sicily, on the day after Easter (March 30), 1822, the signal for the commencement of which was to be the first stroke of the vesper-bell. On the evening of Easter Monday, the inhabitants of Palermo, enraged (according to the common story) at a gross outrage which was perpetrated by a French soldier on a young Sicilian bride, suddenly rose against their oppressors, the French, and put to the sword every man, woman, and child, and did not even spare those Italians and Sicilians who had married Frenchmen. This example was followed by Messina and other towns, and the massacre soon became general over the island. The French were hunted like wild beasts, and dragged even from the churches, where they vainly thought themselves secure. More than 8000 of them were slain by the Palermitans alone. This event was the final overthrow of Charles of Anjou’s domination in Sicily.
Sicily(anc.Sicilia). The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, situated between Italy and the coast of Africa, and separated on the northeast from Naples by the Strait of Messina; it is a province of the kingdom of Italy. It was successively occupied by the Phœnicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, and Romans. For history of the Carthaginians in Sicily, seeCarthage. The western part of Sicily was made a Roman province in 241B.C.; but after the revolt of Syracuse in the second Punic war, and the conquest of that city by Marcellus, the whole island was made a Roman province. On the downfall of the Roman empire, Sicily formed part of the kingdom of the Ostrogoths; but it was taken from them by Belisarius in 536, and annexed to the Byzantine empire. In the 8th and 9th centuries the Saracens succeeded in conquering it. The Normans conquered the island in the 11th century under Roger Guiscard, duke of Apulia. It passed successively into the hands of France(seeSicilian Vespers), Germany, and Spain. By the peace of Utrecht, in 1713, it was given to the Duke of Savoy; was added to the kingdom of Naples in 1720. The war of 1734, however, carried on by France and Spain against Austria, transferred the crown of Naples, or, as it was subsequently termed, of the Two Sicilies, to a branch of the royal family of Spain; it remained in their hands until the French revolution led, in 1799, to the expulsion of the royal family from Naples. In 1815, Ferdinand IV. of Naples assumed the title of Ferdinand I. of the Two Sicilies. In 1847, 1848, and 1849, the Sicilians made several attempts, in common with the Neapolitans, to rid themselves of their obnoxious monarch, Ferdinand II., but without success. The Bourbons were, however, driven from the throne by Garibaldi in 1860, and in the same year Sicily was united to the new kingdom of Italy. SeeNaples.
Sick and Hurt.A board so called, to which the agents, commissaries, etc., belonging to the several military hospitals in Great Britain were responsible.
Sick Call.A military call which is sounded on the drum, bugle, or trumpet, whereby the sick men are warned to attend the hospital.
Sick-flag.The yellow quarantine flag hoisted to prevent communication; whence the term of the yellow flag and yellow admirals. There are two others,—one with a black ball, the other with a square in the centre,—denoting plague or actual diseases.
Sick Report Book.A book in which the names of the men who are sick in a company, troop, etc., are entered, also the names of their diseases, and probable cause of same. This book is signed by one of the company officers to which the men belong, and the attending surgeon.
Sicyonia.A small district in the northeast of Peloponnesus. Its chief town wasSicyon, which was destroyed by Demetrius Poliorcetes. In the Persian war the Sicyonians sent fifteen ships to the battle of Salamis, and 300 hoplites to the battle of Plætæ. In the interval between the Persian and Peloponnesian wars the Sicyonians were twice defeated and their country laid waste by the Athenians,—first under Tolmides in 456B.C., and again under Pericles in 454B.C.In the Peloponnesian war they took part with the Spartans.
Side-arms.Such arms as are suspended by the side and attached to the person, such as a bayonet or sword.
Sidon, orZidon(nowSaida, orSeida). For a long time the most powerful, and probably the most ancient, of the cities of Phœnice. It was the chief seat of the maritime power of Phœnice until eclipsed by its own colony, Tyre. It submitted to Shalmanezer at the time of the Assyrian conquest of Syria. In the expedition of Xerxes against Greece the Sidonians furnished the best ships in the whole fleet. Sidon received the great blow to her prosperity in the reign of Artaxerxes III. (Ochus), when the Sidonians, having taken part in the revolt of Phœnice and Cyprus, and being betrayed to Ochus by their own king Tennes, burned themselves with their city, 351B.C.It was rebuilt. On September 27, 1840, the town was taken from the pasha of Egypt by the troops of the sultan and of his allies, assisted by some ships of the British squadron, under Admiral Sir Robert Stopford and Commodore Charles Napier.
Siege(Fr.siege, “a seat, a sitting down”). Is the sitting of an army before a hostile town or fortress with the intention of capturing it. With certain elements, the success of a siege is beyond doubt; the result being merely a question of time. These elements are: First, the force of the besiegers shall be sufficient to overcome the besieged in actual combat, man to man. If this be not the case, the besieged, by a sortie, might destroy the opposing works and drive away the besiegers. The second element is, that the place must be thoroughly invested, so that no provisions, reinforcements, or other aliment of war can enter. The third element is, that the besiegers be undisturbed from without. For this it is essential that there shall not be a hostile army in the neighborhood; or if there be, that the operations of the besiegers be protected by a covering army able to cope with the enemy’s force in the field. The ancients executed gigantic works to produce these effects. To complete the investment they built a high and strong wall around the whole fortress; and to render themselves secure from without they built a similar wall, facing outwards, beyond their own position. The first was circumvallation, the second contravallation. It was thus that Cæsar fortified himself while besieging Alexia, and maintained 60,000 men within his ring. In modern warfare it is considered preferable to establish strong posts here and there round the place, and merely sentinels and videttes between. Let us now assume that a fortress of great strength has to be reduced, and that the force of the enemy in the vicinity has been either subdued or held in check by a covering army. By rapid movements the place is at once invested on all sides. This step constitutes merely a blockade; and if time be of little importance, it is a sufficient operation, for hunger must sooner or later cause the fortress to surrender; but if more energetic measures are required, the actual siege must be prosecuted. Advantage is taken of any hidden ground to establish the park of artillery and the engineer’s park; or, if there be none, these parks have to be placed out of range. The besieging force is now encamped just beyond the reach of the guns of the fortress; and their object is to get over the intervening ground and into the works without being torn to pieces by the concentrated fire of the numerous pieces which the defenders can bring to bear on every part.With this view, the place is approached by a series of zigzag trenches so pointed that they cannot be enfiladed by any guns in the fortress. In order to accommodate the forces necessary to protect the workers, the trenches at certain intervals are cut laterally for a great length, partly encircling the place, and affording safe room for a large force with ample battering material. These are calledparallels, and they are generally three in number. The distance of the first parallel will increase as small-arms become more deadly; but with smooth-bore muskets it has been usual to break ground at 600 yards from the covered way of the fortress, while in the case of Sebastopol, ground was broken at 2000 yards. The engineers having, by reconnoissances, decided the locality of the parallel, and taken advantage of any inequalities of surface, a strong body of men is sent to the spot soon after nightfall. The attention of the garrison is distracted by false alarms in other directions. Half the men are armedcap-a-pie, and lie down before the proposed parallel; while the other half, bearing each a pick and shovel, and two empty gabions, prepare for work. Each man deposits the gabions where the parapet of the trench should be. He then digs down behind them, filling the gabions with the earth dug out, and after they are filled, throwing it over them, to widen and heighten the parapet. Before daylight the working party is expected to have formed sufficient cover to conceal themselves and the troops protecting them. During the day, they—being concealed from the garrison—widen and complete their parallel, making it of dimensions sufficient to allow of wagons and bodies of troops with guns passing along. During the same night other parties will have been at work at zigzags of approach from the depots out of range to the first parallel, which zigzags will be probably not less than 1000 yards in length. As a rule, the defenders will not expend ammunition on the first parallel, for its extent (often several miles) will render the probability of doing material damage extremely small. For this reason also, the dimensions of the parapet and its solidity are of far less importance in the first parallel than in the more advanced works of attack. The first parallel being completed, the engineers select points near its extremities, at which they erect breastworks to cover bodies of cavalry, who are kept at hand to resist sorties from the garrison. The length of the parallel is usually made sufficient to embrace all the works of two bastions at least. Sites are then chosen for batteries, which are built up of fascines, gabions, sand-bags, and earth. They are placed at points in the parallel formed by the prolongation of the several faces of the bastions, ravelins, and other works of the fortress, which faces the batteries are severally intended to enfilade by a ricochet fire. Other batteries will be formed for a vertical fire of mortars. By these means it is hoped that the traverses on the hostile ramparts will be destroyed, the guns dismounted, and the defenders dispersed, before the final approaches bring the assailants to the covered way. The sappers will now commence their advance towards the points, or salient angles, of the two bastions to be attacked. If, however, the trench were cut straight towards the fortress, its guns could easily destroy the workmen, and enfilade the approach. To prevent this, it is cut into short zigzags, the direction always being to a point a few yards beyond the outmost flanking-works of the garrison. The side of each trench nearest the fortress is protected by gabions and sand-bags, as in the case of the parallel. At intervals short spurs of trench, incipient parallels, are cut, to contain infantry, to act as guards to the sappers. The second parallel is about 300 yards from the enemy’s works, and has to be more strongly formed than the first. It often terminates in a redoubt to hold some light artillery, and a strong force of infantry, who could assail any sortie in flank; or it may run into the first parallel, giving easier access for troops than through the zigzags. The second parallel is revetted with sand-bags, in which loop-holes are left for musketry. After passing the second parallel, the angles of the zigzags become more acute, to prevent enfilading. At about 150 yards, certain demi-parallels are cut, and armed with howitzer-batteries to clear the covered way, while riflemen also act from it. The third parallel is at the foot of the glacis. Thence the place, after being sufficiently battered, is taken by a storming party, who make their way over the glacis; or the covered way is topped by the double sap, which is a safer plan for the array generally, though much more deadly to the sappers. When the crest of the covered way has thus been reached, batteries of heavy artillery will be there established, for the purpose of breaching the walls of the ravelin and bastion; while at the same time miners will first seek to destroy the defenders’ countermines (which would otherwise be likely to send these batteries into the air), and then will excavate a tunnel to the ditch at the foot of the counterscarp. If the breach becomes practicable, a storming party will emerge from this tunnel or gallery, and seek to carry the opposite work by hard fighting. If inner works still subsist, which would tear assailants to pieces, the double sap may be continued across the ditch, if a dry ditch, right up the breach, that counter-batteries may be formed. If the ditch be wet, means must be adopted for a causeway or a bridge. By these means, however obstinate may be the defense, if the besieging force be sufficiently strong, and aid do not arrive from without, the ultimate success of the attack becomes certain. Vauban raised attack to a superiority above defense, first by the introduction of ricochet fire, which sweeps a whole line; and secondly by originatingparallels. Before his time, the whole attack was conducted by zigzag approaches, in which the troops actually in front could be but few, and were therefore unable to withstand strong sorties of the garrison, who, in consequence, frequently broke out and destroyed the works of the besiegers, rendering a siege an operation of the most uncertain character.
Siege and Sea-coast Ammunition.SeeOrdnance, Ammunition for.
Siege Artillery.Is heavy ordnance used for battering purposes, and of too weighty a character to take the field. A siege-train of guns and their ponderous ammunition is usually maintained in the rear of an army, ready to be brought up for use when required. SeeArtillery.
Siege Carriages.SeeOrdnance, Carriages for.
Siege-train.The number and kind of pieces composing a siege-train must altogether depend on circumstances; but the following general principles may be observed in assigning the proportion of different kinds and calibers, and the relative quantity of other supplies, for a train of 100 pieces:
Guns, about three-fifths the whole number (60);howitzers, one-fourth (25);mortars, 10-inch siege, one-eighth (12), 8-inch siege, 3;Coehorn mortars, in addition to the 100 pieces, 6. Total number of guns, 106.
Carriages, for guns and howitzers, one-fifth spare, 102; for 10-inch mortars, one-sixth spare, 14; for 8-inch mortars, 4.
Mortar-wagons, one for each 10-inch mortar and bed, and for three 8-inch mortars and beds, 14.
Wagons, for transporting implements, intrenching and miners’ tools, laboratory tools and utensils, and other stores, each loaded with about 2700 pounds,—say 140.
Carts, carrying balls, etc., on the march, 50.
Parkbattery-wagons, fully equipped, 28.
Parkforges, fully equipped, 8.
Sling-carts, large, 5.
Sling-carts, hand, 4.
Total number of carriages, 369.
Draught-horses, for each gun and howitzer, with its carriage, 8; for each spare gun-carriage, 6; for each mortar-wagon, 8; for each battery-wagon, 6; for each forge, 6; for each cart, 2; for each sling-cart, large, 2; spare horses, one-tenth. Total, about 1900 horses.
Siemens-Martin Steel.SeeOrdnance, Metals for, Steel.
Siena, orSienna. A city of Central Italy, about 30 miles southeast from Florence. In the Middle Ages, Siena became one of the powerful city republics of Italy. It embraced the Ghibelline cause, and in conjunction with the forces of Pisa, defeated the Tuscan Guelfs, in the memorable battle of Monte Aperto (1206). Through intestine quarrels it was subjugated by the emperor Charles V., and given to his son in 1555, who ceded it to Cosmo of Tuscany, 1557. It was incorporated with France, 1808-14.
Sierra Leone.A district of Western Africa, situated on the Atlantic. The British settlement of Sierra Leone was established in 1787, when 400 negroes, with 60 wives, mostly women of bad character, were removed to it from London. The settlement was attacked by the French in September, 1794, and by the natives in February, 1802.
Sight.A small piece of brass or iron fixed to a cannon or a musket, to serve as a point of direction, and to assist the eye in aiming the piece.
Sight.To give the proper elevation and direction to by means of a sight; as, to sight a rifle or cannon.To take sight, to take aim; to look for the purpose of directing a piece of artillery, or the like.
Sight, Angle of.SeePointing.
Sight, Breech-.SeeBreech-sight.
Sight, Buckhorn-.A form of rear-sight much used in sporting rifles, which takes its name from the curved form of the notch used. This form of notch is now attached to the Springfield rifle in use by U. S. troops.
Sight, Coarse.An aim of a piece in which a considerable portion of the front-sight covers the object.
Sight, Elevating.The rear-sight of a small-arm, arranged to give varying heights of sight for different ranges. There are a variety of forms. Theleaf-sighthas a number of hinged leaves of different lengths. The one now used in the U. S. army has one hinged leaf. Up to 500 yards, the elevation is given by moving the sighting-piece up a curved incline. Above 500 yards, the leaf is turned up to the perpendicular.
Sight, Fine.An aim in which only the summit of the front-sight is used to get the line of sight.
Sight, Front-.The sight nearest the muzzle of a cannon or small-arm. In military arms, it is set on a short projection which is used also as the bayonet-stud. In cannon of old model, using thetangent scale, or pendulum hausse, the height of the front-sight is made equal to the dispart, making thenatural line of sightparallel to the axis of the piece. SeeDispart.
Sight, Line of.SeePointing.
Sight, Peep-.A form of rear-sight for small-arms in which the marksman looks through a small hole.
Sight, Plane of.SeePointing.
Sight, Quarter-.The quarter-sights of a cannon are divisions marked on the upper quarters of the base-ring, commencing where it would be intersected by a plane parallel to the axis of the piece, and tangent to the upper surface of the trunnions; used for giving elevations up to three degrees, and especially for pointing at a less elevation than the natural angle of sight. Now obsolete.
Sight, Rear-.The sight nearest the breech of a cannon or small-arm. The term is specially applied to small-arms.
Sight, Telescopic.An apparatus forsighting a cannon or small-arm, consisting of a telescope so mounted as to give varying angles of sight; used especially for long ranges. Rifles with such an attachment are sometimes called telescopic rifles.