MusquetCartridges, by different powers in Europe.
CASCABLE, in artillery, is the very hindermost knob or button of the cannon, or the utmost part of the breech. SeeCannon.
CASCANS, in fortification, holes in the form of wells, serving as entrances to galleries, or giving vent to the enemy’s mines. SeeFortification.
CASEMATE, in fortification, a vault, or arch of mason-work, in that part of the flank of a bastion which is next the curtain, made to defend the ditch, and the face of the opposite bastion. SeeFortification.
Casematesnouvelles,Fr.arched batteries which are constructed under all the openings of revetements or ramparts. The different forts at Cherbourg, are defended by these casemates: the works erected round Dover Castle, come likewise under this description; the works at fort Columbus, New York, are erected on the same principles.
CASERNES, in fortification, are buildings for the soldiers of the garrison to live in; generally erected between the houses of fortified towns, and the rampart.
Casernes, in a general acceptation, signify barracks.
CASE-Shot. SeeShot, andLaboratory.
CASHIERED. An officer sentenced by a general court-martial, or peremptorily ordered by the king, to be dismissed from the service, is said to be cashiered.
CASK,orCasque, the ancient helmet or armor for the head.
CASSINE, in military history, signifies a small house in the country, generally surrounded by a ditch. Cassines are very convenient to post small parties in, where they will be sheltered from any sudden attack, and can even make head till the nearest detachments can come and relieve them.
CASSIONS. SeeCaissons.
CASTING, in founding guns, implies the operation of running any sort of metal into a mould prepared for that purpose.
CASTLE, in military affairs, a fortified place, or strong hold, to defend a town or city from an enemy. English castles are for the most part no higher in antiquity than the Norman conquest; or rather about the middle of king Stephen’s reign. Castles were erected in almost all parts of that kingdom, by the several contending parties; and each owner of a castle was a kind of petty prince, coining his own money, and exercising sovereign jurisdiction over his people. History informs us that 1017 castles were built in one reign.
CASTRAMETATION, is the art of measuring or tracing out the form of a camp on the ground; yet it sometimes has a more extensive signification, by including all the views and designs of a general; the one requires only the knowlege of a mathematician, the other the experience of an old soldier. The ancients were accustomed to fortify their camps by throwing up entrenchments round them. The Turks, and other Asiatic nations, fortify themselves, when in an open country, with their waggons and other carriages. The practice of the Europeans is quite different; for the surety of their camp consists in the facility and convenience of drawing out their troops at the head of their encampment; for which reason, whatever particular order of battle is regarded as the best disposition for fighting, it follows of course, that we should encamp in such a manner as to assemble and parade our troops in that order and disposition as soon as possible. It is therefore the order of battle that should regulate the order of encampment; that is to say, the post of each regiment in the line of battle should be at the head of its own encampment; from whence it follows, that the extent of the line of battle from right to left of the camp, should be equal to the front of the troops in line of battle, with the same intervals in the camp as in the line. By this means every battalion covers its own tents, and they can all lodge themselves, or turn out in case of necessity, at a minute’s warning.
If the front of the camp is greater than the line, the troops must leave large intervals, or expose their flanks; if less, the troops will not have room to form with the proper intervals.
The front or principal line of the camp is commonly directed to face the enemy. SeeCamp.
CATo’ nine tails, a whip with nine knotted cords, with which the British soldiers are punished. Sometimes it has only five cords. A barbarous and unmilitary usage, unknown in any other European army.
CATAFALCO, in military architecture, a scaffold of timber, decorated with sculpture, painting, &c. for supporting the coffin of a deceased hero, during the funeral solemnity
CATAPHRACT, the old Roman term for a horseman in complete armor.
CATAPHRACTA, in the ancient military art, a piece of heavy defensive armor, formed of cloth or leather, fortified with iron scales or links, wherewith sometimes only the breast, sometimes the whole body, and sometimes the horse too, was covered.
CATAPULTA, in military antiquity, an engine contrived for throwing of arrows, darts and stones, upon the enemy. Some of these engines were so large, and of such force, that they would throw stones of an hundred weight. Josephus takes notice of the surprising effects of these engines, and says, that the stones thrown out of them beat down the battlements, knocked off the angles of the towers, and had force sufficient to level a very deep file of soldiers
CATATROME. SeeCrane.
CATERVA, in ancient military writers, a term used in speaking of the Gaulish or Celtiberian armies, denoting a body of 6000 armed men. The word is also used to denote a party of soldiers in disarray; in opposition tocohortorturma, which signify in good order.
CATTUS,-CATHOUSE,
in ancient military history, was a kind of covered shed, sometimes fixed on wheels, and similar to theVincaandPluteusof the ancients.
CAVALCADE, in military history, implies a pompous procession of horsemen, equipages, &c. by way of parade, to grace a triumph, public entry, or the like.
CAVALIER, in fortification, is a work generally raised within the body of the place, 10 or 12 feet higher than the rest of the works. Their most common situation is within the bastion, and made much in the same form: sometimes they are placed in the gorges, or on the middle of the curtain; they are then made in the form of a horse-shoe. SeeFortification. Their use is to command all the adjacent works and country round about it; they are seldom, or never, made but when there is a hill or rising ground, which overlooks some of the works.
Trench-Cavalier, in the attacks, isan elevation which the besiegers make by means of earth or gabions, within halfway, or two thirds of the glacis, to discover, or to enfilade the covert way.
CAVALRY, in military affairs, that body of soldiers which serves and fights on horseback: under this denomination are included,
Horse, that is, regiments or troops of horse. The first English troop of horse was raised in 1660.
Dragoons, are likewise regiments of horse, but distinguished from the former by being taught to fight both on foot and on horseback. The first English regiment of dragoons was raised in 1681. SeeAmerican Mil. Lib.Art.Cavalry.
Hunters.SeeLight-horse.
Light-horse, are regiments of cavalry, mounted on light, swift horses, whose men are but small, and lightly accoutred. They were first raised by the British, in 1757.
Hussars, generally Hungarian horse; their uniform is a large furred cap, adorned with a cock’s feather; those of the officers, either with an eagle’s or a heron’s; a very short waistcoat, with a pair of breeches and stockings in one; short light boots, generally of red or yellow leather; with a curious doublet, having five rows of buttons, which hang loosely on the left shoulder. Their arms are a long crooked sabre, light carbines, and pistols. Before they begin an attack, they lay themselves so flat on the necks of their horses, that it is hardly possible to discover their force; but being come within pistol-shot of the enemy, they raise themselves with surprising quickness, and fall on with such vivacity, that it is very difficult for the troops to preserve their order. When a retreat is necessary, their horses have so much fire, and are so indefatigable, their equipage so light, and themselves such excellent horsemen, that no other cavalry can pretend to follow them; they leap over ditches, and swim over rivers, with a surprising facility. Most of the German powers have troops under this name, as also France; into which country they were originally introduced under Louis the XIII. and were called Hungarian cavalry. This description of cavalry was accordingly more ancient in the French service, than that of hussars.
CAVEATING, in fencing, implies a motion whereby a person in an instant brings his sword, which was presented to one side of his adversary, to the opposite side.
CAVIN, in military affairs, implies a natural hollow, sufficiently capacious to lodge a body of troops, and facilitate their approach to a place. If it be within musket-shot, it is a place of arms ready made, and serves for opening the trenches, free from the enemy’s shot.
CAUTION, an explanation given previous to the word of command, by which the soldiers are called to attention, that they may execute the movement to be directed with unanimity and correctness.
CAZEMATTE.SeeCasemate.
CAZEMATE,-CASEMATE,
in fortification, is a certain retired place in the flank of a bastion, for the defence of the ditch, and face of the opposite bastion; not used at present. It also implies a well, having several subterranean branches, which are extended when they suspect the enemy is forming a mine, till they hear the miners at work.
CAZERNES,Fr.SeeCasernes.
CEINTUREmilitaire,Fr.a broad leather belt which was worn round the waist, and was ornamented with gold or silver plates.
CELERES, the life-guards which attended Romulus, in the infancy of Rome, were so called. They were laid aside by Numa Pompilius. Celeres are properly distinguished from other troops, by being lightly armed and acting always on foot. The Celeres cannot be considered under the same head as Velites.
CEMENT. SeeCæment.
CENOTAPH, in military history, implies the empty tomb of a hero, or a monument erected to the honor of a person, without the body of the deceased being interred in or near it.
CENTESIMATION, in ancient military history, a mild kind of military punishment, in cases of desertion, mutiny, and the like, when only every 100th man was executed.
CENTER,-CENTRE,
in a general sense, signifies a point equally distant from the extremities of a line, surface, or solid.
Centreof a battalion, on parade, is the middle, where an interval is left for the colors; of an encampment, it is the main street: and on a march, is an interval for the baggage, &c.
Centreof a bastion, is a point in the middle of the gorge of the bastion, from whence the capital line commences, and which is generally at the inner polygon of the figure.
Centreof gravity, in military mechanics, is that point about which the several parts of a body exactly balance each other in any situation.
Centreof a conic section, is the point where all the diameters meet.
Centreof an ellipsis, is that point where the transverse and conjugate diameters intersect each other.
Centreof motion, is that point which remains at rest while all the other parts of the body move about it.
Centreof percussion, is that point in which the force of the stroke is the greatest possible. When the moving body revolves round a fixed point, the centre of percussion is the same with the centre of oscillation, and found by the same method; but when the body moves in a parallel direction, the centre of percussion is the same with the centre of gravity.
CENTINEL,-CENTRY,
is a private soldier from the guard, posted upon any spot of ground, to stand and watch carefully for the security of the guard, or of any body of troops, or post, and to prevent any surprise from the enemy. All centinels are to be very vigilant on their posts; neither are they to sing, smoke, or suffer any noise to be made near them. They are not to sit down, lay their arms out of their hands, or sleep; but keep moving about on their posts during the two hours they stand, if the weather will allow of it. No centry to move more than 50 paces to the right, and as many to the left of his post, and let the weather be ever so bad, he must not get under any other cover, but that of the centry box. No one to be allowed to go from his post without leave from his commanding officer; and, to prevent desertion or marauding, the centries and vedettes must be charged to let no soldier pass.
Centinelperdu, a soldier posted near an enemy in some very dangerous post, where he is in perpetual danger of being shot or taken.
Centry-box, a sort of box, or hut, to shelter the centinel from the injuries of the weather; in fortifications they are sometimes made of masonry, and of stone, in a circular form.
CENTURION, a military officer among the ancient Romans; who commanded an (centum) hundred men. The term is now obsolete. It answers to the modern captain of a company.
CENTURY, in a military sense, means a hundred soldiers, who were employed in working the battering-ram.
CERCLE,Grand-cercle,Fr.a form observed under the old government of France, by which it was directed, that every evening at a specific hour the serjeants and corporals of a brigade should assemble to receive orders; the former standing in front of the latter. Subsequent to the grand cercle, a smaller one was made in each regiment, when general, or regimental orders were again repeated to the serjeants of each regiment, and from them communicated to the officers of the several companies.
CERTIFICATES, are of various kinds, as applied to officers generally, or to commissaries, commanding officers, or staff. They are a testimonial bearing witness to the existence of some requisite qualifications, or to the performance of some act required by the regulations of the army, and for which the officer who signs is responsible, whether he certifies for himself, or for any other officer.
MilitaryCertificatesare of various denominations, and consist chiefly of the following kinds, viz.
Certificatefrom a field officer to the commander in chief, affirming the eligibility of a young man to hold a commission.
Certificateof an officer in the English army upon honor, that he does not exceed the regulation in thepurchase of his commission.
Certificatefrom a general officer to affirm and prove the losses which officers may sustain in the field
Certificatefrom colonels of regiments to the board for admission of proper objects to the hospital.
Certificatefrom a magistrate to identify the person of a recruit, and to affirm, that he has enlisted himself voluntarily into the service; likewise, that the articles of war have been read to him.
Certificatefrom regimental surgeons, whether men when they join are proper and fit objects to be enlisted; this is required in the United States army, to be on the back of every paper of enlistment.
Certificateof commanding officers for stores, &c.
Certificate, to enable an officer to receive half pay.
Certificateof surgeons and assistant surgeons, to prove their having passed a proper examination.
CESSATION, orcessation of arms, in a military figurative sense, means a truce, or the total abrogation of all military operations for a limited time.
CHACEof a gun, means the length from the trunnions to the muzzle. SeeCannon.
CHAFFERY, that part of the foundry where the forges are placed for hammering iron into complete bars, and thereby bringing it to perfection.
CHAINfor engineers, is a sort of wire chain divided into links of an equal length, made use of for setting out works on the ground, because cord lines are apt to shrink and give way.
There are several sorts of chains made use of in mensuration; as Mr. Rathbone’s, of two perches in length; others, one perch long; some of 1000 feet in length; but that which is most in use amongst engineers is Mr. Gunter’s, which is 4 poles long, and contains 100 links, each link being 7⁹²⁄₁₀₀ inches in length.
CHAIN-shot. SeeShot.
CHALLENGE, a cartel, or invitation to a duel, or other combat; it may with propriety be called a provocation, or summons to fight, when an affront in derogation of honor has been offered.
Challengeis also a term applied to an objection made against any member of a court-martial, on the score of real or presumed partiality. The prisoner, however, in this case, must assign his cause of challenge; of the relevancy, or validity of which the members are themselves the judges; so that peremptory challenges, though allowed in civil cases, are not acknowleged in military law. The privilege of challenging belongs equally to the prisoner and the prosecutor.
CHAMADE, in a military sense, means a signal made by the enemy, eitherby beat of drum, or sound of trumpet, when they have any matter to propose; such as to bury their dead, &c. SeeParley.
CHAMBERof a cannon, in artillery, that part of the bore of a cannon which receives the powder with which it is charged. SeeCannon.
Chamberof a mortar, the space where the powder lies, and generally of several forms and dimensions, such as the conic, spheric, cylindric, parabolic, and concave, or bottled chambers. SeeMortars.
In 1787 and 1789 experiments were made at Woolwich with an 8 inch mortar, with four shifting chambers, to ascertain which form gives the longest range.
The chambers were all of the same capacity, viz. 63.7 cubic inches, and contained two pounds of powder. Their forms were:
1st. Common conical chamber with the circular bottom.
2d. The same reversed.
3d. The cylindric chamber with circular bottom.
4th. The spheric chamber.
The ranges were the medium of 6 rounds; from them it appears, that when the spheric chamber is filled with powder, it has the advantage in point of range; but when smaller charges are used, its ranges are found to be shorter than those of other forms. The conical (No. 1.) chamber of the present British establishment gives the longest range under other circumstances.
Chamberof a mine, that place where the charge of powder is lodged, to blow up the works over it. SeeMine.
Chamberof a battery, is a place sunk under ground for holding powder, loaded shells, and fuzes, where they may be out of danger, and preserved from rain or moisture.
Chambrer,faire chambrée, a military phrase among the French, to signify several persons lodged in the same room, barrack, or tent.
CHAMPde bataille,Fr.field of battle; the ground on which two armies meet.
Champde Mars, the field of Mars, an open place in the neighborhood of Paris, where troops are frequently reviewed and in which the public festivals have been held.
CHAMPION, he who undertook to settle the difference of contending armies, by single combat.
CHANDELIERS, in military affairs, a kind of moveable parapet, consisting of wooden frames, on which fascines are laid to cover the workmen when at work on the trenches. They are made of various sorts and sizes, according to the use they are for.
CHANTIER,Fr.a square piece of wood, which is used for the purpose of raising any thing. It serves to place barrels of gunpowder in a proper manner, and frequently to try pieces of ordnance instead of frames.
CHAPE, the metalline part put on the end of a scabbard, to prevent the point of the sword or bayonet from piercing through it.
CHAPELET,Fr.a piece of flat iron with three tenons or ends of timber, which is fixed to the end of a cannon.
CHAPITEAU,Fr.two small boards which are joined together obliquely, and serve to cover the touch-hole of a piece of ordnance.
CHAPPE,Fr.a barrel containing another barrel, which holds gunpowder. It likewise means a composition of earth, horse dung, and wad, that covers the mouth of a cannon, or mortar.
CHARACTER, in a general sense, implies any mark used for representing either ideas, or objects.
MilitaryCharacters,-MathematicalCharacters,
are certain marks invented for avoiding prolixity, and more clearly conveying the thoughts of the learned in those sciences to beginners; the chief of which are as follow:
+ in algebra is the sign of the real existence of the quality it stands before, and is called an affirmative, or positive sign. It is also the mark of addition, and signifies, that the numbers, or quantities on each side of it are added together.
- This is the note of negation, negative existence, or non-entity. It is the sign of subtraction, and signifies, that the numbers, or quantities which come after it, are to be taken from the numbers, or quantities which stand before it. As + signifies apositiveoraffirmativequantity, orabsolutenumber, so - signifies afictitiousornegativenumber or quantity. Thus -3, is 8 times less than nothing. So that any number or quantity with the sign + being added to the same number, or quantity with the sign -, their sum will be equal to nothing. Thus 8 added to -8 is equal to 0, but -8 taken from + 8, is equal to 16.
× is the sign of multiplication. It signifiesinto, ormultiplied by.
÷ is the mark of division, and signifies, that the numbers, or quantities before it are to be divided by the numbers after it.
= are the signs of equality, and signify, that the quantities and numbers on the one side of it are equal to the quantities and numbers on the other.
√ is the sign of radicality, and shews (according to the index of the power that is set over or after it) the square, cube, or other root, that is extracted, or is to be so, out of any quantity.
∛ is the sign of the cube root, and signifies the extraction of it, as in the square root above.
∺ is the sign of continued, or geometrical proportion.
∷ is the mark of geometrical proportion disjunct, and is usually placed between two pair of equal ratio’s; as 3 : 6 ∷ 4 : 8, shews, that 3 is to 6, as 4 is to 8. Ora:b∷d:e, and are thus read, asais tob, so isdtoe, &c.
> or ⫍ are signs of majority; thusa>bexpresses thatais greater thanb.
< or ⫎ are signs of minority; and
when we would denote thatais less thanb, we writea ± signifiesmore, orless such a quantity,
and is used often in the extraction
of roots, completing of squares, &c. Artillery-Characters, most generally
used, are as follow: C. qr. lb.which signifies centners, or
hundreds of 112 pounds,qr.quarters of
28 pounds,lb.pounds of 16 ounces
avoirdupois. Thus a piece of artillery
with 14c.3q.16lb., is 14 hundred,
3 quarters, and 16 pounds. Pr.signifies pounder. Thus 24pr.is
a 24 pounder. T. C. qr. lb.signifies tons, hundreds,
quarters, pounds; and 28lb.is one quarter:
4qr.is one centner, or 112 pounds;
and 20C.orcwt.is one ton. lb. oz. dr.means, pounds, ounces and
drams: 16dr.is one ounce, and 16oz.is one pound avoirdupois. lb. oz. dwts. gr.is pounds, ounces,
penny-weights, and grains; of which 24gr.make one penny-weight, 20dwt.make one ounce, and 12oz.one pound of
troy-weight. Charactersin fire-works, are the following. Characters, used in the arithmetic
of infinites, are dots over letters, denoting
the character of an infinitesimal, or
fluxion. Thus the first fluxions ofx,y,z,
being marked thus,.x,.y,.z;the second are..x,..y,..z,and the third.:x,:.y,:.z. GeographicalCharacters, are °,
′, ″, ‴ &c. which signify degrees, minutes,
seconds, thirds. Thus 40°, 55′,
18″, 55‴, is read 40 degrees, 35 minutes,
18 seconds, 55 thirds. It is also
used in the elevation of pieces of artillery. Characters.SeeGunpowder. CHARBON, SeeAigremore. CHARGE,Fr.The French technically
use this term in two different senses,
viz.charge precipitéeandcharge à volonté.Charge precipitéeis given when the four
times are expressly marked, aschargez
vos armes,un,deux,trois,quatre; and applies
chiefly to the drill.Charge à volontéis executed in the same manner as thecharge precipitée, with this difference,
that the soldiers do not wait for the specific
words. Chargesfor field guns. The charge for battering guns is one
third the weight of the round shot, for
round shot, and one fourth of it for case
shot. The charge for carronades is usually
one twelfth the weight of the shot. The
highest is one eighth, and the lowest one
sixteenth. By the experiments made at Woolwich
in March 1801, it is recommended, that
when cylinder powder is used on service,
the charges of field ordnance with round
shot, shall be reduced to the usual quantities
for case shot. The same experiments
recommend, that the thickness or
length of the wood bottom be varied, in
order to change the position of the shot,
and thereby save the bore; and that the
paper cap which is usually thrown away
on service, shall be put over the shot
before it is introduced into the piece. For charges for small arms see the wordCartridges. Charges of French guns in French
weights. Chargede mine,Fr.the disposition
of a certain quantity of powder, which is
used for the explosion of a mine. CHARGE, in gunnery, implies the
quantity of powder, shot, ball, shells,
grenades, &c. with which a gun, mortar,
or howitzer, is loaded. Charges for heavy guns from a 42-pounder
to a 3 pounder, both brass and iron, in
proof, service, saluting, and ricochet. As pieces of artillery are of various denominations,
and consequently made use
of on several occasions, their charges must
of course have many variations. Charge, is also the attack of cavalry;
andcharge bayonetis a word of command
given to infantry, to force the enemy
whom they are to charge at the point of
the bayonet.To sound a charge, is the
sound of the trumpet as a signal for cavalry
to begin the attack. Charge, in military law, is the specification
of any crime, or offence for which
a non-commissioned officer or soldier is
tried before a court martial. In all charges
of this nature, the time and place, when
and where the crime, or offence was committed,
must be set forth with accuracy
and precision. ChargedCylinder, in gunnery, implies
that part of the chace of a gun,
which contains the powder and ball. Charger, any horse belonging to an
officer on which he rides in action. Chargersare also either bandoliers,
or little flasks that contain powder for
charge or priming. CHARIOT, a car, in which men of
arms were anciently placed. These were
armed with scythes, hooks, &c. The
person who drove the chariot was called
thecharioteer. CHARPENTIER,Fr.a carpenter. CHART, orsea-Chart, is a hydrographical
map, or a projection of some
part of the earth’s superficies in plano,
for the use of navigators and geographers. Plane-Chart, is a representation of
some part of the earth’s superficies of the
terraqueous globe, in which the meridians
are supposed parallel to each other, the
parallels of latitude at equal distances,
and consequently the degrees of latitude
and longitude every where equal to each
other. Chartof reduction, is that where the
meridians are represented by right lines,
inclining towards each other; thence it
appears by construction, that these charts
must correct the errors of the plane ones.
But since these parallels should cut the
meridians at right angles, and do not,
they are defective, inasmuch as they exhibit
the parallels inclined to the meridians. Mercators-Chart, is that where the
meridians are straight lines parallel to
each other, and equidistant: these parallels
are also straight lines, and parallel to
each other; but the distance between increases
from the equinoctial towards each
pole, in the ratio of the secant of the latitude
to the radius. Globular-Chart, a meridional projection,
wherein the distance of the eye
from the plane of the meridian, upon
which the projection is made, is supposed
to be equal to the sine of the angle
of 45 degrees. This projection comes
the nearest of all to the nature of the
globe, because the meridians therein are
placed at equal distances. Chorographic-Charts, are descriptions
of particular countries. Heliographic-Charts, descriptions of
the body of the sun, and of the maculæ
or spots observed in it. Selenographic-Charts, particular appearances
of the spots of the moon, her
appearance and maculæ. Telegraphic-Charts, are descriptions
of the telegraph on paper. Topographic-Charts, are specific delineations
of military positions, in any
given tract of country. Companies of
topographers have been formed among
the French, for the purpose of accurately
and expeditiously pointing out to generals
and commanding officers, all the
relative points of locality, &c. SeeAmerican
Mil. Lib.articleReconnoitring. CHASEof a gun. SeeChace. ToChasethe enemy, means to march
after them on horseback in full speed.
To pursue a ship at sea. CHASSEURS. The French light infantry,
answering to the Americanriflemenand Germanyagers, are calledchasseurs
a pied; they have alsochasseurs a
cheval. The word means literally ahunter. CHAT,Fr.a piece of iron having
one, two or three very sharp prongs, or
claws; arranged in a triangular shape,
when it has three prongs. This piece of
iron is fixed to a shaft. It is used in the
examination of a piece of ordnance, and
by being introduced into the bore, shews
whether it be honey-combed, damaged,
or otherwise defective. There is another species ofChatwhich
differs a little from the one we have just
described. It consists of two branches
of iron, that are fixed to the end of a
piece of the same metal, and have, each
of them two steel prongs or claws. One
of these branches contains a hinge with
a spring so fixed, that when thechatis
put into the bore, the least cavity releases
the spring, and the defect is instantly discovered.
Master Founders, who by no
means like the invention, call the common
chatLe Diable, the devil; and they
distinguish the one with two branches,
by terming itla màlice du diable, the malice
of the devil. CHATTERles pieces,Fr.to search,
to probe, or examine pieces of ordnance
with a chat, in order to discover whether
there are any defects within the bore of a
cannon. CHAUDIERES,Fr.are vessels made
use of in military magazines, to boil pitch
in, for various purposes. CHAUFFE,Fr.a spot where the
wood is collected and burnt in a foundry.
Thechauffestands three feet under the
side of the furnace, the flames which
issue from it, spread over every part of
the inside of the furnace, and by their
intense heat dissolve the metal. Chausse-Trapes,Fr.are what we callcrows-feet, they consist of nails with 4 or
5 points, of which one always stands upwards
above the level of the ground;
each point is 2, 3, 4 or 5 inches long.
They are usually fixed in different parts
of a breach, or in any place which is accessible
to cavalry; to prevent its approach:
sometimes they are of use to obstruct
the passage of cavalry through the
streets of towns. Chaussee, orRès deChaussee, an
old expression for the level of the field or
the plain ground. CHEEKS, a general name among mechanics,
for those pieces of timber in
their machines, which are double and
perfectly corresponding to each other. In
the construction of military carriages, &c.
the term is used to denote the strong
planks which form the sides of gun carriages. CHEF,Fr.Chef has various significations
in the French service. With regard
to private soldiers, it serves to mark
out the corporal or oldest soldier, who
has the management of their provisions
in quarters, or in the field; this person
was calledchef de chambrée. A chef de
chambrée among the Romans, was called
a decanus, whence our church deacon. Chefd’escadre,Fr.a general officer,
who commands any part of an army, or
division of a fleet. His duty in the sea-service
is nearly the same as that of a commodore
or a brigadier general on shore.Chefs d’escadresit upon all general courts-martial,
and rank according to the dates of
their commissions. Chefsde files,Fr.the front rank of
a battalion, consisting generally of the
best and bravest soldiers. When an engagement
takes place, par file, by files, as
in the action of riflemen, the order of the
battalion is necessarily changed; that
which was rank becomes file, and what
was file becomes rank. CHELSEA HOSPITAL, a noble
edifice which was built by Charles the
2d of England on his restoration, and afterwards
improved by his successor
James the 2d. Non-commissioned officers
and private men, who have been
wounded or maimed in the service, are
entitled to the benefit of this hospital.
There are in and out-pensioners belonging
to the establishment, and the provisions
of it extend to the militia under the following
restrictions: serjeants who have
served fifteen years, and corporals or
drummers who have served twenty, may
be recommended to the bounty. Serjeants
on the establishment may likewise
receive that allowance, with their pay in
the militia. But serjeants who have been
appointed subsequent to the passing of
the 26th of George the 3d, are not entitled
to it under twenty years service. CHEMIN-Couvert. SeeCovert-way. Chemindes rondes, infortification,
space between the rampart and low parapetunder it, for the rounds to go about
it. CHEMISE,Fr.an obsolete term to
signify the revetement made of brick
work, which was formerly constructed
to secure works made of earth, especially
those that were formed of sandy soil, and
would necessarily require too large a talus
to support the weight. The modern term
isouvrage revetu,place revetüe. Chemisede feu,Fr.a French sea-term,
to signify several pieces of old sails
of various sizes, which after they have
been pitched, and thoroughly soaked in
other combustible matter, such as oil of
petrol, camphor, &c. may be nailed to
an enemy’s ship on boarding her, and when
set fire to, will consume the same. Chemisede maille,Fr.a shirt of mail,
or body lining made of several scales or
iron rings, which was worn under the
coat to protect the body of a man. CHEMISTRY, the art of examining
bodies, and of extracting from them any
of their component parts; a science of
the first importance to military men; it
opens to the mind so many sources of
knowlege applicable to military uses. CHESS, a nice and abstruse game,
supposed to have been invented during
the siege of Troy. This game is particularly
adapted to military capacities. CHEVALde Bois,Fr.a wooden-horse,
a military chastisement, which
prostitutes who followed the French
army, were subject to undergo, by exposing
them, we presume, on a wooden-horse. CHEVALER, in the manege, is said
of a horse, when, in passing upon a walk
or trot, his off fore leg crosses the near fore
leg every second motion. CHEVALET,Fr.a sort of bell-tent,
formerly used in the French service, when
an army encamped. It resembled in
some degrees the wigwam of the Indian. CHEVALIER, in ageneral sense, signifies
a knight or horseman. CHEVAUX-de frize, infortification, a
large joist or piece of timber, about 5 or
6 inches square, and 10 or 12 feet in length;
into the sides whereof are driven a great
number of wooden pins, about 6 feet long,
and 1¹⁄₂ inch diameter, crossing one
another at right angles, and pointed with
iron. They are used on numberless occasions,
as to stop up breaches, to secure
avenues to a camp from the inroads both
of horse and foot. They are sometimes
mounted on wheels, with artificial fires,
to roll down in an assault, &c. They
were first used at the siege of Groningen,
in 1658. Chevaux-de-frize. Thebodyorbeamof a cheval-de-frize is generally made 9
feet long, and 6 inches square, and weighs
41 lbs. Thespearsare 33 in number,
weighing 2 lb. each, are 5 feet long, and
1¹⁄₄ inches square. They are placed
9¹⁄₂ inches asunder. CHEVET,Fr.a small wedge which
is used in raising a mortar, it is placed between
the frame and swell of the mortar. CHEVISANCE,Fr.enterprize, feat,
or atchievement. CHEVRE,Fr.a crab or gin. SeeChevrette. CHEVRETTE, a kind of gin. Among
the many inventions for raising guns or
mortars into their carriages this engine is
very useful; it is made of two pieces of
wood about four feet long, standing upright
upon a third, which is square: they
are about a foot asunder, and parallel;
pierced with holes opposite one another,
to hold a strong bolt of iron, which may
be raised higher or lower at pleasure: it
may be used with a hand-spike, which
takes its poise over this bolt, to raise any
thing by force. CHEVROTINES,Fr.leaden bullets
of small calibre; there are generally sixty
to a pound weight. CHIEForChieftain, the head leader,
or commander of any clan in time of
war, was so called, especially among the
Scotch. CHIORME,Fr.the crew of galley
slaves and bonavogliers or volunteers. CIMIER,Fr.a heavy ornament,
which the ancient knights or chevaliers
in France and in other countries were accustomed
to wear upon their helmets;
small figures were afterwards substituted
in their stead. CHOROGRAPHY, inengineering, is
the art of making a drawing or map of a
country, province or district. CIMETAR, SeeScimitar. CINQUAIN, inancient military history,
was an order of battle, to draw up 5 battalions,
so that they might make 3 lines;
that is, a van, main-body, and reserve.
Supposing the 5 battalions, to be in a
line, the 2d and 4th advance and form the
van, the 3d falls back and forms the rear,
the 1st and 5th form the main body upon
the same ground. Lastly, every battalion
ought to have a squadron of horse on
both the right and left wings. Any
number of regiments, produced by multiplying
by 5, may be drawn up in the
same manner. CIRCLE, inmathematics, is a plane
figure, comprehended under one line only,
to which all right lines drawn from a point
in the middle of it are equal to one
another. CIRCUMFERENTER, an instrument
used by engineers for measuring angles. CIRCUMVALLATION, orline of
circumvallation, inmilitary affairs, implies
a fortification of earth, consisting of a parapet
and trench, made round the town
intended to be besieged, when any molestation
is apprehended from parties of the
enemy, which may march to relieve the
place. Before the attack of a place is begun,
care is to be taken to have the most exact
plan of it possible; and upon this the lineof circumvallation and the attack are projected.
This line, being a fortification
opposed to an enemy that may come from
the open country to relieve the besieged,
ought to have its defence directed against
them; that is, so as to fire from the town:
and the besiegers are to be encamped behind
this line, and between it and the
place. The camp should be as much as
possible out of the reach of the shot of
the place; and the line of circumvallation,
which is to be farther distant from the
place than the camp, ought still more to
be out of the reach of its artillery. As cannon are never to be fired from the
rear of the camp, this line should be upwards
of 1200 fathoms from the place:
we will suppose its distance fixed at 1400
fathoms from the covert way. The depth
of the camp may be computed at about
30 fathom, and from the head of the camp
to the line of circumvallation 120 fathoms,
that the army may have room to
draw up in order of battle at the head of
the camp, behind the line. This distance
added to the 30 fathoms, makes 150 fathoms,
which being added to the 1400,
makes 1550 fathoms constitute the distance
of the line of circumvallation from
the covert-way. The top of this line is
generally 12 feet broad, and 7 feet deep:
the parapet runs quite round the top of
it; and at certain distances is frequently
strengthened with redoubts and small
forts; the base 18 feet wide, the height
within 6, and on the outside 5 feet, with
a banquette of 3 feet wide, and 1¹⁄₂ high.
SeeContravallation, orCountervallation. CIRCUS, inmilitary antiquity, a very
capacious building, of a round or oval
form, erected by the ancients for exhibiting
shews to the people. CISEAUX,Fr.chissels made use of
by miners, to loosen earth from the sides
of the excavation, without making a
noise, which the miner effects by striking
the handle. CITADEL, is a fort with 4, 5, or 6
bastions, raised on the most advantageous
ground about a city, the better to command
it; and commonly divided from it
by an esplanade, the better to hinder the
approach of an enemy; so that the citadel
defends the inhabitants if they continue in
their duty, and punishes them if they revolt.
Besiegers always attack the city
first, that, being masters of it, they may
cover themselves the better against the
fire of the citadel. Its having bastions
distinguishes it from a castle. Sometimes
the citadel stands half within, and half
without the ramparts of the place.
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