lb.0123456789001.9232.4232.7753.0533.2883.4983.6793.8464.000diam.02.0192.5442.9133.2043.5683.6683.8614.0384.200calib.14.1434.2774.4034.5224.6354.7434.8464.9455.0405.131diam.4.3494.4904.6234.7484.8664.9815.0885.1925.2925.368calib.25.2205.3055.3885.4095.5475.6235.6975.7695.8395.908diam.5.4805.5795.6615.7425.8245.8935.9826.0576.1296.203calib.35.9756.0416.1056.1686.2306.2906.3506.4086.4656.521diam.6.2756.3436.4106.4756.?416.6046.6666.7076.7886.846calib.46.5766.6316.6846.7376.7896.6406.8906.9406.9897.037diam.6.9046.9627.0187.0767.1287.1827.2347.2877.3387.383calib.
EXPLANATION.
The numbers in the first line of the table are units, and those in the first column of the left side of the table tens; the other numbers, under the one, and opposite to the others, are the respective diameters of shot and calibres. Thus, to find the diameter of the shot, and the calibre of a 24 pr. look for the number 2 on the left-hand side, and for 4 at top; then the number 5.547, under 4, and opposite 2, will be the diameter of the shot in inches and decimals, and the number 5.824, under the first, the calibre of a 24-pounder &c.
Diametersof the Bullets and Calibres of English musquets.
The diameter of musquet bores differs about ¹⁄₅₀th part from that of the bullet.
Diameterof powder measures. SeePowder Measures.
DICTATOR, a magistrate of Rome, made in times of exigence and public distress, and invested with absolute authority.
DIFFERENCE. The sum paid by an officer in the British service, when he exchanges from half to full pay. It likewise means the regulation price between an inferior and a superior commission. Officers who retire upon half pay, and take the difference, subject themselves to many incidental disadvantages, should they wish to return into active service.
DIGGING. SeeMining.
DIGLADIATION, a combat with swords.
DIGUON,Fr.a staff at the end of which is suspended a vane or streamer. This term is properly marine.
DIKEorDyke, a channel to receive water, also a dam or mound, to prevent inundation. SeeFortification.
DIMACHÆ, in ancient military affairs, were a kind of horsemen, answering to the dragoons of the moderns.
DIMICATION. SeeBattle.
ToDIMINISHor increase the front of a battalion, is to adapt the column of march or manœuvre according to the obstructions and difficulties which it meets in advancing. This is one of the most important movements, and a battalion which does not perform this operation with the greatest exactness and attention, so as not to lengthen out in the smallest degree, is not fit to move in the column of a considerable corps.
DIRECTEURGeneral,Fr.A military post of nominal importance which was originally instituted by Louis XIV. This charge was entrusted to eight lieutenant generals, four to command and superintend the infantry, and four for the cavalry. They possessed, however, little or no authority over the army in general; being subordinate in some degree to the general officer whose corps they might inspect, and to whom they rendered a correct account of its interior œconomy. They were likewise assisted by Inspectors general. The four directors were afterwards replaced by the inspectors, from a principle of œconomy. The permanent ones of that appellation were: director general of the royal artillery school; director general of military hospitals; director general of fortification; director general of the cavalry; director general of stores.
DIRECTION, in military mechanics, signifies the line or path of a body in motion, along which it endeavors to force its way, according to the propelling power that is given to it.
Angle ofDirection, that formed by the lines of direction of two conspiring powers.
Quantity ofDirection, a term used by military mathematicians for the product of the velocity of the common centre of gravity of a system of bodies, by the sum of their quantities of matter: this is no ways altered by any collisions among the bodies themselves.
DIRK, a kind of dagger used by military men, and by the highlanders in Scotland.
ToDISARM. To deprive a soldier of every species of offensive or defensive weapon.
DISARMED. Soldiers divested of their arms, either by conquest, or in consequence of some defection.
DISBANDED, the soldiers of any regiment, who are in a body dismissed from the conditions of their military service.
DISBARK. SeeDisembark.
DISCHARGE, in a military sense, is the dismissing a soldier from the troop or company he belonged to, either at his own request, or after long services.
This term is also applied to the firing of cannon or musquets, as a discharge of cannon, or of small arms.
DISCIPLINARIAN, an officer who pays particular regard to the discipline of the soldiers under his command.
DISCIPLINE, in a military sense, signifies the instruction and government of soldiers.
MilitaryDiscipline,-Military Constitution,
Bymilitary constitutionis meant, the authoritative declared lawsfor the guidance of all military men, and all military matters; and bydisciplineis meant, the obedience to, and exercise of those laws. As health is to the natural body, so is a sound military constitution to the military one; and as exercise is to the first, so is discipline to the last. Bravery will perchance gain a battle; but every one knows that by discipline alone the long disputed prize of a war can be ultimately obtained.
The kingdom of Prussia was a striking example in favor of perfect discipline; for while that state had a strong army, and maintained that army in strict discipline, it had held a very considerable share in the system of Europe.
MarineDiscipline, is the training up soldiers for sea service, in such exercises and various positions as the musquet and body may require: teaching them likewise every manœuvre that can be performed on board ships of war at sea, &c.
DISCIPLINEmilitaire. SeeMilitary Discipline.
DISCRETION,Fr.discretion.Se rendre à discrétion, to surrender at discretion, implies to throw one’s self upon the mercy of a victorious enemy. The French likewise say,les soldats vivent à discrétion dans un pays; which in familiar English signifies, soldiers livescot-freein a country.
ToDISENGAGE, to clear a column or line, which may have lost its proper front by the overlapping of any particular division, company, or section when ordered to form up. To do this, ground must be taken to the right or left. It is however, a dangerous operation when the army or battalion gets into a line of fire. In that case the files that overlap must remain in the rear, and fill up the first openings.
ToDisengage, is also to extricate yourself and the men you command from a critical situation. A battalion, for instance, which may have advanced too far during an action, and got between two fires, may, by an able manœuvre, disengage itself.
ToDisengagethe wings of a battalion. This is necessary when the battalion countermarches from its centre, and on its centre by files. The battalion having received the word “by wings, inward face,” is next ordered “by wings, three side steps to the right, march,” by which the wings are disengaged from each other, or this may be done by a quarter face to the right and left alter facing inward. In counter-marching, &c. the leading files must uniformly disengage themselves.
ToDisengage, in fencing, to quit that side of your adversary’s blade, on which you are opposed by his guard, in order to effect a cut or thrust where an opportunity may present.
DISMANTLE, to strip a town or fortress of its outworks.
ToDismantlea gun. To render it unfit for use. Guns are frequently dismantled and left upon the field of battle.
DISCOMFIT, defeat, rout, overthrow.
DISCOVERER, a scout; one who is set to descry the enemy.
DISEMBARK, to land from on board any vessel or craft, used to convey troops on the sea.
DISEMBODIED. SeeDisbanded.
ToDISEMBODY. To disband.
DISGARNISH, to take guns from a fortress.
DISLODGE, to drive an enemy from their post or station.
DISMISSED. An officer in the British service may be dismissed generally or specifically. When an officer is dismissed generally, it is signified to him, that there is not any further occasion for his services. When an officer is dismissed specifically, it is expressly notified, that he is rendered incapable of ever serving again. Sometimes, indeed this species of dismissal is attended with public marks of extreme disgrace and degradation. In the Austrian service a colonel has been dismissed at the head of his regiment, and has had his sword broken before him, &c. During the present war the colonel of a militia regiment has not only been rendered incapable of ever serving again, but has been expelled the house of commons for military misconduct. The charges against him, together with the circumstantial proofs of his guilt, and the king’s approbation of the sentence were read in the circle of every regiment throughout Great Britain, in 1795, and nothing but a plea of severe indisposition saved the culprit from having the minutes publicly communicated to him at the horse guards.
DISMOUNTING, in a military sense, is the act of unhorsing. Thus, to dismount the cavalry, &c. is to make them alight.
ToDismountcannon, is to break their carriages, wheels, axle-trees, or any thing else, so as to render them unfit for service. It also implies dismounting by the gin, &c.
DISOBEDIENCEof orders. Any infraction, by neglect or wilful omission, of general or regimental orders. It is punishable by the articles of war.
DISPART, in gunnery, is to set a mark on the muzzle ring, so that it may be of an equal height with the base ring: hence a line drawn between them, will be parallel to the axis of the concave cylinder, for the gunner to take aim by it, to hit the mark he is to fire at; for the bore and this imaginary line being parallel, the aim so taken must be true. This exactness cannot be made use of in an engagement, and but very seldom at a siege; for in those cases practice and the eye must be the only guides.
Dispart.The dispart of a gun is the half difference between the diameter ofthe gun at the base ring, and at the swell of the muzzle. The general dispart of all guns is about the ¹⁄₅₆ part of their length. See the disparts of French and English guns under the wordTangent Scale.
Dispart-frontlet. SeeFrontlet.
ToDISPERSE. In a military sense, may be variously understood. In an active one, it signifies to disperse any body of men, armed or unarmed, who may have assembled in an illegal or hostile manner. The cavalry are generally employed on these occasions.
ToDisperse, likewise means to break suddenly from any particular order, in line or column, and to repair to some rallying point. Hence to sound the disperse, is to give notice that the battalion or battalions are to retreat from their actual position, in a loose and desultory manner, and to reassemble according to the natural line of formation, taking the colors as their central points to dress by.
DISPLACED, officers in the British service are sometimes displaced from a particular regiment in consequence of misconduct proved upon the minutes of a general court martial; but they are at liberty to serve in any other corps.
ToDISPLAY, in a military sense, is to extend the front of a column, and hereby bring it into line. SeeDeploy.
DISPOSE, to dispose cannon, is to place it in such a manner, that its discharge may do the greatest mischief. For instance, to dispose cannon along the front of the line.
DISPOSITION, in a general sense, is the just placing an army or body of men upon the most advantageous ground, and in the strongest situation for a vigorous attack or defence.
DISPOSITIONde guerre,Fr.warlike arrangement, or disposition. Under this head may be considered the mode of establishing, combining, conducting, and finally terminating a war, so as to produce success and victory.
Wisdom and discretion in council point out the form necessary for the first establishment of a warlike enterprise, or disposition, afford the means of bringing it to a conclusion, and assimilate all the various parts so as to unite the whole.
The following maxims are in the memoirs of general Montecuculli.
1.Deliberate leisurely, execute promptly.
2.Let the safety of your army be your first object.
3.Leave something to chance.
4.Take advantage of circumstances.
5.Use all the means in your power to secure a good reputation.
The disposition or arrangement of a warlike enterprise may be universal, or particular.
An universal disposition or arrangement of war implies every thing which relates to that system upon an extensive scale; such as the combination of many parts for the ultimate benefit of the whole, &c.
A particular disposition or arrangement of war signifies the detail of minute objects, and the appropriation of various parts, one with another, for the purpose of effecting a general combination. This disposition, (without which the other must prove abortive,) consists in an observance of the strictest discipline by every individual that belongs to a troop or company. To this end, general officers should be scrupulously exact in attending to the inspection of particular corps; specific instructions for regimental œconomy and discipline should be given, and the strictest regard be paid to the execution of orders.
DISTANCE, in military formation, signifies the relative space which is left between men standing under arms in rank, or the intervals which appear between those ranks, &c.
Distances.Inaccessible distances may be found several ways; the most correct of which of course is by means of proper mathematical instruments; which, however, are not always to be had in the field.
The following different methods are laid down by several authors, where instruments cannot be had.
Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
1. Wishing to know the distance of the object A from B (fig. 1.) place a picket at B and another at C, at a few fathoms distance, making A B C a right angle, and divide B C into 4, 5, or any number of equal parts: make another similar angle at C, in a direction from the object, and walk along the line C D till you bring yourself in a line with the object A, and any of the divisions, (sayo) of the line B C. Then, as Co: C D ∷ Bo: B A.Vauban.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
2. To gain the distance between two objects C and D (fig. 2.) from any point A, taken in the line C D, erect the perpendicular A E: on which set off from A to E, 1 or 200 feet, more or less, according to the distance between the points C and D; set off from E to G in the prolongation A E, one eighth or one tenth ofA E; at G raise the perpendicular G F, and produce it towards I; plant pickets at E and G, then move with another picket on G F till it becomes in a line with E and D: and on the prolongation of the perpendicular F G place another picket at I in the line with E and C; measure F I, and it will be as G E : A E ∷ F I : C D.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
3. To gain the inaccessible length A B, (fig. 3.) of the front of a fortification; plant a picket at C, from whence both points may be seen: find the lengths C A and C B by the method just given (No. 1.) make C E ¹⁄₄, or any part of C B, and make C D bear the same proportion to C A: measure D E, then it will be as C D : D E ∷ C A : A B.
SeeAm. Mil. Lib.ArticleField Fortification.
Nearly after the same manner may be ascertained the distance from B to A when the point B is accessible; for having measured the line C B, and made the angle C E D equal to C B A, it will be, as C E : D E ∷ C B : B A.
4. The distance of a battery, or other object, may be ascertained by the tangent scale on the breech of a gun. It is however necessary in this case to know the height of the object, the distance of which is required. Lay the gun by the upper line of metal for thetopof the object, then raise the tangent scale till the top of the scale and the notch at the muzzle are in a line with the bottom of the object, and note what height of the tangent scale is required: then say, as the length of the scale above the base ring of the gun is to the length from the base ring to the swell of the muzzle, so is the height of the object to its distance from the muzzle of the gun.
5. The breadth of a river, or other short distance, may be taken thus: take two pickets of different lengths, drive the shortest into the ground close to the edge of the bank; measure some paces back from it, and drive in the other till you find, by looking over the tops of both, that your sight cuts the opposite side—Then pull up the first picket, measure the same distance from the second, in any direction the most horizontal, and drive it as deep in the ground as before. Consequently, if you look over them again, and observe where the line of sight falls, you will have the distance required.
6. The following simple method of ascertaining the breadth of a river may be sufficiently correct for some cases: Place yourself at the edge of one bank, and lower one corner of your hat till you find the edge of it cuts the other bank; then steady your head, by placing your hand under your chin, and turn gently round to some level spot of ground, and observe where your eyes and the edge of the hat again meet the ground: your distance from that point will be nearly the breadth of the river.
7.Distancesascertained by the difference between the true and apparent level. SeeLevelling.
8.Distancesmeasured by sound. SeeSound.
9. The following simple micrometer may be so usefully applied to military purposes, that we shall extract it verbatim from the Philosophical Transactions for 1791, where it is described by Cavallo. This micrometer consists of a thin and narrow slip of mother of pearl, finely divided, and placed in thefocusof the eyeglass of a telescope, just where the image is formed. It is immaterial whether the telescope be a reflector, or a refractor, provided the eye glass be aconvexlens and not aconcaveone, as in the Galilean construction. The simplest way to fixit, is to stick it on the diaphragm, which generally stands within the tube, and in the locus of the eye glass. When thus fixed, if you look through the eye glass, the divisions on the scale will appear very distinct, unless the diaphragm is not exactly in the focus: in which case the scale must be placed exactly in the focus, by pushing the diaphragm, backwards or forwards, when this is practicable; or else the scale may be easily removed from one surface of the diaphragm to the other, by the interposition of a circular bit of paper or card, or a piece of sealing wax. This construction is fully sufficient when the telescope is always to be used by the same person; but when different persons are to use it, then the diaphragm, which supports the micrometer, must be so constructed as to be easily moved backwards or forwards, though that motion need not be greater than about the tenth or eighth of an inch. This is necessary, because the distance of the focus of the same lens appears different to the eyes of different persons; and therefore whoever is going to use the telescope for the mensuration of an angle, must first unscrew the tube which contains the eye glass and micrometer, from the rest of the telescope, and, looking through the eye glass, place the micrometer where the divisions of it may appear most distinct to his eye. The mother of pearl scale may be about the 24th part of an inch broad; its length is determined by the aperture of the diaphragm; its thickness that of writing paper. The divisions on it maybe the 200th of an inch, which may reach from one edge of the scale to about the middle; and every fifth and tenth division may be a little longer, the tenths going quite across. When the telescope does not magnify above 30 times, the divisions need not be so minute. For the sake of those not conversant in trigonometry, the following is an easy method of determining the value of the divisions on the scale. Mark upon a wall or other place, the length of 6 inches; then place the telescope before it so that the 6 inches be at right angles to it, and exactly 57 feet 3¹⁄₂ inches distant from the object glass of the telescope. This done, look through the telescope, and observe how many divisions of the micrometer are equal to it, and that same number of divisions will be equal to half a degree, or 30′; and this is all that need be done to ascertain the value of the scale. The reason on which it is founded is, that an extension of six inches at the distance of 57 feet, 3¹⁄₂ inches, subtends an angle of 30′, as is easily calculated by trigonometry. To save the trouble of calculation, a scale may be made requiring only inspection. Thus, draw a line equal to the diameter of the field of the telescope, and divide its under side into the same number of parts as are on your micrometric scale, and, by the above operation on the wall, having determined the value of 30′, which we will suppose to correspond with 16 divisions on the scale, mark 30′ on the opposite side of the line, opposite 16 on the lower; 15 opposite 8, and so on.
By the following table the results may be ascertained by inspection only: thus, suppose an extension of 1 foot is found by the table to subtend an angle of 22′, the distance will be 156.2: and suppose at the distance of 171.8 an object subtends an angle of 20′, its height will be found to be 1 foot; or, suppose an object of 6 feet high to subtend an angle of 20′, the distance is 1030.8, by multiplying 171.8 by 6.
Table of Angles subtended by 1 Foot, at different Distances.
Distanceof files. Every soldier when in his true position under arms, shouldered and in rank, must just feel with his elbow the touch of his neighbor with whom he dresses; nor in any situation of movement in front, must he ever relinquish such touch, which becomes in action the principal direction for the preservation of his order, and each file as connected with its two neighboring ones, must consider itself a complete body, so arranged for the purpose of attack, or effectual defence. Close files must invariably constitute the formation of all corps that go into action. The peculiar exercise of the light infantry is the only exception. SeeAm Mil. Lib.
Distanceof ranks, open distances of ranks are two paces asunder; when close they are one pace; when the body is halted and to fire, they are still closer locked up. Close ranks, order or distance is the constant and habitual order at which troops are at all times formed and move; open ranks, order or distance is only an occasional exception, made in the situation of parade, or in light infantry manœuvres.
Distancesof files and ranks, relate to the trained soldier, but in the course of his tuition he must be much exercised atopen files and ranks, and acquire thereby independence and the command of his limbs and body.
DISTANCEof the bastions, in fortification, is the side of the exterior polygon. SeeFortification.
DISTRIBUTION. In a military sense, generally applies to any division, or allotment, which is made for the purposes of warfare. Thus an army may be distributed about a country. In a more confined sense, it means the minute arrangements that are made for the interior œconomy of corps; as distribution of pay or subsistence, distribution of allowances, &c.
DISTRICT, in a military sense, one of those parts into which a country is divided, for the conveniences of command, and to secure a ready co-operation between distant bodies of armed men.
DITCH. SeeFortification,Moat.
To drain aDitch, is to make the water run off into lower ground, by means of small trenches cut for this purpose.
DIVERSION, in military history, is when an enemy is attacked in one place where he is weak and unprovided, in order to draw off his forces from making an irruption somewhere else; or where an enemy is strong, and by an able manœuvre he is obliged to detach part of his forces to resist any feint or menacing attempt of his opponent. To derive advantage from a diversion, taken in an extended acceptation of the term, it is necessary, that one state should have greater resources than another; for it would be absurd to attack the territories of another before you had secured your own.
It is likewise requisite, that the country you attack by stratagem or diversion, should be easy of access, and the invasion you make must be prompt, vigorous and unexpected, directed against a weak and vulnerable quarter. A little good fortune is however essential to render a diversion perfectly successful, as all the ways and means by which it ought be made, cannot be reduced to rule.
The most memorable instance of a diversion well executed, which we meet with in ancient history, was performed by Scipio in Africa, whilst Annibal carried the war into Italy. In 1659, a diversion no less remarkable, was practised by the imperial and allied armies against the Swedes.
DIVISIONSof a battalion, are the several platoons into which a regiment or battalion is divided, either in marching or firing; each of which is commanded by an officer.
DIVISIONSof an army, are the number of brigades and squadrons it contains.
The advance, the main, and the rear guards are composed out of the several brigades, and march in front, in the centre, and in the rear of an army. Each army has its right wing, its centre, and its left wing. When armies march they advance in column, that is, they are divided into several squadrons and battalions of a given depth, successively formed upon one another. If an army be drawn out or displayed in order of battle it is usually divided into the first line, which constitutes the front, the second line, which makes the main body, and the third line or reserve.
DODECAGON, in geometry, is a regular polygon, consisting of 12 equal sides and angles, capable of being regularly fortified with the same number of bastions.
DODECAHEDRON, is one of the platonic bodies, or five regular solids, and is contained under 12 equal and regular pentagons.
The solidity of adodecahedron, is found by multiplying the area of one of the pentagonal faces of it by 12; and this latter product by ¹⁄₃d of the distance of the face from the centre of thedodecahedron, which is the same as the centre of the circumscribing sphere.
The side of adodecahedroninscribed in a sphere, is the greater part of the side of a cube inscribed in that sphere, cut into extreme and mean proportion.
If the diameter of the sphere be 1,0000, the side of adodecahedroninscribed in it will be .35682 nearly.
Alldodecahedronsare similar, and are to one another as the cubes of the sides; and their surfaces are also similar, and therefore they are as the squares of their sides; whence as .509282 is to 10.51462, so is the square of the side of anydodecahedronto the superficies thereof; and as .3637 is to 2.78516, so is the cube of the side of anydodecahedronto the solidity of it.
DOG-Nails. SeeNails.
DOLPHINS. SeeCannon.
DOMMAGE,Fr.in a general acceptation of the term, signified in the old French service, the compensation which every captain of a troop, or company was obliged to make in consequence of any damage that their men might have done in a town, or on a march. If any disagreement occurred between the officers and the inhabitants, with respect to the indemnification, a statement of losses sustained was sworn to by the latter, before the mayor or magistrates of the place, who determined the same. But if the officers should refuse to abide by their decision, a remonstrance was drawn up and transmitted to the secretary at war, with a copy of the same to the intendant of the province. Officers have frequently been displaced or degraded on this account. Hence the term dommage is supposed to have been derived from the latin wordsdamnum jactura, and signifies the loss or privation of a step.
DONJON. SeeDungeon.
DOSSER, in military matters, is a sort of basket, carried on the shoulders of men, used in carrying the earth from onepart of a fortification to another, where it is wanted.
DOUBLING, in the military art, is the placing two or more ranks, or files into one.
DOUBLEyour ranks, is for the 2d, 4th, and 6th ranks (when so drawn up) to march into the 1st, 3d, and 5th; so that of 6 ranks they are made but 3; which is not so when they double by half files, because then 3 ranks stand together, and the 3 other come up to double them; that is, the 1st, 2d, and 3d, are doubled by the 4th, 5th, and 6th, or the contrary.
Doubleyour files, is for every other file to march into that which is next to it, on the right or left, as the word of command directs; and then the 6 ranks are doubled into 12, the men standing 12 deep; and the distance between the files is double what it was before. By this method 3 files may be doubled into 6, &c.
ToDoubleround, in military movements, is to march by an inversion of a second line, on the extremity of a first line, thereby to outflank an enemy.
Doubletenaille. SeeTenaille.
DOUILLE,Fr.a small iron socket which is at the heel of the bayonet, and receives the extreme end of the musquet, so as to be firmly united together.
Douillelikewise signifies, the cavity which belongs to the round piece of iron that is fixed to the end of the ramrod, by means of two nails through two small holes, calledyeuxor eyes, and to which the worm is attached.
DRAGONetDRAGON VOLANT,Fr.some old pieces of artillery were anciently so called. TheDragonwas a 40-pounder; theDragon Volanta 32. But neither the name nor the size of the calibre of either piece is now in use.
DRAGONNER,Fr.According to the French acceptation of the term, is to attack any person in a rude and violent manner; to take any thing by force; to adopt prompt and vigorous measures; and to bring those people to reason by hard blows, who could not be persuaded by fair words.
DRAGOONS, in military affairs, are a kind of horsemen, or cavalry, who serve both on horseback, and foot; being always ready on every emergency, as being able to keep pace with the horse, and to do infantry duty. In battle, or on attacks, they generally fight sword in hand after the first fire. In the field they encamp on the right and left of the lines. They are divided into brigades, regiments, and squadrons. Their martial music is the clarion or trumpet. The first regiment of dragoons in England was raised in 1681, and called the royal regiment of dragoons of North Britain. This name is derived from the Latin wordDraconarii, used amongst the Romans. The standard of the Roman cavalry bore as its device a dragon; as that of the infantry bore an eagle.
ToDragoon, is to persecute by abandoning a place to the rage of the soldiery.
DRAG-ropes. SeeRopes. SeeBricole.
DRAINorDrein, in the military art, is a trench made to draw water out of a ditch, which is afterwards filled, with hurdles and earth, or with fascines, or bundles of rushes and planks, to facilitate the passage over the mud. SeeTrench.
DRAKE, a small piece of artillery.
DRAUGHT, a plan or delineation of any place; a body of troops selected from others.
ToDraught, to draw forces from one brigade, &c. to complete another; to select a proportion from brigades, regiments, or companies for any particular service.
Draught-hooks, in a gun-carriage, are fixed to the transom-bolts on the cheeks of artillery carriages, near the trunnion holes and trails: they are used to draw the guns backwards and forwards by men with drag ropes fixed to those hooks.
DRAUGHTED, the soldiers of any regiment being allotted to complete other regiments are said to be draughted.
DRAUGHTSMEN, a body of men educated to assist the engineers in drawing plans, fortifications, and surveying; every officer should endeavor to be a good draughtsman; and every corps ought to have a master to teach in camp or quarters.
ToDRAW, to delineate or make a sketch.
DRAW RAMROD, a word of command, used in the drill exercise, on which the soldier draws his ramrod half from the pipes, and seizing it back handed by the middle, waits for the signal for the next motion, when he turns it round, and with an extended arm, places the butt of the rod about one inch in the muzzle of the firelock, in which position he waits for the commandram down cartridge.
Draw Swords, a word of command in the sword exercise of the cavalry.
The drawing of swords is performed in 3 motions. 1st, Bring the right hand smartly across the body to the sword knot, which being placed on the wrist, and secured by giving the hand a couple of turns inwards, seize the hilt of the sword. 2d, Draw the sword with an extended arm; sink the hand till the hilt of the sword is immediately against the left nipple, the blade of the sword perpendicular, and the back of the hand outwards. 3d. Bring down the hilt till in a line with the bridle hand, the blade perpendicular, the edge turned towards the horse’s left ear.
Officers of infantry, when the men are under arms, draw their swords without waiting for any word of command.
ToDrawoff, to retire.
ToDrawon, to advance.
ToDrawout, to call the soldiers forth in array for action.
ToDrawup, to form in battle array.
Drawbridge. SeeBridge.
DRAWING, in a military sense, is the art of representing the appearances of all kinds of military objects by imitation, or copying, both with and without the assistance of mathematical rules.
DRESS-military. The clothing of the army is generally called regimentals, every part of which should facilitate, and not hinder, the various motions of the manual exercise. A soldier, without regard to fashion or taste (to use the words of a modern author) should be dressed in the most comfortable and least embarrassing manner possible; and the keeping him warm, and leaving him the entire use of his limbs, are objects always to be had in view.
ToDress, in a military sense, is to keep the body in such a relative position, as to contribute towards, and form a part of, an exact continuity of line, upon whatever front, or in whatever shape, the battalion may be formed. Soldiers dress by one another in ranks, and the body collectively dresses by some given object.
DRESSINGof a battalion after the halt, is to bring all its relative parts in a line with the point, or object, towards which it was directed to move. Whatever correction is necessary, must be made by advancing or retiring the flanks, and not by moving the centre; which, having been the guide in the march, has properly stopped at the point where it has arrived.
Dressingof a battalion when it is to retire, is to have some intelligent officer placed thirty paces in the rear, so as to stand perpendicular to the front directing serjeant, by whom the direction of the march is to be ascertained, as the officer will, of course, be in the line, or nearly so, of the directing serjeants.
DRESSER,Fr.SeetoDress.
DRINKINGto excess in the army is at all times highly criminal, but upon service it ought never to be overlooked; and the consequence will be a trial by a court martial. It has been productive of almost innumerable mischiefs, and is a most detestable and horrid practice. Whatever commissioned officer shall be found drunk on his guard, party, or other duty, under arms, shall be cashiered; any non-commissioned officer or soldier, so offending, shall suffer such corporal punishment as shall be inflicted by the sentence of a court martial.Art. of War.
ToDRILL, to teach young recruits the first principles of military movements and positions, &c.
To be sent toDrill, to be placed under the command of the drill officer, or non-commissioned officer, and made to join the recruits in performing the manual and platoon exercise, &c. This is sometimes ordered as a punishment to those who are perfect in their exercise, when a battalion, company, or individual has done something to merit exposure.
DRIVERSof baggage or artillery, men who drive the baggage, artillery, and stores, having no other duty in the army.
DRUM, is a martial musical instrument in the form of a cylinder, hollow within, and covered at the two ends with vellum, which is stretched or slackened at pleasure, by means of small cords and sliding leathers. This instrument is used both by infantry and artillery; which is done in several manners, either to give notice to the troops of what they are to do, or to demand liberty to make some proposal to an enemy. Every company of foot or artillery, has two or more drums, according to the effective strength of the party. The drum was first invented by Bacchus, who, as Polyenus reports, fighting against the Indians, gave the signal of battle with cymbals and drums; and the Saracens, who invaded Christendom, introduced the drum into the European armies. The various beats are as follow, among the British.
The general, is to give notice to the troops that they are to march.