Angleof the curtain,-Angleof the flank,
That which is made by, and contained between the curtain and the flank.
Angleof the polygon, that which is made by the meeting of the two sides of the polygon, or figure in the centre of the bastion. SeeFortification.
Angleof the triangle, is half the angle of the polygon.
Angleof the bastion, or-FlankedAngle,
That which is made by the two faces, being the utmost part of the bastion most exposed to the enemy’s batteries, frequently called the point of the bastion. SeeFortification.
DiminishedAngle, only used by some engineers, especially the Dutch, is composed of the face of the bastion, and the exterior side of the polygon.
Angleof the shoulder, or-Angleof the épaule,
Is formed by one face, and one flank of the bastion. SeeFortification.
Angleof the tenaille,-Anglerentrant,
Is made by two lines fichant, that is, the faces of the two bastions extended till they meet in an angle towards the curtain, and is that which always carries its point towards the out-works. SeeFortification.
Angleof the flank exterior, is that which is before the centre of the curtain, formed by the prolongation of the faces of the bastion, or by both the fichant linesof defence, intersecting each other on planning a fortification.
Angleof the flank interior, is formed by the flanked line of defence and the curtain; being that point where the line of defence falls upon the curtain.
Angleof the line of defence, is that angle made by the flank, and the line of defence.
Angleof the face, is formed by the angle of the face and the line of defence produced till they intersect each other.
Angleof the base interior, is the half of the figure, which the interior polygon makes with the radius, when they join each other in the centre; intersecting the centre of the gorges of each bastion.
Angleof the base exterior, is an angle formed by lines drawn from the centre of the figure, to the angle of the exterior polygon, cutting the centre of the gorges of each bastion.
Angleof the gorge, is that angle formed by the prolongation of the curtains, intersecting each other, in the centre of the gorge, through which the capital line passes.
Angleof the ditch, is formed before the centre of the curtain, by the outward line of the ditch.
Angleof the mole, is that which is made before the curtain where it is intersected.
FlankedAngle. SeeAngleof the bastion.
SaliantAngle,-Anglesortant,
Is that angle which points outwards, or towards the country. Such is the angle of the counterscarp before the point of a bastion.
EnteringAngle, or-Anglerentrant,
An angle pointing inwards, as the saliant angle does outwards. Such is the angle of the counterscarp before the curtain.
Angleof the counterscarp, made by two sides of the counterscarp, meeting before the centre of the curtain.
Angleat the circumference of a circle, is an angle formed by two chords in the circumference of a circle.
Angleof the circumference, is the mixed angle formed by an arch, drawn from one gorge to another.
Re-enteringAngle. SeeEnteringAngle.
Angleof the complement of the line of defence, is the angle formed by the intersection of the two complements with each other.
Anglesof a battalion, are made by the last men at the extremity of the ranks and files.
FrontAngles, the two last men of the front rank.
RearAngles, the two last men of the rear rank.
DeadAngle, is a re-entering angle, consequently not defended.
Angular, in a general sense, denotes something relating to angles, or that hath angles.
ANGON, in ancient military history, was a kind of dart of a moderate length, having an iron bearded head and cheeks; in use about the fifth century. This sort of javelin was much used by the French. The iron head of it resembles a fleur-de-lis; and it is the opinion of some writers, that the old arms of France were not fleurs-de-lis; but the iron point of theangonor javelin of the ancient French.
ToANIMATE, in a military sense, is to encourage, to incite, to add fresh impulse to any body of men who are advancing against an enemy, or to prevent them from shamefully abandoning their colours in critical situations. Soldiers may be encouraged and incited to gallant actions not only by words, but by the looks and gestures of the officers, particularly of their commanding one. It is by the latter alone, indeed, that any of these artificial means should be resorted to; for silence, steadiness, and calmness are the peculiar requisites in the characters of subordinate officers. Whatever their private feelings may be, a superior sense of duty should always prevent them from discovering the slightest symptom of perturbation. The best effects, however, may be sometimes produced by a sort of electrical shock which is communicated to the soldiery: as, when officers, being themselves animate and full of fire, give a sudden and unexpected utterance to their sentiments; make use of some particular expression by which the national ear is captivated, or by a happy waving of the hand, hat, or sword cause the most timid to become careless of danger, and keep up the enthusiasm of the bravest. Many battles, both in ancient and modern times, have taken a sudden turn from the most trivial circumstance of this nature.
The French are very susceptible of this species of animation. During the present war they have furnished several instances of the power of military animation. The success at Lodi, to which Bonaparte owes so much of his reputation, was the consequence of a bold and individual exertion, when he snatched the standard, and personally led the grenadiers across the bridge. A variety of instances might be enumerated wherein words and gestures have had the most happy result. As far back as the days of Cæsar there are examples that stand fresh upon record; and nothing proves more forcibly the influence which a great reputation has upon common minds, than the exclamation which Cæsar used when he was crossing a branch of the sea, between Brundusium and Dyrrachium. He embarked by night in the habit of a slave, and lay on the boards like an ordinary passenger. As they were to sail down the river Annius a violent storm arose, which quite overcame the art of the pilot, who gave orders to put back; but this, Cæsar would notpermit, who discovering himself, and taking the astonished pilot by the hand, bade him boldly go on and fear nothing,for, cried he,thou carried Cæsar and Cæsar’s fortune. “Cæsarem vebis fortunamque ejus.”
ANNALS, a species of military history, wherein events are related in the chronological order they happened. They differ from a perfect history, in being only a mere relation of what passes every year, as a journal is of what passes every day.
ANNUNCIADA, an order of military knighthood in Savoy, first instituted by Amadeus I. in the year 1409; their collar was of 15 links, interwoven one with another, and the mottoF. E. R. T.signifyingfortitudo ejus Rhodum tenuit. Amadeus VIII. changed the image of St. Maurice, patron of Savoy, which hung at the collar, for that of the Virgin Mary; and instead of the motto abovementioned, substituted the words of the angel’s salutation. Now extinct.
ANOLYMPIADES. SeeOlympiad.
ANSEdes Pieces, a French term for the handles of cannon. Those of brass have two—Those of iron seldom any—these handles serve to pass cords, handspikes, or levers, the more easily to move so heavy a body, and are made to represent dolphins, serpents, &c.
ANSPESADE. SeeLance Corporal.
ANTEMURAILLE, in the ancient military art, denoted what now the moderns generally call the outworks.
ANTESTATURE, in ancient fortification, signifies an intrenchment of pallisades or sacks of earth, thrown up in order to dispute the remainder of a piece of ground.
ANTHONY, orKnights of St. Anthony, a military order instituted by Albert, duke of Bavaria, Holland, and Zealand, when he designed to make war against the Turks in 1382. The knights wore a collar of gold made in the form of a hermit’s girdle, from which hung a stick like a crutch, with a little bell, as they are represented in St. Anthony’s pictures.
APPAREILLES, are those slopes that lead to the platform of the bastion. SeeFortification.
APPAREILLEUR,Fr.an architect who superintends the workmen in the construction of fortifications, sluices, &c.
APPEAL, might formerly have been made, by the prosecutor or prisoner, from the sentence or jurisdiction of a regimental to a general court-martial.
APPEL,Fr.a roll call; a beat of drum for assembling; a challenge.
Appel, in fencing, a smart beat with your blade on that of your antagonist on the contrary side to that you have engaged, generally accompanied with a stamp of the foot, and used for the purpose of procuring an opening.
APPOINTE. This word was applicable to French soldiers only, during the old monarchy of France, and meant a man who for his long service and extraordinary bravery received more than common pay. There were likewise instances in which officers were distinguished by being stiledofficiers appointés.
The wordappointéwas originally derived from it being said, that a soldier was appointed among those who were to do some singular act of courage, as by going upon a forlorn hope, &c.
APPOINTMENT, in a military sense, is the pay of the army; it likewise applies to warlike habiliments, accoutrements, &c.
APPREHEND, in a military sense, implies the seizing or confining of any person. According to the articles of war, every person who apprehends a deserter, and attests the fact duly before a magistrate, is entitled to receive a reward.
APPROACHES. All the works are generally so called that are carried on towards a place which is besieged; such as the first, second, and thirdparallels, thetrenches,epaulementswith and without trenches,redoubts,places of arms,saps,galleries, andlodgments. See these words more particularly under the headFortification.
This is the most difficult part of a siege, and where most lives are lost. The ground is disputed inch by inch, and neither gained nor maintained without the loss of men. It is of the utmost importance to make your approaches with great caution, and to secure them as much as possible, that you may not throw away the lives of your soldiers. The besieged neglect nothing to hinder the approaches; the besiegers do every thing to carry them on; and on this depends the taking or defending of the place.
The trenches being carried to their glacis, you attack and make yourself master of their covered-way, establish a lodgment on the counterscarp, and effect a breach by the sap, or by mines with several chambers, which blow up their intrenchments and fougades, or small mines, if they have any.
You cover yourselves with gabions, fascines, barrels, or sacks; and if these are wanting, you sink a trench.
You open the counterscarp by saps to make yourself master of it; but, before you open it, you must mine the flanks that defend it. The best attack of the place is the face of the bastion, when by its regularity it permits regular approaches and attacks according to art. If the place be irregular, you must not observe regular approaches, but proceed according to the irregularity of it; observing to humor the ground, which permits you to attack it in such a manner at one place, as would be useless or dangerous at another; so that the engineer who directs the attack ought exactly to know the parthe would attack, its proportions, its force and solidity, in the most geometrical manner.
Approaches, in a more confined sense, signify attacks.
CounterApproaches, are such trenches as are carried on by the besieged, against those of the besiegers.
APPRENTI,Fr.Apprentice.
In France they had apprentices or soldiers among the artillery, who served for less pay than the regular artillery men, until they became perfect in their profession; when they were admitted to such vacancies as occurred in their respective branches. The system is changed.
APRON, in gunnery, a square plate of lead that covers the vent of a cannon, to keep the charge dry, and the vent clean and open.
Aprons—of lead for guns, according toDeturbie
Their dimensions are as follow, viz. for a 42, 32, and a 24 pounder, 15 inches by 13; for an 18, 12, and a 9 pounder, 12 inches by 10; for a 6, 5¹⁄₄, 3, and 1¹⁄₂ pounder, 10 inches by 8. They are tied fast by two strings of white marline, the length of which, for a 42 to a 12 pounder inclusive, is 18 feet, 9 feet each string; for a 9 to 1¹⁄₂ pounder, 12 feet, 6 feet for each.
APPUI—Pointe d’appui, or point of bearing, or direction, or support, is any particular given point or body, upon which troops are formed, or by which they are marched in line or column.
Aller à l’Appui,Fr.to go to the assistance of any body, to second, to back.
Hauteur d’Appui,Fr.breast-height.
AQUEDUCT, a channel to convey water from one place to another. Aqueducts, in military architecture, are generally made to bring water from a spring or river to a fortress, &c.; they are likewise used to carry canals over low ground, and over brooks or small rivers; they are built with arches like a bridge, only not so wide, and are covered above by an arch, to prevent dust or dirt from being thrown into the water—there are also subterranean aqueducts, such as pipes of wood, lead, or iron. See Muller’sPractical Fortification.
The Romans had aqueducts which extended 100 miles. That of Louis XIV. near Maintenon, which carries the river Bute to Versailles, is 7000 toises long.
ARAIGNEE, in fortification. SeeGallery.
ARBALET, in the ancient art of war, a cross-bow, made of steel, set in a shaft of wood, with a string and trigger, bent with a piece of iron fitted for that purpose, and used to throw bullets, large arrows, darts, &c. Also a mathematical instrument called aJacob’s Staff, to measure the height of the stars upon the horizon.
ARBALETEà jalet, a stone bow.
ARBALETRIER,Fr.a cross-bow man.
ARBALETRIERd’une Galére,Fr.that part of a galley where the cross-bowmen were placed during an engagement.
ARBORER,Fr.to plant.Arborer l’étendart, to plant the standard.
ARC,Fr.a bow; an arch in building.
ARCH, in military architecture, is a vault or concave building, in form of a curve, erected to support some heavy structure, or passage.
TriumphalArch, in military history, is a stately monument or erection generally of a semicircular form, adorned with sculpture, inscriptions, &c. in honor of those heroes who have deserved a triumph.
ARCHERS, in military history, a kind of militia or soldiery, armed with bows and arrows. They were much used in former times, but are now laid aside, excepting in Turkey, and in some parts of Asia.
ARCHERY, is the art of shooting with a bow and arrow. The ancient English were famous for being the best archers in Europe, and most of their victories in France were the purchase of the long-bow. The statutes made in 33 Hen. VIII. relative to this exercise, are worth perusal. It was forbidden, by statute, to shoot at a standing mark, unless it should be for a rover, where thearcherwas to change his mark at every shot. Any person above 24 years old was also forbidden to shoot with any prick-shaft, or flight, at a mark of eleven score yards or under. 33 Hen. VIII. chap. 9. The former was a provision for making good marksmen at sight; the latter for giving strength and sinews. The modern rifle has rendered the bow an useless weapon.
ARCHITECTURE, in a military sense, is the art of erecting all kinds of military edifices or buildings, whether for habitation or defence.
MilitaryArchitecture, instructs us in the method of fortifying cities, sea-ports, camps, buildings, powder magazines, barracks, &c. Military architecture is divided intoregularandirregularfortification.
Regular fortification consists in having all its sides and angles equal among themselves.
Irregular fortificationis composed of parts where the sides and angles are not equal or uniform among themselves. This species of fortification is permanent or temporary.
The permanent one is constructed for the purpose of remaining a long time, and for the protection of large towns.
The temporary one is that which is erected in cases of emergency. Under this denomination are contained all sorts of works which are thrown up to seize a pass or gain an eminence, or those which aremade in circumvallations and countervallations, viz. redoubts, trenches, and batteries. SeeFortification.
Field Fortificationis the art of forming temporary works of defence, such as trenches, redoubts, breastworks, epaulments,chevaux de frize,trous de loup, &c. SeeField Fortification.
NavalArchitecture, is the art of building the hull, or body of the ship, distinct from her machinery and furniture for sailing; and may properly be comprehended in three principal articles. 1. To give the ship such a figure, or outward form, as may be most suitable to the service for which she is intended. 2. To find the exact shape of the pieces of timber necessary to compose such a fabric. 3. To make convenient apartments for the artillery, ammunition, provisions, and cargo: together with suitable accommodations for the officers and men.
ARCHITRAVE, the master beam, or chief supporter, in any part of a subterraneous fortification.
AREA, the superficial content of any rampart, or other work of a fortification.
ARIGOT,Fr.a fife or flute.
ARM—Military writers use this word to signify a particular species of troops—thus the artillery is an arm, and the cavalry, and infantry, and rifle men are each called an arm; but this use of the word is now deemed quaint.
Arm, in geography, denotes a branch of the sea, or of a river.
Armis also used figuratively to denote power.
ToArm, to take arms, to be provided against an enemy.
ARMADA, a Spanish term, signifying a fleet of men of war, applied particularly to that great one fitted out by the Spaniards, with an intention to conquer England in 1588, and which was first dispersed by a terrible storm, several of the ships wrecked on the coasts of England and Ireland, and many overtaken and defeated by the English fleet, under admirals Howard and Drake.
ARMADILLA, a Spanish term, signifying a small squadron.
ARMATURA, in ancient military history, signifies the fixed and established military exercise of the Romans, nearly in the sense we use the word exercise. Under this word is understood, the throwing of the spear, javelin, shooting with bows and arrows, &c.
Armaturais also an appellation given to the soldiers who were light-armed. Aquinus seems without reason, to restrainarmaturato thetyrones, or young soldiers.
Armaturawas also a denomination given to the soldiers in the Roman emperor’s retinue.
ARMED, in a general sense, denotes something provided with, or carrying arms.
AnArmedbody of men, denotes a military corps or detachment, provided with arms and ammunition, ready for an engagement.
Armed, in the sea language. A cross-bar-shot is said to be armed, when some rope-yarn, or the like, is rolled about the end of the iron bar which runneth through the shot.
Armedship, is a vessel taken into the public service, and equipped in time of war, with artillery, ammunition, and warlike instruments: in the British service an armed ship is commanded by an officer who has the rank of master and commander in the navy, and upon the same establishment with sloops of war, having a lieutenant, master, purser, surgeon, &c.
ARMEE,Fr.SeeArmy.
ARMEMENT,Fr.a levy of troops, equipage of war, either by land or sea.
ARMESa l’Epreuve, a French term for armor of polished steel, which was proof against the sword or small arms; but its weight so encumbered the wearer, that modern tacticians have wholly rejected its use.
Armesà la légére,Fr.light-troops, who were employed to attack in small bodies, as opportunity occurred. SeeRiflemen, &c.
Armesdes Pieces de Canon, the French term for the tools used in practical gunnery, as the scoop, rammer, sponge, &c.
ARMET,Fr.a casque or helmet.
ARMIGER, an esquire or armor-bearer, who formerly attended his knight or chieftain in war, combat, or tournament, and who carried his lance, shield, or other weapons with which he fought.
ARMILUSTRIUM, in Roman antiquity, a feast observed among the Roman generals, in which they sacrificed, armed, to the sound of trumpets, and other war-like instruments.
ARMISTICE, a temporary truce, or cessation of arms for a very short space of time only.
ARMORY, a warehouse of arms, or a place where the military habiliments are kept, to be ready for use.
ARMOR, denotes all such habiliments as serve to defend the body from wounds, especially darts, a sword, a lance, &c. A complete suit of armor formerly consisted of a helmet, a shield, a cuiras, a coat of mail, a gantlet, &c. now almost universally laid aside.
ARMOR BEARER, he that carries the armor of another.
ARMORER, a person who makes or deals in armor, or arms; also a person who keeps them clean.
ARMS, in a general sense, signify all kinds of weapons, whether used for offence or defence.
Fire-Arms, are cannon, mortars, howitzers, grenades, firelocks, rifles, fusils, carbines, guns, and pistols; or any other machine discharged by inflamed powder.
Arms may properly be classed under two specificheads—
Arms of offence, which include musquet, bayonet, sword, pistol, rifle, &c.
Arms of defence, which are shields, helmets, coats of mail, or any species of repulsive or impenetrable covering, by which the body of a man is protected.
Arms—Small.
In a legal sense, arms may extend to any thing that a man wears for his own defence, or takes in his hand, and uses in anger, to strike, throw at, or wound another. It is supposed, that the first artificial arms were of wood, and only employed against beasts; and that Belus, the son of Nimrod, was the first that waged war; whence, according to some, came the appellationbellum. Diodorus Siculus takes Belus to be the same with Mars, who first trained soldiers up to battle.Armsof stone, and even of brass, appear to have been used before they came to iron and steel. Josephus assures us, that the patriarch Joseph first taught the use of iron arms in Egypt, arming the troops of Pharaoh with a casque and buckler.
The principalarmsof the ancients were hatchets, scythes, lances, swords, and bucklers: the Saxons used the halberd, bow, arrows, cross-bow, &c. By the ancient laws of England, every man was obliged to bear arms, except the judges and clergy. Under Henry VIII. it was expressly enjoined on all persons to be regularly instructed, even from their tender years, in the exercise of thearmsthen in use, viz. the long bow and arrows; and to be provided with a certain number of them.
But by the common law of England now it is an offence for persons to go or ride armed with dangerous weapons; but gentlemen, both in and out of the army, may wear common armor, according to their quality.
Armsof parade, orcourtesy, were those used in the ancient justs and tournaments; which were commonly unshod lances, swords without edge or point, wooden swords, and even canes.
Bells ofArms,or Bell Tents, a kind of tents in the shape of a cone, where a company’s arms are lodged in the field. They are generally painted with the colour of the facing of the regiment; they have gone much out of use.
Pass ofArms, a kind of combat, when anciently one or more cavaliers undertook to defend a pass against all attacks.
Place ofArms. SeeFortification.
Stand ofArms, a complete set of arms for one soldier.
Arms, in artillery, are the two ends of an axletree. SeeAxletree, under the wordCarriage.
ARMY, a large number of soldiers, consisting of artillery, foot, riflemen, horse, dragoons, and hussars or light horse, completely armed, and provided with engineers, a train of artillery, ammunition, provisions, staff, forage, &c. and under the command of a general, having lieutenant-generals, major-generals, brigadier-generals, colonels, lieutenant-colonels, majors, captains, and subalterns, and the suitable staff to each portion. An army is composed of legions, or corps, brigades, regiments, battalions, and squadrons; and is generally divided into three or more co-operating corps, and formed into three lines; the first of which is called the front line, a part of which forms the van-guard; the second, the main body; and the third, the rear-guard, or corps of reserve. The centre of each line is generally possessed by the foot; the cavalry and light troops form the right and left wings of each line; and sometimes a squadron of horse is posted in the intervals between the battalions. When an army is drawn up in order of battle, the horse are frequently placed at five feet from each other, and the foot at three. In each line the battalions are distant from each other about 180 feet, which is nearly equal to the extent of their front; and the same rule holds good of the squadrons, which have about 300 feet distance, being the extent of their own front. These intervals are left for the squadrons and battalions of the second line to range themselves against the intervals of the first, that both may more readily march through those spaces to the enemy. The front line is generally about 300 feet from the centre line; and the centre line as much from the rear, or corps of reserve; that there may be sufficient room to rally when the squadrons or battalions are broken. European armies anciently werea sort of militia; composed chiefly of the vassals and tenants of the lords. When each company had served the number of days or months enjoined by their tenure, or the customs of the fees they held, they returned home.
Armies in general are distinguished by the followingappellations—
The grand army.A covering army.A blockading army.An army of observation.An army of reserve.A flying army.
The grand army.
A covering army.
A blockading army.
An army of observation.
An army of reserve.
A flying army.
The grand army, is that which is the principal of several armies acting at different points remote from each other.
An army is said tocovera place when it lies encamped or in cantonments for the protection of the different passes which lead to a principal object of defence.
An army is said toblockadea place, when, being well provided with heavy ordnance and other warlike means, it is employed to invest a town for the direct and immediate purpose of reducing it by assault or famine.
AnArmyof observationis so called because by its advanced positions and desultory movements it is constantly employed in watching the enemy.
AnArmyof reservemay not improperly be called a general depot for effective service. In cases of emergency the whole or detached parts of an army of reserve are generally employed to recover a lost day or to secure a victory. It is likewise sometimes made use of for the double purpose of secretly increasing the number of active forces and rendering the aid necessary according to the exigency of the moment, and of deceiving the enemy with respect to its real strength. Such was the army at Dijon, before Bonaparte entered Italy.
FlyingArmy, a strong body of horse and foot, commanded for the most part by a lieutenant-general, which is always in motion, both to cover its own garrisons, and to keep the enemy in continual alarm.
A naval or seaArmy, is a number of ships of war, equipped and manned with sailors, mariners, and marines, under the command of a superior officer, with the requisite inferior officers under him.
ARNAUTS, Turkish light cavalry, whose only weapon was a sabre very much curved. Some are in the Russian service.
ARQUEBUSEa Croc, an old piece of fire-arms, resembling a musquet, but which is supported on a rest by a hook of iron, fastened to the barrel. It is longer than a musquet, but of larger calibre, and was formerly used to fire through the loop holes of antique fortifications.
ARQUEBUSIER, a French term, formerly applied to all the soldiery who fought with fire arms, whether cavalry or infantry.
ARRAY, order of battle. SeeBattle-Array.
ARRAYERS, officers who anciently had the charge of seeing the soldiers duly appointed in their armor.
ARREARS, in the army, were the difference between the full pay and subsistence of each officer, which was directed to be paid once a year by the agent. SeePay.
ARREST, a French phrase, similar in its import to the Latin wordretinaculum. It consists of a small piece of steel or iron, which was formerly used in the construction of fire-arms, to prevent the piece from going off.Ce pistolet est en arretis a familiar phrase among military men in France. This pistol is in arrest, or is stopped.
ARREST, is the exercise of that part of military jurisdiction, by which an officer is noticed for misconduct, or put into a situation to prepare for his trial by a general court-martial.
ARRESTEof the glacis, is the junction of the talus which is formed at all the angles.
ARRIERE,Fr.the rear.
ArriereBan,Fr.SeeBan.
Arriere-garde,Fr.the rear-guard.
EnArriere—marche!Fr.to the rear—march!
ARROW, a missive weapon of offence, slender and pointed, made to be shot with a bow.
Arrow.SeeFortification.
ARSENAL, is a large and spacious building, or number of buildings, in which are deposited all kinds of arms, and other warlike implements; such as cannon, mortars, howitzers, small arms, and every other kind of warlike engines and instruments of death.
ART. Military art may be divided into two principal branches. The first branch relates to the order and arrangement which must be observed in the management of an army, when it is to fight, to march, or to be encamped. This branch is calledtactics, and derives its appellation fromtactic, which signifiesorder.
The same appellation belongs to the other branch of military art, and includes the composition and the application of warlike machines.
ARTICLES OF WAR, are known rules and regulations for the better government of an army. The articles of war of the United States underwent an alteration in 1806, and are of date 10th April of that year; they consist of 103 articles; all that relates to the army not comprehended therein, are published in general orders or in established regulations, issued from time to time from the War Department, or by the commanding officer of the army, copies of which are delivered to the officers of the army. In England they may be altered and enlarged at the pleasure of their king. And in certain cases extend to civilians—as whenby proclamation any place shall be put under martial law; or when people follow a camp or army for the sale of merchandize, or serve in any civil capacity. It is ordained, that the articles of war shall be read in the circle of each regiment or company mustered once every month, or oftener if the commanding officer thinks proper. A recruit or soldier is not liable to be tried by a military tribunal, unless it can be proved that the articles of war have been duly read to him.
ARTIFICE, among the French, is understood as comprehending every thing which enters the composition of fire works; as the sulphur, salt-petre, charcoal, &c. SeeFire Works.
ARTIFICERorArtificier, he who makes fire works, or works in the artillery laboratory, who prepares the fuses, bombs, grenades, &c. It is also applied to the military smiths, collar-makers, &c. and to a particular corps in an army.
ARTILLERY, in a general sense, signifies all sorts of great guns or cannon, mortars, howitzers, petards, and the like; together with all the apparatus and stores thereto belonging, which are not only taken into the field, but likewise to sieges, and made use of both to attack and defend fortified places. SeeOrdnance.
Artillery, in a particular sense, signifies the science of artillery or gunnery, which art includes a knowledge of surveying, levelling, geometry, trigonometry, conic sections, laws of motion, mechanics, fortification, and projectiles.
The Train ofArtilleryconsists of an unlimited number of pieces of ordnance; such as 24 pounders, 18 pounders, 12, 9, 6, 4, and 3 pounders; mortars from 13 to 8 inches diameter; besides royals and cohorns; howitzers of every denomination, mounted on their proper carriages and beds, &c. There is moreover attached to the train a sufficient quantity of horses, spare carriages, spare mortar-beds, block-carriages, limbers, waggons for ammunition and stores, shells, round and grape shot, bullets, powder, cartridges, port-fires, intrenching-tools, artificers tools, miners tools, gins, capstans, forges, small stores, laboratory-stores, pontoons, pontoon-carriages, with their requisites; tumbrels, aprons of lead, budge-barrels, chevaux de frize, pallisades, platforms, chandeliers, blinds, prolonges, drag-ropes, flints, harness, powder-measures, fuze-engines, fuzes, tents, &c. The train of artillery is, or should be, divided into brigades, to which belong not only the officers of the regiments of artillery, but even the civil-list, such as comptrollers, commissaries of stores, clerks of stores, artificers of all denominations, conductors, store-keepers, waggon-masters, drivers, &c. The increase of artillery clearly demonstrates its great utility; for in the year 1500, an army of 50,000 men had only 40 pieces of cannon in the field; and in the year 1517, the same number of troops brought 200 pieces into the field, including mortars and howitzers.
At the battle of Jemappe, which was fought between the French and Austrians on the 6th of November, 1792, the latter had 120 pieces of cannon disposed along the heights of Framery, whilst their effective force in men did not exceed 28,000. The French on this occasion brought nearly the same quantity of ordnance, some indeed of extraordinary calibre, but their strength in men was above 40,000, and composed of young men who had never seen service, nor had any more than a few days discipline.
A Brigade ofArtillerygenerally consists of 8 or 10 pieces of cannon, with all the machinery, and officers to conduct them, and all the necessary apparatus thereto belonging.
The Park ofArtilleryis that place appointed by the general of an army, to encamp the train of artillery, apparatus, ammunition, as well as the battalions of the artillery, appointed for its service and defence. The figure of the park of artillery, is that of a parallelogram, unless the situation of the ground renders another necessary.
The park of artillery is generally placed in the centre of the second line of encampment, and sometimes in the rear line, or corps of reserve. In both places the muzzles of the guns are in a line with the fronts of the serjeants tents of the regiments of artillery and infantry. Some generals choose to place the park about 300 paces before the centre of the front line of the army. But let the situation be where it will, the manner of forming the park is almost every where the same, except that some artillery officers differ in the disposition of the carriages; others again divide the equipage as well as the guns into brigades, placing the first in the front line, the second in the next, and so on. However the most approved method, is to divide the whole into brigades, placing the guns of the first to the right of the front line, and their ammunition behind them, in one or more lines. The different brigades should be all numbered, as well as every waggon belonging to them. Example, 1st brigade, front line, No 1, 2, &c. 1st brigade, 2d line, No. 1, 2, &c. 2d brigade, front line, No. 1, 2, &c. and so of all the rest. This method prevents confusion in the forming and breaking up of the park, as also on a march: besides, according to the numbers, the stores therein contained are known.
Artillery—The proportion of artillery and ammunition necessary to accompany an army in the field, to lay siege to a fortified place, or to defend one, must depend upon so many circumstances, that it is almost impossible, in a work of this kind, to lay down any positive rules as guides on the subject: the following principles are drawn from the best authorities:
1st.Artilleryfor the Field.
FieldArtillery is divided intoBattalion Guns,Artillery of the Park, andHorse Artillery.
TheBattalion Gunsinclude all the light pieces attached to regiments of the line, which they accompany in all manœuvres, to cover and support them.
The following kinds of field ordnance are attached to battalions of infantry, by different powers in Europe:
TheArtillery of the Parkis composed of all kinds of field ordnance. It is destined to form batteries of position; that is to say, to occupy advantageous situations, from which the greatest effect may be produced, in supporting the general movements of an army, without following it, like the battalion guns, through all the detail of its manœuvres. The park of artillery attached to an army in the field, generally consists of twice as many pieces of different kinds, varied according to the country in which it is to act, as there are battalions in the army. Gribauvale proposes the following proportion between the different kinds of artillery for the park or reserve, viz. two-fifths of 12 Prs. two-fifths of 8 Prs. and one-fifth of 4 Prs. or reserve for battalion guns. In a difficult country he says, it may be ¹⁄₄ of 12 Prs. ¹⁄₂ of 8 Prs. and ¹⁄₄ of 4 Prs. and for every 100 pieces of cannon he allots 4 Howitzers; but this proportion of Howitzers is much smaller than what is generally given.