Those officers who may be disposed to enter more largely into the subject of French military process, as conducted before the revolution, may be satisfied by perusingLe Code Militaire, ou deuxieme volume du service de l’Infanterie, page 123; and we refer all British officers in general to M. Tytler’s late publication on English military law.
Major Macomb of the United States engineers has published a very judicious and concise tract adapted to the military service of the Union; and it is adopted by the war office.
MilitaryINSTRUMENTS(instrumens militaires.)Fr.By the sound of military instruments the troops belonging to the several armies in Europe, &c. are directed in their various movements.
The instruments which are peculiar to the cavalry of most nations are the trumpet and the cymbal. In France, dragoon regiments in general formerly adopted the drum in common with the infantry, they now use the trumpet for garrison, and the bugle for the field service. A certain number of fifers are likewise allowed in foot regiments. Hautboys and clarinets do not form any part of the music which is sanctioned and paid for by the public. Colonels of corps, however, frequently entertain a band either at their own expence, or out of what is called the stock-purse.
The principal military instruments which were used among the ancients, whether for cavalry or infantry, consisted of the trumpet, the cornet, and the buccina or French horn.
WarlikeInstrumentsused by the Turks. The Turks make use of wind and clashing instruments of different shapes and sizes; all, except one wind instrument, are better calculated for pomp and ceremony, than adapted to military service.
The clashing instruments, which the French callinstrumens à choc, consist of two sorts of drums, and an instrument which is made of two plates of metal, such as the cymbals we have adopted from the Asiatics.
Their wind-instruments consist of a winding or crooked trumpet, and of a wooden fife.
The big drum which they calldaul, stands three feet high. It is carried by a mounted drummer, who makes use of a thick stick with which he strikes the upper part, and a small one, with which he plays upon the under one; these he applies alternately with much ingenuity of hand, and great gravity of countenance. This is the only instrument which the Turks use in military exercises or manœuvres. The big drums are constantly beat when the enemy is near, and round all the out-posts, in order to keep the sentinels upon the alert. On these occasions the drummers exclaim with a loud voice:Jegda Allah!that is, God is good! or as the French interpret it—Dieu Bon.
The two small drums, or the kettle drums serve as marks of distinction for the bacha’s family, and likewise as signals when the troops are to march. They contribute greatly to the general harmony of a concert. The Turkish name for them isSudar Nagara. The bachas, or bashaws with three tails are entitled to three kettle drums, which are fixed on each side of the saddle, and are beat in the same manner that those in other services are.
There is likewise another sort of Turkish instrument calledzill, which consists of two hollow brass plates, on whose convex side is fixed a ring sufficiently large to contain the grasp of three fingers. By clashing them seasonably together, an agreeable silvery sound is extracted. The bashaws with three tails are each intitled to two sets of these instruments.
There are two sorts of wind-instruments used among the Turks, they differ very much both with regard to the manner in which they are played, and to the materials with which they are made. The first is the trumpet, which is made of the same metal that ours are, but are somewhat longer; they are calledbori. The man who blows this trumpet is always mounted on horse back, and every bashaw with three tails is intitled to have seven.
The second instrument is made of wood; it is a sort of pipe or flute with five holes; the Turks call itzurnader. The person who plays this instrument is on horseback, and every bashaw with three tails is intitled to five.
The sounds which issue from these different instruments would be extremely harsh to the ear, were they not in some degree harmonized by the great drum: when the whole is played together, the effect is both martial and pleasant.
SurgicalInstrumentsdirected to be provided for the use of regimental hospitals. An amputating saw, with spare blade, 1 metacarpal saw, with ditto, 24 curved needles, 2 amputating knives, 1 catlin, 2 tenaculums, 1 bullet forceps, 1 pair of bone nippers, 2 screw tourniquets, 4 field tourniquets with handle, 2 callico compresses, 2 trephines, with sliding keys, 1 trephine forceps, 1 elevator, 1 lenticular, a brush, key instruments for teeth, to fit trephine handle, 8 scalpels, 2 silver catheters, 1 trocar with spring and introductory canula, 1 do. do. and canula for hydrocele, probang, 1 long silver probe, 1 large bougie.
SurgicalInstrumentsdirected to be provided for the field. An amputating saw, 1 metacarpal saw, 12 curved needles, 1 amputating knife, 1 catlin, 1 screw tourniquet, 1 silver catheter, 1 elastic ditto, 2 trephines to fit one handle, 1 trephine forceps, 1 elevator, 2 scalpels, 1 bullet forceps, 1 trocar with spring and introductory canula, 1 trocar with spring canula for hydrocele, a brush, a tenaculum, thread for ligatures.
ToINSULT, in a military signification, is to attack boldly and in open day, without going through the slow operations of opening trenches, working by mines and saps, or having any recourse to those usual forms of war, by advancing gradually towards the object in view. An enemy is said to insult a coast when he suddenly appears upon it, and debarks with an immediate purpose to attack. The British forces under the command of sir Ralph Abercrombie, insulted the Dutch coast when they took possession of the Helder, in consequence of a bold descent. The British fleet which entered the Chesapeake bay, and on the 22 June, 1807, attacked the United States frigate Chesapeake, insulted the nation; they had the baseness to deny it, and to make an apology afterwards; but they did not punish their officers; and afterwards fled from the engagements made by their ambassador to the U. S. In attacking fortified places it is usual to insult the counterscarp, in order to avoid the destruction which would naturally follow, if the besieged had time enough allowed them to give effect to the different mines that must necessarily have been prepared beneath it. The grenadiers are always employed on these occasions, accompanied by workmen and artificers to secure the post, after it has been taken by assault.
INSULTER,Fr.SeeTo Insult.
INSURGENTS. All vassals in Hungary when assembled together in consequence of the general proclamation by Ban and Arriere Ban are so called. This, however, does not happen except in cases of great emergency, when they are headed by the prince Palatine of Hungary, and march to the defence of their frontiers. The Hungarians have sometimes indeed gone beyond them, in order to support their sovereign’s right, and have acted offensively in the neighboring countries.
Insurgentsis a term used to signify persons who have made inroads into a country; or who rise in revolt against the established laws.
INTELLIGENCE, in a military sense may be variously applied, and of course has different significations. No general can be said to be in any degree qualified for the important situation which he holds, unless, like an able minister of state, he be constantly prepared with the requisite means to obtain the best intelligence respecting the movements and the designs of the enemy he is to oppose. On the other hand, it is not possible to conceive a greater crime than that of affording intelligence to an enemy, and thereby bringing about the overthrow and destruction of a whole army. A French military writer, (to whose work we have the satisfaction of being frequently indebted for much general and useful knowlege) makes the following observations respecting the latter species of intelligence, which he classes under two specific heads.
He justly remarks, that to hold correspondence, or to be in intelligence with an enemy, (étre d’intelligence avec l’Ennemi) is to betray your country. Armies and fortified places are almost always surprized and taken by means of a secret intelligence, which the enemy keeps up with domestic traitors, acting in conjunction with commissioned spies and delegated hirelings. Arnold had nearly effected the destruction of the American army by the intelligence which he kept up through the British major André, with the British.
A garrison town may be taken by surprize, under the influence of secret intelligence, in two different ways. The one is when the assailant to whom the place has been surrendered, is not bound to join his forces to those troops by whom he has been admitted; the other when it is necessary, that an assault should be made by openly storming, by throwing shells and petards, or by stratagem.
The first species of intelligence may be held with a governor who has influence enough to direct the will and actions of the garrison; with a garrison which is indisposed towards the governor and the officers that command the troops; with the inhabitants who have undertaken to defend a place where no garrison is stationed, and lastly with the prevailing faction, wherethere are two parties that govern in a free town.
The other species of intelligence may be practised with a governor who either wants power, or is afraid to tamper with the fidelity of the garrison; with some particular officer, serjeants, or soldiers; with the body of inhabitants who think differently from the armed force that overawes them, or with active and shrewd individuals, who have access to the ruling party, and can skilfully combineaffectedloyalty withsecretdisaffection.
There is not, however, in human nature perhaps a more insidious, or a more dangerous ground to tread on than that of secret intelligence; nor are the faculties of the mind ever so much put to the test, as when it is necessary to listen to the report of an individual, who whilst he is betraying one side, may be equally disposed to dupe the other. A wise general will consequently hear every thing, and say nothing; and a wise man, let his secret wishes be what they may, will warily consider, whether the person who insinuates to him even the possibilities of a plot, does not at that instant endeavor to get into his confidence, for the sole purpose of acting contrary to his supposed views, and of betraying the man who has unfolded other schemes. It is certainly justifiable policy, either in the governor of a town or in a general, to affect to give into the views of any man or party of men whom he has cause to suspect, and whose ultimate object he is determined to defeat. But he should be equally cautious, how he listens to the communications of spies or informers. The veil of honesty is often assumed to cover a deep-laid scheme of villainy; and apparent candor is the surest path to unguarded confidence. When villains voluntarily unfold themselves in such a manner as to convince an able and penetrating officer, that their treachery can be depended upon, much blood may be spared by making a proper use of their intelligence. This axiom has prevailed in every civilized country; and should be well attended to by thinking men. For when a battle has been gained, it avails little to ask, whether the enemy owed his success to force or treachery? No treachery, however, is admissible, or should be sanctioned by belligerent powers, which militates against those laws of nations which are founded upon the wise basis of humanity.Private assassinations,the use of poison, orthe disregard of paroles of honor, must be generally reprobated: and whatever general obtains his ends by any of these dark means, his name should be stamped with infamy, and himself exposed to all the melancholy casualties of retaliation.
INTENDANTd’Armée,Fr.under the old government of France, the intendants d’armées or superintendants of the army, were principal inspectors of all sorts of stores, &c. that were necessary for the troops. The French general officers and governors of fortified towns, held continual intercourse with the intendants or supervisors who directed every branch of the commissariat.
When the intendant d’armée was not likewise intendant de province, he was directed to accompany the troops, to visit their line of encampment or cantonment, and to require of all the subordinateintendantsthe regular proportion of stores and provisions, and to see that they were supplied according to contract, and with punctuality.
INTERIOURFlanking Angle, is formed by the curtain and line of defence.
InteriourRadius, the part of anoblique radiusextending from the centre of the polygon to the centre of the bastion.
InteriourSide. The line of the curtain, produced to the two oblique radii of the front; or a line drawn from the centre of one bastion to that of the next.
InteriourSlope. SeeTalus.
INTERMEDIATE(intermediare,Fr.) any thing that is, or lies between. SeeIntermediatePosts.
INTERSECTION, the point where two lines cross each other.
INTERVAL, (Intervalle,Fr.) any space between. A word variously applied in military dispositions and manœuvres, to denote any given distance or space.
Intervalbetween two battalions. The space which separates them when they are drawn up for action, or when they are encamped. This space is generally wide enough to admit the march of another battalion, that is to say, it is equal to the extent of its front when in line. When troops are encamped for the purpose of investing a town or fortified place, the interval is much greater, and seldom or ever less.
Intervalbetween the line and the camp. This comprehends the space which lies between the camp and the line of entrenchments. It is generally from one hundred and eighty to two hundred toises in breadth; so that the different battalions and squadrons which are necessary for the security of the camp may have room to move in, while sufficient ground is left in the rear for troops to pass and repass as occasion may require. The same observation holds good with respect to contravallation.
INTERVALLEdu Camp à la ligne,Fr.SeeIntervalbetween the line and the camp.
ToINTRENCH, to secure against the attack of an enemy, by digging a ditch or trench.
ToIntrenchupon. To invade, to make incroachments upon the property or territories of another.
INTRENCHMENT, any work that fortifies a post against the attack of an enemy. The word is generally used to denote a ditch or trench with a parapet.Intrenchments are sometimes made of fascines, with earth thrown over them, of gabions, hogsheads, or bags filled with earth, to cover the men from the enemy’s fire. SeeRetrenchment.
INTREPIDITE,Fr.SeeIntrepidity.
INTREPIDITY. An unqualified contempt of death, and indifference to fortune, as far as it regards personal safety; a fearlessness of heart and a daring enterprize of mind. According to Rochefoucault, intrepidity, especially with regard to military daring, impliesfirmnessof character, greatconfidenceof mind, and extraordinarystrengthof soul. Buoyed up and supported by these qualities, (which are sometimes natural and sometimes acquired,) men become superior to every emotion of alarm, and are insensible of those perturbations of the heart which the prospect of imminent danger almost always engenders. Chevalier Folard defines it to be a settledcontemptof death, a species of courage which so intoxicates the mind as to make it leap over the sober bounds of judgment and discretion; an enthusiastic impulse which urges us forward and renders danger imperceptible, or, if discovered, raises our sensations beyond the least impression of fear.
A general may be said to act withintrepidity, when with forces inferior to those of his enemy, and under all the disadvantages of ground, &c. he hazards a general action, attacks his whole front, and finally defeats him. This hardiness and enterprize of character not only surprize your enemy, but likewise create emotions of wonder. If, on the contrary, a general at the head of a small army should be known to act against another that is superior to him in every point, except that of talent and military skill, and if by means of these qualities, the former should by able manœuvres and well concerted measures, render all the designs and attempts of the latter fruitless and abortive (at a time and under circumstances, which might dishearten almost any other general,) it is then fair to conclude, that the conduct of such a general is the consequence of great military knowlege; but it cannot, with propriety be said to be the result ofintrepidity; for it must be evident, that before any very dangerous step has been taken, most of the obstacles have been previously removed or rendered practicable.
An officer, who is not under the influence of that species ofintrepiditywhich we have described, when he has once got upon equal ground, or finds it necessary to risk an action, will, without hesitation, advance against his enemy, depending wholly upon military skill and the superior disposition of his line of battle. Full of resources and with great presence of mind, he will march forward and obtain a victory, not by dint of courage or by the mere favor of fortune, but through judgment, military ingenuity, and great tactical knowlege. And yet it would be an injustice done to the character of such an officer, were it imagined, that he could act in this manner without possessing great intrepidity. We are rather of opinion that such a man must have the most undaunted courage, with the additional advantage of consummate prudence founded upon military knowlege. The intrepidity of his soul is calmed by the cooler judgment of his head; he is aware of difficulties, but is not disheartened by their appearance; he is, on the contrary, encouraged to surmount them by that self-possession, and by that unshaken presence of mind, which enable him to execute what might seem impracticable to others.
Mereintrepidityis of a lively, impetuous nature, restless and impatient of restraint, which, though it may not degenerate into downright animal brutality, is nevertheless very far from being strictly rational or enlightened. If the person who acts under its immediate influence be quick in his perceptions, his conduct is generally marked by some imprudent measure, some enterprize that bids defiance to reflexion, and by some attempt that is as hastily executed as it has been inconsiderately planned. Anintrepidityof this species is seldom found in the first class of military character: sometimes indeed, but rarely, it has been accompanied by great prudence and foresight.
In this number may be considered some ancient and modern heroes, such as Alexander the great, Charles king of Sweden, Henry IV. of France, Wolfe at Quebec, Bonaparte and Augereau at Lodi; Dessaix, Marmont, and Lannes, at Marengo; Murat at Eylau; Davoust at Austerlitz; Soult at Jena; Claperede on the Danube, in 1809; if instances be found in their histories where prudence and discretion have been overleaped by anintrepidityof soul that was too actively disposed on certain occasions, the effect was temporary, and easy to be traced to a cause which was too powerfully engrafted upon their nature, to be always subject to control.
INVALIDproperly includes every soldier that has been wounded, or has suffered materially in his health, and in consequence of his good conduct, has been recommended to a certain provision for life. Chelsea hospital is the place allotted for the reception of such objects of public gratitude and benevolence in England. Before the building of the hotel des invalides at Paris, all soldiers of the above description who belonged to the French army, were distributed among the frontier towns, and enjoyed a certain allowance for life.
In England, and, we presume, the custom still exists under the new order of things in France, those invalid soldiers who are reported not wholly incapable of bearing arms, are occasionally sent into garrisoned places, and do duty with the regular army.
It is a reproach to the United States that there is yet no provision for the maintenance of those who serve the best part of their lives in its military establishment.
INVALIDE,Fr.SeeInvalid.
INVASION, in war, the entrance or attack of an enemy on the dominions of another.
INVENTAIREdes Effets des Officiers décedés,Fr.Inventory of the effects of deceased officers. As the French regulations on this head were more specific than those expressed in our articles of war, we shall premise the extract from the latter, by the following particulars which were in force during the old government of France.
When governors, commandants of places, staff officers, commissaries of war, engineers and officers entrusted with the care of artillery, died in their several provinces or allotted quarters, the judges or magistrates belonging to the spot where such deaths occurred sealed up the effects of the deceased, and took an inventory of their property, without being, in the least, controled by any species of military authority. On the removal of the seals, the town-major or his adjutant received a specific statement of every thing which appertained to the situation or appointment of the deceased person or persons, which statement was transmitted to government.
The creditors of the deceased preferred a schedule of the debts contracted in each place of residence, before any of the ordinary justices, which debts were discharged out of the personal property that was left. But all other creditors must have recourse to the judge or justice belonging to the precise spot where the deceased resided; applications respecting all debts which exceeded the value of the personal effects were directed to be made through the same channel.
When officers died in a garrison town or upon a march, or when engineers, who had no particular fixed residence, or artillery officers that were upon leave, departed this life, the town-majors or aid-major of the towns or places, where such persons died, fixed their seals upon their effects. An inventory of these effects was afterwards taken, provided they were not claimed by the next heir; in which latter case, all the debts that had been contracted by the deceased in the place where he died, were ordered to be paid by the person who took possession of the property. Public notice was given by beat of drum, that a military sale would be made, and one sol in the livre was charged on all that was disposed of in this manner.
The man who beat the drum, and the person who enregistered the minutes of the sale, were paid out of this sol; whatever surplus remained, after a reasonable deduction had been made for these purposes, became the town-major’s property.
The produce of the sale was appropriated to the discharge of such debts as had been contracted in the garrison: and the judge or magistrate, whose particular province it was to take cognizance of all cases relating to property, placed his seal upon the remainder, which was deposited in a box. This box was delivered over to the person that had enregistered the effects and taken minutes of the sale; in whose hands it remained until claimed by the widow of the deceased, the residuary legatee, or by any creditors, except those who immediately belonged to the garrison.
When a captain in the French guards died or was killed, his heirs or executors were not obliged to discharge any demands which his company might have had upon him. If the sale of his private property should not be sufficient to defray these debts, the officer who succeeds to the company is bound to make up the remainder, and the soldier’s claim has the preference of all other demands. If there was an overplus, it was paid into the hands of the lawful heirs. The soldiers of the company received the moiety of what was due to them in ready money.
On the decease or departure of the officers belonging to any of the detached companies of invalids, the superior officer of that detachment in which the death or dereliction happened, ordered every article belonging to the royal hospital of invalids to be sold in the presence of the several officers, without deducting the sol in the livre. The produce of this sale was placed to the credit of the detachment; and all other articles belonging to the deceased were disposed of by the town-majors in the manner already mentioned.
The powers which were vested in the town-majors and staff-officers belonging to garrisoned places, were lodged in the hands of the majors or aid-majors of regiments, who upon the decease of an officer on service or in a place where there was not any staff, took a regular inventory of his effects, &c.
Town-majors were not authorized to put their seals upon the effects of deceased officers belonging to the Swiss regiments, as these had a peculiar military jurisdiction of their own. But other foreign troops in the service of France were not entitled to these privileges.
INVENTORYof deceased officers effects, &c.In the British army, when any commissioned officer happens to die or is killed on service, it is directed by the articles of war, that the major of the regiment, or the officer doing the major’s duty in his absence, shall immediately secure all his effects or equipage then in camp or quarters; and shall before the next regimental court-martial make an inventory thereof, and forthwith transmit the same to the office of our secretary at war, to the end, that the executors of such officer may, after payment of hisregimental debts and quarters, and the expences attending his interment, receive the overplus, if any be, to his or their use.
When any non-commissioned officer or private soldier, happens to die, or is killed on service, the then commanding officer of the troop or company, shall, in the presence of two other commissioned officers, take an account of whatever effects he dies possessed of, above his regimental clothing, arms, and accoutrements, and transmit the same to the office of the secretary at war. These effects are to be accounted for and paid to the representatives of such deceased non-commissioned officer or soldier; and in case any of the officers so authorized to take care of the effects of dead officers and soldiers, should, before they have accounted to their representatives for the same, have occasion to leave the regiment by preferment or otherwise, they are ordered before they be permitted to quit the same, to deposit in the hands of the commanding officer or of the agent of the regiment, all the effects of such deceased non-commissioned officers and soldiers, in order, that the same may be secured for, and paid to, their respective representatives. See Articles of War, section XIX.
ToINVESTa place, (investir une place,Fr.) A fortified town or place is said to be invested, when all the avenues leading to it have been seized upon by hostile troops, which are distributed and posted on the principal commands, to prevent any succour from being received by the garrison, and to keep the ground until the rest of the army with the artillery, can arrive to form a regular siege. To invest a place is, in fact, to take preparatory measures for a blockade, or a close siege. In order to do this effectually, the general in chief of the approaching army must detach a large body of cavalry, together with the different corps of dragoons under the command of a lieutenant-general, for the purpose of regularly investing the town. As secrecy is of the utmost consequence on this occasion, the troops belonging to the detachment must have their march so managed as to create an alarm and jealousy in some other quarter, by deviating from the road which leads directly to the proposed object of attack. The general, indeed, would act wisely, by giving written sealed orders to the commanding officer, with strict injunctions not to open them until the detachment should have reached a certain spot, and then only in the presence of some particular persons; by which means his real designs may be concealed. Sometimes a place is partiallyinvested, for the sole purpose of diverting the enemy’s attention from the real object, and of inducing him to weaken the garrison, by detaching it to different quarters. Thus in 1710, the allied army suddenly appeared before the town of Ypres, and by threatening to besiege it, caused so many troops to be detached from Tournay to its relief, that the latter place, which was the real object of attack, and was one of the strongest towns in the Low Countries, afforded little or no resistance.
It is sometimes prudent to harrass and perplex the enemy that may be in the neighborhood of the town which you propose to attack, by perpetually driving in his out-posts, &c. and by forcing him to retire from the different avenues and commanding grounds; when the various objects, which are to facilitate the approaches of the besieging army, have been accomplished, the lieutenant-general who is entrusted with the investment of the town, must procure faithful and intelligent guides, advance by forced marches, halt as little as possible, and then only for the purpose of refreshing his men. He must studiously preserve the secret of his expedition, until he gets so near to the town, that the object of his approach becomes manifest and unequivocal.
When he arrives within one days march of the town, he must detach from his main body two or three parties of horse, (each party to be stronger than the garrison of the place) which must lie in ambush in the neighborhood, for the purpose of carrying off cattle, or of making prisoners. The instant he reaches the town, he must seize upon all the leading avenues, and draw his army up on some advantageous ground. He then goes out to reconnoitre, and to discover the most likely places by which succours might be conveyed into the town. He must have the precaution to post a strong guard in each of these places.
His next business will be to send out small scouting parties, in order to obtain correct intelligence respecting the enemy’s motions. Every outlet is blocked up by some dragoons, for the purpose of hemming in the garrison as close as possible. He makes it his study moreover to acquire personal information by examining the prisoners, with regard to the nature of the country, the different fords, rivulets, points of enfilade, avenues, strong buildings, or commanding heights in the neighborhood. He further enquires as to the strength of the garrison, and the number of officers; whether the governor suspects that a regular siege is intended: whether he expects succours, supplies of stores and ammunition, and from what quarter he is to be furnished; finally, whether the fortifications be in good repair, and the place equal to a defence.
At night he sends out advanced parties, with directions to bivouac within musquet shot of the town, and takes especial care always to post strong parties in those places and avenues by which succours and supplies might be easily conveyed to the garrison. He has likewise the precaution to have different small guards, or out-lying and in-lying piquets, both in his front and rear, to prevent surprizes.On these occasions the detachments are formed, half on foot and half mounted; those on foot constantly remaining at their horses’ heads, bridle in hand. These detachments are on the alert during the whole of the night, and only one half of the number is suffered to repose during the day.—Whenever the commanding officer has received intelligence of the approach of a body of troops to relieve the garrison, he must make his dispositions in such a manner as to give them battle, before they get sufficiently near to throw themselves into the town in scattered and divided parties. Great caution, however, must be observed under these circumstances, not to advance too far, lest it should only prove a feint on the enemy’s part, in order to induce him to weaken some of his posts; and by taking advantage of their absence, to throw some succours into the town.
As the principal, indeed the only object which the lieutenant-general can have, is to prevent any assistance being given to the garrison, whilst heinveststhe place, he must always be on horseback; he must incessantly visit the different posts, thoroughly reconnoitre the country, and minutely examine those quarters, through which succours or supplies might be conveyed to the garrison, or which offer advantageous positions for his own troops to occupy. During theinvestmentof the town, it will be his duty to collect all the intelligence and information he can, respecting the state of the works and the adjacent points, in order to communicate fully with the general in chief, when he brings up the besieging army, and to put him in full possession of every thing, which may facilitate the object of his enterprize.
The chief engineers should always accompany the lieutenant-general who is entrusted with theinvestingof a town, in order to get the necessary knowlege of the place before hand, and to understand how the lines of circumvallation, &c. should be drawn, three or four days before the main army arrives; they should moreover make several rounds for the purpose of reconnoitring. These measures will conduce a great deal towards a wise and effectual method ofinvestingthe place. To accomplish these ends, a correct plan of the town must be procured. This plan must be reduced, and a rough sketch taken of every thing within half a league of the circumference of the town; after which a small chart may be drawn of the lines, &c. which are to be made for the purpose of carrying on the siege. This must be done in concert with the lieutenant-general who ought to know better than any body, what the order of battle will be, how much ground is to be occupied by the different brigades and regiments and what the relative detail of the whole army will require.
From the day on which a town isinvested, every thing is thrown into motion. The train of artillery is directed to be brought out with necessary stores and ammunition, and proper carriages, with their drivers, are impressed; every department, in a word, performs its allotted duty, and the board of ordnance, as well as the commissary general’s office become subservient to the orders that are issued by the general in chief.
Whilst the necessary measures are adopted for the closeinvestingof the town, the main army approaches by forced marches, and generally arrives before the place five or six days after it has been invested. The lieutenant-general, or officer commanding theinvestingarmy goes out to meet the main body when it is within half a league of the place, and communicates with the general; who, in consequence of the report he makes, gives directions respecting the lines of circumvallation, &c.
For further particulars on this article, seeTraité de l’Attaque des Places par le Marechal Vauban revue, &c. F. P. Foissac Chef de brigade au corps du Génie de la Republique Francaise, vol. i. page 69.
INVESTISSEMENT. (A French word which is strictly military. The celebrated Vauban has erroneously usedinvestitureto signify the same thing.) The act of investing any town or place in such a manner as to prevent the garrison or inhabitants from receiving succours or provisions.
ToINUNDATE, in a military sense, is to overflow any part of a country, in order to prevent an enemy from advancing. Holland is particularly calculated for this species of defence.
INUNDATION. The act of letting water into a country, so that it shall be overflowed to prevent the approach of an enemy.
In theInstruction adressée aux officiers d’Infanterie pour tracer et construire toutes sortes d’Ouvrages de Campagne, &c. par A. P. I. Belair, Chef de Brigade, may be found some very sensible observations on the means of making inundations to answer military purposes, see page 119, &c. Chapitre Huitieme,Moyens de faire des Inondations. We likewise refer our military readers to theElemens de Fortification, published by the same author, see pages, 75, 82, 83, and 84. In page 294 of hisDictionnaire Militaire, some excellent observations upon the same subject, may be seen under the articleArchitecture hydraulique.
JOAR,Ind.A general massacre of the women and children, which is sometimes performed by the Hindoos, when they find they cannot prevent the enemy from taking the town. When this dreadful and unnatural ceremony is to take place, a spot is selected, which is filled with wood, straw, oil, &c., the victims are enclosed, and the whole is set on fire.
ToJOIN. A technical word used inthe British service, generally signifying to effect the junction of one military body with another. In a more limited sense, it means the accession of an individual voluntarily, or otherwise, to a corps or army. If an officer on being ordered to join, omits to do so wilfully, he is liable to be tried by a general court-martial, or to be peremptorily suspended by the commander in chief for being absent without leave.
JOINTBolts. SeeBolts.
JOLS,Fr.Barges so called, are used in Denmark, and sometimes by the Russians.
JONCTION,Fr.SeeJunction.
JOODAY PERRAPUT,Ind.A term used in India to signify a slave taken in war.
JOOMAN,Ind.Friday so called in India.
JOUE!Fr.A word of command in the French service answering toaim!
Coucher enJoue,Fr.To aim with a musquet, or other fire-arm, which is used as such—asje l’avois dêjà couché en joue, I had already taken my aim at him.
JOVES,Fr.The two sides in the epaulement of a battery which form the embrazure are so called.
JOUR,Fr.The tour of duty which is done in the course of a day and night.
Etre deJour,Fr.To be officer of the day, or to command a body of troops at a siege or otherwise in the capacity of a general officer, &c. The usual time was 24 hours, at the expiration of which another officer undertook the duty, and was relieved by one of his own rank. SeeOfficerof the day.
Ordre duJour,Fr.Orders. SeeGeneralOrders.
JOURNAL,Fr.A public record or general orderly book, kept in the French service, and in which every transaction that occurred during a siege is entered by the governor of the town, for the future inspection of a superior authority. The general officer who carried on the siege of a place likewise kept a document of the sort, and minuted down every thing that happened under his command. So that the journal which was kept in this manner was a circumstantial detail of what occurred, day after day, during the attack and defence of a town.
Journalde l’armée,Fr.SeeReturns.
JOURNEE,Fr.A term used among the French, to express any particular engagement or battle, asla journée de Marengo, the battle of Marengo. We frequently adopt the word day in the same sense: thus a hard foughtdaysignifies a hard foughtbattle.
JOUTE,Fr.A close fight between two individuals. It likewise means an engagement at sea.
JOUTER,faire des joutes,Fr.To run a tilt at one another with lances.
JOUST. SeeJust.
IRAN,Ind.Persia.
IRENARCH, (Irenarque,Fr.) An officer, so called in the old Grecian empire,irenarcha præfectus pacis. His principal duty was to preserve public tranquillity, and his functions were nearly similar to those of the Frenchprévots de maréchaussées, or police magistrates. We read in the Justinian code of laws, that theirenarchswere sent into the different provinces, for the purpose of preserving peace and good order. They were therefore invested with authority to take cognizance of all crimes and misdemeanors, and to punish the delinquents. There was likewise anirenarchestablished in every town, to settle the disputes and differences which might arise between the inhabitants, and to secure public tranquillity. This person was anciently calledpræfectus urbis. The office ofirenarchwas abolished under the Emperors Theodosius and Honorius, it having latterly been found more productive of evil than good. The word itself is derived from the Greek, and signifiesPrince of Peace.
IRREGULARFortification. SeeFortification.
IRONGuns. SeeGuns.
IRONS. SeePriming Irons.
ISLAUD,Ind.A term to express slow music among the Indians.
ISOCELES, a triangle having only two sides which are equal.
ISOLE,Fr.This word is used among the French, to express any body or thing which is detached from another. It is variously applied in fortification. Thus a pavillion or a barrack which is not joined to any other wall or building is calledisolé, because it stands alone, and a person may walk entirely round it. A parapet is also said to beisolé, when there is an interval of four or five feet between the rampart and its wall; which interval serves as a path for the rounds.
ISOPERIMETRICALFigures.—(Figures Isoperimetriques,Fr.) A term derived from the Greek to express all figures that have equal circumferences or perimeters.
ISSUE, event; consequence; the ultimate result of any undertaking; the termination of any contest.
GeneralIssue. In matters of litigation is the question to be decided upon, or issue, the parties state certain facts, one asserts the fact, the other denies, and upon this they join issue, the determination of that fact is the issue.
ISTHMUS, (Isthme,Fr.) A neck of land which joins the Peninsula to the Continent, and which separates two seas, as Darien; Corinth.
ITINERAIRES,Fr.Itinerary movements or days of march. A technical phrase among the French to denote the order and disposition which a body of men, or an army, is directed to observe inits march from one camp to another, or to any particular quarter of destination.
ITMAMDAR.Ind.A superintendant or lieutenant-governor in India.
JUDGESare authorized to take judicial notice of the articles of war.
JUDGE MARTIAL, orAdvocate General, the supreme judge in martial law as to the jurisdiction and powers of military courts, in the British system. It is incumbent upon this person, as well as upon his deputies to be well acquainted with the laws of the land, that they may admonish the court or president when their proceedings are tending to infringe the civil law. He is register of courts-martial, and should take down the evidence in the very words of the witness. He is neither a judge nor a juror as to the charge.
JUGE,Fr.A sort of judge or provost marshal. This term was particularly applicable to the interior government of the Swiss guards that were in the service of France. Each regiment of that description had one judge or provost marshal per company, and one superior to the rest who presided over the regiment. The inferior judge was calledrichter, and the grand or superior judgeobster richter. The inferior judges had the examination of petty crimes and offences which they reported to the captain of the company. If the crimes were of a serious or heinous nature, the inferior judges drew up a specific statement of them, and laid the whole before theobster richter, who communicated the circumstance to the colonel. Grounds for a general court-martial were generally established out of the latter report.
JUGG,Ind.An Indian sacrifice.
JUGGUT GROW,Ind.An Indian term which signifiesguardian of mankind.
JUMBAUN,Ind.In Indian music, means,shake.
JUMBOO DEEP,Ind.A word particularly used to signify India; it is derived fromjumbooorjumbook, a jackal, anddeep, any large portion of land which is surrounded by the sea.
Jumboo Deep,Ind.The inhabitants of India were so called before the introduction of the Tartar governments.
JUMMA KERCH,Ind.An account, stating the receipt and expenditure of the revenue; that is the gross or general account.
JUNCAN,Ind.A toll or duty on every thing that passes.
JUNGLE, An Indian term for a wood, or woody country. It likewise means high grass, reeds, or thicket.
JURISDICTION. Legal authority, extent of power. Officers not being liable to be tried by garrison or regimental courts-martial, may appeal from the jurisdiction of such courts; as may non-commissioned officers and soldiers in cases where their pay is concerned.
JUST. A sportive combat on horseback, man against man, armed with lances; called alsoJoust,Tilt,Tournament,&c.
JUSTICES. Military men are, in many instances, under the necessity of applying to justices in order to execute their several orders and instructions without infringing upon the civil authorities; and justices on their side are bound to aid and assist the military in conformity to established laws and regulations.
MilitaryJustice, (Justice Militaire,Fr.) That species of justice which prevails in the army, and corresponds with the articles of War.