[16]This term refers to a practice which found its way into the army, in the western cantonments, who had employed the soldiery in raising crops of produce to the neglect of discipline.
[16]This term refers to a practice which found its way into the army, in the western cantonments, who had employed the soldiery in raising crops of produce to the neglect of discipline.
The highest obligations of a soldier are briefly comprised to be ever ready to march, to fight, and to die, but the principles and condition of the former are at utter variance with this solemn text; gentlemen in commission must reflect, that it is to them the private looks for example; the national bounty is expended not to improve the agricultural arts, but to instruct men in the use of arms; the hoe and plough must be laid aside, and every moment from professional duty, devoted to form, instruct, and to train them in the glorious science of war. It is for this noble purpose gentlemen receive the pay and subsistence of their country, and their honor is pledged for the performance.
Planting and improving of corn fields is prohibited; garden, sufficient for the accommodation of officers and soldiers, are proper and necessary, and it is obligatory on all commanding officers to pay attention to this subject, the labor is however to be done by detail; the idea of an officer’s farming for profit is inadmissible, as it tends to a neglect of duty, a relaxation of discipline, abuse of the public service, and the disgrace of the profession.
In marching from one post of the continent to another, it is repugnant to every principle of economy and of justice, that the public should transport private provisions (other than groceries) or household furniture; if one officer is indulged in this way, another is equally intitled to indulgence, what a spectacle should we behold was every officer to move, with all the baggage and stock accumulated at the several posts, we should look more like a horde of Tartars than a regular military corps; while such practices prevail the public service will be embarrassed and delayed, and in effect exposed to destructive consequences, they are therefore prohibited.
(Extract of General Orders.)
Head Quarters,South West Point, September 1, 1801.
Besides the rolls of muster directed to be furnished to the pay department, one roll of each company or detachment of the army, and of the regimental staff for the months of June and December annually, are to be transmuted to the inspector of the army, at the city of Washington, on the first of January, and the first day of July following such musters, in the same manner that inspection and other returns are directed to be transmitted to him by the order of the 30th of November last; for the strict observance of which all commanding officers will be held responsible.
(General Orders.)
Head Quarters,Washington, July 9, 1804.
The opinion having prevailed that an officer may throw up his commission and abandon the service at his discretion, the general considers it his duty to correct a delusion so pregnant with mischief to the public interest, and so subversive of every principle of subordination and discipline; it is therefore to be clearly understood that no officer, bearing a commission in the United States, has the power to resign the same, or quit the service without the president’s permission, or that of some subordinate duly authorized, and all offences against this order are to be punished with rigor.
(Extract of General Orders.)
Head Quarters,Natchitoches, Sept. 24, 1806.
To recover lost ground, and to revive the languishing principle of subordination, it is essential this little corps should recollect the rights and attributes of rank and commission; agreeably, therefore, to a standing rule, which can never be dispensed with, without prejudice to the service.
The general can hold no communication on a professional topic, except in cases of public or personal grievances but through the commandant of the post; or commanding officers of corps, nor can these gentlemen receive any similar application from their subalterns, but through their respective captains.
(Extract of General Orders.)
Head Quarters,New Orleans, January 22, 1807.
It is deemed unnecessary to muster the troops every month, since it rarely happens that a payment is made for so short a period: the general therefore directs that in future the several companies be mustered on the last day of February, April, June, August, October, and December, and that each muster, comprise the casualties of two months.
(Extract of General Orders.)
Head Quarters,New Orleans, March 31, 1807.
The following regulations are to be considered of standing import, and are to be punctually observed until revoked.
All commanding officers are in person to command the daily parades of their respective garrisons, unless prevented by indisposition.
The troops are to be exercised once a week in battalion, and by companies twice a week when the weather may permit, without prejudice to the arms or the health of the men.
Whenever a superior officer shall visit a post or garrison, it is the duty of the commanding officer immediately to wait upon him, and make a tender of the keys, returns, reports, regulations, and instructions relative to the said post or garrison, and receive his orders.
Quarter guards are not permitted in garrison, nor are guards of quarters allowed, except to the commanding officer, and those who are entitled to them by established regulation.
The guards are invariably to be exercised by the officer of the day, when the weather may permit, before they are marched off the grand parade for their posts.
Awkward recruits are to be drilled daily until perfected in the elements of their profession.
(General Orders.)
Head Quarters,New Orleans, April 15, 1807
In all cases where men are discharged, the full complement of clothing to which they are intitled by law, is to be paid up out of the company stock.
Inspector’s Office,Washington, January 21, 1810.
The foregoing are true copies from the orderly books in this office.
A. Y. NICOLL,Adjutant and Inspector.
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR.
Regulationsto be observed in the allowances for barracks or quarters to the officers of the army, and in the delivery and distribution of fuel and straw to the garrisons on the sea coast and recruiting parties.
Barracks or Quarters.
To the commanding general, for himself, four rooms and a kitchen.
To his aid, one room.
To the quarter-master general, three rooms and a kitchen, and two rooms for offices and clerks.
To each field officer, two rooms.
To the inspector of the army, one room in addition to his allowance as a field officer.
To each captain, one room.
To each of the regimental staff, one room.
To a field officer, or a captain, when commanding a separate post, in addition, a kitchen.
To two subalterns, one room.
To every mess of eight officers, one room and a kitchen.
Fuel.From the first day of October to the first day of April, in each year.
To the commanding general, two cords and one half of wood per month.
To the quarter-master general, two cords per month.
To the inspector of the army, two cords per month.
To each field officer, one and an half cord per month.
To every commanding officer of a garrison, one and an half cord per month.
To every officer commanding a recruiting party, one cord per month.
To every other commissioned officer, one cord per month.
To every room occupied as barracks by eight non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates, one cord per month.
To a garrison barrack guard, half a cord per month.
To officers and soldiers half of the aforesaid allowances of fuel from the first day of April until the first day of October in every year, but none for offices.
To the sick in hospital, the allowance of wood is to be regulated by the surgeon.
The commanding general, under special circumstances, may by orders in writing, enlarge or diminish the foregoing allowances of fuel, and may by the like orders, direct or withhold allowances of fuel or straw at such other posts as he may judge expedient, in cases not provided for by any special regulation.
No compensation in money to be made in lieu of allowances of fuel, nor is any compensation to be received by or paid to officers, in lieu of quarters or barracks.
Straw.
1. One truss of straw weighing thirty six pounds, is allowed for each palliass for two men. At the expiration of sixteen days, each palliass is to be refreshed witheight pounds. At the expiration of thirty two days, the whole straw is to be removed, and a fresh bedding of one truss to be furnished, and so on, every succeeding period of sixteen and thirty two days.
2. The same quantity of straw is allowed for servants or batmen not soldiers, and for washer-women attached to each company in the proportion of one washer-woman to every seventeen non-commissioned officers and privates.
3. The straw is to be changed for the sick in the hospital as often as may be deemed necessary: this necessity to be determined by the surgeon, or surgeon’s mate, in the absence of the surgeon.
Requisitions for Fuel or Straw.
1. Requisitions for wood or straw, must state the number and rank, of the officers; the number of non-commissioned officers, and privates, servants and batmen not soldiers, and of washer-women for whom demanded, and be certified by the commandant of the garrison, or recruiting party.
2. No wood or straw shall be drawn for officers, or wood or straw for soldiers, whilst on furlough, or any allowance made to them for the same.
3. Whenever it shall appear that more wood or straw has been drawn than there were officers, soldiers, servants or batmen not soldiers, and washer-women actually present and entitled thereto; the commanding officer signing such requisition, shall be held responsible for the value of the article drawn beyond the quantity allowed by these regulations, and shall have his name and the circumstances of the case, reported to the secretary for the department of war.
4. Requisitions thus signed, and the receipts given by the officers, to whom the articles are delivered for consumption, shall be produced as vouchers by the contractor, agent, or quarter-master, in the settlement of his accounts.
As a smaller quantity of fuel may suffice for the garrisons and recruiting parties to the southward than ordered by these regulations, their commandants are enjoined to regulate the demands for this article by the nature of the climate.
Given at the war office of the United States in the city of Washington, this twenty eighth day of April, A. D. 1801.HENRY DEARBORN,Secretary of War.
Given at the war office of the United States in the city of Washington, this twenty eighth day of April, A. D. 1801.
HENRY DEARBORN,Secretary of War.
Additional regulations relative to fuel.
At all posts, garrisons, or recruiting rendezvous, to the northward of the 39th degree of north latitude, should be allowed in addition to the present allowance of wood, from the first day of October, to the first day of April in each year;
To each field officer, half a cord per month.
To every commanding officer, of a garrison, consisting of one company, half a cord per month.
To every other commissioned officer, one third of a cord per month.
To every room occupied by eight men, half a cord per month.
To a garrison or quarter guard, half a cord per month.
May 1, 1806.
Regulationsrespecting certain supplies and objects of special and extra expense.
The several contractors, besides rations including ardent spirits and vinegar, shall only provide and furnishquarters, transportation, forage, fuel, straw, and stationery, to recruiting parties where there is no appropriate officer of the quarter-master general’s department to furnish the same. The quarters intended, are those of a temporary kind. The power to provide them shall not extend to the building or repairing of barracks. In what they furnish, they shall govern themselvesexclusivelyby the regulations which have been established by law or by the war department, and in cases to which no regulations apply, by the orders of the particular commanding officer.
No repairs shall be made to any barracks or buildings which shall incur a disbursement of money exceeding fifty dollars, but by an order of the secretary of war.
As often as any matter which may require any special or extra expense can wait without material injury to the service, for a communication to, and the direction of the secretary of war, or the commander of the army; it is not to be undertaken till after such communication and direction shall have been had.
The quarter-master general, his deputies and assistants, are primarily charged with making the disbursements in the cases abovementioned. When there is no such officer, the agent of the war department in the vicinity shall do it. All orders for such disbursements must be definite and in writing, to be transmitted with the accounts of them to the accountant of the war department; and all disbursements made in pursuance of these regulations must be substantiated by such vouchers as shall be prescribed by the said accountant.
Given at the war office of the United States in the city of Washington, this twenty eighth day of April, A. D. 1801.HENRY DEARBORN,Secretary of War.
Given at the war office of the United States in the city of Washington, this twenty eighth day of April, A. D. 1801.
HENRY DEARBORN,Secretary of War.
Rules adopted by the president of the United States relative to promotions in the army.
Promotions in the army of the United States, shall hereafter be made agreeably to the regulations in force previous to those of the 3d of September 1799, which werepromulgated in general orders, dated the ninth of that month.
Promotions to the rank of captain shall be made regimentally, and to the rank of major and lieutenant colonel in the lines of the artillery and infantry respectively.
The officer next in rank, will, on the happening of a vacancy, be considered, in ordinary cases, as the proper person to fill the same; but this rule may be subject to exceptions in extraordinary cases.
Given at the war office of the United States, this twenty sixth day of May, A. D. 1801,and of independence the twenty fifth.HENRY DEARBORN,Secretary of War.
Given at the war office of the United States, this twenty sixth day of May, A. D. 1801,and of independence the twenty fifth.
HENRY DEARBORN,Secretary of War.
The above rules for promotion in the infantry and artillery, are applicable to the cavalry and riflemen.
No officer will consider himself as filling a vacancy until he receives notice thereof through the department of war.
H.DEARBORN.
March 7, 1808.
Regulations respecting salutes.
Salutes from the forts in the several ports and harbors of the United States shall, as a general rule, be of sixteen discharges from guns of a calibre not exceeding nine or twelve pounders.
No salute shall be fired to foreign ships or vessels of war, but in return; and in every such case, their salute shall be returned gun for gun.
Each military post within the United States may fire a national salute on the morning of the fourth of July, annually; and when there shall be a collection of citizens at, or within the immediate vicinity of a military post for the purpose of celebrating the anniversary of American independence, sixteen guns may be fired in the course of the feast.
A national salute shall be fired on a visit to the post from the president or vice president of the United States, or the governor of the state in which the post may be.
A gun not exceeding a six pounder, should be fired daily at reveille beating, immediately after the break of day; after which, no officer or soldier should remain in bed.
Given at the war office of the United States in the city of Washington, this tenth day of June, A. D. 1801,and in the twenty fifth year of American independence.(Signed)HENRY DEARBORN,Secretary of war.
Given at the war office of the United States in the city of Washington, this tenth day of June, A. D. 1801,and in the twenty fifth year of American independence.
(Signed)HENRY DEARBORN,Secretary of war.
Regulationsrespecting extra pay, and allowance of soldiers, when ordered on constant labor, for a term not less than 40 days.
The non-commissioned officers and privates of the artillery or infantry who may be drawn as artificers, to work constantly on fortifications or bridges, for a term not less than 40 days, Sundays excepted, shall be allowed, for each day’s actual labor, fourteen cents, and one gill of spirits each, in addition to their pay and rations, and one pair of linen overalls, and one frock; and if they shall be continued at work for 120 days, Sundays excepted, they shall each be allowed an additional frock, and an additional pair of overalls.
Other non-commissioned officers and privates, not artificers, who shall be drawn from the artillery and infantry for constant labor on fortifications, roads, or bridges, for a term not less than 40 days, Sundays excepted, shall be allowed for each day’s actual labor, ten cents and one gill of spirits each, in addition to their pay and rations; and if they shall be continued at work for 120 days, an additional frock and pair of overalls in like manner as the artificers.
It shall be the duty of the officer commanding any such working party, to have a regular account, kept under his inspection of every day’s work performed by each non-commissioned officer or private, signed by the commanding officer, and to transmit monthly a fair abstract thereof to the paymaster of the district in which the labor may be performed, which paymaster will be authorised to draw the money on the said abstracts, and pay the men conformably therewith.
It is to be understood, that the extra daily pay and allowance, is only to be given for actual day’s work, and not to be granted, when from sickness or other causes, the work shall not actually be performed.
(Signed)H.DEARBORN,Secretary of war.
(Signed)
(Signed)
H.DEARBORN,Secretary of war.
H.DEARBORN,Secretary of war.
War department, June 25, 1801.
The above regulations, so far as they respect allowances of extra clothing, are considered as being superseded by the act fixing the military peace establishment, which grants fatigue clothing to all the non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates of that establishment, annually.
H.DEARBORN.
March 7, 1808.
The following rates are to govern in the allowance to officers for the transportation of their baggage, when ordered on distant commands.
Each officer to be allowed the usual and customary prices of transportation by land or water per hundred, on the route which shall be necessary for him to transporthimself and baggage, for as many hundred as he is entitled to the transportation of, by the regulations hereto annexed. An average price by land, will not exceed two dollars per hundred for 100 miles, and by water there are but few cases where a certain rate per cwt. is not known.
(Signed)H.DEARBORN.
(Signed)
(Signed)
H.DEARBORN.
H.DEARBORN.
War department, June 23, 1801.
In addition to the foregoing regulations, there shall be allowed to each officer, when ordered on general courts-martial, at the rate of three dollars for every hundred miles, for the transportation of his baggage.
(Signed)H. D.
(Signed)
(Signed)
H. D.
H. D.
Ordinance, regulating and ascertaining the quantity of stationery which each officer, serving in the army of the United States, shall be entitled to receive annually.
To every officer commanding a separate post, the garrison of which shall consist of, from one to two companies, twenty quires of writing paper.
To every officer commanding a separate post, the garrison of which shall consist of, from three to five companies, thirty-six quires of writing paper.
To every officer commanding a separate post, one blank book containing two quires of paper.
For the use of the garrison of every separate post, ingredients sufficient to make two quarts of ink.
For the use of the garrison of every separate post, twenty dozen of wafers.
For the use of the assistant military agent, at every separate post, one blank book containing two quires of paper.
For the use of every military company, whether in garrison or otherwise, two quires of paper, and one blank book containing the same quantity.
For the use of every other commissioned officer in the army, two quires of letter paper, with a proportionate allowance of ink, quills, and wafers.
Done at the war office of the U. States, this 25th day of February, 1802.H.DEARBORN,Secretary of war.
Done at the war office of the U. States, this 25th day of February, 1802.
H.DEARBORN,Secretary of war.
Regulations relative to the employment of physicians.
In future, no surgeon, surgeon’s mate, or physician, not holding an appointment in the army of the United States, is to be employed on public account, by any officer or other person whatever to act in the capacity of surgeon or physician, for any man or men attached to the army, unless by special agreement first entered into, in which the compensation for medical service to be performed, shall be stipulated in writing, either by the day or month.
When the services required shall be such, as not to exceed the usual duties of a surgeon’s mate, the compensation per month, should not exceed the pay and emoluments of a surgeon’s mate.
For any number of men, not exceeding twenty, the compensation should not exceed the rate of two hundred dollars a year, including medicine; and for any number of men, not exceeding thirty, the compensation should not exceed the rate of three hundred dollars a year, including medicine.
In no instance, extraordinary cases excepted, should the compensation for medical assistance, for a shorter period than one month, exceed the rate of four dollars per day, exclusive of medicine.
Charges for medical services, after the promulgation of these regulations, will require certificates, of their having been performed agreeable thereto.
April 2, 1806.
Regulations relative to returns of clothing.
It shall be the duty of the commanding officers of companies, to make out in December each year correct returns of the clothing necessary for their respective companies for the succeeding year, including what is on hand fit for service; also correct returns or all clothing on hand, noting such as is fit for use: the said returns to be forwarded annually, by the 1st day of January, to the department of war, through the commanding officer of the military post, garrison, or encampment, at which the officer making the returns is stationed. The commanding officers of companies, shall be responsible for the correctness of their respective returns.
War department, Dec. 1, 1807.
Regulationsto be observed by officers commanding detachments of the army to be embarked, and on ship board.
I. The officer commanding the embarkation, prior to the men’s going on board, must personally inspect the transports, to ascertain that the quantity of provisions assigned, and every necessary accommodation is provided.
II. As soon as the troops are on board, an officer from each company will personally see, that the arms and accoutrements, the clothing neatly packed in the knapsacks, together with the hats, are to be placed in order, and properly secured, over their respective births, on the racks and pins ordered for the purpose: the arms are all to be provided with cloth tompkins; they are to be oiled, and handled daily, during the voyage, and are to be frequently inspected by the officers, to prevent their being injured by rust.
III. The men must be allotted to births, in the order in which they roll in their companies, and are to be divided into messes by squads, with a non-commissioned officer at the head of each, who is to be responsible for the good order and cleanliness of it; particular attention must be paid to the cooking, for which purpose two men must be detailed weekly from the company to attend to this duty, and it is essential that every other soldiershould be prohibited from going to the camboose.
IV. An officer of the day will be appointed, whose duty it will be to enforce regularity, cleanliness and order amongst the men; to see that their provisions are well cooked and equally distributed; and in case of neglect, in any instance, he must immediately report the circumstance to the officer commanding, who will chastise the offender, if necessary.
V. The men must not be permitted to go below during the day, except in case of indisposition, or bad weather; and the bedding must invariably be brought on deck every morning, if not prevented by rain, and taken down always before sun set.
VI. To prevent accidents by fire, no candles must be suffered below, but in lanterns, and smoking between decks must be on no account, permitted. All lights are to be extinguished at eight o’clock; and the officers, to set an example of good order, should not indulge themselves in sitting up beyond a reasonable hour.
VII. General parades and calls of the roll are to be had at troop and retreat, with arms and accoutrements, in good weather, and without in bad; and on every Saturday, the commanding officer must make a complete inspection of arms, accoutrements and clothing.
VIII. To ensure cleanliness, the men must be compelled to wash their heads and hands every morning, and their feet every evening.
IX. A serjeant’s guard must be mounted daily, and a sufficient number of sentries posted, to enforce these regulations; and particularly one or more at the necessary, camboose and hatchways, with their side arms.
X. In case of coming to anchor, care must be taken to prevent the men having any communication with the shore; and attention must be paid to prevent their purchasing liquor or green fruit, from boats coming along side.
XI. The commanding officer is to co-operate with the master of the transport, in whatever may be necessary to promote the voyage; and in approaching a sail, he is positively forbid shewing a single soldier on deck: the sentries are in such case to be removed below.
XII. The men are to be furnished with two flints; twenty four rounds of ball cartridges, each: six in their cartridge boxes, and the residue packed in kegs.
These regulations are to be strictly observed in every particular; and any officer who may violate them, by omission or commission, will be brought before a general court-martial.
Given at Head Quarters, city of Washington, Dec. 15, 1808.
Given at Head Quarters, city of Washington, Dec. 15, 1808.
This closes the whole body of Regulations for the United States force, as far as the American editor has been able to collect them.
To buy or sell at theRegulation, to give or receive no more for a commission than what has been settled by the king’s authority in the British service. When an officer is allowed to retire from a regiment with permission to sell, the one next for purchase is supposed to pay the regulation price or his commission; but it frequently happens that parties agree among themselves with respect to terms; and it sometimes occurs, that young men of interest and fortune stop the regular promotions of officers by overbidding the market. This traffic, so infamous in its principle, as well as in its abuses, was exhibited in an odious light in the case of the duke of York and his courtesans in 1809.
CavalryRegulations, specific instructions for the formations and movements of cavalry.
InfantryRegulations. A system of tactics for infantry. The general principles for the formations and movements of cavalry and infantry being invariably the same, their more particular explanation in several points, is to be found in the regulations for the infantry. SeeAmerican Military Library.
GeneralRegulationsand orders. A collection of certain general rules which were published for the British army by authority on the 20th of August, 1799, and which are to be considered as the ground work of those instructions that generals commanding districts, and officers in the command of brigades and regiments, forts or garrisons, may find it necessary to issue to the troops under their respective commands. To use the words of the adjutant general, this publication does by no means comprehend the whole detail which the various duties and services, and the interior economy and management of regiments may require. They are principally extracted from a book, intituledThe Rudiments of War, which was published by N. Conant in 1777, they are directed to be considered as thestandingorders of the army at large. They cannot be altered, or in any sense be deviated from, without the king’s or commander in chief’s approbation. It is however to be observed, that a book manifestly calculated for the interior management of the army, and consequently a necessary companion to the rules and regulations, should have been more specific. Many circumstances, apparently insignificant in themselves, and, of course, unnoticed at head quarters, grow into objects of serious discussion among the different regiments of the service, both at home and abroad. It is an old maxim, that he who neglects small faults will soon fall into great offences.
RE-IMBODY. To re-imbody, is to imbody again any regiment or corps that has been disbanded. Thus, the English militia is disbanded, and partially re-imbodied for 28 days in every year during peace.
REIN, that part of a bridle which extendsfrom the head of a horse to the hands of the rider, &c.
REINFORCE, infounding guns, that part of a gun next to the breech, which is made stronger than the rest of the piece, in order to resist the force of the powder. There are generally two in each piece, called the first and second reinforce: the second is something smaller than the first, upon the supposition that when the powder is inflamed, and occupies a greater space, its force is diminished, which is not the case. SeeCannon.
Reinforcering. There are three in each gun, called the first, second, and third: they are flat mouldings, like flat iron hoops, placed at the breech end of the first and second reinforce, projecting from the rest of the metal by about ¹⁄₄ of an inch.
REINFORCEMENTto the army, is an addition of fresh troops to strengthen an army, in order to enable it to go on with an enterprise, &c.
ToREJOIN. To meet again. To return. He left his regiment when it broke up camp, but rejoined it again before the army marched into the enemy’s country·
REJOUISSANCESpubliques,Fr.Public rejoicings, or thanksgivings. Chevalier Folard makes a curious and interesting comment relative to this subject, in one of his notes upon Polybius. He therein asserts, that theTe Deum, or thanksgiving to God, was as much practised among the heathens as it is among the moderns.
REITRES,Fr.a body of armed horsemen, who came out of Germany, and entered into the French service during the reign of Henry III. They were incorporated with the carabineers.
RELAYER,Fr.to relieve; to lessen the labor of any particular set of men by occasionally sending fresh workmen.
RELAIS,Fr.a term used in fortification to signify a space, containing some feet in breadth, which is between the foot of the rampart and the scarp of the fosse. It serves as a convenient receptacle for the earth that occasionally crumbles off.
RELAYhorses, in theartillery, are spare horses that march with the artillery and baggage, ready to relieve others, or to assist in getting up a hill, or through bad roads, &c.
RELEASE. The commanding officer alone has the prerogative of releasing a prisoner from confinement, after he has once been duly given in charge to the guard, with his crime or crimes stated in writing; or of remitting after he has been adjudged to suffer military punishment; except in cases of a general court-martial, when the general of the district in certain cases, and the president of the United States in higher cases, can remit or mitigate.
Cheval deRelais,Fr.a hackney horse.
RELEVEE,Fr.The afternoon.
RELEVER,Fr.to relieve. Hence,
Releverune sentinelle,Fr.To relieve a sentry, by posting another soldier in his room.
Releverla garde,Fr.To relieve guard.
RELIEF,Fr.an order, given by the minister at war, to authorize an officer to receive the arrears of pay which had accumulated during his absence from the regiment.
Relief,Fr.In architecture means the same as the term does when used in English.
RELIEN,Fr.The broken grains of gunpowder which have not passed through the sieve.
ToRELIEVEthe guard, is to put fresh men upon guard, which is generally done every 24 hours.
ToRelievethe trenches, is to relieve the guard of the trenches, by appointing those for that duty, who have not been there before, or whose turn is next.
ToRelievethe sentries, is to put fresh men upon that duty from the guard, which is generally done every two hours, by a corporal who attends the relief, to see the proper orders are delivered to the soldier who relieves.
RELIEVER, an iron ring fixed to a handle by means of a socket, so as to be at right angles to it: it serves to disengage the searcher of a gun, when one of its points is retained in a hole, and cannot be got out otherwise. SeeSearcher.
AREMAIN, a term used among store-keepers belonging to the board of ordnance, &c. to express the actual quantity of stores which is found at an outport, &c. when a new store-keeper is appointed.
Remainsof stores are ordered to be taken at all places at home, once in seven years, as also at the expiration of a war. In foreign parts aremainis taken only on the appointment of a new store-keeper. SeeOffice of Ordnance, orBoard of Ordnance.
ToREMAND, to send back; as when a soldier who has been brought out of prison, or the guard-house, for the purpose of being examined or tried, is sent back without any thing final occurring relative to his case
ToRemark, to take note of any thing.
REMARKS. Army returns, regimental statements, guard reports, &c. have a column allotted for remarks and observations relative to extraordinary occurrences.
REMBLAI,Fr.Earth collected together for the purpose of making a bank way, &c.
REMBLAYER,Fr.To collect earth together.
REMBARQUER,Fr.To re-embark.
REMBOITER,Fr.The same asEmboiter. To replace, to put together. The latter term is used by the French in artillery and cavalry manœuvres. It is the correlative toDéboiter; to break off.
REMETTEZvous. This term agreeswith the phrase—as you were.Se Remettre.To take a former position, to return to the original ground
REMETTRE,Fr.to restore, to bring back again. It is frequently used in a military sense, viz.Remettre un bataillon; to restore or bring back a battalion to its original formation
REMITTo lessen; as to remit a part of a soldier’s sentence.
ToREMONSTRATE, to make a representation of a case or cases wherein one or more may consider themselves to be aggrieved. Military men may remonstrate through their superior officers; but where the duty of the service is concerned, that duty must be first performed with cheerfulness and fidelity.
REMONTER,Fr.To Remount.
Remonterune compagnie de cavalerie,Fr.To remount a troop of horse.
Remonterune rivière,Fr.To sail up a river.
REMORA,Fr.This word is sometimes writtenRémora, and signifies obstacle, hindrance. It comes from the LatinRemora, a small fish, which was supposed by the ancients to impede the progress of a ship.
REMORAL,Fr.an officer belonging to a galley, who has charge of the oars.
ToREMOVE, to change the situation of a person.
AREMOUNT, means a supply of good and serviceable horses for the whole or part of a cavalry regiment. The following instructions have been copied from a compilation of English general and regimental orders, viz. The size of the horses for the heavy cavalry must run from 15 hands and 1 inch, to 15 3; and the age be 4 or 5 off, if possible; the taking horses coming four must be avoided as much as can be. No horse must be taken for the public service, unless he be very close and compact in his make, very broad across the loins, short and straight backed, close coupled, round barrelled, and well carcassed, wide between the rider’s thighs, deep at the girt and shoulders, and full, though not heavy chested, with short jointed, clean, bony legs, and full furnished, with strong thighs: the shoulders must lay well back; the forehand rise so as to give the horse freedom; and the head must be so set on as to admit of his getting his nose in. To this must be added, action, and good sound, full feet, with open heels. No horse must be taken with flat feet, or any lameness, or visible defect. No heavy, fleshy legged, lumbering horse must be taken on any account.
ToREMOUNT. To remount the cavalry or dragoons, is to furnish them with horses in the room of those which have been either killed, disabled, or cast.
RENCONTRE,Fr.This word has been adopted amongst us, and signifies either a private quarrel, in which individuals accidentally meet and fight; or an unexpected and irregular combat between two bodies of armed men, who belong to armies that are in hostile opposition to each other. Thus, as in the former instance it serves to distinguish the casual determination of a feud or difference from the pre-determined and settled plan of a duel; so in the latter it marks the difference between a skirmish, &c. and a regular battle.
RENDER. SeeSurrender.
RENDEZVOUS, the place appointed for troops to assemble at. It likewise means any particular spot that is fixed upon for two duellists to decide their quarrel.