On the 21st of January 1779, the following regulation appeared for the better management and advantage of the students belonging to the French royal militaryschool:—
It was ordained, that the privilege of being received as members of the military orders of Notre Dame, of Mont-Carmel, and St. Lazarus, of Jerusalem, which had been hitherto given, without distinction, to all the students of the different colleges, should in future be considered as the reward of peculiar merit, and be rendered the means of excitingemulation among the gentlemen cadets of the royal military school only.
To this end the secretary of the war department was instructed to give in a list of six students who should have passed an examination before the inspector-general, with a minute account of their progress in the different arts and sciences, as well as of their general good conduct, natural disposition, &c. From this number three were selected by the grand master, and were made knights of the order, with permission to wear the cross according to prescribed rules and regulations. All the students that were so distinguished received from the revenue or funds of the order an annual allowance of 100 livres, equal to about twenty dollars; which sum was paid them exclusively of the 200 livres or forty dollars, which they got from the royal military school. They continued to receive the annual pension as long as they remained in the service; and if they were under the necessity of retiring through sickness, or wounds, it was continued to them during their natural lives.
Whenever a student who had been placed in a regiment, and was entitled to wear the cross of the royal military school, distinguished himself on service by some brilliant action, or gave an extraordinary proof of military knowlege, he was recommended to the grand-master, and on the attestation of the general commanding the army, countersigned by the secretary at war, he was instantly invested with the order of St. Lazarus. Thus the re-union of these two crosses, (which could only happen in cases of singular merit, and under the circumstances already stated) would always bear undeniable testimony of the service rendered by the individual. The pension, in fact, would neither incur the suspicion of partiality, by having been a mere sinecure, nor the honorary mark, the imputation of undue influence, and ill-applied patronage.
In consequence of the king’s approbation, the following specific regulation, relative to the orders of Mont-Carmel, and St. Lazarus, of Jerusalem, was issued on the 21st of January 1779, by Louis Stanislaus Xavier de Franks, brother to his majesty, and grand master of those orders, (the present head of the Bourbons, who uses the title of Louis XVIII.)
It was therein stated, that, in future, the order of Notre Dame du Mont-Carmel, should be reserved for such students belonging to the royal military school, as had been approved of in every respect, conformably to the prescribed instructions on that head, for the purpose of being admitted knights of the order. The mark by which they were distinguished consisted of a small cross similar to the one, already described, which was formerly worn by the students.—The candidates were obliged to prove four degrees of nobility on the father’s side, and to produce the certificates required by the different colleges. Three out of the six received the cross, and became entitled from the day of their admission to an annual allowance of 100 livres, or twenty dollars, which they continued to enjoy as long as they remained in the service, and after they quitted it, provided they retired from the causes already stated. If a knight of the order of Notre Dame du St. Carmel, did any singular act of bravery, or discovered talents of superior military knowlege, on a proper attestation being produced of the same, signed by the general under whom he served, and countersigned by the minister of war, he became knight of the order of St. Lazarus, and by thus uniting the two orders, preserved an uncontestable proof of the service he had rendered.
This regulation, however, did not interfere with the ancient forms and rules of the royal military school, as far as they concerned those students who had already been received into two orders. It only went to restrict the number of such as might lay claim to the particular marks of distinction, &c. which were thereby granted to the newly admitted.
In these schools, and in those of the artillery noted below, is to be found the true foundation of the military triumphs of France from 1792 to 1810.
The great military school of France is now established at Fontainbleau by Bonaparte.
The French had likewise a marine school, (école de marine), which was kept at the expence of government, and was regularly attended to, in one of the departments. There was also a ship, distinguished by the name of school, (école) which was regularly manned and equipped for the instruction of young marines.
There were several schools of artillery,écoles d’artillerie, distributed in different parts of the kingdom, and supported at the public charge. The five principal ones were atLa Fêre,Metz,Grenoble,Strasburgh, andPerpignan.
They were under the direction of an inspector-general, who had the rank of a lieutenant-general in the army. Each school was superintended by three commandants, and was composed of ordinary and extraordinary commissaries belonging to the artillery, of officers who had the immediate direction of the levelling and pointing pieces of ordnance, and of volunteer cadets.
These schools were open throughout the year; advantage being taken of occasional fine weather during the winter months to practise and exercise. They were divided into schools of theory,écoles de théorie, and into schools of practice,écoles de pratique.
The theoretical establishments were for the immediate instruction of all officersbelonging to the engineer and the artillery departments.
The practical schools were open indiscriminately to all officers and soldiers. There was also a particular school for the information of those persons who directed their attention to mining and sapping; this school was calledL’école des Sappeurs. The miner’s school. There was likewise a school established atLa Fére, to which none but artillery officers could be admitted. The students consisted of one company, whose number never exceeded 50. They had the rank of sub-lieutenants, and received a monthly subsistence, amounting to forty French livres, a little more than seven dollars.
The school at Méziéres, which was established before the additional one at La Fére, for the exclusive use and advantage of the artillery, was calculated to receive 30 officers; and those who went from La Fére had the rank of second lieutenants, with 60 livres, something more than ten dollars, as monthly subsistence.
It will naturally strike every observer, from these several establishments, which were all supported by government, and warmly patronised by the different reigning monarchs in France, that military science constituted one of the chief objects of French policy; and it is only bare justice to say, that their encouragement was not fruitlessly bestowed. All Europe has testified to the effect; theneglectof military science in other nations is equally striking, and ought to produce more wise precautions. The Turks have a military school, called the school for the Agemolans, or young men attached to the corps of Janizaries. This institution was created by Amurat, for the purpose of enuring a certain number of persons to every possible hardship of military service.
FencingSchool, (école d’armes,Fr.) Every French regiment, when in barracks or otherwise conveniently quartered, has a room allotted for the exercise of the small sword, the spadroon, &c. Some active clever serjeant or soldier is authorised to teach his comrades, and to derive what benefit he can from giving lessons abroad. We need scarcely add, that some internal regulation of the kind would be highly advantageous to officers every where.
SCIAGE, (Bois de Sciage,Fr.) Sawing. Wood that is proper to be sawed in planks, or to be made fit for any use in carpentry.
SCIAGRAPHY, (Sciagraphe,Fr.) The profile or section of a building to shew the inside thereof.
SCIE,Fr.a saw.
SCIENCE. Any art or species of knowlege; as military science, &c.
Sciencede la guerre,Fr.Military knowlege, or the science of war.
SCITIE,orSETIE,Fr.a small decked barge with Levant sails.
SCORPION, (Scorpion,Fr.) a sort of long thick javelin or arrow, which was used among the ancients. For a specific description, see Vegetius and Justus Lipsius. The Cretans are supposed to have invented the scorpion.
SCIMITAR, a short crooked sword, more or less incurvated.
ToSCOUR, (Battre à toute volée,Fr.) This term is frequently used to express the act of firing a quick and heavy discharge of ordnance or musquetry, for the purpose of dislodging an enemy.—Hence to scour the rampart or the covert way. It likewise signifies to clear, to drive away, viz.To scour the seas: Ecumer les mers,Fr.—To scour the streets: Ecumer les rues; also to run about in a loose desultory manner, as to scour the country.
ToSCOURa line, is to flank it, so as to see directly along it, that a musquet ball, entering at one end, may fly to the other, leaving no place of security.
SCOUTS, are generally horsemen sent out before, and on the wings of an army, at the distance of a mile or two, to discover the enemy, and give the general an account of what they see. SeeVidettes.
SCREW, (Escrou,Fr.) One of the mechanical powers, which is defined a right cylinder cut into a furrowed spiral. Wilkins calls it a kind of wedge, that is multiplied or continued by a helical revolution about a cylinder, receiving its motion not from any stroke, but from a vectis at one end of it.
Screws, ingunnery, are fastened to the cascable of light guns and howitzers, by means of an iron bolt, which goes through a socket fixed upon the centre transom, to elevate or depress the piece with, instead of wedges.
Screwof direction, (Vis de Pointage,Fr.) The screw of direction, used in the artillery, is formed of a brass horizontal roller, placed between the two cheeks of the carriage. The trunnions of the roller move upon two vertical iron pivots, which are fixed against the interior sides of the cheeks. By means of this screw the direction of pieces is either raised or lowered with a regular movement, and in the smallest space.
The screw of direction, orVis de Pointage, is equally used for howitzers as well as for heavy pieces of ordnance. It has been invented by the French, and serves in lieu of theCoins à Cremaillère, or indented coins. So little progress has military science made in the United States, that there are many old officers in the U. States’ service who know nothing even of this little but important particular.
LockScrews. Small screws which are attached to the lock of a musquet.
SCULLCAP. SeeHelmet.
SCURVY, (Scorbut,Fr.) A disease to which soldiers and seamen are peculiarly exposed, from idleness, inattentionto cleanliness of person and food, eating salted meat and drinking bad water, &c.
SCUTEor Canot,Fr.In DutchSchoot, and Canot, is pronounced with us as if writtencannoo. Any small boat which is used in navigation for the accommodation of a ship.
SEARCHER, an instrument used by the founders to discover any flaws in the bore of cannon, &c. SeeProof.
ToSEASON. In a military sense, to accustom, to enure. Soldiers are frequently sent to Gibraltar in order to be seasoned for a hot climate.
SeasonedTroops. Troops that have been accustomed to climate, and are not so liable to become the victims of any endemical disorder, as raw men must unavoidably be. The French use the wordacclimater; to get accustomed to a change of climate. HenceTroupes acclimatees; troops that have been seasoned.
SEATof war. The country in which war is carrying on.
SECANT, (Secante,Fr.) A line which cuts another, or divides it into two parts. Seetableat the end of the wordGunnery.
Secantof an arch. In trigonometry, is a right line drawn from the centre of the circle to the extremity of the tangent.
Secantof an angle. Supposing an angle to be terminated by a base that is perpendicular to one of the sides, and that the smallest side of the angle be taken for the radius or whole sinus, the greatest of the two sides of that angle will be its secant.
SECOND, (Second,Fr.) The next in order to the first. The ordinal of two. The next in dignity, place, or station. The French use the wordSecondin military matters, somewhat differently from the English, viz.
Compagnie enSecond,Fr.This literally means second company, but according to the old French regulations it signifies a company which consists of half the number of men that other companies are composed of. This was however, applied to the cavalry only.
Capitaine enSecondou reformé en pied, orLieutenant enSecond,ditto,Fr.are officers whose companies have been reduced, but who do duty in others, and are destined to fill up the first vacancies. We have borrowed the expression and say,to be seconded. When an officer isseconded, he remains upon full pay, in the British service, his rank goes on, and he may purchase the next vacant step, without being obliged to memorial in the manner that a half-pay officer must. Should the latter have taken a difference, he will find much difficulty in getting upon full pay, and he can only avail himself of his standing in the army when the last object is accomplished. So that asecondedofficer stands in a more favorable light. He is besides likely to be appointed to the vacant commission of the regiment in which he is seconded.
Prendre pour sonSecond,Fr.To take for a second.
LesSECONDSde côté et d’autre se sont tués,Fr.Both the seconds were killed; or the seconds on each side killed one another. It was very usual among the French for the seconds to make common cause with their principals, and to fight upon the decease of the former. The practice is reprobated and out of date.
ToSECOND, (seconder,Fr.) To aid or assist, to support.
Secondcovert way, that beyond the second ditch. SeeFortification.
Secondditch, that made on the outside of the glacis, when the ground is low, and there is plenty of water. SeeFortification.
SecondFlanc,Fr.SeeFlank obliqueinFortification.
SECOURIRune place,Fr.To throw succours into a besieged town or place. It sometimes signifies to force an investing or attacking army to raise the siege.
SECRECY. In a military economy this quality is peculiarly requisite. It signifies fidelity to a secret; taciturnity inviolate; close silence. Officers, in particular, should be well aware of the importance of it, as the divulging of what has been confidentially entrusted to them, especially on expeditions, might render the whole project abortive. The slightest deviation from it is very justly considered as a breach of honor, as scandalous conduct, unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. In official matters the person so offending is liable to the severest punishment and penalty.
SECRET, (Secret,Fr.) Under this word may be considered the caution and circumspection which every good general should observe during a campaign; the feints he may think proper to make for the purpose of covering a projected attack; and the various stratagems to which he may resort to keep his own intentions concealed, and to get at those of others.
Secret.Kept hidden, not revealed. Hence secret expedition, secret enterprise, &c. Secret articles of a treaty, being the correlative words to public articles.
Secret,Fr.The spot chosen by the captain of a fire-ship to apply the saucisson of communication.
Secretexpedition. Those are often called such, which in fact are known to the enemy before they are put in execution; they should never be communicated to any other than the commander of the troops, and the first naval officer, until they are in absolute readiness to act, and but a few hours before the enterprize is put in execution: no officer being allowed to open his instructions until he is either at his destination, or at sea. SeeExpedition.
SECRETAIRE,Fr.The clerk belonging to the Swiss regiments in the old French service, was so called. He acted likewise as quarter master serjeant, and was styledMusterschreiber.
Secretairegénéral d’artillerie,Fr.A place of trust, which, during the French monarchy, was in the nomination of the grand master.
SECRETARYat war, (Secrétaire de guerre,Fr.) The first officer of the war department.
Secretaryof state. (Secrétaire d’etat,Fr.) The secretary who has charge of the foreign relations.
ToSecrete, to hide; to keep private; to harbor; to conceal, &c. By the articles of war it is provided, that if any person shall harbor, conceal, or assist any deserter from his majesty’s service, knowing him to be such, the person so offending shall forfeit, for every such offence, the sum of five pounds.
SECTION. (Section,Fr.) from the Latin wordsectio, which is derived fromseco, to cut, a part of a thing divided, or the division itself. Such particularly are the subdivisions of a chapter, called also paragraphs and articles. Sometimes we find the term section divided into articles; as in the articles of war.
SECTION. (Section,Fr.) A certain proportion of a battalion or company, when it is told off for military movements and evolutions. A section may consist of four or any other number of files. This relates to the infantry; the cavalry into ranks by three’s, and after that in any number of files or sections. The French use the word section for the same purpose; and form their companies into platoons, and divide their platoons into any number of sections.
SECTOR, (Secteur,Fr.) A mathematical instrument of great use in finding the proportion between quantities of the same kind, as between lines and lines, surfaces and surfaces, &c. for which reason the French call it the compass of proportion.
The great advantage of the sector, above common scales, &c. is, that it is adapted to all radii, and all scales. The sector is founded on the fourth proposition of the sixth book of Euclid. The sector consists of two equal legs, or rules of brass, &c. riveted together, but so as to move easily on the rivet; on the faces of the instrument are placed several lines; the principal of which are: the line of equal parts, line of chords, line of sines, line of tangents, line of secants, and line of polygons.
ToSECURE, in a military sense, to preserve, to keep, to make certain. As to secure a place, to secure a conquest. In the management of the firelock, it signifies to bring it to a certain position, by which the locks are secured against rain. Hence
SECUREarms!a word of command which is given to troops who are under arms in wet weather. To bring your firelock to the secure; 1st, throw your right hand briskly up, and place it under the cock, keeping the piece steady in the same position.
2d. Quit the butt with the left hand, and seize the firelock with it at the swell, bringing the elbow close down upon the lock: the right hand kept fast in this motion, and the piece still upright.
3d. Quit the right hand, and bring it down to your right side, throwing the firelock nimbly down to the secure; the left hand in a line with the waist-belt. In order toshoulderfrom the secure, you must 1st, bring the firelock up to a perpendicular line, seizing it with the right hand under the cock.
2d. Quit the left hand, and place it strong upon the butt.
3d. Quit the right hand, and bring it smartly down the right side.
SEDITION, in a military sense is to disobey orders; to cabal or form factions against the officer or officers in command; to loosen confidence; to resist or oppose orders, or to stir up mutiny. It is an offence in military law of the most fatal character and always punished in a most exemplary manner. SeeMutiny.
SEER,Ind.A weight nearly equal to a pound.
SEESAR,Ind.the dewey season.
SEEARISH,Ind.A recommendation.
SEEPEEYA,Ind.A triangle to which culprits are tied to be punished.
SEFFY,Ind.A dynasty of Persia.
SEGBANS. Horsemen among the Turks, who have care of the baggage belonging to cavalry regiments.
SEGMENT, a figure contained between a chord and an arch of the circle, or so much of the circle as is cut off by that chord.
SEJA,Ind.A fenced terrace.
SEILLURE, (Sillage, eau, bouage ou ouiache,Fr.) terms used among the French to express the way a ship makes: it corresponds with our naval wordWake, which is also calledEaux.
SEJOUR,Fr.In a military sense signifies a halting day. In a naval one, the time that a ship remains in port.
SCION,Fr.A sand-crack in a horse’s hoof.
SEIN,Fr.In the midst. The French say figuratively,porter la guerre dans le sein d’un royaume. To carry a war into the heart of a kingdom.Au sein de ses soldats.In the midst of his soldiers.
SEL,Fr.Salt. Before the revolution of 1789, the French troops were allowed a specific quantity of salt, which was regularly accounted for at the back of the muster-rolls.
Sel,Fr.The salt used in the artillery is lixivial, and of a fixed quality. It is extracted from saltpetre, and must be thoroughly washed, as no saltpetre canbe good which has the least saline or greasy particle about it.
SELICTAR. A Turkish sabre.
ToSELL, to give for a price; the word correlative tobuy. Hence to buy and sell commissions.
SELLE,Fr.A saddle. SeeBoute-selle.
Sellerase,Fr.A saddle without a bow.
Selleà arcon,Fr.A bow-saddle.
SEMBLABLES,Fr.In geometry, similar, alike, equal. This term is applied to any two figures, the sides of one of which correspond with the sides of the other, and are always in the same ratio. So that semblable or alike, only means in this senseequal. Two circles, though unequal in their sizes, may still be alike; that is, their several parts may agree according to a certain ratio.
LesSEMELLES,Fr.The axle-trees belonging to the carriage of a gun.
SEMESTRE,Fr.This word literally signifies a term of six months; but it is generally understood to express any term of leave of absence which is granted to officers or soldiers. With respect to the latter, it means furlough.
SEMICIRCLE, part of a circle divided by the diameter.
SEMIDIAMETER, half of the line which divides a circle into two equal parts.
SEMIORDINATE, a line drawn at right angles to be bisected by the axis, and extending from one side of the section to the other.
SENAU,Fr.A small skiff or tender calculated for quick sailing.
SENECHALE,Fr.The seneschal’s wife or lady.
SENESCHAL, (Senéchal,Fr.) One who had in great houses the care of feasts, or domestic ceremonies.
SENS-dessus-dessous,Fr.Topsy-turvy.
Sens-devant-derriére,Fr.Wrong way.
SENIORITY, in military matters, is the difference of number in two regiments, whereby the one is said to be so much senior to the other. All regiments take place according to seniority.
SENTENCE. Decision; determination, final judgment. There is an appeal allowed from the sentence of a regimental court-martial to the opinion of a general one.
SENTINEL,-SENTRY,
is a private soldier, placed in some post, to watch the approach of the enemy, to prevent surprises, to stop such as would pass without order, or discovering who they are. Sentries are placed before the arms of all guards, at the tents and doors of general officers, colonels of regiments, &c.
All sentries are to be vigilant on their posts; they are not, on any account to sing, smoke tobacco, nor suffer any noise to be made near them. They are to have a watchful eye over the things committed to their charge. They are not to suffer any light to remain, or any fire to be made near their posts in the night-time; neither is any sentry to be relieved, or removed from his post, but by the corporal of the guard. They are not to suffer any one to touch or handle their arms, or in the night-time to come within 10 yards of their post.
No person is to strike or abuse a sentry on his post; but when he has committed a crime, he is to be relieved, and then punished according to the rules and articles of war.
A sentinel, on his post in the night, is not to know any body, but by the countersign: when he challenges, and is answered,relief, he calls outstand, relief! advance, corporal!upon which the corporal halts his men, and advances alone within a yard of the sentry’s fire-lock (first ordering his party to port arms, on which the sentry does the same) and gives him the same countersign, taking care that no one hears it. SeeRounds.
SENTINELLE,Fr.Sentinel; sentry. This word is likewise used to express the duty done by a sentinel.Faire sentinelle.To stand sentry.
Sentinelleperdue,Fr.A sentry posted in a very advanced situation, so as to be in continual danger of surprise from the enemy.
SEPTANGULAR, having seven angles.
SEPTILATERAL, having seven sides.
SEPTUPLE. Seven-fold.
SERASKIER, (Serasquier,Fr.) Among the Turks, the next in rank to the Vizier, in whose absence he commands, but to whose orders he is constantly subservient.
SERGENTd’armes,Fr.During the old monarchy of France, particularly in the reign of Philip Augustus, a guard was composed of firm trusty men for the safety of the king. This guard was calledSergens d’armes, from the Latin wordsservientes armorum. The company of theSergens d’armeswas composed of one hundred and fifty, or two hundred men. The number was reduced by Philip de Valois to one hundred. Charles V. during the regency broke the company, keeping only six men of that description round his person; and Charles VI. had only eight, half of whom did duty alternately every month. With us the serjeant at arms is a person appointed to attend a public body, arrest traitors, and persons offending.
SEPADAR,Ind.An officer of the rank of brigadier-general.
SEPAHI,Ind.A feudatory chief, or military tenant; a soldier. SeeSepoys.
SEPHARRY,Ind.Afternoon.
SEPOYS,Ind.derived from the PersianSpahi. Natives who have inlistedthemselves into the service of the East India Company, and are attached to the infantry. These troops have both native and European commissioned and non-commissioned officers; but the Europeans at all times command. The Sepahis make excellent soldiers, are remarkably clean, and feel a natural predilection for arms. SeeSpahi.
SERAKHUR,Ind.-SERANG,
Native non-commissioned officers who are employed in the artillery, and on board ships of war. In the artillery the title answers to that ofserjeant; in the naval service to that ofboatswain.
SERASKUR,Ind.This word is sometimes written Seraskier, and signifies the commander in chief of a Turkish army.
SERDANS. Colonels in the Turkish Service are so called.
SERGENT,Fr.SeeSergeantorSerjeant.
Sergentnoble,Fr.A post of honor which existed during the first periods of the French monarchy. The French compiler, from whose work we have occasionally translated much matter relative to the military history, &c. of France, has the following passage concerning the term itself. We shall give his meaning literally:—“This term does not come fromserviens, as I have imagined in common with many other etymologists. Monsieur Beneton, in hisHistoire de la Guerre, says, that the serjeant who seemed to think he could trace the origin of his title in the Latin wordServiens, was a gentleman by birth, who during the prevalence of military fiefs, was liable to do military service, in consequence of the feodal tenure, calledFief de Sergenterie, by which he held his land. His superior officer was calledSuzerain, the functions of whose situation corresponded with those of a modern adjutant. It was the business of theSergent Noble, or gentleman serjeant, to assemble all the vassals of the Suzerain, for the purpose of incorporating them under one standard, and of rendering them fit for war.
Sergentde bande,Fr.Serjeant in the common acceptation of the term. The etymology of this word is different from that of Sergent Noble. It evidently comes from the FrenchSerregens, or men that close or lock up, the same as serrefiles; shewing that this non-commissioned officer was placed to take charge of the rear files, whilst the commissioned one was in the front. It was his business to see that the rear conformed itself to the orders which were given in the front; to make the files lock up and dress, &c.
Sergentde bataille,Fr.Field Serjeant. This was an appointment of considerable trust in the old French armies. Thesergens de batailleheld commands, and did the duty of modern inspectors. They ranked next to a field marshal, ormarechal de bataille. Thesergens de bataille, or field serjeants, existed under Francis the First. But these field serjeants were only at that timesergens de bandes, or train serjeants. There were likewise, under the same king,sergens generaux de bataille, general field serjeants. These were officers of rank, and did the duty of a modern major general.
There were also officers of the same description in the reign of Henry IV. This appointment appears to have been dropped after the peace of thePyrenees. The author of theHistoire de la Milice Francaise, observes, that the appointment and duty of the different officers, called marshals, or field serjeants, varied according to the will and pleasure of the French kings, and their war-ministers. He agrees with us, that the situation of field serjeant was originally of great consequence, but that it gradually declined, and was eventually made subservient to a superior officer, who was calledMarechal de bataille, or field-marshal, whose duties corresponded with those of the French adjutant-general in the present times.
There have been officers of the same denomination both in Spain and Germany, who did the duty of Maréchaux de Camp; another term, we presume, for field marshal. But the general field serjeants in those countries were divided into two classes; one class was confined, in its functions, to the infantry, and the other to the cavalry; and both acted independently of one another; whereas in France they acted together.
According to the present establishment of the French army, there is a serjeant major belonging to each company. Thesergens majors d’un régiment, ord’une placeof the old French service, were what are now simply calledmajors, majors of regiments, or town majors. The senior serjeant of every company is calledserjeant majorin the French army at this time. In the British army theserjeant majoris the head of the non-commissioned officers, and though sometimes attached to a company, is generally a detached staff officer. SeeSerjeant Major.
SERGENTER,Fr.A word frequently used by the French in a figurative sense, signifying to press, to importune.On n’aime pointe à être sergenté; one does not like to be pressed; or as we familiarly say, to be dragooned into a thing.
SERHUD,Ind.A boundary, or frontier.
SERGEANT,-SERJEANT,SERGENT,Fr.
inwar, is a non-commissioned or inferior officer in a company or troop, and appointed to see discipline observed; to teach the private men their exercise; and to order, and form ranks, files, &c. He receives the orders from the serjeant-major, which he communicates to his officers. Each company has generally four serjeants.
SERJEANT-Major. The serjeant-majoris the first non-commissioned officer in the regiment after the quarter-master in the English army. He is, in fact, an assistant to the adjutant.
It is his peculiar duty to be perfect master of every thing which relates to drills; and it is always expected, that he should set an example to the rest of the non-commissioned officers, by his manly, soldier-like, and zealous activity.
He must be thoroughly acquainted with all the details which regard the interior management and the discipline of a regiment. For this purpose he must be a good penman, and must keep regular returns of the serjeants and corporals, with the dates of their appointments, as well as the roster for their duties, and rosters of privates orderly duty and commands, as far as relates to the number which each troop or company is to furnish. He is in every respect responsible for the accuracy of these details. He must look well to the appearance of the men, and order such to drill as he sees awkward, slovenly, or in any way irregular. If it be meant as a punishment, he specifies the time for which they are sent to drill: if only for awkwardness, they remain there until their faults are removed.
When he has occasion to put a non-commissioned officer in arrest, he must report him to the adjutant.
It is the duty of the serjeant-major, under the direction of the adjutant, to drill every young officer who comes into the regiment in the manual and marching exercises: he is likewise to instruct him in the slow and quick marches, in wheeling, &c.
He reports regularly to the adjutant the exact state of the awkward drill, &c.
It is scarcely necessary to observe in this place, that the good or bad appearance of a regiment, with or without arms, depends greatly upon the skill and activity of the serjeant major; and that he has every inducement to look forward to promotion.
Quarter-masterSerjeant. A non-commissioned officer who acts under the quarter-master of a regiment; he ought to be a steady man, a good accountant, and to be well acquainted with the resources of a country town or village.
Pay-Serjeant. An honest, steady, non-commissioned officer, (who is a good accountant, and writes well) that is selected by the captain of a company in the infantry, to pay the men, give out rations, and to account weekly to him, or to his subaltern, (as the case may be) for all disbursements. He likewise keeps a regular state of the necessaries of the men, and assists in making up the monthly abstract for pay, allowances, &c.
CoveringSerjeant. A non-commissioned officer who during the exercise of a battalion, regularly stands or moves behind each officer, commanding or acting with a platoon or company. When the ranks take open order, and the officers move in front, the covering serjeants replace their leaders; and when the ranks are closed, they fall back in their rear.
DrillSerjeant. An expert and active non-commissioned officer, who, under the immediate direction of the serjeant major, instructs the raw recruits of a regiment in the first principles of military exercise. When awkward or ill-behaved men are sent to drill, they are usually placed under the care of the drill serjeant. This non-commissioned officer will do well to bear constantly in mind the following observations from page 135, Vol I. of theRèglemens pour l’Infanterie Prusienne.
“In teaching young recruits their first duties, the greatest caution must be observed not to give them a disgust to the service, by harsh treatment, angry and impatient words, and much less by blows. The utmost mildness must, on the contrary, be shewn, in order to endear the service to them; and the several parts of exercise must be taught them by degrees; so that they become insensibly acquainted with the whole of the discipline, without having been disgusted in the acquirement. Rustics and strangers must be used with extreme lenity.”
The principle of kind conduct is not less worthy of the officers of a free nation like the United States; a generous but firm conduct is always better calculated to assure good discipline, than violence or brutality. Men learn sooner, learn better, and like what they learn when treated asmen, not as brutes. There yet prevails too much of the barbarity of the British and German systems in the American army.
LanceSerjeant. A corporal who acts as serjeant in a company, but only receives the pay of corporal.
WhiteSerjeant. A term of just ridicule, which is applied to those ladies who, taking advantage of the uxoriousness of their husbands, and neglect their household concerns, to interfere in military matters.
SERMENT,Fr.Oath.
PrêterSerment,Fr.To take an oath.
SERPE,Fr.A billhook.
Serped’armes,Fr.An offensive weapon; so called from its resemblance to a hedging bill.
SERPENTEAU,Fr.A round iron circle, with small spikes, and squibs attached to them. It is frequently used in the attack and defence of a breach. It likewise means a fusee, which is filled with gunpowder, and is bent in such a manner, that when it takes fire, it obtains a circular rapid motion, and throws out sparks of light in various directions.
Serpenteauxet serpenteaux brochettes,Fr.A species of lardon or fusee, which is garnished or loaded upon a stick or spit that is a third of the length of the cartridge.
SERPENTIN,Fr.The cock of a musquet or firelock.
SERRE-File,Fr.The last rank of a battalion, by which its depth is ascertained, and which always forms its rear. When ranks are doubled, the battalion resumes its natural formation by means of the serre-files. Serre-file literally signifies a bringer up.
Serredemi File,Fr.That rank in a battalion which determines the half of its depth, and which marches before the demi-file. Thus a battalion standing six deep, has itsserre-demi filein the third rank, which determines its depth.
Capitaine deSerre-File,Fr.The officer who commands a rear guard when a regiment is on its march.
SERRER,Fr.To close up.Serrez vos rangs.Take close order.
Serrerla bride,Fr.To pull in the bridle.
SERRURE,Fr.A lock.
SERRURIER,Fr.A locksmith.
SERVANSd’armes, orChevaliers Servans,Fr.Persons belonging to the third class of the order of Malta are so called. They are not noblemen, although they wear the sword and the cross.
ToServe, (Servir,Fr.) In a military sense, to do duty as an officer or soldier.
ToSERVEa piece. In the artillery, to load and fire with promptitude and correctness. The French use the term in the same sense, viz.L’artillerie fut bien servie à ce siege. The artillery was well served at this siege.
SERVICE, (Service,Fr.) In a general sense of the word, as far as it relates to war, every species of military duty which is done by an inferior under the influence and command of a superior. It likewise means exploit, achievement. It also points out the particular profession to which a man belongs, as land service, sea service, and the degree of knowlege which he may have acquired by practice, viz. He has seen a great deal of service.
Servicelikewise means the period during which a man has done duty, or followed the military profession in an active manner.
To seeService. To be in actual contact with an enemy.
To be onService. To be doing actual duty with a corps or detachment.
To enter into theService. To receive a commission in the army. The individual must be recommended to the commander in chief, or to the secretary at war, (as the case may be) stating him to be fully qualified to hold that situation.
To retire from theService. To quit the army, or resign.
No officer can resign his commission, or retire from the service, without having previously obtained permission through the commander in chief, or the secretary at war, as the case may be.
To retire from theService,keeping one’s rank. It has sometimes happened, that an officer has obtained permission to quit the army, keeping his rank. By which means he has been enabled to return into the service, and to take advantage of his original standing. A very meritorious officer, of high rank at present, was permitted to retire in this manner. There have been instances of officers retiring not only with their rank, but with a certain allowance from the regiment.
InfantryService. Service done by foot soldiers.
CavalryService. Service done by soldiers on horseback.
Faire sonService,Fr.To do one’s duty.
Etre deService,Fr.To be on duty.
Etre deService,chez le roi. To do duty at the palace.
Servicelikewise means tour of duty, or routine of service.
Servicede l’infanterie en marche,Fr.The regular duties, or routine of service which an infantry regiment goes through when it receives orders to march. These are, the general,la génêraleoule premier. The assembly,l’assemblée. The troop,le drapeauoule dernier.
Servicedes places,Fr.The regular duty, or routine of service, which is performed in fortified towns or places. Of this description are garrison duties. Seel’Essai sur la science de la guerrepar Mons. le baron D’Espagnac, tom. iii. p. 355, andles Elémens Militaires, tom. ii. p. 116, where specific regulations on this head may be seen. We likewise recommend to the perusal of every engineer and artillery officer, a late valuable publication, entitled Essai Générale de Fortification et d’Attaque et Defence des places.
Servicede campagne,Fr.Field duties: This subject has been ably treated by several French writers, and among others by the author ofles Elemens Militaires, tom. ii. p. 1, &c. and in tom. iv. p. 68, &c.
A letter ofService. SeeLetter.
HomeService. In a military sense, the duty which is done within the limits of the United States. This term is frequently used to distinguish such troops as are not liable to serve beyond specified limits, from those that have been raised for general service; as the militia in the several stares of the union.
ForeignService. Military duty, or service done abroad.
SecretService. Any service performed by an individual, in a clandestine secret manner. It likewise means intelligence, or information given by spies when countries are engaged in war, for which they receive pecuniary compensation.
SecretServicemoney. The reward, or compensation which is given for secret intelligence.
SERVICEABLE, capable of performing all necessary military duty.
Services.Pecuniary disbursements, or payments which are made for military purposes.
Servirle canon,Fr.To serve the cannon.
Servirl’artillerie,Fr.To serve the artillery.
ToSETa sentry, (Poser une sentinelle,Fr.) To place a soldier at any particular spot for its security.
ToSeton, (Attaquer,Fr.) To attack.
ToSetat defiance, (defier,Fr.) To defy; to dare to combat, &c.
ToSetup. To make a man fit for military movements and parade, according to the old and ridiculous method of military instruction; by which a man was placed instiffandawkwardattitudes, with the notion of making him supple and active! But that excess of setting up which stiffens the person, and tends to throw the body backward instead of forward, is contrary to every true principle of movement, and must, therefore, be most carefully avoided. By the new principles nature is consulted, and instead of teaching one man awkward positions, fifty or an hundred are taught at once to move in an easy and natural manner.
SETENDY,Ind.The militia.
SETTER,in gunnery, a round stick to drive fuzes, or any other compositions, into cases made of paper.
SHAFT-rings. SeeRings.
SEUIL,Fr.A threshold.
Seuild’ecluse,Fr.A thick piece of wood which is laid cross-ways between two stakes at the bottom of the water, for the purpose of supporting the flood-gate.
Seuilde pont levis. A thick piece of wood with a groove, which is fixed on the edge of the counterscarp of a fosse or ditch, in order to bear the weight or pressure of the draw-bridge, when it is lowered. It is likewise calledsommier, asummeror principal beam.
SEWER. In military architecture, a drain, conduit, or conveyance, for carrying off water, foliage, &c. It is necessary that every building have conveniencies for discharging its refuse water, and other useless and offensive matters. These are obtained by digging and laying sewers and drains at proper depths, and with the necessary outlets: the great care is, that they be large enough; that they be placed sufficiently deep, and have a proper descent; that they be well arched over, and have so free a passage, that there be no danger of their choaking up; the cleaning them being a work of trouble and expence.
Instead of making the bottom of the sewer a flat floor, it should be in the form of an inverted arch, answering in part to the sweep of the arch above. Every one knows that the freest passage is through circular channels; and these might easily be constructed so as to wear that form; they would resemble so many water-pipes of a circular base, and there would be no danger of their filling up. The perpendicular walls would not retain any thing, because there are no angles in their joining; and the bottom being round and free, all would run off. These circular sewers are with us calledculverts.
SEX-angled, having six angles.
SEXTANT, (Sextant,Fr.) In mathematics, an instrument which serves to measure angles. It is the segment of a circle, or an arch of 60 degrees, which makes the sixth part of a circle.
SEYMAR-Bassy,or first lieutenant general of the Janizaries. An officer among the Turks who not only commands the Janizaries that are calledSeymenis, but when the Aga, (which signifies chief guardian, and Aga-si, chief or guardian of) takes the field, who further takes the title of Kaymekan, or his lieutenant at Constantinople. He is authorised to put his own seal upon the different dispatches which he sends, and takes rank of all the sardars or colonels in his jurisdiction. He is likewise entrusted with the entire direction and management of all that concerns or relates to the interior government of the Janizaries.
SHAKEE,Ind.A small coin, of the value of about three-pence.
SHAKER,Ind.A city.
SHAIT,Ind.Bridge, embankment.
SHAFT, an arrow; a missive weapon.
Shaft, in mining; a narrow, deep perpendicular pit.
Shaftsof a carriage, are two poles joined together with cross bars, by which the hind horse guides the carriage, and supports the fore part of the shafts; the hind part turning round an iron bolt.
Shaft-bars, are two pieces of wood to fasten the hind ends of the shafts together, into which they are pinned with wooden pins.
SHALLIE,Ind.The same as batty, which signifies rice in the husk.
SHAMROCK. The Irish word for trefoil, clover, or three leafed grass. It is worn by the Irish in their hats on the 17th of March, St. Patrick’s day.
SHANK. The long part of any instrument.
SHAROCK,Ind.A silver coin, equal in value to about one shilling.
SHAUMIARIS,Ind.A canopy of cotton cloth.
SHAW,Ind.A king.
SHAWZADA,Ind.The king’s son.
SHEED,Ind.A witness.
SHEICK. A chief of a tribe among the Arabs. Mr. Morier, in his account of a campaign with the Ottoman army, relates that in 1800, a fanatic sheick, who pretended to be inspired, headed the Fellahs, (the lowest class of inhabitants are so called among the Arabs) of the district of Demanhour, and caused a detachment of 80 Frenchmen to be put to death in the night; this was effected by first securing the sentinel.
SHELLS, ingunnery, are hollow iron balls to throw out of mortars or howitzers with a fuze hole of about an inch diameter, to load them with powder, and to receive the fuze: the bottom, or part opposite the fuze, is made heavier than the rest, that the fuze may fall uppermost; but in small elevations this is not always the case, nor is it necessary; for, let it fall as it will, the fuze sets fire to the powder within, which bursts the shell, and causes great devastation. The shells had much better be made of an equal thickness, for then they burst into more pieces.
The following shells may also be fired from guns.
Shells may likewise be thrown from guns to short distances, in case of necessity, though the bore be not of a diameter sufficient to admit the shell. For this purpose the gun may be elevated to any degree that will retain the shell upon its muzzle, which may be assisted by a small line going from the ears of the shell round the neck of the gun. To produce a greater effect, the space between the shell and the charge may be filled with wads or other substance.
Shells for Mortars and Howitzers—Their Dimensions, Weight, &c.