P.
PAAT,Ind.A promissory note.
PACE. The common pace is of no determined length; though made use of as a measure by most military writers.
In Germany, and amongst most of the northern powers, the pace is considered equal to ²⁄₁₀ of a Rhinland rood.
In France the pace is commonly reckoned at 2¹⁄₂ feet. The military pace is 2 ft.
In England it is usually reckoned at 2¹⁄₂ feet.
The geometrical pace is equal to 5 French royal feet; 60,000 of which make a degree of the equator. This makes the geometrical pace equal to 6.102 English feet, and 5.6719 Rhinland feet.
For the military pace, seeMarching.
ToPACE, as a horse does:aller à pas,Fr.There are four kinds of paces in the manége, the walk, trot, gallop, and amble. The last, more particularly, is called a pace, or easy motion, wherein the horse raises the two feet of the same side together.
PACHA. The captain pacha, among the Turks, is the chief admiral and superintendant general of the marine. He generally commands in person. The sailors and soldiers of the military marine were formerly calledlavansorlavantis; the soldiers are now calledgaliondjis.—The sailors are Turks from the maritime towns, or Greeks from the Archipelago. They are in constant pay. The soldiers, orgaliondjis, are all mussulmen, and only receive pay when they are in actual service. We recommend to our military readers an important work, which has lately been published at Paris, and from which they will derive considerable information respecting the Turks. It is intituled, Travels in the Ottoman Empire, Egypt, and Persia, by citizen Olivier, member of the French National Institute.
PACKET-Boats, small vessels that sail from the different sea ports and carry passengers, mails, &c. and keep up a regular intercourse with different places.
PADDY,Ind.Rice in the husk whether dry or green.
PADSHA,Ind.A king.
PAGEANT, inancient military history, a triumphal car, chariot, arch, or other like pompous decoration, variously adorned with colors, flags, &c. carried about in public shows, processions, &c.
PAGES,mousses ou garcons,Fr.Young lads of the description of English cabin boys, who learn navigation, and do the menial offices on board a French ship.
PAGOD,Ind.a general name given by the Portuguese to the temples in the east. It also denotes a coin. SeePagoda.
PAGODA,Ind.The place of worship among the Hindoos. It is likewise the name of a gold coin of the value of eight rupees. The English and Dutchcoin pagodas. There are also silver pagodas struck, at Marsingua, &c. with the figure of some monstrous idol.
PAILS, made of wood, with iron hoops and handles, hold generally four gallons, and serve in the field to fetch water for the use of artillery works, &c.
PAILLASSES,Fr.Straw beds, commonly calledpaillasses. These are furnished by the barrack-department for the accommodation of sick soldiers.
PAILLE,Fr.Straw.
Les soldats vont à laPaille,Fr.The soldiers are going to the forge yard or depot. This term is likewise used to signify the indulgence occasionally granted to soldiers for exercise or necessary evacuations. Thus when a battalion has gone through its manual, &c. the commanding officer gives the wordà la paille.
Rompre laPailleavec quelqu’un,Fr.a figurative term, signifying to quarrel or fall out with any body, in an open and unreserved manner.
Paille,Fr.likewise signifies any flaw in metals.Cette lame est fine, mais il y a quelques pailles; this blade is finely tempered, but there are some flaws in it.La lame de son épée se cassa à l’endroit ou il y avoit une paille.The blade of his sword broke where there was a flaw.
PAILLER,Fr.Palearius.An ancient body of French militia. The soldiers belonging to it were probably so called either from the circumstance of their wearing straw in their helmets, in order to know one another in action, or because they were accustomed to set fire to their enemy’s habitations, &c. with bundles of straw, which they always carried with them for that purpose. The inquisitive may be more fully satisfied on this subject by referring toDucange’s Glossary.
PAINde Munition,Fr.Ammunition bread. In the folio edition of marshal Saxe’s reveries, page 16, we find the following important observations on the subject of ammunition bread. He states that bread never should be given to soldiers on active service, but that they should be accustomed to eat biscuits, for the following reasons:—Biscuits will keep a considerable number of years, and every soldier can conveniently carry with him in his haversack a sufficient quantity for seven or eight days. Those officers who have served among the Venetians, will readily prove the justness of this remark. But there is a species of biscuit, or hard baked bread, that never crumbles, (calledsoukariby the Russians) which is preferable to any thing of the kind. It is square, and about the thickness of a nut, and takes up less room than either bread or biscuits.
Purveyors, who are interested in the business, maintain a different opinion. They tell you that bread is best for troops. Every man of experience knows the contrary; for it is notorious, that contract, or ammunition bread, is not only made of unwholesome ingredients, but that it is seldom more than half baked; which together with the water it contains, increases the weight, and consequently enhances the value. Add to this, that purveyors must unavoidably increase the expence of the army by being obliged to employ a great number of bakers, bakers’ men, waggons, and horses. Independent of the expence, it is evident, that the operations of an army must unavoidably be clogged by the necessity of providing quarters for these people, of having a quantity of hand-mills, and of employing a certain number of effective men to form detachments for their security.
It is impossible to calculate the train of robberies and inconveniences which grow out of this system, the embarrassments it occasions to a general; but above all the diseases, which bread, supplied in this manner, will always engender, and the fatigue that the troops must necessarily undergo to get their rations. Were all these mischiefs obviated, there is still another evil in reserve, which no precaution can set aside. This is the certainty that an enemy may be under, with respect to your intentions and motions, by narrowly watching the establishment and disposition of your ovens. Were I, continues the marshal, to adduce instances and facts to corroborate these observations, I might dwell considerably at large upon the subject. I do not hesitate to say, that much ill success, which is attributed to other causes, proceeds entirely from the provision and distribution of ammunition bread. He even goes farther, for he asserts unequivocally, that soldiers ought sometimes to be enured to almost every species of privation, and instead of being provided with biscuit, occasionally to receive grain, which they must be taught to bake upon iron pallets, after having bruised and made it into dough.—Marshal Turenne has observed upon the same subject in his Memoirs. Marshal Saxe, indeed, does not scruple to say, that although there might be plenty of bread, he would, in conformity to the opinion of many good officers, suffer his men to feel the want of it. I have, adds the latter, been eighteen months successively on service with troops who during the whole of that period never tasted bread, and yet never once complained or murmured. I have, on the contrary, been frequently with others that had never familiarized themselves to that privation, and who, on the first appearance of want, were disheartened. In consequence of which the very nerve of enterprise and hardihood was broken, and nothing great could be undertaken.
The modern French armies have carried this idea to an astonishing extent and with success; not only their troops in the field are supplied with biscuit, but their horses also.
PALADIN,Fr.A name given to those ancient knights who were eitherwhat the French callcomtes du palais, counts of the palace, or were princes lineally descended from Charlemagne, and other old kings.
PALANKEEN,Ind.a vehicle carried on the shoulders of four men, by means of a bamboo pole extending from each end: it carries one person in a reclining posture: it has a canopy which is supported by a pole raised along the centre, from whence it is pendent on either side. The palankeens are of various kinds; some are shaped like a chair, in which the person carried sits: in others they recline or sleep, and frequently journies of 2000 miles are thus performed.
PALEAGAS,Ind.SeePolygars.
PALANQUE,Fr.a kind of fortification, so called in Hungary. It is made of stakes driven into the ground, interlaced with twigs, and covered with earth, and serves to stop the progress of an advancing enemy.
PALÆSTRA, inGrecian antiquity, a public building, where the youth exercised themselves in the military art, wrestling, running, playing at quoits, &c.
PALEE,Fr.The row of piles upon which a wooden bridge is constructed, is so called.
PALESTRE,Fr.a wrestling place, or exercising ground. It comes from the Latin, and was originally derived from the Greek.
PALIS,Fr.the rows of small pointed stakes, which serve for any species of inclosure, are so called. The termpalissadeis derived from it.
PALISADES,orPALISADOES, infortification, stakes made of strong split wood, about nine feet long, six or seven inches square, three feet deep in the ground, in rows about 2¹⁄₂ or three inches asunder, placed in the covert-way, at three feet from and parallel to the parapet or side of the glacis, to secure it from surprise.
They are also used to fortify the avenues of open forts, gorges, half moons, the bottoms of ditches, and, in general, all posts liable to surprise. They are usually fixed perpendicularly, though some make an angle inclining towards the ground next the enemy, that the ropes cast over them, to tear them up, may slip off.
TurningPalisades, are an invention of Mr. Cohorn, in order to preserve the palisades of the parapet of the covert-way from the besiegers shot. They are so ordered, that as many of them as stand in the length of a rod, or about ten feet, turn up and down like traps, so as not to be in the sight of the enemy, till they just bring on their attack; and yet are always ready to do the proper service of palisades.
Palissades,Fr.SeePalisades.
Palissadesde camp,Fr.several pieces of wood so arranged and tied together, that they may with great dispatch be fixed in the ground, which is marked out for the encampment of an army.
Palissadesferrèes, palisades that are shod with iron. They are used in shallow streams and marshes to prevent small craft from plying, or persons from crossing them on foot.
PALKEE,Ind.SeePalankeen.
PALL, a covering thrown over the dead. It is always used in military burials.
PALLAS, a name in the Heathen mythology, which is given to Minerva, who was looked upon as the goddess of war.
PALUDAMENTUM, (Chlamys) among the ancients, a garment worn in time of war by the principal men of Rome, especially the generals, who were called for that reasonpaludati. The soldiers, having only short coats, called asagum, were denominatedsagati.
Thepaludamentumwas open on the sides, coming down no lower than the navel, and had short sleeves. It was either of a white, purple, or red color, and sometimes black. Kennett, in his Roman Antiquities, page 313, says, the oldpaludamentumof the generals was all scarlet, only bordered with purple; and thechlamydesof the emperors were all purple, commonly beautified with a golden or embroidered border.
PAN, the side of a rectangle or irregular figure.
Pan, likewise means the distance which is comprized between the angle of the epaule and the flanked angle in fortification. SeeFace of a Bastion.
Pan, a name well known among the shepherds of antiquity, and frequently used by modern writers in their rural fictions. In military history it signifies a man who was lieutenant general to Bacchus in his Indian expedition. He is recorded to have been the first author of a general shout, which the Grecians practised in the beginning of their onset in battle. SeePanic.
Pan, that part of the lock of a musquet, pistol, &c. which holds the priming powder.
PANACHE,-PANNACHE,
Fr.a plume, a bunch of feathers.
Panachesflottans,Fr.nodding plumes.
Pannacheslikewise signifies in architecture, the triangular part of an arch that contributes towards the support of a turret or elevation which is raised above the dome of any particular edifice.
PANCARTE,Fr.an ancient exercise or tournament, which was performed in the Roman amphitheatre, when strong athletic men were opposed to all sorts of enraged animals.
PANDOURS, are Hungarian infantry. They wear a loose garment fixed tight to their bodies by a girdle, with great sleeves, and large breeches reaching down to their ankles. They use firearms, and are excellent marksmen: they also wear a kindof sabre, near four feet long, which they use with great dexterity.
PANIC,-PANICfear,
sudden consternation which seizes upon men’s fancies without any visible cause; a needless or ill grounded fright. The reason why these terrors are attributed to Pan, was, as some say, because when Osiris was bound by Typho, Pan and the satyrs appearing, cast him into a fright; or because he frightened all the giants that waged war against Jupiter: or as others say, that when Pan was Bacchus’s lieutenant general in his Indian expedition, being encompassed in a valley, with an army of enemies, far superior to them in number, he advised the god to order his men to give a general shout, which so surprised the opposite army, that they immediately fled from their camp. And hence it came to pass, that all sudden fears impressed upon men’s spirits, without any just reason, were, by the Greeks and Romans, calledpanic terrors. (See Polyænus Stratag. book I.) The custom of shouting seems to have been used by almost all nations, barbarous as well as civil; and is mentioned by all writers who treat of martial affairs. Homer has several elegant descriptions of it, particularly one in the fourth Iliad, where he resembles the military noise to torrents rolling with impetuous force from the mountains into the adjacent vallies. We have likewise had our war-hoops.
PANIERà mine,Fr.SeeBourriquet.
PANIERS,Fr.Baskets. Figuratively,un panier percé, a leaky vessel, or one who cannot keep a secret. A dangerous man in society: and in military concerns, one who ought to be particularly guarded against where discretion and confidence are necessary.
PANIQUE,Fr.SeePanic.
PANNE,Fr.literally means shag, plush, &c. and is properly a sea term, signifying tolie to,mettre en panne. It is likewise used in a military sense, to express the steady posture of troops who are drawn up for battle, and wait an enemy’s attack.La troupe est restée en panne.The squadron remained immoveable.
PANNEAU,Fr.Trap, snare.
Donner dans lePanneau,Fr.to be ensnared, or outwitted.
PANNELS, inartillery, are the carriages which carry mortars and their beds upon a march.
PANNONCEAU,Fr.an ancient term, which was used to signifyensignorbanner.
PANOPLY, complete armor or harness.
PANSEMENT,Fr.The dressing of wounds.
PANSER,Fr.to dress a wound.
Panser,Fr.in farriery, signifies to rub down, and otherwise to take care of a horse.
PANTHEON, in architecture, a temple of a circular form, dedicated to all the gods. The name has been adopted among modern nations from the Pantheon of ancient Rome, built by Agrippa in his third consulate, and dedicated to Jupiter Ultor, or Jupiter the avenger. There is a chapel in the Escurial in Spain, called Pantheon, of marble and jasper inlaid: the whole inside is of black marble, excepting the luthern, and some ornaments of jasper and red marble. The Pantheon at Paris during the progress of the French revolution, has been appropriated to national purposes; the names and busts of the most distinguished statesmen and generals being preserved therein as marks of public gratitude, and objects of public emulation. There is a building in London that bears the name of Pantheon, but that is all. It is private property, and the only public use to which it has been appropriated, has been that of operatical speculation, masquerades, or frivolous entertainments.
PANTOGRAPHE,Fr.a mathematical instrument, which serves to copy all sorts of drawings. The French have paid great attention to the improvement of this instrument, of which a minute description may be found inCours de Mathématiques, by Pere Deschalles. But the sieur Panglois brought it to such perfection in 1750, that it is become universally useful.
PANTOMETER, an instrument used, to take all sorts of angles, distances and elevations. It was invented by the ancients, but has been greatly improved since.
PANTOMETRE,Fr.SeePantometer.
PAPIERde cartouche,Fr.Paper used for cartridges.
Papiergris,ouPapierbrouillard,Fr.Whited brown paper.
Papierset enseignemens,Fr.All the papers and manuscripts which are found on board a ship are so called.
PAQUEBOT,Fr.a modern French term, derived frompacket-boat, which see.
PARABOLA, ingeometry, a figure arising from the section of the cone, when cut by a plane parallel to one of its sides.
From the same points of the cone, therefore, only one parabola can be drawn; all the other sections within these parallels being ellipses, and all without hyperbolas.
Properties of theParabola. The square of an ordinate is equal to the rectangle of the abscissa, and four times the distance of the focus from the vertex.
The perpendicular on the tangent, from the focus, is a mean proportional between the distance from the vertex to the focus, and the distance of the focus from the point of contact.
All lines within the parabola, which are drawn parallel to the axis, are called diameters.
The parameter of any diameter is a rightline, of such a nature that the product under the same, and the abscissa, are equal to the square of the semi-ordinate.
The squares of all ordinates to the same diameter, are to one another as their abscissas.
CartesianParabola, is a curve of the second order, expressed by the equationxy=ax³+bx²+cx+dcontaining four infinite legs, being the 66th species of lines of the third order, according to sir Isaac Newton: and is made use of by Descartes, in the third book of his geometry, for finding the roots of equations of six dimensions by its intersections with a circle.
DivergingParabola, a name given by sir Isaac Newton to five different lines of the third order, expressed by the equationyy=ax³+bx²+cx+d.
PARABOLE,Fr.SeeParabola.
PARABOLOIDE,Fr.SeeParabolic Conoid.
PARADE, originally consisted of a square court before cathedrals, surrounded with piazzas or porticoes for persons to walk under, being supported with pillars. It is now used in a military sense, to signify any place where troops assemble, and may be distinguished in the following manner:
GeneralParade, the place where soldiers belonging to different corps are drawn up, according to seniority, to mount guard, or to be exercised, &c.
RegimentalParade, the place where any particular regiment or corps is formed in line, &c.
PrivateParade, any spot selected, in general by each captain of a troop or company, for the inspection of his men, previous to their being marched off to the regimental parade. This parade is likewise called company or troop parade. When troops are encamped, the general and regimental parades are usually in front of the line of tents; each regiment having its quarter-guard opposite, and the space between being sufficient to allow of the free exercise of the battalion. The companies have their private parades in the several streets of the camp.
Parade,in camp, is that spot of ground in the front of each encampment, between the camp colors, on the right and left wings.
MorningParade. In every garrison town, fortified place and camp, as well as in every town through which soldiers pass, or occasionally halt, a certain hour in the morning is fixed for the assembling of the different corps, troops, or companies, in regular order.
EveningParade. The hour generally fixed for the evening parade is at sunset. When troops are encamped, the signal for evening parade is given from the park of artillery, by the discharge of a piece of ordnance, which is called the evening gun.
ToParade, to assemble in a prescribed regular manner, for the purposes of being inspected, exercised, or mustered.
ToParade. This word is frequently used as an active verb, with respect to military matters, viz.to parade the guard, &c. It has likewise been adopted in Ireland to express the act of calling out a person in an affair of honor. The Irish familiarly say—I shall parade the gentleman to-morrow morning in the Phœnix Park.
Parade,Fr.The French make use of this term in various ways.
Parade,Fr.Show, ostentation.
Lit deParade,Fr.Bed of state.
Cheval deParade,Fr.a horse finely caparisoned, and kept for show.
Parade,Fr.in fencing, the act of parrying a thrust or blow.
Parade,Fr.the place or ground where soldiers parade.
Se mettre enParade,Fr.to take one’s ground.
Faire laParade,Fr.To do parade duty.
Monter laParade,Fr.To take part in the regular line of parade.
Manquer saParade,Fr.in fencing, to miss one’s parry.
Etre hors deParade,Fr.to parry wide, or stand exposed.
Paradis,Fr.that part of a harbor in which vessels may ride with the greatest safety.
PARALLELES,Fr.Parallel lines in fortification are so called. SeeParallels.
PARALLELS, at a siege, the trenches or lines made parallel to the defence of the place besieged: they are also called lines of communication, and boyeaus.
Parallels, or places of arms, are deep trenches 15 or 18 feet wide, joining the several attacks together. They serve to place the guard of the trenches in readiness to support the workmen when attacked. There are usually three in an attack; the first, about 300 toises, or 600 yards, from the covert-way: the 2d and 3d, nearer to the glacis.
PARALLELEPIPED, (Parallelepipede,Fr.) one of the regular bodies of solids, comprehended under six rectangular and parallel surfaces, the opposite ones whereof are equal.
Tirer uneParallele,Fr.verbatim, to draw a parallel. To make a direct communication between one trench and another.
PARALLELISM, the situation or quality whereby any thing is denominated parallel.
PARALLELISMof a march. In order to preserve the parallelism of a march in the movement of troops each battalion must be kept perpendicular to the direction it marches upon, the whole of the several battalions in one straight line, andtheir several marching directions parallel to each other. The first battalion or line becomes the regulating one, and must be regarded as infallible; and from the moment that its direction is ascertained, the commander of each other, and their directing serjeants, are to consider their movements as subordinate to it, and to conform accordingly. It is the helm which guides the line, and must not change cadence; nor will it increase or diminish its speed, but from unavoidable necessity, and by particular order.
The instant communication of the word march is particularly important, that the advanced guides of the whole may step off together, and thereby maintain their line parallel to the one they quitted, and which becomes the principal guide for their battalions; each preserves its six paces from its advanced guide; this distance is to be kept by, and depends on, the replacing officer next to the color, who covers the directing guide; and if these trained guides do step equally, and in parallel directions to each other, they must be dressed themselves in line, and of consequence the centres of their following battalions.
Parallelismand distanceto be observed in the formation and movement of any considerable body of troops. It is laid down as a general maxim, that no considerable body should ever be formed without a proportion of it being placed inreserveor insecond line, and more or less according to circumstances. The movements of such second line will always correspond with those of the first, and it will always preserve its parallelism and distance.
If the first line makes a flank or central change of position, the second must make a change also on such point as will bring it into its relative situation.
The march of the second line in front, is regulated by its own division or battalion of direction, which moves relatively to that of the first line. In forming in line it will march upon its own points which are parallel to, and ascertained in consequence of those of the first.
When the lines break into columns to the front, the second will generally follow those of the first. When the march is to the flanks, the second line will compose a separate column, or columns. When the march is to the rear, the second line will lead in columns.
The distance betwixt the lines, may be in general supposed equal to the front of one or two battalions, and an interval.
The second lines are seldom composed of as many battalions as the first: they are often divided into distinct bodies, covering separate parts of the first line, and consequently preserving a relative parallelism and distance.
Second lines should not always remain extended, they may often be formed in column of battalions, or of greater numbers, ready to be moved to any point where their assistance is necessary.
Whenever the first line breaks, and manœuvres by its right to face to the left, or by its left to face to the right: the movements of the second line are free and unembarrassed, and it may turn round the manœuvring flank of the first line, and take its new position behind it, by extending itself parallel to that direction, how oblique soever it may be.
The central movement generally required from the second line to conform to that of the first, is equivalent to that line marching in two columns of platoons, from near the centre obliquely to the front, and from that situation forming to both flanks.
The movements of the central columns being well understood, those of the battalions of the wings, are similar in two lines.
The officer commanding the second line, must always be properly informed of the nature of the change to be made by the first, that he may readily determine his corresponding movements.
It requires much attention to conduct heads of battalion columns of both lines nearly parallel to their lateral ones, and perpendicularly, or diagonally to front or rear, according to the nature of the movement. To determine with precision, and in due time, their points in the new line, that wavering and uncertainty of march may be avoided. In great movements to allow the soldier every facility of motion without increasing the distances of divisions, and to require the most exact attention on entering the new line, and in forming. To avoid obstacles in the course of marching, but as soon as possible to re-enter the proper path of the column, while out of that path, the colors of that battalion column may be lowered, (as a mark for the neighboring column, not to be then entirely regulated by it) and again advanced when it regains its proper situation.
All the battalions of a second line, must at the completion of every change of position, find themselves placed in the same relative situation with respect to the first, as they were in before the commencement of the movement.
All changes of position of a first line are made according to one of the modes already prescribed: in general, in critical situations, they are made on a fixed flank, or central point, and by the echellon march of platoons or echellons of smaller sections than platoons, where ground and other circumstances require it; and the echellons may upon occasion be each marched in file, but keeping its position: but the movements of a second line being protected, more complicated, and embracing more ground, are made by the march of battalion columns regulated by a certain determined division of the line.
In all cases where a change of positionis made on a flank or central point of thefirst line, the movement of itscorrespondingpoint of the second line determines the new relative situation of that second line.
MovementsParallelwith a line of fire. Movements are said to be parallel with a line of fire, when one or more lines march either in the rear of troops engaged with an enemy, or in face of an enemy, who is advancing to attack. The greatest accuracy and order are required on both occasions, particularly on the latter; for if the second line, which is the line of support, does not preserve its perpendicular direction with respect to every leading point, and its relative parallelism and distance with the line engaged, according to circumstances, it will not only run the risk of becoming useless itself, but will in all probability endanger the line it covers, should any sudden necessity occur for a change of position.
PARALLELOGRAM, (Parallelogramme,Fr.) a plain figure bounded by four right lines, whereof the opposite are parallel one to the other. It likewise means an instrument composed of five rulers of brass or wood, with sliding sockets, to be set to any proportion, for the enlarging or diminishing any map or draught.
PARALYSER,Fr.To paralyse. A term frequently used by the French since the revolution, to express the bad effects of a factious spirit, &c.Un seul factieux quelque fois paralyse toute une administration: one factious man will sometimes render the designs of a whole administration abortive.
PARAMETER. SeeGunneryandProjectiles.
PARAPET, infortification, an elevation of earth, designed for covering the soldiers from the enemy’s cannon, or small shot; its thickness is from 18 to 20 feet; its height 6 on the inside, and 4 or 5 on that side next the country: it is raised on the rampart, and has a slope called the superior talus, or glacis of the parapets, on which the troops lay their arms to fire over. The slope renders it easy for the soldiers to fire into the ditch. It has a banquette or two on the inside for the troops who defend it, to mount upon, for better discovering the country, the ditch, and counterscarp, to fire as they find occasion.
Parapetof the covert-way, is what covers that way from the sight of the enemy; which renders it the most dangerous place for the besiegers, because of the neighborhood of the faces, flanks, and curtains of the place.
PARAPETSen forme de crémaillere,Fr.Parapets which are so constructed within, in the form of a saw, that one of the faces of the redans, or teeth, is perpendicular and the other parallel to the capital. The chevalier Clariac, in hisIngénieur de Campagne, has given a particular account of these parapets. But the merit of having invented them does not entirely rest with him, since the Marquis de la Fond, director of the fortified places upon the coast of French Flanders, and M. de Verville, chief engineer at Rocroi, have likewise mentioned them.
PARASANG, (Parasange,Fr.) an ancient Persian measure, being usually thirty, sometimes forty, and sometimes fifty stadia or furlongs.
PARCd’artillerie,Fr.SeePark of Artillery.
Parc,Fr.SeePark.
Le Commissaire duParc,Fr.The commissary belonging to the park.
LeParcdes munitions et des vivres,Fr.The park of stores and provisions.
Parcd’Hôpital. SeeHospital.
Parcdes vivres ou quartier des vivres,Fr.Park of provisions, which see.
PARCOURIR,Fr.in a military sense, to run over the ground during an action. This word is particularly applicable to those movements which are made by general officers, officers commanding brigades, &c. for the purpose of encouraging their soldiers in the heat of an engagement.
Parcourirde rang en rang,Fr.to run up and down the ranks, or from rank to rank.
PARDON, forgiveness, remission. In military matters this word must be understood in two senses, viz. in a limited one, when it affects a culprit who has been sentenced by a general court-martial, to receive punishment; and in a more extensive one, when the punishment is the consequence of a regimental decision. In the former case, the president only, through the war department, can pardon or remit the punishment; in the latter, the colonel, or commanding officer, has a discretionary power.
PARER,Fr.to parry,
Parerà toutes feintes,Fr.To parry to all feints.
PARKof artillery, should always be placed if possible within a short distance of water carriage; and have the most ready communication with every part of the line of the army. Its form must depend on its situation. Ten feet are usually allowed in front for one carriage and its interval, and near 50 feet from the hind wheels of the front row to the fore wheels of the second; this interval should allow sufficient room for putting the horses to the carriages, and for a free passage along the line. In parks not on immediate service, it is customary to arrange the guns with their muzzles to the front; but where the guns are likely to be wanted at a short notice, appearances must not be studied, and the gun carriages must be parked with their shafts to the front, ready to receive horses to them. A quarter guard is placed in front of the park, and the non-commissioned officers and gunners’ tents on the flanks, at about 20 paces distance; and 40 paces to therear of the subaltern officers; at 10 more to the rear the captains, and 10 more the commanding officer. The mess tent is 15 in the rear of the officers. At a convenient distance, in the rear of the whole, are the horses, picketed in one or more lines, with the drivers on their flanks. The horses are sometimes picketed in lines perpendicular to the front, and on the flanks of the carriages, between the men and the carriages. SeeCampandArtillery in the Field.Am. Mil. Lib.
Parkof provisions, a place in a camp, on the rear of every regiment, which is taken up by the sutlers who follow the army with all sorts of provisions, and sell them to the soldiers.
PARLEMENTER,Fr.to parley. The French familiarly say,Ville qui parlemente est à demi rendue; a town whose governor parlies may be said to be half given up.
PARLEY, oral treaty, talk, conference, discussion by word of mouth.
ToParley, in military matters, to enter into conference with your enemy. This is done by means of a flag of truce. SeeTruce.
To beat aParley, is to give a signal for holding such a conference, by beat of drum, or sound of trumpet. SeeChamade.
PAROLE, in amilitary sense, the promise made by a prisoner of war, when he has leave to go any where, of returning at a time appointed, or not to take up arms, if not exchanged.
Parole, means also a word given out every day in orders by the commanding officer, both in camp and garrison, in order to know friends from enemies.
PARQUER,Fr.This word, which signifies to lodge and place any thing in a convenient and safe manner, is used by the French both in an active and passive sense.
OnParqueral’artillerie,ou l’artillerie fut parquée en tel endroit,Fr.you will park the artillery in such a quarter, or the artillery will be parked in such a quarter.
Les gens de l’artillerie se parquérent, ou furent parqués, du côté de la rivière,Fr.The train of artillery parked itself on the banks of the river, or was parked upon the banks of the river.
L’artillerie parquoit en tel lieu,Fr.The artillery parked on such ground.
PARRAIN,Fr.means, literally, a godfather. In a military sense, it formerly signified a second or witness who attended at single combats to see fair play.Les combattants se trouvérent dans le lieu du combat, chacun avec son parrain.The combattants met upon the ground, each attended by his second or witness.
Parrain,Fr.in military orders, the person who introduces, or presents a newly elected knight. The term is also used to signify the comrade who is selected by a soldier that has been condemned to be shot, to bind the handkerchief over his eyes.
PARRYING, the action of warding off the push or blow aimed at one by another.
Etre à la Part,Fr.a marine term among the French, signifying, to share in the prizes which are made against an enemy.
PARTHENIÆ,a word derived from the Greek, signifying virginity. In military history it refers to a particular circumstance which occurred among the ancients. The Spartans having been at war with the Messenians for 20 years, and having by that means very much depopulated their country, and apprehending that if this war continued, it might eventually strip Sparta of all its male inhabitants, they sent some of their young men from the army into the city, with licence to be familiar with as many unmarried women as they would; and the children begotten by them in this manner were called Partheniæ, on account of the uncertainty who were their fathers. At the end of the war this brood were deemed bastards, and were denied the bearing of any office in the government, &c. This unjust exclusion enraged them so much, that they conspired with the slaves to destroy all the nobility; but on the discovery of their plot, they were driven out of the city. After which, being headed by Phalantus, a bold and enterprising son of chance, they travelled intoMagna Greciain Italy, and builtTarentum.—Bailey’s Dict.
PARTI,Fr.SeeParty.
Parti-Bleü,Fr.any party of armed men who infest a country, and have no regular permission to act offensively.
Prendre leParti,Fr.to take a part.
Prendre sonParti,Fr.to come to a determination.
Prendre sonPartidans les troupes,Fr.To list in a regiment.
TirerParti,Fr.to take advantage.
Ne point prendre deParti,Fr.to remain neuter, or not to take any part.
Esprit deParti,Fr.party spirit.
Se declarer d’unParti,Fr.openly to avow some particular party. The French say figuratively,Il faut être toujours du parti de la verité; we should always side with truth.
Parti, likewise signifies profession or employment, viz.Le parti de l’èpée, le parti des armes; the military profession.
PrendrePartidans l’épée,Fr.to embrace a military life.
PARTIALITY. Unequal state of the judgment, and favor of one above the other, without just reason. If any member of a general court-martial expresses a previous judgment, in partiality either to the prisoner or prosecutor, before he is sworn, it is to be deemed a good cause of challenge; and he should not be allowed to sit in judgment on the case.
PARTISAN, has been applied to ahalberd or pike, and to a marshal’s staff. SeeBaton.
PARTISAN, in theart of war, a person dexterous in commanding a party; who, knowing the country well, is employed in getting intelligence, or surprising the enemy’s convoy, &c. The word also means an officer sent out upon a party, with the command of a body of light troops, generally under the appellation of a partisan corps. It is necessary that this corps should be composed of infantry, light-horse, and riflemen.
PARTY, in amilitary sense, a small number or detachment of men, horse, or foot, sent upon any kind of duty; as into an enemy’s country, to pillage, to take prisoners, and oblige the country to come under contribution. Parties are often sent out to view the roads and ways, get intelligence, seek forage, reconnoitre, or amuse the enemy upon a march; they are also frequently sent upon the flanks of an army, or regiment, to discover the enemy, if near, and prevent surprise or ambuscade.
Parties escorting deserters in the British service receive the following allowances, being the same as have been granted to those of other forces, in consideration of the unavoidable extraordinary wear of their clothing and necessaries on that duty, viz.
In the like proportion, allowances are to be made for parties of four, five, and six men, but no higher. This is however to be understood as a regulation of allowance merely, it not being the intention of government thereby to restrain any commanding officer from employing larger parties on the escort duty, if he should think proper, but that whatever may be the actual number of the parties, the allowances are to be in the proportion of
Exact returns of the said duty, as performed by each corps, are to be made up, agreeable to a form annexed, as soon as may be after every 24th of June and 24th of December, for the half years immediately preceding, and are to be transmitted to the office of the secretary at war, in order that the allowances thereon may be settled and directed.
WateringPARTY. SeeWatering.
FiringPARTY, those who are selected to fire over the grave of any one interred with military honors, if below the rank of brigadier-general; for the specific number of which the party is to consist, &c.—SeeBurials.
WorkingParties. These consist of small detachments of men under the immediate command and superintendance of officers who are employed on fatigues which are not purely of a military nature. They are generally called fatigue duties, being different from those of parade, or of exercise in the field. They principally consist in digging canals, repairing roads, working on fortifications, except such as may be constructed in the field, or upon actual service. An addition is made to their pay, as a reward for their labor, and a compensation for their extraordinary wear of necessaries: half of which should always be paid into the hands of the captains, and commanding officers of companies, for this latter purpose. It has been judiciously observed in a note to the treatise on Military Finance, that British troops might in time of peace, be employed much oftener than they are on works of this nature, with equal advantage to the public and to themselves. This remark becomes more forcibly apposite since the adoption of canals through the country.
PAS,Fr.Pace. A measure in fortification. The French divide theirpas, or pace, into two kinds—pas commun, or ordinary pace, andpas geometrique, or geometrical pace. The ordinary pace consists of two feet; and the geometrical pace contains five royal feet, or fivepieds du roi. The itinerary distance which the Italians call a mile, consists of one thousand geometrical paces; and three miles make a French league.
Pasoblique,Fr.Oblique step, now exploded.
Pasordinaire,Fr.Ordinary time.
Pasordinaire direct,Fr.Front step in ordinary time.
Pasprecipite,Fr.Double quick time.
Pasde charge,Fr.Charging time.
Pascadencé,Fr.Cadenced step.
Doubler lePas,Fr.to double your step or pace: to go faster.
Forcer lePas,Fr.to make a forced march.
Pasalongé,Fr.a lengthened step.
Alonger lePas,Fr.to step out.
Diminuer lePas,Fr.To step short.
Hâter lePas,Fr.to slacken your pace; to go slower.
Marcher à grandsPas,Fr.To move rapidly.
Marcher à petitsPas,Fr.to step short, or move leisurely.
Retourner sur sesPas,Fr.To go back.
Avoir lePas,Fr.To have the precedency.
Pasde souris,Fr.Degrees or steps which are made in different parts of the circumference of the counterscarp. They serve to keep up a communicationbetween works when the ditch is dry, and are generally made in the rentrant angles of the counterscarp, and in the rentrant angles of the outworks. There are likewise steps or degrees of this sort at some distance from the glacis.
Pas,Fr.Any strait or channel of water between two separate lands.
Pasde Calais,Fr.The straits between Calais and Dover.
Pas, likewise signifies any narrow pass.Le pas des Thermopyles.The pass of Thermopylæ.
Defendre lePas,Fr.To defend the pass or strait.
Francher lePas,Fr.To determine upon a thing after some hesitation.
Pasd’ane,Fr.A sword-guard, which covers the whole hand, or basket hilt.Une garde à pas d’ane.
Pasd’ane,Fr.This word likewise means a curb or snaffle.
PASS, in amilitary sense, a strait, difficult, and narrow passage, which shuts up the entrance into a country.
PASS, a voucher for the absence of a non-commissioned officer or soldier, in the following form:
By ———— commanding the —— regiment of U. S. Infantry, stationed at ————.
Permit the bearer hereof ———— in ———— company of the abovementioned regiment, to pass from hence to ———— and to return to quarters at or before —— o’clock.
Given under my hand at ———— this —— day of —— .
To all whom it may concern.
PASS,PASSADO, infencing, a push or thrust upon your adversary.
Pass, (passade,Fr.) in fencing, a leap or advance upon the enemy.
ToPass, to march by open order of columns, for the purpose of saluting a reviewing general. Each division or company (on its march) will open its ranks at 20 paces distance from the general, and again close them, after it has passed 15 paces. The whole march in slow time, till the leading division arrives at the spot where the left of the battalion originally stood. The commanding officer then halts the regiment, the music ceases to play, and the different divisions with supported arms march in quick time until they have completed the third wheel from the ground of original formation; when arms are ordered to be carried, the music plays, and as each division completes the third wheel, the officers shift to the right, and the whole pass the general.
Passof arms. In ancient chivalry, a bridge, road, &c. which the knights undertook to defend, and which was not to be passed without fighting the person who kept it. He, who was disposed to dispute the pass, touched one of the armories of the other knight who held the pass, that were hung on pales, columns, &c. erected for the purpose; and this was a challenge which the other was obliged to accept. The vanquished gave the conqueror such prize as was agreed on.
Pass-parole, a command or word which is given out at the head of an army, and from thence passed from mouth to mouth, till it reach the rear.
Pass-port, a letter of licence which is given by a government, granting safe conduct to travel, enter, and go out of its territories without molestation; this is properly given to friends and neutral persons; and the safe conduct to enemies.
PASS,All’s Well, a term used by a British sentry after he has challenged a person that comes near his post, and has given him the proper parole, watchword, or countersign. SeeRounds.
PASSADE,Fr.SeePass.
Passade, in themanege, is a horse’s walking or trotting in such a manner, that he raises the outward hind-leg and the inward fore-leg together; and, setting these two on the ground, raises the other two alternately, never gaining above a foot of ground at a time.
Demander laPassade,Fr.This term is used among the French to express the act of soliciting charity out of the usual way of persons begging, or who have not been accustomed to ask alms.Donner la passade a un pauvre soldat; to give alms to a poor soldier.Il y avoit sur le chemin beaucoup de soldats qui demandoient la passade; there were many soldiers on the road who asked charity.
PASSAGE, (passage,Fr.) This word, as to its general import, does not require explanation. It is familiar to everybody. In a military sense it may be variously understood for passages made over rivers or through defiles, which should always be secured when an army is on its march. Dragoons or light cavalry are generally employed upon this service, being, by the celerity of their motions, better calculated to get the start of an enemy. Passes through mountainous countries, and passages over rivers, may likewise be secured by means of light field pieces and flying artillery. The latter are particularly calculated for defiles. Intrenching tools, &c. must be carried with them.
If it be found expedient to cross a river, a sufficient number of pontoons, must accompany the detachment. Should the river be fordable, and a body of infantry have been brought up in time to act with the cavalry, the former must instantly make good its footing on the opposite side, carrying intrenching tools, &c. for the purpose of fortifying thetête du pont, and thereby securing the passage of the river. Rivers are crossed either by surprise, or by main force.
When the passage is to be effected by surprise, such movements and feints mustbe resorted to, as may induce the enemy to direct his means of opposition to a distant quarter from the one you have in contemplation. Every precaution must be taken to prevent him from getting the least intelligence respecting your boats of pontoons; and on this account you must frequently countermarch different bodies of troops to divert his attention. When the passage is to be effected by main force, you must take such a position as will enable you to command the one occupied by the enemy, and you must select that part of the river where there are small islands or creeks, under cover of which the boats and barges may ply.
Those spots upon the banks of a river are best calculated for this enterprise, where the stream forms a rentrant angle, because it is more easy, in cases of that sort, to plant your batteries in such a manner as to afford a cross fire against the opposite bank. The instant you have dislodged the enemy, by means of a superior force of artillery (which you must always provide for the purpose in question) a strong detachment composed of grenadiers, and other chosen troops, must cross in boats or barges, in order to stand the first shock of the enemy, under a well supported fire of artillery.
When this detachment has made good its footing, the boats or barges must instantly row back for fresh troops, whilst the pioneers, artificers, and workmen, who accompanied the grenadiers, throw up temporary redoubts, and are protected by the fire of the troops that have landed. As soon as the works are sufficiently advanced, and an adequate number of men has been distributed in them to secure the post, the bridge must be undertaken. Its head or tete must be made as strong as possible, to keep the enemy in check should he return, and endeavor to dislodge the advanced guard.
The main body must be put in motion shortly after the departure of the first detachment, in order to support the latter, should the enemy succeed in making a bold push to defeat it, and thereby prevent the numberless disadvantages which must ensue, if the army were permitted to cross the river, or to pass the defile without opposition.
When the passage of a large river can be happily effected by means of a bridge, considerable advantages may be derived from it; most especially when the army is thereby enabled to reach a defile or pass, the possession of which enables a general to distribute his troops in desultory quarters. Marshal Turenne, in his famous passage over the Wesel in 1672, has afforded us a strong instance of this advantage. Marshal Saxe has written largely upon this important operation; and every general officer ought to be thoroughly versed in the ways and means of executing it under all the various circumstances that occur in the locality of ground, the peculiar nature of rivers, and the possible resources of an enemy, that is determined to dispute his passage. But the most memorable of all that is recorded in history are the passages of the Danube below Vienna, in 1809, which merit the study of every military man.
Soldiers should be frequently practised in the different evolutions which are required to pass a bridge in a safe and military manner. Bridges, defiles, &c. being obstacles that retard the movements of an army, whose object is to advance, we refer our readers for a full elucidation of the subject, under the articleObstacle.
Passage,Fr.. a term which relates to the reception of a knight, in the order of Malta.
Passageof bridges or defiles when a battalion or line stands on narrow ground.
A battalion, standing in narrow ground, may sometimes be ordered to march in file for the purpose of forming open column; and passing a defile, either before or behind that flank, before or behind the other flank, or before or behind any central point of that line.