C.

CABAS, Fr. a basket made of rushes, used in ancient Languedoc and Roussillon, for the purpose of conveying stores and ammunition. This term is adopted in military inventories.

CABINET Council, a council held with privacy and unbounded confidence.

CABLE ou Chable, Fr. a large rope.

CADENCE, in tactics, implies a very regular and uniform method of marching, by the drum and music, beating time; it may not be improperly called mathematical marching; for after the length of a step is determined, the time and distance may be found. It is by a continual practice and attention to this, that the Prussians arrived at that point of perfection, once so much admired in their evolutions.

Cadence or Cadency, in cavalry, is an equal measure or proportion, which a horse observes in all his motions.

CADET, among the military, is a young gentleman, who applies himself to the study of fortification and gunnery, &c. and who sometimes serves in the army, with or without pay, ’till a vacancy happens for his promotion. The proper signification of the word is, younger brother. See Academy.

Cadet, Fr. differs in its signification from the term as it is used in our language. A cadet in the French service did not receive any pay, but entered as a volunteer in a troop or company, for the specific purpose of becoming master of military tactics.

In the reign of Louis XIV. there were companies of Cadets. The sons of noblemen and gentlemen of fashion were received into these companies, and when reported fit to undertake a military function, were nominated cornets, sub-lieutenants or ensigns. In the reign of Louis XV. a regulation was made, by which no cadet could be admitted unless he had passed his fifteenth year and was under twenty.

He was likewise obliged to prove his nobility by the testimony of four gentlemen. Officers’ sons, however, were admitted on proof being given, that their fathers had actually served, or had died in the service.

A chaplain was appointed to every cadet-company, whose duty it was to instruct the cadets in reading and writing. They had likewise a master in mathematics, a drawing master, a fencing master and dancing master.

Cadet, Fr. likewise means any officer that is junior to another.

CÆMENT, -

CEMENT,

among engineers, a strong sort of mortar, used to bind bricks or stones together for some kind of moulding; or in cementing a block of bricks for the carving of capitals, scrolls, or the like. There are two sorts, i. e. hot cement, which is the most common, made of resin, beeswax, brick dust, and chalk, boiled together. The bricks to be cemented with this mixture, must be made hot in the fire, and rubbed to and fro after the cement is spread, in the same manner as joiners do when they glue two boards together. Cold cement, made of Cheshire cheese, milk, quick lime, and whites of eggs. This cement is less used than the former, and is accounted a secret known but to very few bricklayers.

CÆSTUS, in military antiquity, was a large gauntlet, composed of raw hides, used by pugilists at the public games.

CAGE de la Bascule, Fr. a space into which one part of the draw-bridge falls, whilst the other rises and conceals the gate.

CAIC, Fr. a skiff or boat belonging to a French galley.

CAIMACAN, in military history, an officer among the Turks, nearly answering to our lieutenant.

CAISSE, Fr. Battre la caisse is used in the French service to express the beating of a drum instead of battre le Tambour.

CAISSON, in military affairs, is a wooden frame or chest, made square, the side planks about 2 inches thick: it may be made to contain from 4 to 20 loaded shells, according to the execution they are to do, or as the ground is firmer or looser. The sides must be high enough, that when the cover is nailed on, the fuzes may not be damaged. Caissons are buried under ground at the depth of 5 or 6 feet, under some work the enemy intends to possess himself of; and when he becomes master of it, fire is put to the train conveyed through a pipe, which inflames the shells, and blows up the assailants. Sometimes a quantity of loose powder is put into the chest, on which the shells are placed, sufficient to put them in motion, and raise them above ground: at the same time that the blast of powder sets fire to the fuze in the shells, which must be calculated to burn from 1 to 2¹⁄₂ seconds. When no powder is put under the shells, a small quantity of mealed powder must be strewed over them, having a communication with the saucisson, in order to convey the fire to the fuzes.

Caisson, is a covered waggon, to carry bread or ammunition.

Caisson, Fr. is variously used in the French service.

Caisson des bombes, is a tub which is filled with loaded shells and buried even with the ground. It is inclined a little on one side, and by means of a quantity of powder which is scattered on the top and connected with the bottom by a saucisson, an explosion may be effected so as to throw the shells into the open air towards any given point. Caissons which are buried in the glacis produce great effect.

Caisson pour les vivres, Fr. a large chest whose lid rises in the centre somewhat like the capital of a pillar, in order that the rain may run off. The following dimensions were adopted to contain eight hundred rations at least.

The caisson or chest must be 8 French feet 4 inches long at least, 3 feet 4 inches high from the bottom to the extreme point of the lid, or chapiter, 2 feet 6 inches from its square sides to the bottom, 2 feet 5 inches broad at the bottom, outside, 2 feet 9 inches broad at top, and the cover or lid must be 5 feet 4 inches long. Poplar trees afford the best wood for the construction of caissons, because that species has a close grain, and is calculated to keep out rain.

CALATRAVA, a Spanish military order so called from a Fort of that name. The knights of Calatrava bear a cross; gules, fleur-de-lissed with green, &c.

CALCULATION, in military affairs, is the art of computing the amplitudes of shells, time of flight, projectile curve, velocity of shots, charges of mines, &c. together with the necessary tables for practice.

CALIBER, in gunnery, signifies the same as the bore or opening: and the diameter of the bore is called the diameter of its caliber. This expression regards all pieces of artillery.

Caliber-Compasses, -

Calliper-Compasses,

the name of a particular instrument used by gunners, for measuring the diameters of shot, shells, &c. as also the cylinder of cannon, mortars, and howitzers. They resemble other compasses, except in their legs, which are arched, in order that the points may touch the extremities of the arch. To find the true diameter of a circle, they have a quadrant fastened to one leg, and passing through the other, marked with inches and parts, to express the diameter required: the length of each ruler or plate is usually between the limits of 6 inches and a foot. On these rulers are a variety of scales, tables, proportions, &c. such as are esteemed useful to be known by gunners. The following articles are on the completest gunners-callipers, viz. 1. The measure of convex diameters in inches. 2. Of concave ditto. 3. The weight of iron shot from given diameters. 4. The weight of iron shot from given gun bores. 5. The degrees of a semicircle. 6. The proportion of troy and avoirdupois weight. 7. The proportion of English and French feet and pounds. 8. Factors used in circular and spherical figures. 9. Tables of the specific gravity and weights of bodies. 10. Tables of the quantity of powder necessary for proof and service of brass and iron guns. 11. Rules for computing the number of shot or shells, in a finished pile. 12. Rule concerning the fall of heavy bodies. 13. Rules for raising of water. 14. Rules for firing artillery and mortars. 15. A line of inches. 16. Logarithmetic scales of numbers, sines, versed sines and tangents. 17. A sectoral line of equal parts, or the line of lines. 18. A sectoral line of plans, and superficies. 19. A sectoral line of solids.

CALIBRE, Fr. See Caliber.

Calibre, Fr. signifies, in a figurative sense, cast or character; as un homme de ce calibre, a man of this cast.

CALIBRER, Fr. to take the measurement of the calibre of a gun. A particular instrument has been invented for this purpose. It resembles a compass with curved branches, which serve to grasp and measure a ball.

CALIVER, an old term for an arquebuse or musket.

CALOTE, Fr. a species of scull cap which officers and soldiers wear under their hats in the French cavalry, and which are proof against a sabre or sword. Calotes are usually made of iron, wick, or dressed leather, and every officer chuses the sort he likes best. Those delivered out to the troops are made of iron.

CALQUING, -

CALKING,

the art of tracing any kind of a military drawing, &c. upon some plate, paper, &c. It is performed by covering the backside of the drawing with a black or red colour, and fixing the side so covered upon a piece of paper, waxed plate, &c. This done, every line in the drawing is to be traced over with a point, by which means all the outlines of the drawing will be transferred to the paper or plate, &c.

CALTROPS, in military affairs, is a piece of iron having 4 points, all disposed in a triangular form: so that 3 of them always rest upon the ground, and the 4th stands upwards in a perpendicular direction. Each point is 3 or 4 inches long. They are scattered over the ground and passages where the enemy is expected to march, especially the cavalry, in order to embarrass their progress.

CAMARADE. See Comrade.

CAMION, Fr. a species of cart or dray which is drawn by two men, and serves to convey cannon-balls. These carts are very useful in fortified towns.

CAMISADE or Camisado, in military transactions, implies an attack by surprise, either during the night, or at break of day, when the enemy is supposed to be in their shirts asleep, or off his guard. The attack on Cremona was a camisade; the Irish regiment of Macguire, fought in their shirts, and frustrated the attack.

CAMOUFLET, in war, a kind of stinking combustibles blown out of paper cases, into the miners faces, when they are at work in the galleries of the countermines.

CAMPEMENT, Fr. an encampment. This word is also used to denote a detachment sent before the army to mark out the ground for a camp.

CAMP. With some trifling variations, camps are formed after the same manner in all countries. This principle seems general, that there should not be more ground occupied by the camp of a body of men, in front, than the extent of their line when drawn out in order of battle. Intervals are however generally left between battalions of infantry of about one eighth their front, and between squadrons of cavalry of thirty or forty paces. An army is sometimes encamped in two lines, and sometimes in three; the distance between the lines varies according to the face of the country, from 200 to 600 yards, or more.

In the distribution of the front of a camp, two feet are generally allowed for every file of infantry, and three feet for each file of cavalry. When the ground will admit of it, the infantry are usually arranged in rows perpendicular to the front; each row containing the tents of one company; and the cavalry in the same position, each perpendicular row containing the horses of a troop.

The grenadiers and light infantry are usually placed in single rows on the flanks, and the battalion companies in double rows.

A single row, or one company, occupies in front, nine feet; and a double row, or two companies, twenty-one feet, if formed of the old pattern rectangular tents, which hold only five men each. But if the new bell tents are used, 15 feet must be allowed for a single row, and 30 feet for a double row in front.

In the cavalry, a row or troop occupies in front as follows:

Old Tents. New Tents.

Tent 3 yards. 5 yards.

From the front pole of the tent to picket rope 3 3

For the horse 6 6

For the dung 2 2

14 yards. 16 yards.

The breadth of a row in front, whether of infantry or cavalry, being multiplied by the number of rows, and the product subtracted from the whole extent of front for a battalion of infantry, or a squadron of cavalry, will leave the space for the streets, which are generally divided as follows:

For the infantry, 59¹⁄₂ feet each.

For the cavalry, 30 feet each between the tents.

For the cavalry, 46 feet each between the horses.

The following is the distribution of the depth of a camp of infantry or cavalry, when the ground permits.

Distribution of the Depth of a Camp. Infantry. Cavalry.

Yards. Yards.

From the quarter guard parade to the line of parade of battalion 62

From this first line of parade to the front of the - serjeant’s tents 16

quarter master’s — 24

N. B. These tents open to the front.

To the first picket of horses — 5

Infant. for every tent in depth

Infant. old pattern, 9 feet

Infant. new pattern, 15 feet

Cavalry: for every horse, 3 feet

The soldiers tents for the infantry open to the streets. The cavalry tents front to the horses heads.

Suppose infantry 12 tents deep, old pattern - 36 60

Suppose cavalry, 60 horses, old pattern

From the last tent of infantry, or the last horse of the cavalry, to the front of the subalterns’ tents 15 12

These tents open to the rear.

To the front of the line of captains 15 15

These open to the front. The captains and subalterns in the rear of their troops or companies.

To the front of the field officers 10 15

Open to the front, opposite the outside street of the battalion.

To the colonel’s 10 10

Opens to the front, opposite the main street of the battalion.

To the staff officers 10 14

Open up the streets next the main street.

To the first row of batmen’s tents 10 - 15

The batmen’s tents front their horses.

To the first row of pickets for bat horses 2

To the second row of ditto 10

To the second row of batmen 2

To the front of the grand sutler’s tent 10

The grand sutler is in the rear of the colonel.

To the centre of the kitchens 15 20

The kitchens are 16 feet in diameter.

To the front of the petty sutlers 15 15

Directly in the rear of the kitchens: there are allowed 6 yards in front by 8 deep.

To the rear guard 15 15

Opens to the rear.

Total depth required—Yards 253 220

If the ground on which the camp is to be formed will not, from a swamp in the rear, or any other circumstance, admit of each troop or company being formed in one row perpendicular to the front, the distribution of the front of a battalion or squadron must be more contracted than the above, and laid out as follows: Find how many perpendicular rows will be required, by dividing the number of men in the battalion or squadron by the number the ground will admit of in one row; then the number of rows being multiplied by the breadth of one in front, will give that part of the front to be occupied by the rows: and the difference between it and the whole front allowed for the battalion or squadron, will be left for the streets; which, if the streets are to be equal, must be divided by their number, to find a breadth of each; or is otherwise easily divided into streets of unequal breadths. When two guns are attached to a battalion, they are posted on the right in the following order: from the right of battalion to the centre of the first gun, four yards—from this to the second gun, 6 yards.—The muzzles of the guns in a line with the serjeants’ tents.

The subaltern of artillery, if any, in a line with the subalterns of infantry. The rear of the gunner’s tents in a line with the rear of the battalion tents.

For the proper positions for camps, see the word Reconnoitring; and for the encampment of a park of artillery, see the word Park.

Camp, in military affairs, is the whole extent of ground, in general, occupied by an army pitching its tents when in the field, and upon which all its baggage and apparatus are lodged. It is marked out by the quarter-master-general, who allots every regiment its ground. The extent of the front of a regiment of infantry is 200 yards, including the two battalion guns, and depth 520, when the regiment, contains 9 companies, each of 100 private men, and the companies tents in two rows; but when the companies tents stand in one row, and but 70 private men to each row, the front is then but 155 yards. A squadron of horse has 120 yards in front, and 100 for an interval between each regiment.

The nature of the ground must also be consulted, both for defence against the enemy, and for supplies to the army. It should have a communication with that army’s garrisons, and have plenty of water, forage, fuel, and either rivers, marshes, hills, or woods to cover it. An army always encamps fronting the enemy, and generally in two parallel lines, besides a corps de reserve, about 500 yards distant from each other; the horse and dragoons on the wings, and the foot in the centre. Where, and how the train of artillery is encamped, see Park of artillery, and Encampment of a regiment of artillery, under the word Artillery. Each regiment posts a subaltern’s guard at 80 yards from the colors to the officers tent, called the quarter guard, besides a corporal’s guard in the rear: and each regiment of horse or dragoons, a small guard on foot, called the standard-guard, at the same distance. The grand guard of the army consists of horse, and is posted about a mile distant towards the enemy.

In a siege, the camp is placed all along the line of circumvallation, or rather in the rear of the approaches, out of cannon-shot: the army faces the circumvallation, if there be any; that is, the soldiers have the town in their rear.

One thing very essential in the establishing a camp, and which should be particularly attended to, if the enemy is near; is, that there should not only be a commodious spot of ground at the head of the camp, where the army, in case of surprise, may in a moment be under arms, and in condition to repulse the enemy: but also a convenient field of battle at a small distance, and of a sufficient extent for them to form advantageously, and to move with facility.

The arrangement of the tents in camp, is nearly the same all over Europe, which is, to dispose them in such a manner, that the troops may form with safety and expedition.

To answer this end, the troops are encamped in the same order as that in which they are to engage, which is by battalions and squadrons; hence, the post of each battalion and squadron in the line of battle, must necessarily be at the head of its own encampment. Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, was the first who formed encampments according to the order of battle.

By this disposition, the extent of the camp from right to left, of each battalion and squadron, will be equal to the front of each in line of battle; and consequently, the extent from right to left of the whole camp, should be equal to the front of the whole army when drawn up in line of battle, with the same intervals between the several encampments of the battalions and squadrons, as are in the line.

There is no fixed rule for the intervals: some will have no intervals, some small ones, and others are for intervals equal to the front of the battalion or squadron. The most general method is, an interval of 60 feet between each battalion, and of 36 feet between each squadron.

Hence it follows, 1st, That the front line of the camp must be in a direction to face the enemy; 2dly, That at the head of the encampment of each battalion and squadron, there must be a clear space of ground, on which they may form in line of battle; and 3dly, That when the space taken up by the army is embarrassed with woods, ditches, and other obstructions, a communication must be opened for the troops to move with ease to the assistance of each other.

The camps of the Greeks and Romans were either round, square, or oval, or rather of an oblong square figure, with the sharp corners taken off; and to secure them against surprises, it was the prevailing custom to surround them with intrenchments. The camps of the Anglo-Saxons and Danes were generally round, as likewise those of the Anglo-Normans. The camps of the ancient Britons were of an oval form, composed of stakes, earth, and stones, rudely heaped together: but the practice of the present times is quite different; for the security of our camps, whose form is a rectangle, consists in being able to draw out the troops with ease and expedition at the head of their respective encampments.

Camp of a battalion of infantry, is the ground on which they pitch their tents, &c.

The principal object in the arrangement of a camp is, that both officers and men may repair with facility and expedition to the head of the line; for which reason the tents are placed in rows perpendicular to the front of the camp, with spaces between them, called streets. The general method is, to form as many rows of tents as there are companies in the battalion; those for the private men in the front, and those for the officers in the rear. In the British service the several companies of a battalion are posted in camp, in the same manner as in the line of battle; that is, the company of grenadiers on the right, and that of light-infantry on the left; the colonel’s company on the left of the grenadiers, the lieutenant-colonel’s on the right of the light-infantry, the major’s on the left of the colonel’s, the eldest captain’s on the right of the lieutenant-colonel’s; and so on from right to left, ’till the two youngest companies come into the centre.

The battalion companies are posted two by two: that is, the tents of every two of these companies are ranged close together, to obtain, though they be fewer in number, larger and more commodious streets: the entrances of all the companies tents face the streets, except the first tent of each row belonging to the serjeants, which faces the front of the camp.

The number of tents in each perpendicular row, is regulated by the strength of the companies, and the number of men allowed to each tent, which is 5 men to 7 men: thence it follows, that a company of 60 men will require 9 to 12 tents, a company of 75 men 11 to 15 tents, and a company of 100 men 15 to 20 tents; but as it always happens, that some are on duty, fewer tents may serve in time of necessity.

When the battalion is in the first line of encampment, the privies are opened in the front, and at least 150 feet beyond the quarter-guard; and when in the second line, they are opened in the rear of that line.

To distinguish the regiments, camp colors are fixed at the flanks, and at the quarter and rear guard.

The colors and drums of each battalion are placed at the head of its own grand street, in a line with the bells of arms of the several companies. The officers espontoons were formerly placed at the colors, with the broad part of their spears to the front. The serjeants halberts were placed between, and on each side of the bells of arms, with their hatchets turned from the colors.

When two field-pieces are allowed to each battalion, they are posted to the right of it. Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, was the first who ordered two field-pieces to each battalion, which are generally light 6 pounders.

Distribution of the front and depth of the Camp for a battalion of infantry. The present mode of encampments differs from what was formerly adopted. The front of the camp for a battalion of 10 companies of 60 men each, is at present 400 feet, and during the late wars only 360 feet; the depth at present 759 feet, and during the late war 960. The front of the camp of a battalion of 10 companies of 100 men each, is at present 668 feet, and formerly only 592. The breadth of the streets from 45 to 55 feet, excepting the main street, which is sometimes from 60 to 90 feet broad.

Of the Camp of a battalion by a new method. This is, by placing the tents in 3 rows parallel to the principal front of the camp; which is suitable to the 3 ranks in which the battalion is drawn up: the tents of the first row, which front the camp, are for the men of the front rank: the tents of the second row front the rear, and are for the men of the second rank; and the tents of the third row, which front the centre row, are for the men of the rear rank.

Camp of Cavalry. The tents for the cavalry, as well as for the infantry, are placed in rows perpendicular to the principal front of the camp; and their number is conformable to the number of troops. The horses of each troop are placed in a line parallel to the tents, with their heads towards them.

The number of tents in each row, is regulated by the strength of the troops, and the number of troopers allotted to each tent is 5: it follows, that a troop of 30 men will require 6 tents, a troop of 60 men 12 tents, and a troop of 100 men 20 tents. The tents for the cavalry are of the same form as those of the infantry but more spacious, the better to contain the fire-arms, accoutrements, saddles, bridles, boots, &c. See Tents.

Distribution of the front and depth of a Camp of cavalry. Supposing the regiment to consist of 2 squadrons, of 3 troops each, and of 50 men in each troop, the extent of the front will be 450 feet, if drawn up in 2 ranks; but if drawn up in 3 ranks, the front will be only 300 feet, the depth 220, and the breadth of the back streets 30 feet, and the other streets 46 feet each. In the last war 600 feet were allowed each regiment of cavalry in front, 774 feet for the depth, and the breadth of the streets as above.

The standard-guard tents are pitched in the centre, in a line with the quarter-master’s. The camp colors of the cavalry are also of the same color as the facings of the regiment, with the rank of the regiment in the centre: those of the horse are square, like those of the foot; and those of the dragoons are swallow-tailed. The dung of each troop is laid up behind the horses.

Camp duty, consists in guards, both ordinary and extraordinary: the ordinary guards are relieved regularly at a certain hour every day (generally about 9 or 10 o’clock in the morning) the extraordinary guards are all kinds of detachments commanded on particular occasions for the further security of the camp, for covering the foragers, for convoys, escorts, or expeditions.

The ordinary guards are distinguished into grand guards, standard, and quarter guards; rear guards, picket guards, and guards for the general officers; train of artillery, bread waggons, pay-master general, quarter-master general, majors of brigade, judge advocate, and provost marshal.

The number and strength of the grand guards and out-posts, whether of cavalry or infantry, depend on the situation of the camp, nature of the country, and the position of the enemy. The strength of general officers guards is limited.

Camp maxims, are 1. The principal rule in forming a camp, is to give it the same front the troops occupy in order of battle.

2. The method of encamping is by battalions and squadrons, except the several corps of artillery, which are encamped on the right and left of the park of artillery. See Artillery park, and Encampment of a regiment of artillery.

3. Each man is allowed 2 feet in the ranks of the battalion, and 3 feet in the squadron: thence the front of a battalion of 500 men, formed 3 deep, will be 324 feet; and the front of a squadron of 150 men, formed 2 deep, will be 225 feet.

4. The depth of the camp when the army is encamped in 3 lines, is at least 2750 feet; that is, 750 feet for the depth of each line, and 250 feet for the space between each of those lines.

5. The park of artillery should always be placed on a dry rising ground, if any such situation offers; either in the centre of the front line, or in the rear of the second line; with all the train horses encamped in the rear of the park.

6. The bread-waggons should be stationed in the rear of the camp, and as near as possible to the centre, that the distribution of the bread may be rendered easy.

7. When the commander in chief encamps, it is generally in the centre of the army; and the town or village chosen for his residence is called head quarters.

8. That general is inexcusable, who, for his own personal accommodation, makes choice of quarters that are not properly secured, or at too great a distance to have an easy communication with the camp.

9. If the ground permits, the troops should be encamped as near to good water as possible.

10. When there are hussars or rifle corps, they are generally posted near the head quarters, or in the front of the army.

11. The ground taken up by the encampment of an army, should be equally distributed, and, if possible, in a straight line; for then the whole will have more room: for a crooked line, and an inequality of disposition, afford a very unpleasing view both of the camp, and of the troops when they are under arms.

12. Cleanliness is essentially necessary to the health of a camp, especially when it is to remain for any length of time. To maintain this, the privies should be often filled up, and others opened; at least every 6 days. The offal of cattle, and the carcasses of dead horses, should be buried very deep: and all kinds of corrupt effluvia, that may infect the air and produce epidemical disorders, should be constantly removed.

Choice of Camps. 1. At the beginning of a campaign, when the enemy is at too great a distance to occasion any alarm, all situations for camps that are healthy are good, provided the troops have room, and are within reach of water, wood, and provisions. More ground should be allowed to the troops in camps of duration, than in temporary ones.

2. Camps should be situated as near as possible to navigable rivers, to facilitate the conveyance of all manner of supplies; for convenience and safety are the principal objects for camps.

3. A camp should never be placed too near heights, from whence the enemy may overlook it; nor too near woods, from whence the enemy may surprise it. If there are eminences, not commanded by others, they should be taken into the camp; and when that cannot be done, they should be fortified.

4. The choice of a camp depends in a great measure on the position of the enemy, on his strength, and on the nature and situation of the country.

5. A skilful general will avail himself of all the advantages for a camp, which nature may present, whether in plains, mountains, ravines, hollows, woods, lakes, inclosures, rivers, rivulets, &c.

6. The disposition of the troops in camp should depend on the nature and situation of the ground: as there are occasions which require all the infantry to encamp on the right, and the cavalry on the left; and there are others which require the cavalry to form in the centre, and the infantry on the wings.

7. A camp should never be formed on the banks of a river, without the space of at least 2 or 3000 feet, for drawing out the army in order of battle: the enemy cannot then easily alarm the camp, by artillery and small arms from the other side.

8. Camps should never be situated near rivers that are subject to be overflowed, either by the melting of the snow, or by accidental torrents from the mountains. Marshy grounds should also be avoided, on account of the vapors arising from stagnant water, which infect the air.

9. On the choice of camps and posts, frequently depends the success of a campaign, and even sometimes of a war.

Camp guards. They are of two sorts, the one serves to maintain good order within the camp; and the other, which is stationed without the camp, serves to cover and secure it against the enemy. These guards are formed of both infantry and cavalry; and in proportion to the strength of the army, situations of the camp, and disposition of the enemy. Sometimes it is required, that these guards should consist of the 8th part of the army; at others, of the 3d part; and when an attack from the enemy is apprehended, even of the half.

Manner of stationing the Camp guards. It is of the utmost consequence to station the guards in such places, as may enable them to discover easily whatever approaches the camp.

2. The guards of the cavalry are generally removed further from the camp, than those of the infantry; but never at so great a distance, as to endanger their being cut off: within cannon-shot is a very good distance. They are often stationed in highways, in open places, and on small heights; but, they are always so disposed, as to see and communicate with one another.

3. The vedettes to the out-posts should be double: for, should they make a discovery, one may be detached to inform the officer commanding the out-post, and the other remain on duty: they should not be at too great a distance from their detachment: probably, about 50 or 60 paces will be sufficient.

4. The guards of infantry have different objects, and are differently stationed: their duty is, to receive and support the guards of cavalry in cases of need: to protect the troops sent out for wood, forage, or water; in short to prevent any approaches from the small parties of the enemy. Some are stationed in the churches or the neighboring villages, in barns, houses, and in passages and avenues of woods: others are stationed on the borders of rivulets, and in every place necessary to secure the camp. Guards that are stationed in churches, in woods or among trees, barns, and houses, should if possible, be seen from the army, or at least from some grand guard in its neighborhood, that signals may be readily perceived and repeated.

5. The guards of infantry are generally fixed; that is, they have the same post both day and night, except such as are to support and protect the guards of cavalry, and to cover the forage grounds. All out-guards should have intrenching-tools with them.

6. The guards of cavalry have generally a day-post and a night-post; the latter is seldom more than 4 or 500 paces from the camp; one third should be mounted, one third bridled, and one third feeding their horses; but when near the enemy, the whole guard should be kept mounted during the night.

7. The security and tranquillity of a camp depending upon the vigilance of the guards, the officers who command them cannot be too active in preventing surprises: a neglect in this particular is often of fatal consequence. Though an officer should, at all times, be strictly attentive to every part of the service, yet he should be more particularly watchful in the night than in the day. The night is the time most favorable for surprises: as those who are not on duty, are generally asleep, and cannot immediately afford assistance; but in the day time, the attention of all the troops is turned to the movements of the enemy: they are sooner under arms, sooner in readiness to march, and in much less danger of being thrown into confusion. Those who wish to be better acquainted with the nature and mode of encampments, may read Mr. Lochée’s useful Essay on Castrametation.

Concerning the healthiness of the different seasons of a campaign, the ingenious Dr. Pringle has the following observations. The first 3 weeks is always sickly; after which the sickness decreases, and the men enjoy a tolerable degree of health throughout the summer, unless they get wet clothes. The most sickly part of the campaign is towards the end of August, whilst the days are still hot, but the nights cold and damp with fogs and dews; then, if not sooner, the dysentery prevails; and though its violence is over by the beginning of October, yet the remitting fever, gaining ground, continues throughout the rest of the campaign, and never entirely ceases, even in winter quarters, ’till the frost begins. He likewise observes, that the last 14 days of a campaign, if protracted ’till the beginning of November, are attended with more sickness than the two first months of the encampment. As to winter expeditions, though severe in appearance, he tells us, they are attended with little sickness, if the men have strong and good shoes, warm quarters, fuel, and provisions enough.

Camp-Color-men. Each regiment has generally 6, and sometimes 1 per company: they always march with the quarter-master, to assist in making the necessary preparations against the arrival of the regiment in a new encampment. They likewise carry the camp-colors.

Camp-Fight, an old term for Combat.

Flying-Camp, or army, generally means a strong body of horse and foot, commanded for the most part by a lieutenant-general, which is always in motion both to cover its own garrisons, and to keep the enemy’s army in a continual alarm. It is sometimes used to signify the ground on which such a body of men encamps.

Camp-Utensils, in war time, are hatchets, shovels, mattocks, blankets, camp-kettles, canteens, tents, poles and pins: that is, each company has 10 shovels, and 5 mattocks; each tent 1 hatchet, 2 blankets, 1 camp-kettle, with its linen bag; and each soldier 1 canteen, 1 knapsack, and 1 havre-sack.

Camp-diseases are chiefly bilious fevers, malignant fevers, fluxes, scurvy, rheumatism, &c.

Camp is also used by the Siamese and some other nations in the East Indies, to express the quarters where the persons from different countries, who come to trade with them, usually reside.

CAMPUS Maii, an anniversary assembly which was observed by ancient pagans on May-day, when they mutually pledged themselves to one another for the defence of the country against foreign and domestic foes.

Campus Martius, a public place so called among the Romans from the God Mars.

CAMPAIGN, in military affairs, the time every year that an army continues in the field, in war time. We also say, a man has served so many campaigns, i. e. years: the campaign will begin at such a time; this will be a long campaign, &c. The word is also used for an open country before any towns, &c.

CANNIPERS. See Callipers.

CANNON or pieces of Ordnance, in the military art, imply machines having tubes of brass or iron. They are charged with powder and ball, or sometimes cartridges, grape and canister shot, &c.

The length is distinguished by three parts; the first re-inforce, the second re-inforce, and the chace: the first re-inforce is ²⁄₇ths, and the second ¹⁄₇th and a half of the diameter of the shot. The inside hollow, wherein the powder and shot are lodged, is called the bore, &c.

History of Cannon or pieces of Ordnance. They were originally made of iron bars soldered together and fortified with strong iron hoops; some of which are still to be seen, viz. one in the tower of London, two at Woolwich, one in the royal arsenal at Lisbon, they are numerous in all parts of Asia; and baron Tott describes them in Turkey. Others were made of thin sheets of iron rolled up together, and hooped; and on emergencies they were made of leather, with plates of iron or copper. These pieces were made in a rude and imperfect manner, like the first essays of many new inventions. Stone balls were thrown out of these cannon, and a small quantity of powder used on account of their weakness. These pieces have no ornaments, are placed on their carriages by rings, and are of cylindrical form. When or by whom they were made, is uncertain; however we read of cannon being used as early as the 13th century, in a sea engagement between the king of Tunis and the Moorish king of Seville. The Venetians used cannon at the siege of Claudia Jessa, now called Chioggia, in 1366, which were brought thither by two Germans, with some powder and leaden balls; as likewise in their wars with the Genoese in 1369. Edward III. of England made use of cannon at the battle of Cressy in 1346, and at the siege of Calais in 1347. Cannon were made use of by the Turks at the siege of Constantinople, then in possession of the Christians, in 1394, or in that of 1452, that threw a weight of 500lb. but they generally burst, either the first, second, or third shot. Louis XII. had one cast at Tours, of the same size, which threw a ball from the Bastille to Charenton. One of those famous cannon was taken at the siege of Diu in 1546, by Don John de Castro, and is in the castle of St. Juiliao da Barra, 10 miles from Lisbon: its length is 20 feet 7 inches, diameter at the centre 6 feet 3 inches, and discharges a ball of 100lb. It has neither dolphins, rings, nor button, is of a curious kind of metal, and has a large Hindustanee inscription upon it, which says it was cast in 1400.

Ancient and present names of Cannon. Formerly they were distinguished by uncommon names; for in 1503, Louis XII. had 12 brass cannon cast, of an uncommon size, called after the names of the 12 peers of France. The Spanish and Portuguese called them after their saints. The emperor Charles V. when he marched before Tunis, founded the 12 Apostles. At Milan there is a 70 pounder, called the Pimontelle; and one at Bois-le-duc, called the devil. A 60-pounder at Dover castle, called Queen Elizabeth’s Pocket-pistol. An 80-pounder in the tower of London (formerly in Sterling castle) called Mounts-meg. An 80-pounder in the royal arsenal at Berlin, called the Thunderer. An 80-pounder at Malaga, called the Terrible. Two curious 60-pounders in the arsenal at Bremen, called the Messengers of bad news. And lastly an uncommon 70-pounder in the castle of St. Angelo at Rome, made of the nails that fastened the copper plates which covered the ancient Pantheon, with this inscription upon it: Ex clavis trabalibus porticus Agrippæ.

In the beginning of the 15th century these uncommon names were generally abolished, and the following more universal ones took place, viz.

Pounders Cwt.

Cannon royal, or carthoun = 48 about 90

Bastard cannon, or ³⁄₄ carthoun = 36 79

¹⁄₂ carthoun = 24 60

Whole culverins = 18 50

Demy culverins = 9 30

Falcon = 6 25

Saker - lowest sort = 6 13

ordinary = 5 15

largest size = 8 18

Basilisk = 48 85

Serpentine = 4 8

Aspik = 2 7

Dragon = 6 12

Syren = 60 81

Falconet = 3, 2, & 1 15, 10, 5.

Moyens, which carried a ball of 10 or 12 ounces, &c.

Rabinet, which carried a ball of 16 ounces.

These curious names of beasts and birds of prey were adopted, on account of their swiftness in motion, or of their cruelty; as the falconet, falcon, saker, and culverin, &c. for their swiftness in flying; the basilisk, serpentine, aspik, dragon, syren, &c. for their cruelty. See the Latin poet Forcastarius.

At present cannon or pieces of ordnance take their names from the weight of the ball they discharge: thus a piece that discharges a ball of 24 pounds, is called a 24-pounder; one that carries a ball of 12 pounds, is called a 12-pounder; and so of the rest, divided into the following sorts, viz.

Ship-guns, consisting of 42, 32, 24, 18, 12, 9, 6, and 3 pounders.

Garrison-guns, of 42, 32, 24, 18, 12, 9, and 6 pounders.

Battering-guns, of 24, 18, and 12 pounders.

Field-pieces, of 18, 12, 9, 6, 3, 2, 1¹⁄₂, 1, and ¹⁄₂ pounders.

The British seldom use any of lower calibre than 6 in the field.

The metal of which brass cannon is made, is in a manner kept a secret by the founders; yet, with all their art and secrecy, they have not hitherto found out a composition that will stand a hot engagement without melting, or at least being rendered useless. Those cast at Woolwich bid fair towards this amendment. The respective quantities which should enter into this composition, is a point not decided; every founder has his own proportions, which are peculiar to himself. The most common proportions of the ingredients are the following, viz. To 240lb. of metal fit for casting, they put 68lb. of copper, 52lb. of brass, and 12lb. of tin. To 4200lb. of metal fit for casting, the Germans put 3687³³⁄₄₁lb. of copper, 204¹³⁄₄₁lb. of brass, and 307³⁶⁄₄₁lb. of tin. Others again use 100lb. of copper, 6lb. of brass, and 9lb. of tin; and lastly, others 100lb. of copper, 10lb. of brass, and 15lb. of tin. With respect to iron guns, their structure is the same as that of the others, and they generally stand the most severe engagements, being frequently used on shipboard. Several experiments have taught that the Swedish iron guns are preferable to all others in Europe.

Cannon is now generally cast solid, and the cavity bored afterwards by a very curious machine for that purpose, where the gun is placed in a perpendicular position; but of late these machines have been made to bore horizontally, and much truer than those that bore in a vertical form. This new machine was first invented at Strasburg, and greatly improved by Mr. Verbruggen, a Dutchman, who was head founder at Woolwich, where probably the best horizontal boring machine in Europe has been lately fixed; it both bores the inside, and turns and polishes the outside at once. For length and weight of French and English cannon see Guns.

Names of the several Parts of a Cannon.

The grand divisions exterior, are as follows, viz.

First re-inforce, is that part of a gun next the breech, which is made stronger, to resist the force of powder.

Second re-inforce. This begins where the first ends, and is made something smaller than the first.

The chace, is the whole space from the trunnions to the muzzle.

The muzzle, properly so called, is the part from the muzzle astragal to the end of the piece.

Small divisions exterior.

The cascable, the hindermost part of the breech, from the base-ring to the end of the button.

The cascable-astragal, is the diminishing part between the two breech mouldings.

The neck of the cascable, is the narrow space between the breech moulding and the button.

The breech, is the solid piece of metal behind, between the vent and the extremity of the base-ring, and which terminates the hind part of the gun, exclusive of the cascable.

The breech-mouldings, are the eminent parts, as squares or rounds, which serve only for ornaments to the piece, &c.

The base-ring and ogee, are ornamental mouldings; the latter is always in the shape of an S, taken from civil architecture, and used in guns, mortars, and howitzers.

The vent-field, is the part from the vent to the first re-inforce astragal.

The vent-astragal and fillets, are the mouldings and fillets at or near the vent.

The charging cylinder, is all the space from the chace-astragal to the muzzle-astragal.

The first re-inforce ring and ogee, is the ornament on the second re-inforce.

The first re-inforce astragal, is the ornament between the first and second reinforce.

The chace-girdle, is the ornament close to the trunnions.

The trunnions, are two solid cylindrical pieces of metal on every gun, which project from the piece, and by which it is supported upon its carriage as an axis.

The dolphins, are the two handles, placed on the second re-inforce ring of brass guns, resembling the fish of that name: they serve for mounting and dismounting the guns.

The second re-inforce ring and ogee, are the two ornaments joining the trunnions.

The second re-inforce astragal, is the moulding nearest the trunnions.

The chase-astragal and fillets, the two last-mentioned ornaments jointly.

The muzzle-astragal and fillets, the joint ornaments nearest the muzzle.

The muzzle-mouldings, the ornaments at the very muzzle of the piece.

The swelling of the muzzle, the projected part behind the muzzle-mouldings.

Interior Parts.

The mouth, or entrance of the bore, is that part where both powder and ball are put in, or the hollow part which receives the charge.

The vent, in all kinds of fire-arms, is commonly called the touch-hole; it is a small hole pierced at the end, or near it, of the bore or chamber, to prime the piece with powder, or to introduce the tube, in order, when lighted, to set fire to the charge.

The chamber, which is only in large calibers, is the place where the powder is lodged, which forms the charge.

Tools for loading and firing Cannon, are rammers, sponges, ladles, worms, hand-spikes, wedges, and screws.

Coins, or Wedges, to lay under the breech of the gun, in order to elevate or depress it.

Hand-spikes, serve to move and to lay the gun.

Ladles, serve to load the gun with loose powder.

Rammers, are cylinders of wood, whose diameter and axis are equal to those of the shot: they serve to ram home the wads put upon the powder and shot.

Sponge, is fixed at the opposite end of the rammer, covered with lamb skin, and serves to clean the gun when fired.

Screws, are used to field-pieces, instead of coins, by which the gun is kept to the same elevation.

Tools necessary for proving Cannon, are, a searcher with a reliever, and a searcher with one point.

Searcher, is an iron, hollow at one end to receive a wooden handle, and on the other end has from four to eight flat springs of about eight or ten inches long, pointed and turned outwards at the ends.

The reliever, is an iron flat ring, with a wooden handle, at right angles to it. When a gun is to be searched after it has been fired, this searcher is introduced; and turned every way, from end to end, and if there is any hole, the point of one or other of the springs gets into it, and remains till the reliever, passing round the handle of the searcher, and pressing the springs together, relieves it.

When there is any hole or roughness in the gun, the distance from the mouth is marked on the outside with chalk.

The other searcher has also a wooden handle, and a point at the fore end, of about an inch long, at right angles to the length: about this point is put some wax, mixed with tallow, which, when introduced into the hole or cavity, is pressed in, when the impression upon the wax gives the depth, and the length is known by the motion of the searcher backwards and forward: if the fissure be one ninth of an inch deep, the gun is rejected. See Instruments.

N. B. The strength of gunpowder having been considerably increased by Col. Congreve, of the British Artillery, the quantity for service has been somewhat reduced. That for proof remaining as heretofore.

Cannon - Ball. See Balls.

Shot. See Shot.

CANNONIER, a person who manages a gun. See Gunner.

Cannon-Baskets. See Gabions.

To nail Cannon. See Nail.

CANNONADE, in artillery, may be defined the application of artillery to the purposes of a land war, or the direction of its efforts against some distant object intended to be seized or destroyed, as the troops in battle, battery, fortress, or outwork.

Cannonading is therefore used from a battery, to take, destroy, burn, or drive the enemy from the defences, &c. and to batter and ruin the works or fortified towns.

CANON-Bit, that part of the bit which is let into the horse’s mouth.

CANTEENS, in military articles, are tin vessels used by the soldiers on a march, &c. to carry water or other liquor in, each holds about 2 quarts.

CANTONMENTS are distinct situations, where the different parts of an army lie as near to each other as possible, and in the same manner as they encamp in the field. The chief reasons for cantoning an army are, first, when the campaign begins early; on which occasion, in cantoning your troops, two objects demand attention, viz. the military object, and that of subsistence: the second is, when an army has finished a siege early, the troops are allowed to repose till the fields produce forage for their subsistence: the third reason is, when the autumn proves rainy, and forage scarce, the troops are cantoned to protect them from the bad weather.

CANVAS-BAGS. See Bags, Sand-Bags, &c.

CAPARISON, under this term is included the bridle, saddle, and housing, of a military horse.

CAPITAINE en pied, Fr. an officer who is in actual pay and does duty.

Capitaine reformé, Fr. a reduced officer.

Capitaine general des vivres, Fr. the person who has the chief management and superintendance of military stores and provisions.

Capitaine des portes, Fr. a commissioned officer who resides in a garrison town, and whose sole duty is to receive the keys of the gates from the governor every morning, and to deliver them to him every night, at appointed hours.

CAPITAL, in fortification, is an imaginary line which divides any work into two equal and similar parts. It signifies also, a line drawn from the angle of a polygon to the point of the bastion, or from the point of the bastion to the middle of the gorge.

To CAPITULATE, to surrender any place or body of troops to the enemy, on certain stipulated conditions.

CAPITULATION, in military affairs, implies the conditions on which the garrison of a place besieged agrees to deliver it up, &. This is likewise the last action, both in the attack and defence of a fortification, the conditions of which may be of various kinds, according to the different circumstances or situations in which the parties may be placed.

As soon as the capitulation is agreed on, and signed, hostages are generally delivered on both sides, for the exact performance of the articles; part of the place is delivered to the besiegers, and a day appointed for the garrison to evacuate the place. The usual and most honorable conditions are, with arms and baggage, drums beating and colors flying, matches lighted, and some pieces of artillery; waggons, and convoys for the baggage, sick and wounded, &c.

CAPONNIER, in fortification, is a passage made from one work to another, of 10 or 12 feet wide, and about five feet deep, covered on each side by a parapet, terminating in a glacis. Caponniers are sometimes covered with planks and earth. See Fortification.

CAPS, in gunnery, are pieces of leather, or more commonly sheep-skins, to cover the mouth of mortars when loaded, till they are fired, to prevent damps, or rain getting in.

Cap-Squares. See Carriages.

Cap-a-pee, in military antiquity, implies being clothed in armor from head to foot.

CAPSTERN, -

CAPSTAN,

in military machines, signifies a strong massy piece of timber, in the form of a truncated cone, having its upper part, called the drum-head, pierced with a number of square holes, for receiving the levers. By turning it round, several actions may be performed that require an extraordinary power.

CAPTAIN is a military officer, who is commander of a troop of cavalry, or of a company of foot or artillery. The name of captain was the first term made use of to express the chief or head (caput) of a company, troop, or body of men. He is both to march and fight at the head of his company. A captain of artillery and engineers ought to be master of the attack and defence of fortified places, and captains of infantry or cavalry should acquire some knowlege of those branches; artillerists should be good mathematicians, and understand the raising of all kinds of batteries, to open the trenches, to conduct the sap, to make mines and fougasses, and to calculate their charges. They ought further to be well acquainted with the power of artillery, the doctrine of the military projectile, and the laws of motion, together with the system of mechanics; and should be good draughtsmen. A captain has in most services the power of appointing his own serjeants and corporals, and may by his own authority reduce or break them; but he cannot punish a soldier with death, unless he revolts against him on duty.

The captains of artillery in the Prussian service, rank as majors in the army, and have an extraordinary pay, on account of the great qualifications demanded of them; and the captains of bombardiers, miners, and artificers, in the Portuguese service, have 9 dollars a month more than the captains of artillery in the same regiment.

Captain-General. The King is captain-general of all the forces of Great Britain. This term implies the first rank, power, and authority in the British army. This power was delegated to the Duke of York, in 1799.

Captain-Lieutenant, the commanding officer of the colonel’s troop or company in the British army, in case the colonel is absent, or he gives up the command of it to him. He takes rank as full captain, by an order in 1772, and by a late regulation, succeeds to the first vacant troop or company; the price of a captain-lieutenancy being the same as that of a captaincy. This title is still used in foreign services.

Captain reformed, one who, upon a reduction of the forces, on the termination of war, loses his company, yet keeps his rank and pay, whether on duty or not.

Captain on half pay, is one who loses his company on the reduction of an army, and retires on half-pay, until seniority puts him into duty and full pay again.

Captain en second, or second captain, is one whose company has been broke, and who is joined to another, to serve under the captain of it.

In some armies the captain en seconde, is also a second captain to the same company, whose rank is above all the lieutenants, and below all the captains of the same corps.

CAPTURE de deserteurs, Fr. Under the old government of France, a particular order existed, by which every intendant de province or commissaire de guerre was authorised to pay one hundred livres, or twenty dollars, to any person or persons who should apprehend and secure a deserter; and three hundred livres, or seventy dollars for every man that could be proved to have enticed a soldier from the regular army or militia.

CAQUE de poudre, Fr. a term synonymous to a tun or barrel of powder.

CAR, in military antiquity, a kind of small carriage; figuratively, used by the poets for a chariot: it is mounted on wheels, representing a stately throne, used in triumphs and on other solemn occasions.

CARABINIERS, Fr. One complete regiment of carabineers was formed, during the monarchy of France, out of the different corps of cavalry. They were usually distributed among other bodies of troops, and it was their duty to charge the advanced posts of the enemy.

CARABINS, Fr. These were light-armed horsemen, who sometimes acted on foot. They were generally stationed in the out-posts, for the purpose of harrassing the enemy, defending narrow passes, &c. In action, they usually fought in front of the dragoons, or upon the wings of the first line. Their name is derived from the Arabian word Karab, which signifies, generally, any warlike instrument.

CARAVAN; Caravanne, Fr. from a Turkish word, which signifies, a troop of travellers, who go armed by sea or land.

CARBINE, in military affairs, is a fire-arm somewhat smaller than the firelock of the infantry, and used by the cavalry. It carries a ball of 24 in the pound: its barrel is three feet long, and the whole length, including the stock, 4 feet.

Rifled-Carbines, are generally of the same dimensions with the above, and have their barrels rifled spirally from the breech to the mouth; so that when the ball, which is forced into it, is driven out again by the strength of the powder, it is lengthened about the breadth of a finger, and marked with the rifle of the bore. Fire-arms of this kind have a much greater range than any other, because the rifle of the barrel gives a spiral direction, instead of a rotatory direction to the ball, which by that means makes the greater resistance at the first inflammation of the powder, giving time for the whole charge to take fire, before the ball is out of the bore. These arms are used by horse-riflemen, the chasseurs, or light infantry.

CARBINEERS, or Carabineers. All regiments of light armed horse were formerly called so; but since the establishing of hussars and chasseurs, they have lost that denomination; and now all the cavalry are called carabineers, who carry the carabine.

CARACOLE, a semi-circular motion or half-wheel; chiefly applied to that used either by individuals or squadrons of cavalry, to prevent an enemy from discovering where they intend to make their attack.

CARBON, charcoal. It is the name in the new chemistry given to every body which has the properties or qualities of the carbonic acid or charcoal; impregnated in certain degrees, bodies are called carbonates. See Aigremore.

Carbone. Pure charcoal is called carbone in the new chemical nomenclature. It is the black residuum of vegetables, which have suffered a complete decomposition of their volatile principles by fire. Charcoal is black, brittle, sonorous, and light. It is placed among simple bodies, because no experiment has hitherto shown the possibility of decomposing it. It exists in the animal, vegetable, and mineral regions. When it is required to procure carbone in a state of great purity, it must be dried by strong ignition in a closed vessel.

Carbonic acid. Carbonaceous acid. Fixed air. Mephitic gas. Aerial acid. The name of cretaceous acid appears to agree best with this substance, because it is contained in very large quantities in chalk; and there is no other body with which it has so strong an affinity, as with lime, which composes the base of this earthy salt. The carbonic acid possesses all the more obvious qualities of air, and exists in the atmosphere, of which it is a small part.

Atmospheric air. In 100 parts of atmospheric air there are 72 of azote, 27 of oxygene, and 1 of carbonic acid.

CARCASS, a composition of combustibles. Carcasses are of two sorts, oblong and round: the uncertain flight of the first sort has almost rendered them useless. They are prepared in the following manner: boil 12 or 15 lb. of pitch in a glazed earthen pot; mix with that 3 lb. of tallow, 30 lb. of powder, 6 lb. of salt-petre, and as many stopins as can be put in. Before the composition is cold, the carcass must be filled; to do which, smear your hands with oil or tallow, and fill the carcass 1-third full with the above composition; then put in loaded pieces of gun or pistol barrels, loaded grenades, and fill the intervals with composition; cover the whole over with coarse cloth, well sewed together, keeping it in a round form. Then put it into the carcass, having a hollow top and bottom, with bars running between them to hold them together, and composed of four slips of iron joined at top, and fixed at the bottom, at equal distances, to a piece of iron, which, together with the hoops, when filled, form a complete globular body. When quite finished and cold, the carcass must be steeped in melted pitch, and then instantly immerged in cold water. Lastly, bore three or four holes at top, and fill the same with fuze composition, covering the holes with pitch until used. Carcasses are thrown out of mortars, and weigh from 50 to 230 lb. according to the size of the mortars they are to be thrown out of. There are other carcasses for the sea-service, which differ from a shell only in the composition, and in the four holes from which it burns when fired.

Carcasses were first used by the bishop of Munster, at the siege of Groll, in 1672, where the duke of Luxemburg commanded.

CARCASSES. Their dimensions and weight, 1796.

Kinds. Weight. Time each will burn.

Empty. Of com- position. Complete.

Round for lb. oz. dr. lb. oz. dr. lb. oz. dr. Min.

Mortars and How’rs. 13 194 10 11 18 14 — 213 8 16 11

10 89 13 11 7 8 11 97 6 11 8 ¹⁄₂

8 44 9 5 4 4 11 48 14 — 5 -

Guns. 42 27 3 — 2 7 11 29 10 11 5

32 20 13 5 1 14 5 22 11 11 4 -

24 14 12 — 1 9 11 16 5 11 4

18 11 13 11 1 1 5 12 15 — 4

Carronades. 68 — — — — — —

42 26 — — 2 7 — 28 7 — 4 -

32 21 10 — 1 13 — 23 7 — 4

24 14 5 — 2 5 — 16 10 — 3 -

18 10 4 — 1 2 — 11 6 — 3

Oblong for

Mortars and How’rs. 10 36 7 5 35 10 — 72 1 5 12

8 16 5 5 18 2 — 34 7 5 10

5¹⁄₂ 1 12 2 6 15 — 8 11 3 6

4- 1 0 6 3 11 7 4 11 13 4

Note.—It being found at the siege of Quebec, that the quantity of powder requisite for throwing the carcasses into the town, always destroyed them, the method of filling the interval between the powder and carcass with turf was adopted; and found to preserve the carcass, and to produce every desired effect.

CARIPI, a kind of cavalry in the Turkish army, which to the number of 1000 are not slaves, nor bred up in the seraglio, like the rest, but are generally Moors, or renegado Christians, who have obtained the rank of horse-guards to the Grand Seignior.

CARMINE, a bright scarlet color, which is used in plans of fortification, and serves to describe those lines that have mason work.

CAROUSAL, in military history, signifies a magnificent entertainment, exhibited by princes or other great personages, on some public occasion, consisting of cavalcades of gentlemen richly dressed and equipped, after the manner of the ancient cavaliers, divided into squadrons, meeting in some public place, and performing justs, tournaments, &c.

CARRIAGES, in military affairs, are of various kinds, viz.

Garrison-Carriages, are those on which all sorts of garrison-pieces are mounted. They are made much shorter than field-carriages, and have generally iron trucks instead of wheels.

As the trucks of garrison-carriages are generally made of cast-iron, their axle-trees should have copper-clouts underneath, to diminish the friction of the iron against the wood. Travelling-carriages are in many respects very unfit for garrison service, though they are frequently used.

Travelling-Carriages are such as guns are mounted on for sieges, and for the field; they are much longer, and differently constructed from garrison-carriages; having 4 wheels, 2 for the carriage, and 2 for the limber, which last are only used on marches.

Field-Carriages are both shorter and lighter than those before-mentioned, bearing a proportion to the pieces mounted upon them.

Limbers are two-wheel carriages, sometimes made with shafts, and sometimes with beams for drawing double; they serve to support the trail of field carriages, by means of the pintle or iron bolt, when artillery is transported from one place to another, and are taken off again when the pieces are to be fired, unless upon a march, when harrassed by the enemy, &c.

Galloper-Carriages serve for 1¹⁄₂ pounders. These carriages are made with shafts, so as to be drawn without a limber. In the war of 1756, the King of Prussia, mounted light 3-pounders on these carriages, which answered very well. The horse-artillery is an improvement of this method of the Prussian.

Howitz-Carriages are for transporting howitzers; and those for the 6 and 5-8 inch howitzers, are made with screws to elevate them, in the same manner as the light 6 pounders; for which reason they are made without a bed, and the centre-transom must be 9 inches broad to fix the screw, instead of 4 for those made without: in the centre, between the trail and centre-transom, there is a transom-bolt, which is not in others, because the centre-transom must be made to be taken out; after which, the howitzer can be elevated to any angle under ninety degrees.

Tumbrel-Carriage. See Tumbrel.

Block-Carriage, a carriage which is made from a solid piece of timber, hollowed out so as to receive the gun or howitzer into the cap-squares. The lower part of the cap-square is let into the solid wood, and the gun or howitzer is either elevated or depressed by a screw, as in other carriages. The limber for this carriage carries two large chests for ammunition, and takes four men. The pintle of the limber is so constructed as to receive the gudgeon of the carriage; by which means a greater relief is afforded when the carriage passes over rough ground.

Block-Carriages are also used by the horse-artillery as curricles. They are particularly useful on mountain service. The original inventor of them, is the British Colonel Congreve, author of many other important military inventions.

Truck-Carriages are to carry timber and other heavy burthens from one place to another, at no great distance: they serve also to convey guns or mortars upon a battery, whither their own carriages cannot go, and are drawn by men as well as horses.

Ponton-Carriage. Carriages of this kind are solely for transporting the pontons; they had formerly but two wheels, but are generally now made with four. The making use of two-wheel carriages for travelling a great way, is contrary to sense and reason; because the whole weight lying upon the two wheels, must make them sink deeper into the ground, than those of a four-wheel carriage.

Carriage.—Weight of Field Carriages at present in use.

Horse Artillery Carriages

cwts. qrs. lbs.

12 Prs. gun and carriage complete for service, with two men, and their appointments on the limber, and 16 rounds of ammunition. 45 0 14

Ammunition caisson for do. complete, with two men on the limber, and 1 spare wheel, 2 spare shafts, with 78 rounds of ammunition. 33 3 0

6 Prs. equipped as above with 42 rounds 34 1 21

Ammunition caisson as above, 108 rounds 39 0 21

5¹⁄₂ Inch howitzer, equipped as above, with 20 rounds 35 3 0

Ammunition caisson for do. as above, with 52 rounds 39 2 0

Forge waggon, complete for travelling 19 2 14

Large tilted baggage waggon, empty 18 3 0

Equipage to be carried 12 0 0

Park Carriages.

cwts. qr. lb. cwts. qr. lb.

12 Prs. Med. gun carriage, without box. 16 1 21 - 42 0 7

Limber to do. 7 2 14

Gun 18 0 —

12 Pr. light gun 12 0 — - 36 2 21

Carriage complete 12 3 7

Limber, with em. box. 12 3 14

6 Prs. Desaguliers 12 0 — - 34 1 13

Carriage complete 11 0 14

Limb. to do. em. box. 11 0 27

6 Prs. light batt. gun 6 0 — - 24 1 21

Carriage without box. iron axletrees 9 2 —

Limber, with em. box. 8 3 21

5¹⁄₂ Inch howit. light 4 3 7 - 24 0 14

Carriage, without box. 10 0 7

Limber, with em. box. 9 1 —

24 Prs. platform travelling carriage 22 3 — - 84 2 16

Standing carriage for do. iron trucks, and tackles of the carr. 13 3 16

Iron gun 48 0 —

Ball cartridge waggon, Duke of Richmond’s pattern, with spare pole and swingle trees 16 1 17 - 36 1 17

Charge of musquet ammunition 20 0 —

Common pattern ammunition caisson, altered 16 2 — - 36 2 —

Charge of ammunition 20 0 —

New infantry ammunition cart 9 1 14 - 21 1 14

Charge of ammunition 12 0 —

Common sling cart, complete 17 1 14

Common truck carriage 12 2 21

Common hand cart 4 1 —

Forge waggon, complete 13 2 14

Dimensions of certain parts of carriages, the knowlege of which may prevent many mistakes in arranging the different pieces for disembarkation, or in other similar situations.

Axletrees.—Most of the field carriages are now made with iron axletrees; the dimensions of which are as follows:

Iron Axletrees. Dia. of the arm. Len. of arm.

At the shoulder. At the point. Box, or nave part. Washer part. Total length to linchpin.

in. in. in. in. inch

6 Pr. Light - 2 ³⁄₄ 1 ³⁄₄ 13 ⁵⁄₈ 13 ⁵⁄₈

3 Pr. Heavy

5¹⁄₂ in. Howitz.

Ammu. caisson

Ball cartridge do. whether horse artillery or the park, whether limber or carriage

Light 12 Pounder and limber 3 ¹⁄₄ 2 ¹⁄₄ 16 ³⁄₄ 16 ³⁄₄

Medium 12 Pr. 3 ¹⁄₂ 2 ¹⁄₂ 16 ³⁄₄ 16 ³⁄₄

Limber to do. 2 ³⁄₄ 2 13 ⁵⁄₈ 13 ⁵⁄₈

Wood Axletrees. Carriage. Limber.

Di. of Arm. Length of Nave. Di. of Arm. Length of Nave.

At Shoulder. At Point. At Shoulder. At Point.

In. In. In. In. In. In.

24 Prs. Heavy 7 4 .9 18 6 3 .3 16

12 Prs. Med 6 4 16 6 4 12

6 Prs Des’rs. 5 ¹⁄₂ 3 ¹⁄₂ 13 ¹⁄₂ 5 ¹⁄₂ 3 ¹⁄₂ 13 ¹⁄₂

6 Prs. Light 5 3 13 5 3 13

3 Prs. Des’rs. 2 - 1 ¹⁄₄ 2 - 1 ¹⁄₄

3 Prs. Light

How’r. 8 In. 6 - 17 5 - 15

How’r. 5¹⁄₂ in. 5 - 13 4 ¹⁄₄ 11 -

How’r. 4²⁄₅ in. 4 - 12 4 10

—— fore —— —— hind ——

Ammunition waggon, with folding sides 5 2 .9 14 5 2 .9 13

Close bodied Ammunition caisson 5 3 .3 14 5 2 .9 14

Dimensions and Weight of Standing Gun Carriages.

Kinds. 32 24 18 12 9 6

Ft. in. Ft. in. Ft. in. Ft. in. Ft. in. Ft. in.

Axletrees, length 4 9 4 7 4 3 3 9 ¹⁄₂ 3 6 ¹⁄₂ 3 4

Side pieces, length 6 4 6 0 5 9 5 6 5 3 5 0

Whole height to trunnion beds 2 9 2 7 2 6 2 3 2 1 2 0

Weight of carriage, bed & coins - ct. qr. ct. qr. ct. qr. ct. qr. ct. qr. ct. qr.

9 0 8 0 7 0 6 0 3 3 2 3

Carriages on a march. See Marching.

The carriages for horse artillery guns, as 12, 9, and 4 pounders, are constructed lighter than formerly; the two first of these calibres have an additional trunnion plate; and indeed it does not appear why every travelling carriage should not have this important improvement since it eases the horses and saves the carriage; and by lessening the fatigue increases the celerity of the movements, and spares the cattle for service.

Diameter of the wheels of the Field Carriages at present in use:

Diameter.

ft. in.

All the horse artillery carriages, limbers, and caissons; the heavy 6 Prs. and long 3 Prs. and their limbers; the carriage of a 6 Pr. battalion gun, and a light 5¹⁄₂ inch howitzer; the hind wheels of a common ammunition caisson 5 0

Limber to light 6 Pr. and 5¹⁄₂ howitzer - 4 8

Med. 12 Pr.—limber, 4 ft. 6 in. carriage

Sling cart 5 8

Fore wheels of an ammunition caisson 4 0

Pontoon carriage - Fore 3 0

Hind 5 6

8 Inch Howitzer - Limber 4 0

Carriage 5 0

Ball Ammunition Cart 5 0

24 Prs. Platform Carriage - Fore 4 0

Hind 4 2

For wood of which carriages are made, see the word Wood.

CARRIER, a kind of pigeon, so called from its having been used in armies, to carry orders from one division of an army to another, or intelligence to some officer commanding a post or army at a distance.

CARRONADES. Their weight and dimensions.

Kinds. Diameter of Bores. Length in Weight Proportion between the shot and carronade.

ft. in. Calr. cwt. q. lb.

68 Prs. 8.05 — 5 2 7.702 36 — — 59 to 1

— — — 4 0 5.962 29 — —

42 — 6.84 — 4 3 ¹⁄₂ 7.518 22 1 — 58 to 1

32 — 6.35 — 4 0 - 7.679 17 — 14 62 to 1

24 — 5.68 - 3 7 - 7.656 13 — — 56 to 1

3 0 6.336 11 2 25

18 — 5.16 - 3 3 7.587 9 — — 56 to 1

2 4 5.447 8 1 25

12 — 4.52 — 2 2 5.778 5 3 10 56 to 1

N. B. Carronades have not so much windage as guns. See Windage.

Ranges with Carronades, 1798. The charge is ¹⁄₁₂th the weight of the shot; and with one shot and one wad. The line of fire from 6 to 9 feet above the level of the water.

Kinds. 68 42 32 24 18 12

Charge. 5lb. 8oz. 3lb. 8oz. 2lb. 1oz. 2lb. 1lb. 8oz. 1lb.

Yards. Yards. Yards. Yards. Yards. Yards.

P. Blank 450 400 330 300 270 230

1 Degree 650 600 560 500 470 400

2 —— 890 860 830 780 730 690

3 —— 1000 980 900 870 800 740

4 —— 1100 1020 970 920 870 810

5 —— 1280 1170 1087 1050 1000 870

Note.—The highest charge for carronades is ¹⁄₈th the weight of the shot; the lowest ¹⁄₁₆th.

Ranges with 8 inch shells, from 68 Pr.

Shells Weight. Charge. Flight. Elevation. First graze. Extreme range.

lb. oz. 43 11 - 3 lbs. 1 ¹⁄₂ P. B. 302 1365

3 — — 5 deg. 1140

4 — 1 ¹⁄₂ 1 — 358 1843

— — 5 5 — 1137 1250

— — — 11 ¹⁄₂ 1767

To Carry on the trenches. See Trenches.

CART, in a military sense, is a vehicle mounted on two wheels, and drawn by one or more horses; of which there are several sorts, viz.

Powder-Carts, for carrying powder with the army; they are divided into 4 parts, by boards of an inch thick, which enter about an inch into the shafts. Each of these carts can only stow 4 barrels of powder. The roof is covered with an oil-cloth, to prevent dampness from coming to the powder.

Sling-Carts, used to carry mortars or heavy guns from one place to another at a small distance, but chiefly to transport guns from the water side to the proof-place, and from thence back again; as also to convey artillery to the batteries in a fortification; they have wheels of a very considerable diameter, and the guns or other heavy articles which they carry are slung in chains from the axle.

CARTE, is a thrust with a sword at the inside of the upper part of the body, with the nails of your sword hand upwards. Low carte, is a thrust at the inside of the lower half of the body; the position of the hand being the same as in the former.

Carte-blanche Fr. a full and absolute power which is lodged in the hands of a general of an army, to act according to the best of his judgment, without waiting for superior instructions or orders. It likewise strictly means a blank paper; a paper to be filled up with such conditions as the person to whom it is sent thinks proper.

CARTEL, in military transactions, an agreement between two states at war for the exchange of their prisoners of war.

CARTOUCH, in military affairs, is a case of wood about 3 inches thick at bottom, bound about with marline, holding about 400 musquet balls, besides 8 or 10 iron balls of a pound each, to be fired out of a howitzer, for the defence of a pass, &c. See Grape Shot.

CARTOUCHES in artillery, are made of leather, to sling over the shoulder of the matross, who therein carries the ammunition from the magazine or waggon, for the service of the artillery, when at exercise or on real service.

Cartouches ou formules, Fr. military passes which were given to soldiers going on furlough.

CARTRIDGE, a case of paper, parchment, or flannel, fitted to the bore of a piece, and holding exactly its proper charge. Musket and pistol cartridges are always made of strong paper, between 30 and 40 of which are made from 1 pound of powder, including their priming. Ball cartridges should be made of a different coloured paper to what is used for blank. The French musquet ball-cartridges are all capped with flannel. Cannon and howitzer cartridges are sometimes made of parchment, though more generally of flannel: the charges they contain are adapted to the service they are intended for.

Cartridges for cannon, are made with the best effect, when the flannel does not admit the leakage of powder; to effect this the flannels are first sewed to the size of a mandril or wooden roller; and the sewing completed, the end is tied, and hammered on the end of the mandril, the whole is then smeared with a coat of paste made of wheat flour and gum; and then drawn over, so that the pasted side may be inward; then set to dry, before filling they must be examined.

The experiment is worth the trial of making cartridges of cotton saturated with alum; its cheapness, its abundance, and easy formation, all recommend it. The alum would render it fire proof.

Cartridge-Box, a case of wood, made in a circular form, to wear before the body of the soldier, holding 24 or more musket-ball cartridges in rows: it is covered with leather, and worn upon a belt, both on duty, and on the day of battle. See Pouch.

The light infantry in the French service carry a cartridge box in front which covers the abdomen; and contains several rounds; some carry the cartridges on the side one above the other.

Cartridges for guns.

Of Paper. Weight of one Dozen. Length. Tonnage. No. packed ³⁄₄ Ton Vat.

Pounders. lb. oz. dr. Ft. in. Number.

42 —— 3 0 0 2 4 1000

32 —— 3 0 0 2 4 1100

24 —— 3 0 0 2 4 1400

18 —— 2 14 0 2 4 1500

12 —— 2 4 0 2 4 1600

9 —— 2 4 0 2 4 1800

6 —— 1 5 0 2 0 2000

4 —— 1 1 0 1 7 2200

3 —— 1 1 0 1 7 2200

Of Flannel.

42 and 32 2 2 0 2 3 The tonnage of flannel cartridges is 1-fifth more than that of paper.

24 - Heavy 1 12 0 1 10

Med. 1 6 0 1 5

Light 1 1 8 1 0

18 —— 1 6 0 2 3

12 - Heavy 1 3 0 1 6

Med. 0 11 0 1 2

Light 0 8 0 0 10

9 —— 0 10 0 1 4

6 - Heavy 0 14 0 1 1

Med. —— ——

Light 0 5 0 0 9 ¹⁄₂

3 —— 0 6 0 0 8

13 in. Morts. 1 2 8 1 6

10 — —— 0 10 8 1 1 -

8 — —— 0 7 0 1 0

5¹⁄₂ —— 0 4 0 0 9

4²⁄₅ —— 0 3 0 0 7

8 in. How’r 0 10 8 1 1 -

5¹⁄₂ —— 0 4 8 0 9 -

4²⁄₅ —— 0 4 0 0 9 -

Cartridges for small arms.

Kinds. Powder contained in each Cartridge. No. of each tied in one Bundle. No. contained in one Barrel. Weight of one Barrel filled. One Sheet of paper makes

Whole. Half. Whole. Half.

drs. No. No. No. ct. qr. lb. qr. lb. No.

Wall pieces 10 6 1400 500 2 2 19 3 24 6

Musquet 6 10 2100 1000 1 3 10 3 24

Carbine 4 10 2853 1500 1 3 7 3 26 12

Do. pistol 3 10 4400 1500 1 3 17 3 21 16

Com. pistol 3 10 2000 3 11 24

7 bar. guns 1 ¹⁄₂ 14 1000 in kegs 24

Musquet Cartridges, by different powers in Europe.

Weight of English. Hessian. Austrian. Dutch. French.

oz. dr. gr. oz. dr. gr. oz. dr. gr. oz. dr. gr. oz. dr. gr.

Powder 0 6 0 0 7 10 0 6 13 0 10 10 ¹⁄₂ 0 7 4 ¹⁄₂

Cartridges, complete. 1 9 11 1 7 2 1 6 4 1 12 4 1 6 0

CASCABLE, in artillery, is the very hindermost knob or button of the cannon, or the utmost part of the breech. See Cannon.

CASCANS, in fortification, holes in the form of wells, serving as entrances to galleries, or giving vent to the enemy’s mines. See Fortification.

CASEMATE, in fortification, a vault, or arch of mason-work, in that part of the flank of a bastion which is next the curtain, made to defend the ditch, and the face of the opposite bastion. See Fortification.

Casemates nouvelles, Fr. arched batteries which are constructed under all the openings of revetements or ramparts. The different forts at Cherbourg, are defended by these casemates: the works erected round Dover Castle, come likewise under this description; the works at fort Columbus, New York, are erected on the same principles.

CASERNES, in fortification, are buildings for the soldiers of the garrison to live in; generally erected between the houses of fortified towns, and the rampart.

Casernes, in a general acceptation, signify barracks.

CASE-Shot. See Shot, and Laboratory.

CASHIERED. An officer sentenced by a general court-martial, or peremptorily ordered by the king, to be dismissed from the service, is said to be cashiered.

CASK, or Casque, the ancient helmet or armor for the head.

CASSINE, in military history, signifies a small house in the country, generally surrounded by a ditch. Cassines are very convenient to post small parties in, where they will be sheltered from any sudden attack, and can even make head till the nearest detachments can come and relieve them.

CASSIONS. See Caissons.

CASTING, in founding guns, implies the operation of running any sort of metal into a mould prepared for that purpose.

CASTLE, in military affairs, a fortified place, or strong hold, to defend a town or city from an enemy. English castles are for the most part no higher in antiquity than the Norman conquest; or rather about the middle of king Stephen’s reign. Castles were erected in almost all parts of that kingdom, by the several contending parties; and each owner of a castle was a kind of petty prince, coining his own money, and exercising sovereign jurisdiction over his people. History informs us that 1017 castles were built in one reign.

CASTRAMETATION, is the art of measuring or tracing out the form of a camp on the ground; yet it sometimes has a more extensive signification, by including all the views and designs of a general; the one requires only the knowlege of a mathematician, the other the experience of an old soldier. The ancients were accustomed to fortify their camps by throwing up entrenchments round them. The Turks, and other Asiatic nations, fortify themselves, when in an open country, with their waggons and other carriages. The practice of the Europeans is quite different; for the surety of their camp consists in the facility and convenience of drawing out their troops at the head of their encampment; for which reason, whatever particular order of battle is regarded as the best disposition for fighting, it follows of course, that we should encamp in such a manner as to assemble and parade our troops in that order and disposition as soon as possible. It is therefore the order of battle that should regulate the order of encampment; that is to say, the post of each regiment in the line of battle should be at the head of its own encampment; from whence it follows, that the extent of the line of battle from right to left of the camp, should be equal to the front of the troops in line of battle, with the same intervals in the camp as in the line. By this means every battalion covers its own tents, and they can all lodge themselves, or turn out in case of necessity, at a minute’s warning.

If the front of the camp is greater than the line, the troops must leave large intervals, or expose their flanks; if less, the troops will not have room to form with the proper intervals.

The front or principal line of the camp is commonly directed to face the enemy. See Camp.

CAT o’ nine tails, a whip with nine knotted cords, with which the British soldiers are punished. Sometimes it has only five cords. A barbarous and unmilitary usage, unknown in any other European army.

CATAFALCO, in military architecture, a scaffold of timber, decorated with sculpture, painting, &c. for supporting the coffin of a deceased hero, during the funeral solemnity

CATAPHRACT, the old Roman term for a horseman in complete armor.

CATAPHRACTA, in the ancient military art, a piece of heavy defensive armor, formed of cloth or leather, fortified with iron scales or links, wherewith sometimes only the breast, sometimes the whole body, and sometimes the horse too, was covered.

CATAPULTA, in military antiquity, an engine contrived for throwing of arrows, darts and stones, upon the enemy. Some of these engines were so large, and of such force, that they would throw stones of an hundred weight. Josephus takes notice of the surprising effects of these engines, and says, that the stones thrown out of them beat down the battlements, knocked off the angles of the towers, and had force sufficient to level a very deep file of soldiers

CATATROME. See Crane.

CATERVA, in ancient military writers, a term used in speaking of the Gaulish or Celtiberian armies, denoting a body of 6000 armed men. The word is also used to denote a party of soldiers in disarray; in opposition to cohort or turma, which signify in good order.

CATTUS, -

CATHOUSE,

in ancient military history, was a kind of covered shed, sometimes fixed on wheels, and similar to the Vinca and Pluteus of the ancients.

CAVALCADE, in military history, implies a pompous procession of horsemen, equipages, &c. by way of parade, to grace a triumph, public entry, or the like.

CAVALIER, in fortification, is a work generally raised within the body of the place, 10 or 12 feet higher than the rest of the works. Their most common situation is within the bastion, and made much in the same form: sometimes they are placed in the gorges, or on the middle of the curtain; they are then made in the form of a horse-shoe. See Fortification. Their use is to command all the adjacent works and country round about it; they are seldom, or never, made but when there is a hill or rising ground, which overlooks some of the works.

Trench-Cavalier, in the attacks, is an elevation which the besiegers make by means of earth or gabions, within halfway, or two thirds of the glacis, to discover, or to enfilade the covert way.

CAVALRY, in military affairs, that body of soldiers which serves and fights on horseback: under this denomination are included,

Horse, that is, regiments or troops of horse. The first English troop of horse was raised in 1660.

Dragoons, are likewise regiments of horse, but distinguished from the former by being taught to fight both on foot and on horseback. The first English regiment of dragoons was raised in 1681. See American Mil. Lib. Art. Cavalry.

Hunters. See Light-horse.

Light-horse, are regiments of cavalry, mounted on light, swift horses, whose men are but small, and lightly accoutred. They were first raised by the British, in 1757.

Hussars, generally Hungarian horse; their uniform is a large furred cap, adorned with a cock’s feather; those of the officers, either with an eagle’s or a heron’s; a very short waistcoat, with a pair of breeches and stockings in one; short light boots, generally of red or yellow leather; with a curious doublet, having five rows of buttons, which hang loosely on the left shoulder. Their arms are a long crooked sabre, light carbines, and pistols. Before they begin an attack, they lay themselves so flat on the necks of their horses, that it is hardly possible to discover their force; but being come within pistol-shot of the enemy, they raise themselves with surprising quickness, and fall on with such vivacity, that it is very difficult for the troops to preserve their order. When a retreat is necessary, their horses have so much fire, and are so indefatigable, their equipage so light, and themselves such excellent horsemen, that no other cavalry can pretend to follow them; they leap over ditches, and swim over rivers, with a surprising facility. Most of the German powers have troops under this name, as also France; into which country they were originally introduced under Louis the XIII. and were called Hungarian cavalry. This description of cavalry was accordingly more ancient in the French service, than that of hussars.

CAVEATING, in fencing, implies a motion whereby a person in an instant brings his sword, which was presented to one side of his adversary, to the opposite side.