R. (continued 2)

Malays REGIMENT, a corps which has been raised by the British on the islands and on the coasts of Malacca, for the specific purpose of doing duty in the island of Ceylon.

REGIMENTAL, any thing belonging to a regiment.

Regimental staff. See Staff.

REGIMENTALS, the uniform clothing of the army; as a leather cap, coat, waistcoat, breeches, stocks, shoes, boots, spats, spatterdashes, &c.

Regimental courts-martial. See Courts-Martial.

Regimental bond. See Bond.

Regimental parade. See Parade.

Regimental, belonging to a regiment.

Regimental orders. See Orders.

Regimental necessaries. By the British mutiny act, it is declared, that any person, buying, detaining, or exchanging any articles called regimental necessaries, or who shall cause the color of the clothes to be changed, shall forfeit 5l. Soldiers selling or exchanging them, are liable to military punishment, &c.

Regimental receipts for forage on service. Vouchers which must be produced by the contractors of an army to authorize them to have their claims discharged by the commissary general, or his deputies. It is sensibly observed in page 32 of the British Commissary, that in every case there should, if possible, be only one voucher for one issue. The mode of accomplishing this must be simple, and it is adopted by those who certainly have most experience; for every German corps, or German officer, who draws forage, or any other article, from the commissariat, sends a mere receipt. This prevents farther writing or trouble, because the receipt may be presented in the open field, and is in itself a complete voucher. All that is required, is, for the regiment to order its forage party to bring back the receipt, if the quantity be not obtained; and the quarter-master, or foraging serjeant, to give a receipt for what he gets, if only part can be had.

REGIR, Fr. to govern; to manage; to take charge of, viz.

Régir des soldats; to take charge of soldiers.

REGLE, Fr. See Rule.

Vent REGLE, Fr. a trade wind.

REGALEMEN. See Regulation.

REGRATTER, Fr. in architecture, to scrape the outside of a building.

Among engravers this word signifies to re-touch a plate.

REGULAR. In geometry, a regular body is a solid, whose surface is composed of regular and equal figures, and whose solid angles are all equal.

REGULAR attacks, in a siege, are such as are made in form; that is, by regular approaches. See Attacks.

Regular, when applied to the army, signifies those troops that are inlisted for a regular period, do duty as soldiers and nothing else; contradistinguished from those who are citizens occasionally exercising the duties of soldiers; thus the militia are not ranked among the regulars, unless on actual service and well disciplined, and fit for any service. Hence regular troops, or regulars.

REGULARS, (Troupes Régulieres, Fr.) Those troops whose conditions of enrollment are not limited to time or place, in contradistinction to fencibles, militia, or volunteer corps; called also the line.

To REGULATE, to adjust by rule or method.

Regulating Battalion. See Parallelism of a March.

REGULATION, the act of regulating, or adjusting by rule or method.

Regulation, a term generally used in the British army to signify the regulated price at which any commission, or saleable warrant is permitted to be disposed of. These prices have been fixed by the king. For particulars see Military Finance, page 160.

REGULATIONS, for the American army.

There is no coherent or consistent system of regulations in existence for the military establishment of the United States. The economy of military arrangement is as essential as the discipline of the field, to assure the effects of military operations. There should be a well digested system of regulations, and upon that system should be engrafted a staff, susceptible of adaptation to the peace or the war establishment, to the smallest or the largest force. The French have derived the greatest advantage from their regulations, which have been formed by a well digested body of principles adapted to all circumstances, and the enforcement and execution of which is always distinctly appropriated to the proper officers of the staff. At present the regulations of the United States army is confined to a few general orders from the war department, on detached points of service; and of occasional orders of the commander in chief, issued upon some exigency, at remote periods; and adopted into permanent use. In many instances these regulations have been altered by the war office, in others the circumstances which gave rise to them have ceased, and the regulations become obsolete or inappropriate. In 1810, an attempt was made, by the establishment of a quarter-master general’s office, to commence something like a system; should this be accomplished it may be beneficial, though the want of information in the duties of a staff, particularly if those heretofore arranged under the quarter-master general’s department alone are to be adopted, that it is to be feared the system may remain defective, should the old English model, now exploded by the British themselves, be kept in view instead of the more enlarged system introduced in modern wars. The treatise on the staff by Grimoard, contains the best body of regulations extant. It has been translated, and will form a part of the American Military Library.

The following are among the principal regulations in force at the beginning of the year 1810.

(General Orders.)

Head Quarters, Fort Washington, May 22, ’97

To prevent the necessity of repetition, to establish principle, without which there can be no permanent order, to define the rights of individuals, to exclude caprice, to promote economy, and precision, to disseminate an uniformity of duty and of service throughout the army, and to impress the necessary ideas of subordination and discipline, the following regulations have been digested, and must be duly respected by all ranks.

I. Precedence in command is attached to seniority of corps, and the oldest commission subject to such deviations as the commander in chief may deem essential to the national weal, and the point of honor is determined by the following gradation.

1. Guard of the president.

2. The attack.

3. Reconnoitring parties, and corps of observations.

4. Foraging before the enemy.

5. Posts in the enemy’s country.

6. National barriers.

7. Detachments and out posts.

8. Guard of the trenches.

9. Van guards to the front.

10. Rear guards in retreat.

11. General courts-martial.

12. Guard of the commander in chief.

13. Guards of camp or garrison taken from the line.

14. All other guards mounted from the grand parade.

15. Guards of general officers, and the staff according to rank.

16. Pickets.

17. General fatigues.

18. Regimental police.

Should a tour of service occur while an officer is on any subordinate duty, he shall be relieved, but the tour on which he was engaged shall pass to his credit. If an officer’s tour for general court-martial, picket, or fatigue, occurs while he is on any other duty from the grand parade, he shall not be relieved, but is to stand for the next tour.

II. In all services by detachment, the corps are to furnish according to their strength, the longest off the first on; but in all cases of duty and of service where it may be found practicable, the troops are to operate by companies, battalions, or regiments.

III. Marching off the grand parade, or swearing in on general court-martial, is to pass for a tour of duty.

IV. Return detachments not to be excused from duty more than two days.

V. Police in conformity to the regulations of Baron de Stuben.

VI. Fatigues, general or particular, to be regulated by detail, and duty of every kind to be apportioned impartially.

A soldier, by voluntary compact, becomes the servant of the state, but not the slave of any individual. Extra men are never to be drawn from the ranks, but by permission of the commanding officer of a district, department, or regiment; and when employed in the service of officers, they are to be paid one third of a dollar per day, by the individual for whom they work. To abstract a soldier from his professional duties, and to subject him to the orders of persons not attached to the army, or to impose upon him menial laborious services, is an abuse of authority, a breach of contract, and a deep injury to the service; because it authorizes negligence in the soldier, and in effect destroys his arms and clothes. This practice is therefore positively prohibited.

VII. The annual clothing should be issued in the following manner.

In the Southern States.

On the first day of December, woollen overalls and vests, two shirts, two pair shoes, and two pair socks.

On the first day of April, the residue.

In the middle and Eastern States.

On the first day of November, woollen overalls and vests, two shirts, two pair shoes, and two pair socks.

On the first day of May, the residue.

Where circumstances will permit, it is to be drawn by the paymasters of corps, under the orders of the commanding officers, upon returns certified by the captains, or officers commanding companies, who are to receive it, and are to be held responsible for the distribution; extraordinary arrangements will be applied to extraordinary cases.

VIII. Company books and papers belong to the company, and are never to be separated from it, therefore whenever an officer is taken from his company, by promotion, transfer, or leave of absence, he is to deposit all the books and papers belonging to it, with the officer next of rank, taking duplicate receipts for the same, one of which is to be lodged with the paymaster of his corps; and whenever a man is transferred or ordered upon distant service, the commanding officer of the company from which he is taken, will be held responsible, that the date of his inlistment and a state of his accounts, as to pay, clothing, arms, ammunition, and accoutrements, be transmitted to the commanding officer of the corps, garrison, or detachment, which he is to join: certificates of provision are always to accompany individual soldiers and non-commissioned officers commands, from post to post.

IX. Servants to be taken by voluntary consent from the regiment, corps, or detachment, to which the officer served may belong, in the following proportions, viz.

A lieutenant colonel commandant on duty, three, one without arms.

Major on duty, two, one without arms.

Captain commanding a post or battalion, two, one without arms.

Captain on ordinary duty, one with arms.

Subaltern on duty, one with arms.

Surgeon on duty, two do.

Surgeon’s mate, one do.

Quarter-master general with the army, two, one without arms.

Paymaster general two, one without arms.

Subordinate staff, at the discretion of the commanding officer.

The servants of platoon officers are always to accompany them on duty, and will be included in the same detail: no officer on furlough can be allowed more than one servant, and him without arms.

This allowance is a liberal one, and but too sensibly impairs the strength of the line. If gentlemen will mess, as in all other armies, it will be found abundant; otherwise they must employ domestics to be fed, paid, and clothed from their privy purses, as no further indulgence on the part of the public can be admitted.

The commanding officers of corps, posts, and detachments, will be held responsible for the strict observance of this order, and the violation by whomsoever permitted or committed, will be followed by an arrest, and the sentence of a general court-martial.

X. Four women per company complete, and in that ratio, are permitted to draw provisions and no more; washing the clothes of the company is to be performed by these women, at such price as the commanding officer of the regiment may establish; the officer commanding the company will be held responsible that it is fairly and impartially distributed, rating an officer as four men; mistresses or kept women are prohibited to the officers—the habit is a vicious one, it is repugnant to the rules of society, it is burthensome to the service, ever pregnant with discord, often afflictive to the meritorious soldier, always disgraceful, and frequently destructive to men of merit; the ceremony of marriage heretofore performed by the officers of the army, is also strictly forbid.

XI. Discharges for services fully performed to be given by the commandants of regiments, upon the certificate of the captain or commanding officer of the company in which the soldier served; but in all other cases by the commander in chief, or superior authority—retiring officers are not to take off soldiers with them as waiters or in any other capacity; a contrary practice has lost many valuable men to the service, and has perplexed the company accounts.

XII. The power of granting furloughs is in the commander in chief, on the recommendation of the colonel or officer immediately commanding the applicant, unless where the authority of the president is interposed.

XIII. Settling is restricted to the permission of the commander in chief, or officer commanding a separate department, but no permission is to be granted, except to citizens of the United States of known probity, and attachment to the government.

XIV. As we have no chaplain, the troops are to be inspected by companies every Sunday, and by regiments, battalions, or detachments, monthly; when returns of inspection are to be made out agreeably to the established form, these returns are to be regularly transmitted to the commander in chief, under the certificate of the commanding officers of companies, and the inspecting officer, who in the absence of the inspector, is to be appointed by the commanding officers of corps, posts, or detachments.

XV. The appointment of adjutants and quarter-masters of corps, hertofore in the commander in chief, appertains of right to the lieutenant colonels commandant, who have the power of removal from office. The regimental paymaster is elective by the officers of the regiment, under the orders of the colonel.

XVI. The appointment of non-commissioned officers, held of great importance in all services, because it is the root of all subordination and discipline, has been much neglected in ours. More circumspection on this interesting point is strictly enjoined, the captain or commanding officers of companies may recommend, but the appointment is in the colonel or commanding officer of the corps only.

XVII. Reformation being the end of all punishments, a soldier is never to be punished when drunk, but when found in that disgraceful situation, he is to be confined until he recover his senses, and is then to be punished.

XVIII. The residence of the regimental staff is at the head quarters of the regiment, except the surgeons mates, who are subject to be detached.

XIX. Stoppages of pay are to be rigorously enforced for lost arms, ammunition, accoutrements, and clothing, which cannot be satisfactorily accounted for, it therefore becomes indispensible that company and regimental books, as well as those of the paymaster and quarter-master, should be kept with great exactness, and that councils of administration should sit quarterly whenever practicable, to scrutinize the regimental accounts.

XX. Garrisons of posts are not to be varied, except by the officer who establishes them, or his superior, but subordinate officers commanding posts in the department, are to report monthly to the head quarters of the regiment to which they belong.

XXI. Commanding officers of posts, under the grade of field officers, are to be relieved annually, and majors biennially, this rotation is founded in the principles of justice and sound policy.

XXII. The use of cards and dice are strictly prohibited in camp or quarters, except for the game of backgammon.

XXIII. In military institutions the force of example is incalculable, no officer, therefore, off duty, can be excused from parades, regimental or general, except in case of actual sickness or confinement; the officer who feigns sickness to elude duty, is a dishonor to his cloth, and will be held in infamy: and should any officer or non-commissioned officer, (be his command ever so diminutive,) betray such indolence and insensibility of professional obligation, as to omit one regular roll call, he shall be made an example to the army.

These orders are to be read to the troops, on the first day of the months of January, April, July, and October.

(Extract of General Orders.)

Head Quarters, Loramiers, June 12, 1797.

To correct and extinguish the abuses which have crept into the service, is an herculean task, yet the commander in chief owes it to his own honor, to the honor of the army, and to his country, to effect a reform, and he calls upon his officers of every grade, for their co-operation in the arduous undertaking.

The spirit of cropping,[16] which is almost every where to be seen, is repugnant to the principles of soldiership, destructive to the service, and disgraceful to those who indulge it; not less exceptionable is the practice of collecting and breeding live stock in large quantities.

The highest obligations of a soldier are briefly comprised to be ever ready to march, to fight, and to die, but the principles and condition of the former are at utter variance with this solemn text; gentlemen in commission must reflect, that it is to them the private looks for example; the national bounty is expended not to improve the agricultural arts, but to instruct men in the use of arms; the hoe and plough must be laid aside, and every moment from professional duty, devoted to form, instruct, and to train them in the glorious science of war. It is for this noble purpose gentlemen receive the pay and subsistence of their country, and their honor is pledged for the performance.

Planting and improving of corn fields is prohibited; garden, sufficient for the accommodation of officers and soldiers, are proper and necessary, and it is obligatory on all commanding officers to pay attention to this subject, the labor is however to be done by detail; the idea of an officer’s farming for profit is inadmissible, as it tends to a neglect of duty, a relaxation of discipline, abuse of the public service, and the disgrace of the profession.

In marching from one post of the continent to another, it is repugnant to every principle of economy and of justice, that the public should transport private provisions (other than groceries) or household furniture; if one officer is indulged in this way, another is equally intitled to indulgence, what a spectacle should we behold was every officer to move, with all the baggage and stock accumulated at the several posts, we should look more like a horde of Tartars than a regular military corps; while such practices prevail the public service will be embarrassed and delayed, and in effect exposed to destructive consequences, they are therefore prohibited.

(Extract of General Orders.)

Head Quarters, South West Point, September 1, 1801.

Besides the rolls of muster directed to be furnished to the pay department, one roll of each company or detachment of the army, and of the regimental staff for the months of June and December annually, are to be transmuted to the inspector of the army, at the city of Washington, on the first of January, and the first day of July following such musters, in the same manner that inspection and other returns are directed to be transmitted to him by the order of the 30th of November last; for the strict observance of which all commanding officers will be held responsible.

(General Orders.)

Head Quarters, Washington, July 9, 1804.

The opinion having prevailed that an officer may throw up his commission and abandon the service at his discretion, the general considers it his duty to correct a delusion so pregnant with mischief to the public interest, and so subversive of every principle of subordination and discipline; it is therefore to be clearly understood that no officer, bearing a commission in the United States, has the power to resign the same, or quit the service without the president’s permission, or that of some subordinate duly authorized, and all offences against this order are to be punished with rigor.

(Extract of General Orders.)

Head Quarters, Natchitoches, Sept. 24, 1806.

To recover lost ground, and to revive the languishing principle of subordination, it is essential this little corps should recollect the rights and attributes of rank and commission; agreeably, therefore, to a standing rule, which can never be dispensed with, without prejudice to the service.

The general can hold no communication on a professional topic, except in cases of public or personal grievances but through the commandant of the post; or commanding officers of corps, nor can these gentlemen receive any similar application from their subalterns, but through their respective captains.

(Extract of General Orders.)

Head Quarters, New Orleans, January 22, 1807.

It is deemed unnecessary to muster the troops every month, since it rarely happens that a payment is made for so short a period: the general therefore directs that in future the several companies be mustered on the last day of February, April, June, August, October, and December, and that each muster, comprise the casualties of two months.

(Extract of General Orders.)

Head Quarters, New Orleans, March 31, 1807.

The following regulations are to be considered of standing import, and are to be punctually observed until revoked.

All commanding officers are in person to command the daily parades of their respective garrisons, unless prevented by indisposition.

The troops are to be exercised once a week in battalion, and by companies twice a week when the weather may permit, without prejudice to the arms or the health of the men.

Whenever a superior officer shall visit a post or garrison, it is the duty of the commanding officer immediately to wait upon him, and make a tender of the keys, returns, reports, regulations, and instructions relative to the said post or garrison, and receive his orders.

Quarter guards are not permitted in garrison, nor are guards of quarters allowed, except to the commanding officer, and those who are entitled to them by established regulation.

The guards are invariably to be exercised by the officer of the day, when the weather may permit, before they are marched off the grand parade for their posts.

Awkward recruits are to be drilled daily until perfected in the elements of their profession.

(General Orders.)

Head Quarters, New Orleans, April 15, 1807

In all cases where men are discharged, the full complement of clothing to which they are intitled by law, is to be paid up out of the company stock.

Inspector’s Office, Washington, January 21, 1810.

The foregoing are true copies from the orderly books in this office.

A. Y. NICOLL, Adjutant and Inspector.

BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR.

Regulations to be observed in the allowances for barracks or quarters to the officers of the army, and in the delivery and distribution of fuel and straw to the garrisons on the sea coast and recruiting parties.

Barracks or Quarters.

To the commanding general, for himself, four rooms and a kitchen.

To his aid, one room.

To the quarter-master general, three rooms and a kitchen, and two rooms for offices and clerks.

To each field officer, two rooms.

To the inspector of the army, one room in addition to his allowance as a field officer.

To each captain, one room.

To each of the regimental staff, one room.

To a field officer, or a captain, when commanding a separate post, in addition, a kitchen.

To two subalterns, one room.

To every mess of eight officers, one room and a kitchen.

Fuel. From the first day of October to the first day of April, in each year.

To the commanding general, two cords and one half of wood per month.

To the quarter-master general, two cords per month.

To the inspector of the army, two cords per month.

To each field officer, one and an half cord per month.

To every commanding officer of a garrison, one and an half cord per month.

To every officer commanding a recruiting party, one cord per month.

To every other commissioned officer, one cord per month.

To every room occupied as barracks by eight non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates, one cord per month.

To a garrison barrack guard, half a cord per month.

To officers and soldiers half of the aforesaid allowances of fuel from the first day of April until the first day of October in every year, but none for offices.

To the sick in hospital, the allowance of wood is to be regulated by the surgeon.

The commanding general, under special circumstances, may by orders in writing, enlarge or diminish the foregoing allowances of fuel, and may by the like orders, direct or withhold allowances of fuel or straw at such other posts as he may judge expedient, in cases not provided for by any special regulation.

No compensation in money to be made in lieu of allowances of fuel, nor is any compensation to be received by or paid to officers, in lieu of quarters or barracks.

Straw.

1. One truss of straw weighing thirty six pounds, is allowed for each palliass for two men. At the expiration of sixteen days, each palliass is to be refreshed with eight pounds. At the expiration of thirty two days, the whole straw is to be removed, and a fresh bedding of one truss to be furnished, and so on, every succeeding period of sixteen and thirty two days.

2. The same quantity of straw is allowed for servants or batmen not soldiers, and for washer-women attached to each company in the proportion of one washer-woman to every seventeen non-commissioned officers and privates.

3. The straw is to be changed for the sick in the hospital as often as may be deemed necessary: this necessity to be determined by the surgeon, or surgeon’s mate, in the absence of the surgeon.

Requisitions for Fuel or Straw.

1. Requisitions for wood or straw, must state the number and rank, of the officers; the number of non-commissioned officers, and privates, servants and batmen not soldiers, and of washer-women for whom demanded, and be certified by the commandant of the garrison, or recruiting party.

2. No wood or straw shall be drawn for officers, or wood or straw for soldiers, whilst on furlough, or any allowance made to them for the same.

3. Whenever it shall appear that more wood or straw has been drawn than there were officers, soldiers, servants or batmen not soldiers, and washer-women actually present and entitled thereto; the commanding officer signing such requisition, shall be held responsible for the value of the article drawn beyond the quantity allowed by these regulations, and shall have his name and the circumstances of the case, reported to the secretary for the department of war.

4. Requisitions thus signed, and the receipts given by the officers, to whom the articles are delivered for consumption, shall be produced as vouchers by the contractor, agent, or quarter-master, in the settlement of his accounts.

As a smaller quantity of fuel may suffice for the garrisons and recruiting parties to the southward than ordered by these regulations, their commandants are enjoined to regulate the demands for this article by the nature of the climate.

Given at the war office of the United States in the city of Washington, this twenty eighth day of April, A. D. 1801.

HENRY DEARBORN, Secretary of War.

Additional regulations relative to fuel.

At all posts, garrisons, or recruiting rendezvous, to the northward of the 39th degree of north latitude, should be allowed in addition to the present allowance of wood, from the first day of October, to the first day of April in each year;

To each field officer, half a cord per month.

To every commanding officer, of a garrison, consisting of one company, half a cord per month.

To every other commissioned officer, one third of a cord per month.

To every room occupied by eight men, half a cord per month.

To a garrison or quarter guard, half a cord per month.

May 1, 1806.

Regulations respecting certain supplies and objects of special and extra expense.

The several contractors, besides rations including ardent spirits and vinegar, shall only provide and furnish quarters, transportation, forage, fuel, straw, and stationery, to recruiting parties where there is no appropriate officer of the quarter-master general’s department to furnish the same. The quarters intended, are those of a temporary kind. The power to provide them shall not extend to the building or repairing of barracks. In what they furnish, they shall govern themselves exclusively by the regulations which have been established by law or by the war department, and in cases to which no regulations apply, by the orders of the particular commanding officer.

No repairs shall be made to any barracks or buildings which shall incur a disbursement of money exceeding fifty dollars, but by an order of the secretary of war.

As often as any matter which may require any special or extra expense can wait without material injury to the service, for a communication to, and the direction of the secretary of war, or the commander of the army; it is not to be undertaken till after such communication and direction shall have been had.

The quarter-master general, his deputies and assistants, are primarily charged with making the disbursements in the cases abovementioned. When there is no such officer, the agent of the war department in the vicinity shall do it. All orders for such disbursements must be definite and in writing, to be transmitted with the accounts of them to the accountant of the war department; and all disbursements made in pursuance of these regulations must be substantiated by such vouchers as shall be prescribed by the said accountant.

Given at the war office of the United States in the city of Washington, this twenty eighth day of April, A. D. 1801.

HENRY DEARBORN, Secretary of War.

Rules adopted by the president of the United States relative to promotions in the army.

Promotions in the army of the United States, shall hereafter be made agreeably to the regulations in force previous to those of the 3d of September 1799, which were promulgated in general orders, dated the ninth of that month.

Promotions to the rank of captain shall be made regimentally, and to the rank of major and lieutenant colonel in the lines of the artillery and infantry respectively.

The officer next in rank, will, on the happening of a vacancy, be considered, in ordinary cases, as the proper person to fill the same; but this rule may be subject to exceptions in extraordinary cases.

Given at the war office of the United States, this twenty sixth day of May, A. D. 1801, and of independence the twenty fifth.

HENRY DEARBORN, Secretary of War.

The above rules for promotion in the infantry and artillery, are applicable to the cavalry and riflemen.

No officer will consider himself as filling a vacancy until he receives notice thereof through the department of war.

H. DEARBORN.

March 7, 1808.

Regulations respecting salutes.

Salutes from the forts in the several ports and harbors of the United States shall, as a general rule, be of sixteen discharges from guns of a calibre not exceeding nine or twelve pounders.

No salute shall be fired to foreign ships or vessels of war, but in return; and in every such case, their salute shall be returned gun for gun.

Each military post within the United States may fire a national salute on the morning of the fourth of July, annually; and when there shall be a collection of citizens at, or within the immediate vicinity of a military post for the purpose of celebrating the anniversary of American independence, sixteen guns may be fired in the course of the feast.

A national salute shall be fired on a visit to the post from the president or vice president of the United States, or the governor of the state in which the post may be.

A gun not exceeding a six pounder, should be fired daily at reveille beating, immediately after the break of day; after which, no officer or soldier should remain in bed.

Given at the war office of the United States in the city of Washington, this tenth day of June, A. D. 1801, and in the twenty fifth year of American independence.

(Signed) HENRY DEARBORN, Secretary of war.

Regulations respecting extra pay, and allowance of soldiers, when ordered on constant labor, for a term not less than 40 days.

The non-commissioned officers and privates of the artillery or infantry who may be drawn as artificers, to work constantly on fortifications or bridges, for a term not less than 40 days, Sundays excepted, shall be allowed, for each day’s actual labor, fourteen cents, and one gill of spirits each, in addition to their pay and rations, and one pair of linen overalls, and one frock; and if they shall be continued at work for 120 days, Sundays excepted, they shall each be allowed an additional frock, and an additional pair of overalls.

Other non-commissioned officers and privates, not artificers, who shall be drawn from the artillery and infantry for constant labor on fortifications, roads, or bridges, for a term not less than 40 days, Sundays excepted, shall be allowed for each day’s actual labor, ten cents and one gill of spirits each, in addition to their pay and rations; and if they shall be continued at work for 120 days, an additional frock and pair of overalls in like manner as the artificers.

It shall be the duty of the officer commanding any such working party, to have a regular account, kept under his inspection of every day’s work performed by each non-commissioned officer or private, signed by the commanding officer, and to transmit monthly a fair abstract thereof to the paymaster of the district in which the labor may be performed, which paymaster will be authorised to draw the money on the said abstracts, and pay the men conformably therewith.

It is to be understood, that the extra daily pay and allowance, is only to be given for actual day’s work, and not to be granted, when from sickness or other causes, the work shall not actually be performed.

(Signed)

H. DEARBORN, Secretary of war.

War department, June 25, 1801.

The above regulations, so far as they respect allowances of extra clothing, are considered as being superseded by the act fixing the military peace establishment, which grants fatigue clothing to all the non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates of that establishment, annually.

H. DEARBORN.

March 7, 1808.

The following rates are to govern in the allowance to officers for the transportation of their baggage, when ordered on distant commands.

A colonel 750 pounds.

Lieut. colonel, 600

Major, 500

Captain, 400

First lieutenant, 300

Second do. 250

Ensign, 250

Surgeon, 500

Surgeon’s mate, 300

Each officer to be allowed the usual and customary prices of transportation by land or water per hundred, on the route which shall be necessary for him to transport himself and baggage, for as many hundred as he is entitled to the transportation of, by the regulations hereto annexed. An average price by land, will not exceed two dollars per hundred for 100 miles, and by water there are but few cases where a certain rate per cwt. is not known.

(Signed)

H. DEARBORN.

War department, June 23, 1801.

In addition to the foregoing regulations, there shall be allowed to each officer, when ordered on general courts-martial, at the rate of three dollars for every hundred miles, for the transportation of his baggage.

(Signed)

H. D.

Ordinance, regulating and ascertaining the quantity of stationery which each officer, serving in the army of the United States, shall be entitled to receive annually.

To every officer commanding a separate post, the garrison of which shall consist of, from one to two companies, twenty quires of writing paper.

To every officer commanding a separate post, the garrison of which shall consist of, from three to five companies, thirty-six quires of writing paper.

To every officer commanding a separate post, one blank book containing two quires of paper.

For the use of the garrison of every separate post, ingredients sufficient to make two quarts of ink.

For the use of the garrison of every separate post, twenty dozen of wafers.

For the use of the assistant military agent, at every separate post, one blank book containing two quires of paper.

For the use of every military company, whether in garrison or otherwise, two quires of paper, and one blank book containing the same quantity.

For the use of every other commissioned officer in the army, two quires of letter paper, with a proportionate allowance of ink, quills, and wafers.

Done at the war office of the U. States, this 25th day of February, 1802.

H. DEARBORN, Secretary of war.

Regulations relative to the employment of physicians.

In future, no surgeon, surgeon’s mate, or physician, not holding an appointment in the army of the United States, is to be employed on public account, by any officer or other person whatever to act in the capacity of surgeon or physician, for any man or men attached to the army, unless by special agreement first entered into, in which the compensation for medical service to be performed, shall be stipulated in writing, either by the day or month.

When the services required shall be such, as not to exceed the usual duties of a surgeon’s mate, the compensation per month, should not exceed the pay and emoluments of a surgeon’s mate.

For any number of men, not exceeding twenty, the compensation should not exceed the rate of two hundred dollars a year, including medicine; and for any number of men, not exceeding thirty, the compensation should not exceed the rate of three hundred dollars a year, including medicine.

In no instance, extraordinary cases excepted, should the compensation for medical assistance, for a shorter period than one month, exceed the rate of four dollars per day, exclusive of medicine.

Charges for medical services, after the promulgation of these regulations, will require certificates, of their having been performed agreeable thereto.

April 2, 1806.

Regulations relative to returns of clothing.

It shall be the duty of the commanding officers of companies, to make out in December each year correct returns of the clothing necessary for their respective companies for the succeeding year, including what is on hand fit for service; also correct returns or all clothing on hand, noting such as is fit for use: the said returns to be forwarded annually, by the 1st day of January, to the department of war, through the commanding officer of the military post, garrison, or encampment, at which the officer making the returns is stationed. The commanding officers of companies, shall be responsible for the correctness of their respective returns.

War department, Dec. 1, 1807.

Regulations to be observed by officers commanding detachments of the army to be embarked, and on ship board.

I. The officer commanding the embarkation, prior to the men’s going on board, must personally inspect the transports, to ascertain that the quantity of provisions assigned, and every necessary accommodation is provided.

II. As soon as the troops are on board, an officer from each company will personally see, that the arms and accoutrements, the clothing neatly packed in the knapsacks, together with the hats, are to be placed in order, and properly secured, over their respective births, on the racks and pins ordered for the purpose: the arms are all to be provided with cloth tompkins; they are to be oiled, and handled daily, during the voyage, and are to be frequently inspected by the officers, to prevent their being injured by rust.

III. The men must be allotted to births, in the order in which they roll in their companies, and are to be divided into messes by squads, with a non-commissioned officer at the head of each, who is to be responsible for the good order and cleanliness of it; particular attention must be paid to the cooking, for which purpose two men must be detailed weekly from the company to attend to this duty, and it is essential that every other soldier should be prohibited from going to the camboose.

IV. An officer of the day will be appointed, whose duty it will be to enforce regularity, cleanliness and order amongst the men; to see that their provisions are well cooked and equally distributed; and in case of neglect, in any instance, he must immediately report the circumstance to the officer commanding, who will chastise the offender, if necessary.

V. The men must not be permitted to go below during the day, except in case of indisposition, or bad weather; and the bedding must invariably be brought on deck every morning, if not prevented by rain, and taken down always before sun set.

VI. To prevent accidents by fire, no candles must be suffered below, but in lanterns, and smoking between decks must be on no account, permitted. All lights are to be extinguished at eight o’clock; and the officers, to set an example of good order, should not indulge themselves in sitting up beyond a reasonable hour.

VII. General parades and calls of the roll are to be had at troop and retreat, with arms and accoutrements, in good weather, and without in bad; and on every Saturday, the commanding officer must make a complete inspection of arms, accoutrements and clothing.

VIII. To ensure cleanliness, the men must be compelled to wash their heads and hands every morning, and their feet every evening.

IX. A serjeant’s guard must be mounted daily, and a sufficient number of sentries posted, to enforce these regulations; and particularly one or more at the necessary, camboose and hatchways, with their side arms.

X. In case of coming to anchor, care must be taken to prevent the men having any communication with the shore; and attention must be paid to prevent their purchasing liquor or green fruit, from boats coming along side.

XI. The commanding officer is to co-operate with the master of the transport, in whatever may be necessary to promote the voyage; and in approaching a sail, he is positively forbid shewing a single soldier on deck: the sentries are in such case to be removed below.

XII. The men are to be furnished with two flints; twenty four rounds of ball cartridges, each: six in their cartridge boxes, and the residue packed in kegs.

These regulations are to be strictly observed in every particular; and any officer who may violate them, by omission or commission, will be brought before a general court-martial.

Given at Head Quarters, city of Washington, Dec. 15, 1808.

This closes the whole body of Regulations for the United States force, as far as the American editor has been able to collect them.

To buy or sell at the Regulation, to give or receive no more for a commission than what has been settled by the king’s authority in the British service. When an officer is allowed to retire from a regiment with permission to sell, the one next for purchase is supposed to pay the regulation price or his commission; but it frequently happens that parties agree among themselves with respect to terms; and it sometimes occurs, that young men of interest and fortune stop the regular promotions of officers by overbidding the market. This traffic, so infamous in its principle, as well as in its abuses, was exhibited in an odious light in the case of the duke of York and his courtesans in 1809.

Cavalry Regulations, specific instructions for the formations and movements of cavalry.

Infantry Regulations. A system of tactics for infantry. The general principles for the formations and movements of cavalry and infantry being invariably the same, their more particular explanation in several points, is to be found in the regulations for the infantry. See American Military Library.

General Regulations and orders. A collection of certain general rules which were published for the British army by authority on the 20th of August, 1799, and which are to be considered as the ground work of those instructions that generals commanding districts, and officers in the command of brigades and regiments, forts or garrisons, may find it necessary to issue to the troops under their respective commands. To use the words of the adjutant general, this publication does by no means comprehend the whole detail which the various duties and services, and the interior economy and management of regiments may require. They are principally extracted from a book, intituled The Rudiments of War, which was published by N. Conant in 1777, they are directed to be considered as the standing orders of the army at large. They cannot be altered, or in any sense be deviated from, without the king’s or commander in chief’s approbation. It is however to be observed, that a book manifestly calculated for the interior management of the army, and consequently a necessary companion to the rules and regulations, should have been more specific. Many circumstances, apparently insignificant in themselves, and, of course, unnoticed at head quarters, grow into objects of serious discussion among the different regiments of the service, both at home and abroad. It is an old maxim, that he who neglects small faults will soon fall into great offences.

RE-IMBODY. To re-imbody, is to imbody again any regiment or corps that has been disbanded. Thus, the English militia is disbanded, and partially re-imbodied for 28 days in every year during peace.

REIN, that part of a bridle which extends from the head of a horse to the hands of the rider, &c.

REINFORCE, in founding guns, that part of a gun next to the breech, which is made stronger than the rest of the piece, in order to resist the force of the powder. There are generally two in each piece, called the first and second reinforce: the second is something smaller than the first, upon the supposition that when the powder is inflamed, and occupies a greater space, its force is diminished, which is not the case. See Cannon.

Reinforce ring. There are three in each gun, called the first, second, and third: they are flat mouldings, like flat iron hoops, placed at the breech end of the first and second reinforce, projecting from the rest of the metal by about ¹⁄₄ of an inch.

REINFORCEMENT to the army, is an addition of fresh troops to strengthen an army, in order to enable it to go on with an enterprise, &c.

To REJOIN. To meet again. To return. He left his regiment when it broke up camp, but rejoined it again before the army marched into the enemy’s country·

REJOUISSANCES publiques, Fr. Public rejoicings, or thanksgivings. Chevalier Folard makes a curious and interesting comment relative to this subject, in one of his notes upon Polybius. He therein asserts, that the Te Deum, or thanksgiving to God, was as much practised among the heathens as it is among the moderns.

REITRES, Fr. a body of armed horsemen, who came out of Germany, and entered into the French service during the reign of Henry III. They were incorporated with the carabineers.

RELAYER, Fr. to relieve; to lessen the labor of any particular set of men by occasionally sending fresh workmen.

RELAIS, Fr. a term used in fortification to signify a space, containing some feet in breadth, which is between the foot of the rampart and the scarp of the fosse. It serves as a convenient receptacle for the earth that occasionally crumbles off.

RELAY horses, in the artillery, are spare horses that march with the artillery and baggage, ready to relieve others, or to assist in getting up a hill, or through bad roads, &c.

RELEASE. The commanding officer alone has the prerogative of releasing a prisoner from confinement, after he has once been duly given in charge to the guard, with his crime or crimes stated in writing; or of remitting after he has been adjudged to suffer military punishment; except in cases of a general court-martial, when the general of the district in certain cases, and the president of the United States in higher cases, can remit or mitigate.

Cheval de Relais, Fr. a hackney horse.

RELEVEE, Fr. The afternoon.

RELEVER, Fr. to relieve. Hence,

Relever une sentinelle, Fr. To relieve a sentry, by posting another soldier in his room.

Relever la garde, Fr. To relieve guard.

RELIEF, Fr. an order, given by the minister at war, to authorize an officer to receive the arrears of pay which had accumulated during his absence from the regiment.

Relief, Fr. In architecture means the same as the term does when used in English.

RELIEN, Fr. The broken grains of gunpowder which have not passed through the sieve.

To RELIEVE the guard, is to put fresh men upon guard, which is generally done every 24 hours.

To Relieve the trenches, is to relieve the guard of the trenches, by appointing those for that duty, who have not been there before, or whose turn is next.

To Relieve the sentries, is to put fresh men upon that duty from the guard, which is generally done every two hours, by a corporal who attends the relief, to see the proper orders are delivered to the soldier who relieves.

RELIEVER, an iron ring fixed to a handle by means of a socket, so as to be at right angles to it: it serves to disengage the searcher of a gun, when one of its points is retained in a hole, and cannot be got out otherwise. See Searcher.

A REMAIN, a term used among store-keepers belonging to the board of ordnance, &c. to express the actual quantity of stores which is found at an outport, &c. when a new store-keeper is appointed.

Remains of stores are ordered to be taken at all places at home, once in seven years, as also at the expiration of a war. In foreign parts a remain is taken only on the appointment of a new store-keeper. See Office of Ordnance, or Board of Ordnance.

To REMAND, to send back; as when a soldier who has been brought out of prison, or the guard-house, for the purpose of being examined or tried, is sent back without any thing final occurring relative to his case

To Remark, to take note of any thing.

REMARKS. Army returns, regimental statements, guard reports, &c. have a column allotted for remarks and observations relative to extraordinary occurrences.

REMBLAI, Fr. Earth collected together for the purpose of making a bank way, &c.

REMBLAYER, Fr. To collect earth together.

REMBARQUER, Fr. To re-embark.

REMBOITER, Fr. The same as Emboiter. To replace, to put together. The latter term is used by the French in artillery and cavalry manœuvres. It is the correlative to Déboiter; to break off.

REMETTEZ vous. This term agrees with the phrase—as you were. Se Remettre. To take a former position, to return to the original ground

REMETTRE, Fr. to restore, to bring back again. It is frequently used in a military sense, viz. Remettre un bataillon; to restore or bring back a battalion to its original formation

REMIT To lessen; as to remit a part of a soldier’s sentence.

To REMONSTRATE, to make a representation of a case or cases wherein one or more may consider themselves to be aggrieved. Military men may remonstrate through their superior officers; but where the duty of the service is concerned, that duty must be first performed with cheerfulness and fidelity.

REMONTER, Fr. To Remount.

Remonter une compagnie de cavalerie, Fr. To remount a troop of horse.

Remonter une rivière, Fr. To sail up a river.

REMORA, Fr. This word is sometimes written Rémora, and signifies obstacle, hindrance. It comes from the Latin Remora, a small fish, which was supposed by the ancients to impede the progress of a ship.

REMORAL, Fr. an officer belonging to a galley, who has charge of the oars.

To REMOVE, to change the situation of a person.

A REMOUNT, means a supply of good and serviceable horses for the whole or part of a cavalry regiment. The following instructions have been copied from a compilation of English general and regimental orders, viz. The size of the horses for the heavy cavalry must run from 15 hands and 1 inch, to 15 3; and the age be 4 or 5 off, if possible; the taking horses coming four must be avoided as much as can be. No horse must be taken for the public service, unless he be very close and compact in his make, very broad across the loins, short and straight backed, close coupled, round barrelled, and well carcassed, wide between the rider’s thighs, deep at the girt and shoulders, and full, though not heavy chested, with short jointed, clean, bony legs, and full furnished, with strong thighs: the shoulders must lay well back; the forehand rise so as to give the horse freedom; and the head must be so set on as to admit of his getting his nose in. To this must be added, action, and good sound, full feet, with open heels. No horse must be taken with flat feet, or any lameness, or visible defect. No heavy, fleshy legged, lumbering horse must be taken on any account.

To REMOUNT. To remount the cavalry or dragoons, is to furnish them with horses in the room of those which have been either killed, disabled, or cast.

RENCONTRE, Fr. This word has been adopted amongst us, and signifies either a private quarrel, in which individuals accidentally meet and fight; or an unexpected and irregular combat between two bodies of armed men, who belong to armies that are in hostile opposition to each other. Thus, as in the former instance it serves to distinguish the casual determination of a feud or difference from the pre-determined and settled plan of a duel; so in the latter it marks the difference between a skirmish, &c. and a regular battle.

RENDER. See Surrender.

RENDEZVOUS, the place appointed for troops to assemble at. It likewise means any particular spot that is fixed upon for two duellists to decide their quarrel.

RENDEZVOUS, -

RENDEVOUS,

in a military sense, the place appointed by the general, where all the troops that compose the army are to meet at the time appointed, in case of an alarm. This place should be fixed upon, according to the situation of the ground, and the sort of troops quartered in the village. In an open country it is easy to fix upon a place of rendezvous, because the general has whatever ground he thinks necessary. In towns and villages the largest streets, or market places, are very fit; but let the place be where it will, the troops must assemble with ease, and be ready for the prompt execution of orders.

RENDU, Fr. Surrendered, given up.

Soldat RENDU, Fr. This term is used, to express the difference between a soldier who deserts to the enemy, and one who lays down his arms. In the former instance he is called déserteur; in the latter, soldat rendu. It is sometimes used as a substitute, viz. Un rendu, a man who has surrendered.

RENEGADE, -

RENEGADO,

a deserter; any one who goes over to the enemy.

RENFORCEMENT, Fr. a hollow place.

RENFORCER, Fr. to reinforce, to strengthen, to fortify.

RENFORT, Fr. Reinforcement.

Renfort, Fr. a certain part or a cannon so called. See Reinforce.

REPARATIONS dans un regiment, Fr. repair of arms, necessaries, camp equipage, &c.

To RENEW, (renouveler, Fr.) to repeat, to begin afresh. Hence to renew hostilities.

Renewal. The act of renewing, as the renewal of hostilities.

RENVOI, Fr. Sending back; any thing returned.

Chevaux de Renvoi, Fr. Returned horses.

REPARTIR, Fr. To divide, to separate, to detach.

REPARATION des troupes, Fr. Distribution of troops in different quarters.

REPERTORY. See Magazine.

REPLIER, se replier, Fr. To fall back, to retreat. In military movements, to take a rear direction towards any particular part of the line, viz.

Se REPLIER sur la droite, Fr. To fall back upon the right.

REPLY. After the prisoner’s defence before a court-martial, the prosecutor or informant may reply, but without noticing any matter foreign to the specific crime or crimes expressed in the charge.

REPORT, sound; loud noise, as that made by the discharge of a musquet or cannon.

REPORT. Specific statement of persons and things. Although this word may, in some sense, be considered the same as return, yet it so far differs in military matters, that it is less comprehensive, and relates more immediately to persons and occurrences than to things.

General officers report to the commander in chief only.

The commander in chief’s guard reports to himself by one of his aid-de-camps.

Reports of cavalry are given in to the senior generals of cavalry; and reports of infantry, to the senior general officers of infantry. On a march the field officer of the piquet reports to the general of the day who leads the column; and in camp to the next superior officer to himself. A provost martial gives in his return of prisoners, and reports to the general of the day.

Judge advocates, acting in districts or garrisons, &c. send in the minutes of courts-martial, and report to the district general. Regimental surgeons report to their commanding officers, and surgeons in districts, &c. to the war office.

Monthly Report. Every company in the service of the United States, is required to make a monthly inspection and report, according to forms furnished by the adjutant and inspector.

All troops belonging to the British service, the marines excepted, who report to the admiralty, report through their several commanding officers, &c. to the adjutant general and secretary at war, and to the commander in chief.

Special Report. A special report is said to be made when the name of an officer is transmitted by his commander to the general of a district, independent of the regular returns; and some specific instance of misconduct is laid before him; every officer on his arrival from abroad with a regiment or detachment of troops, must report himself to the governor or commanding officer of the seaport at which he arrives; and every officer who takes his passage for foreign service, must do the same previous to his departure.

The senior officer in each recruiting quarter reports weekly to the field officer of the district, the number and strength of the parties therein. The field officers commanding recruiting parties in districts, report to the adjutant and inspector, to whom all returns and reports are to be transmitted by them, and not direct from the recruiting officers.

Reports are made daily, weekly, or monthly, according to circumstances.

The various subordinate reports consist of

Report of a rearguard.

Report of a barrack guard.

Report of a quarter guard.

Report of a main guard and its dependencies, &c. &c.

In the column of remarks which must accompany each of these reports, it is necessary, for the person who signs, to specify all casualties and extraordinary occurrences according to the particular nature of each report. The different hours at which the grand rounds, visiting rounds, and patroles went, must likewise be put down.

REPOS, Fr. Rest, ease. It is used by the French as a word of command, viz.

Repos, Fr. a word of command which agrees with stand at ease.

Quartiers de Repos, Fr. These places are so called where troops remain for some days to refresh themselves.

Soldat REPOSE sur l’arme, Fr. a soldier standing at ease with ordered arms.

Reposez vous sur vos armes, Fr. Order arms.

In REPOSE, (en repos, Fr.) This term, which is manifestly taken from the French, applies to troops that are allowed to be stationary for any given period during an active campaign either through sickness, or from some other cause. Thus the 5th regiment being in repose, it was judged expedient to order the 28th to advance by forced marches.

REPOSITORY, a place or repertory, in which any thing is preserved. Thus the British Repository at Woolwich, contains models of every sort of warlike stores, weapons, and fortification: whether invented by officers of the army or civilians, as well of other nations as of Britain, receipts being given to preserve the title to the inventor. The British Repository is indebted to the ingenuity of colonel Congreve, for some of its most useful and important instruments of escalade, fortification, and gunnery.

REPOUSSER, Fr. to drive back, to repel.

REPOUSSOIRS, Fr. Drivers, chissels.

Repoussoir, Fr. a small stick which artificers and fire-workers use in making fire pots and other works.

REPRESAILLES, Fr. Reprisals.

REPRIMAND, a slighter kind of punishment sometimes inflicted on officers and non-commissioned officers. It consists in reproving or reprimanding them at the head of their respective regiments, troop, or company, as the cases may be. A reprimand is sometimes inserted in the orderly books.

REQUISITION, (réquisition, Fr.) A term peculiarly used by the French during the course of their revolution, and applicable to most nations in its general import. It signifies the act of exacting either men or things for the public service. Hence—Denrées, marchandises mises en réquisition; necessaries of life, goods, &c. put in a state of requisition, or subject to be disposed of for the common good at a fixed price.

Jeunes gens de la Requisition, Fr. Young men required or called upon to serve in the army.

REQUISITIONNAIRE, Fr. A person liable to be put in a state of requisition.

RESERVE, corps de réserve, Fr. any select body of troops posted by a general out of the first line of action, to answer some specific or critical purpose, in the day of battle. The French likewise call that body a corps de réserve, which is composed of the staff of the army, and moves with the commander in chief, from whom it receives the parole or word; but in every other respect it is governed by its own general.

RESINE, Fr. Rosin.

RESOLUTION, in algebra, the solution of a problem.

Resolution, (résolution, Fr.) an indispensible quality of the mind, which every general of an army should possess to its full extent. It is the advice of all wise men, leisurely to digest plans, and calmly deliberate upon them; but when once it becomes necessary to put them into execution, the person entrusted with command, should be prompt and vigorous.

RESOOM, Ind. Fees or dues.

To RESPITE, to suspend, to delay; from the French respiter.

To be RESPITED on the muster-roll, to be suspended from pay, &c. during which period all advantages of promotion, pay, &c. are stopped. It is originally derived from respite, which signifies delay, forbearance, &c. Thus in Clarendon’s history of the civil wars we read, that an act passed for the satisfaction of the officers of the king’s army, by which they were promised payment in November following; till which time they were to respite it, and be contented, that the common soldiers and inferior officers should be satisfied upon their disbanding. At present to respite means to deprive an individual of all the advantages attached to his situation; in which sense it signifies much the same as to suspend.

When an officer has exceeded his leave of absence, and has not sent a satisfactory account of himself to his commanding officer, the latter reports him, in an especial manner, to the general of the district, by whom he is returned absent without leave. It sometimes happens, that the colonel or commanding officer gives directions to have him noted on the muster-roll of the regiment; in which case he is said to be respited or deprived of pay. This is the first step towards suspension from rank and pay, which ultimately terminates in a total exclusion from the service, by the offending party being peremptorily superseded. The name of the person is laid before the secretary at war, who with the approbation of the president, directs the adjutant and inspector to strike it off the list of the army.

The money which is respited upon the muster-roll is accounted for by the account of the war department, and placed to the credit of the public by the paymaster-general.

RESPONSIBILITY. The state of being answerable. All public officers, civil or military, are in a state of responsibility with respect to national concerns.

RESPONSIBLE. Answerable; accountable; liable to be called upon. Colonels of regiments are responsible for the discipline of their men; and captains for the interior economy and clothing of their companies.

RESPONSION, Fr. A term used by the French. In military orders signifying the same as charge or redevance, charge or service. Thus each commandery pays a certain sum, called somme de responsion, to its order in proportion to its value.

RESSERRER, to hem in; to confine. Une garnison fort resserrée, a garrison narrowly watched by a besieging army, and kept within its walls.

RESSORT, Fr. Spring. Elasticity. This word is used in various senses by the French, viz.

Dernier Ressort, Fr. the last shift.

N’agir que par RESSORT, Fr. To do nothing of one’s own free will; to be influenced, to be acted upon by others.

Manquer de RESSORT, Fr. To want energy, vigor, &c.

Un caractère qui a du RESSORT, Fr. A firm, determined character.

RESSOURCE, Fr. Resource, shift, refuge.

Un homme de RESSOURCES, Fr. a man who has resources within himself.

Un homme plein de RESSOURCES, a man full of resources, full of expedients.

To REST arms, to bring the firelock to the same position as in present arms. See Manual.

To REST upon arms reversed. At military funerals the arms are reversed. The soldiers belonging to the firing party, rest upon the butt ends of their firelocks, while the funeral service is performed, leaning with their cheeks, so as to turn from the corpse.

Rest upon your arms reversed! A word of command which is used at military funerals.

RESTANT, Fr. the remainder; what is left.

RESTE, Fr. Remainder, viz. Le reste des troupes, the remainder of the troops.

Etre en RESTE, Fr. To be in arrears.

RESTER, Fr. to remain behind.

RETENUE, Fr. Stoppage; any thing kept back.

RETIAIRE, Fr. See Retiarius.

RETIARIUS, a kind of gladiator who fought in the amphitheatre during the time of the Romans. He is thus described by Kennett, in his Roman Antiquities, page 274.

The Retiarius was dressed in a short coat, having a fuscina or trident in his left hand, and a net, from which he derives his name, in his right. With this he endeavored to entangle his adversary, that he might then with his trident easily dispatch him: on his head he wore only a hat tied under his chin with a broad riband.

RETIRADE, or Coupure, Fr. In fortification, a retrenchment, which is generally made with two faces, forming a rentrant angle, and is thrown up in the body of a work for the purpose of receiving troops, who may dispute the ground inch by inch. When the first means of resistance have been destroyed, others are substituted by cutting a ditch, and lining it with a parapet. The retirade sometimes consists of nothing more than rows of fascines filled with earth, stuffed gabions, barrels or sand bags, with or without a ditch, and either fenced with palisadoes, or left without them.

Whenever it becomes absolutely necessary to quit the head or side of a work, the whole of it must, on no account, be abandoned. On the contrary, whilst some determined troops keep the enemy in check, others must be actively employed in throwing up retirades, which may flank each other, and in cutting a ditch in front. It is particularly incumbent upon the engineer officer to assist in works of this sort, and every officer and soldier should zealously co-operate with him. A slight knowlege of field fortification will on these occasions give a decided advantage. The body of a retirade should be raised as high as possible, and several fougasses should be laid beneath it, for the purpose of blowing up the ground on which the enemy may have established himself.

Retirades as practised by the ancients: these were walls hastily run up behind breaches that were made by the battering rams. The able commentator upon Polybius observes, that in no instance, did the skill of the great men of antiquity appear in so conspicuous a light, as in the various chicanes to which they resorted for the preservation of a town. Their ingenuity and resolution increased in proportion as the danger approached. Instead of offering to capitulate as the moderns generally do, when a practicable breach has been opened by a besieging enemy, the ancients, in that emergency, collected all their vigor, had recourse to various stratagems, and waited behind the retirades or temporary retreats to give the enemy a warm and obstinate reception. Cæsar, in his Commentaries, has given a minute description of the manner in which these retirades were constructed; and we find them mentioned by Josephus, in his history of the war of the Jews against the Romans.

The intermediate periods, since the days of the Greeks and Romans, and before the modern era furnish various examples on this head. In 1219, Genghis Khan set all his battering rams to work, for the purpose of effecting a breach in the walls of Ottrar; but, to his great surprise, he no sooner entered the town, than he found a fresh line of entrenchments that had been thrown up in the very heart of the city. He saw every street cut asunder with temporary ditches, and every house presented fresh obstacles: so much so, that he experienced more difficulty in subduing the inhabitants after he had forced the walls, than had occurred in practising the breach.

When the emperor Charles V. laid siege to Metz in 1552, the duke de Guise, who was governor of the town, instantly adopted the necessary precautions to defend it to the last. He built a new wall behind the one against which the principal attack was directed; and when the breach was made, the besiegers found themselves obstinately opposed afresh, within a short space of the ground they had carried. In consequence of this unexpected check, the enemy’s troops grew disheartened; and their want of confidence soon convinced the emperor that the place could not be taken. The siege was unexpectedly raised, and the preservation of the town was entirely owing to the wise precautions that had been adopted by the duke de Guise.

In 1742, marshal Broglio, being closely besieged in the city of Prague, threw up retrenchments within the walls, and prepared to make a most vigorous resistance. An occasion, however presented itself, of which he took advantage, that rendered any further precautions useless. He made a vigorous sortie and forced the enemy to raise the siege.

RETIRED List, a list on the British marine establishment upon which superannuated officers are placed.

Officers who RETIRE in the East India company service. The India company have resolved, that an officer, (in his military capacity) after twenty years actual service in India, coming to Europe on leave, will be allowed to retire on the pay of his rank, provided he signifies his intention of so doing, within twenty months after his arrival. Officers on leave who are desirous of retiring, and who declare their intention to that effect, within twelve months from their arrival, will be permitted to retire on the pay of the rank they may be entitled to at that period. An officer having completed 22 years actual residence in India, will be allowed to retire on the full pay of his rank, directly on his leaving India.

RETOURS de la mine, Fr. returns of a mine. See Gallery.

Retours de la tranchée, Fr. returns of a trench. In fortification, the several windings and oblique deviations of a trench which are drawn, in some measure, parallel to the sides of the place attacked, in order to avoid being enfiladed, or having the shot of the enemy scour along the length of the line. On account of these different returns a considerable interval is opened between the head and the tail of the trench, which, were the lines directed, would not be at any great distance from each other.

RETRAITE, Fr. See Retreat.

Retraite dans les montagnes, Fr. The act of fading back or retreating among the mountains.

Faire RETRAITE, Fr. To retire, to fall back.

Battre la RETRAITE, Fr. To beat the tap-too.

Se battre en RETRAITE, Fr. To maintain a running fight.

RETRAITE, Fr. certain appointments which were given during the French monarchy to infantry officers, when they retired from the active duties of their profession, to afford them means of support. The pensions which were settled upon cavalry officers were likewise distinguished by the same term.

Retraite, Fr. See Relais.

RETRANCHEMENS. Fr. See Retrenchments.

Retranchemens particuliers qu’on fait sur la tête des brèches d’une place assiègèe, Fr. Particular retrenchments, which are made in front of breaches that have been effected in the walls of a besieged town.

It is always necessary, that retrenchments of this description should have the figures of rentrant angles, in order, that they may not only flank the breaches, but be capable of defending themselves.

A besieging enemy, seldom or ever, attempts a breach at the flanked angle of a bastion, because it must be seen by the two flanks of the neighboring bastions, and be perpetually exposed to the fire of the casemates of the town. Nevertheless should the breach be actually effected, retrenchments might be thrown up, in the same manner that horn-works are constructed, for the purpose of flanking it.

If the breach should be made in the face of the bastion, (which usually happens, because that quarter can be seen by the garrison from one side only) retrenchments in the shape of rentrant angles must be constructed.

Breaches are seldom attempted at the angle of the epaulement, because that part of the bastion is the most solid and compact, and the most exposed to the fire from the curtain to that of the opposite flank, and to the reverse discharge, or fire from the rear. Add to this, that the storming party would be galled in flank and rear, not only from the simple bastion, but likewise from the casemates. If, however, a breach should be effected in that quarter, it would become necessary to throw up retrenchments of a saliant and rentrant nature.

In constructing these different retrenchments it must be an invariable rule, to get as near as possible to the parapets of the bastions and to their ruins, in order to batter those in flank and rear, who should attempt to scale, and at the same time to be out of the reach of the besieger’s ordnance.

When the head of the breach is so much laid open, that the besieger’s cannon can scour all above it, small mines must be prepared beneath, and a retrenchment be instantly thrown up in the body of the bastion.

To RETREAT. To make a retrograde movement. An army or body of men are said to retreat when they turn their backs upon the enemy, or are retiring from the ground they occupied: hence, every march in withdrawing from the enemy is called a retreat.

That retreat which is done in sight of an active enemy, who pursues with a superior force, is the one we particularly allude to in this place; being with reason, looked upon as the glory of the profession. It is a manœuvre the most delicate, and fittest to display the prudence, genius, courage, and address, of an officer who commands: the records of all ages testify it, and historians have never been so lavish of eulogiums as on the subject of the brilliant retreats of their heroes. If it be important, it is no less difficult to regulate, on account of the variety of circumstances, each of which demands different principles, and an almost endless detail. Hence a good retreat is esteemed, by experienced officers, the master-piece of a general. He should therefore be well acquainted with the situation of the country through which he intends to make it, and careful that nothing is omitted to make it safe and honorable. General Moreau’s retreat in 1796, has rendered his name immortal. The three most celebrated modern retreats have been—the one already mentioned, that of Prague, and that of general Macdonald in Italy.

Retreat, is also a beat of the drum, at the firing of the evening gun; at which the drum-major, with all the drums of the battalion, except such as are upon duty, beats from the camp colors on the right to those on the left, on the parade of encampment: the drums of all the guards beat also; the trumpets at the same time sounding at the head of their respective troops. This is to warn the soldiers to forbear firing, and the sentinels to challenge till the break of day, when the reveille is beat. The retreat is likewise called setting the watch.

Chequered RETREAT, rétraite en échequier, Fr. It is so called from the several component parts of a line or battalion, which alternately retreat and face in the presence of an enemy, exhibiting the figure of the chequered squares upon a chess board.

All manœuvres of a corps retiring, are infinitely more difficult to be performed with order, than those in advancing. They must be more or less accomplished by chequered movements; one body by its numbers or position, facing and protecting the retreat of another; and if the enemy presses hard, the whole must probably front in time and await him: as the ground narrows or favors, different parts of the corps must double; mouths of defiles and advantageous posts must be possessed; by degrees the different bodies must diminish their fronts, and throw themselves into column of march when it can be done with safety.

The chequered retreat by the alternate battalions or half battalions of a line going to the rear, while the others remain halted, cover them, and in their turn retire in the same manner, is the quickest mode of refusing a part of a corps to the enemy, and at the same time protecting its movement, as long as it continues to be made nearly parallel to the first position.

In the chequered retreat, the following rules must be observed: the battalions of the division nearest to the enemy, will form flanks as soon as there is nothing in their front to cover them; but the other divisions will not have any flanks except to the outward battalion of each. The battalions always pass by their proper intervals, and it is a rule in retiring, that the left of each shall always pass the right of the neighboring one.—Whatever advantage the ground offers, those advantages must be seized, without too critical an observance of intervals, or minute adherence to the determined distance of each retreat. The division next the enemy must pass in front, through the intervals of the division immediately behind, and any battalion that finds it necessary, must incline for that purpose. The retiring division must step out, and take up no more time than what is absolutely required to avoid confusion. The division nearest the enemy fires; the flanks of its battalions only fire when the enemy attempts to push through the intervals. When that division retires it fires on, skirmishes by its riflemen, and if they have none, by men detached from the light companies, if any, or from platoons formed of rear rank men of one or two of the companies, and placed behind the flanks of the battalions. But should any of its battalions be obliged to halt and to fire, a shorter step must then be taken by the line; and should the enemy threaten to enter at any of its intervals, besides the fire of its flanks, such platoons of the line behind it, as can with safety, must give it support.

RETRENCHMENT, in the art of war, is any work raised to cover a post, and fortify it against an enemy; such as fascines loaded with earth, gabions, barrels, &c. filled with earth, sand bags, and generally all things that can cover the men, and stop the enemy; but it is more applicable to a ditch bordered with a parapet; and a post thus fortified, is called a retrenched post, or strong post. Retrenchments are either general or particular.

General Retrenchments, are a kind of new defence made in a place besieged, to cover the defendants, when the enemy becomes master of a lodgment on the fortification, that they may be in a condition of disputing the ground inch by inch, and of putting a stop to the enemy’s progress, in expectation of relief; as, if the besieger’s attack a tenaille of the place, which they judge the weakest, either by its being ill flanked, or commanded by some neighboring ground; then the besieged make a great retrenchment, inclosing all that part which they judge in most danger. These should be fortified with bastions and demi-bastions, surrounded by a good ditch countermined, and higher than the works of the place, that they may command the old works, and put the besiegers to infinite trouble in covering themselves.

Particular RETRENCHMENTS, or retrenchments within a bastion, (retrenchemens dans un bastion, Fr.) Retrenchments of this description must reach from one flank to another, or from one casemate to another. It is only in full bastions that retrenchments can be thrown up to advantage. In empty bastions you can only have recourse to retirades, or temporary barricadoes above the ramparts. The assailants may easily carry them by means of hand grenades, for these retrenchments never flank each other. It is necessary to raise a parapet about five or six feet thick before every retrenchment. It must be five feet high, and the ditches as broad and as deep as they can be made. There must also be small mines run out in various directions, for the purpose of blowing up the assailants should they attempt to force the retrenchments.

RETURNS, in a military sense, are of various sorts, but all tending to explain the state of the army, regiment, troop, or company; namely, how many capable of doing duty, on duty, sick in quarters, barracks, infirmary, or hospital; prisoners, absent with or without leave; total effective; wanting to complete the establishment, &c. See Regulations and Amer. Mil. Lib.

Returns of a mine, are the turnings and windings of the gallery leading to the mine. See Gallery.

Returns of a trench, the various turnings and windings which form the lines of the trench, and are, as near as they can be, made parallel to the place attacked, to avoid being infiladed. These returns, when followed, make a long way from the end of the trench to the head, which going the straight way is very short: but then the men are exposed; yet, upon a sally, the courageous never consider the danger, but getting over the trench with such as will follow them, take the shortest way to repulse the enemy, and cut off their retreat if possible.

Any officer who shall knowingly make a false return to any his superior officer authorised to call for such returns, shall, upon being convicted thereof before a general court-martial, be cashiered.

Whoever shall be convicted of having designedly, or through neglect, omitted sending such returns, shall be punished according to the nature of the offence by the judgment of a general court-martial.

To RETURN, in a military sense, to insert the names of such officers, as are present or absent on the stated periods for the identification of their being with their regiments, on detachment, or absent with or without leave.

To be RETURNED. To have one’s name inserted in the regular monthly, fourteen days, or weekly state of a regiment, according to circumstances; as to be returned absent without leave; to be reported to the commander in chief, or to any superior officer, as being absent from the duty of the corps; either from having exceeded the leave given, or from having left quarters without the necessary permission. To be returned upon the surgeon’s list as unfit for duty, &c. from illness, &c.

Commanding officers of regiments or posts, in the British service, are regularly to transmit to the adjutant and inspector’s office the following returns:

A monthly, on the 1st of each month.

A return of officers, on the 14th of each month.

A weekly state, to arrive on Mondays.

To the war office.

A monthly return, on the 1st of each month.

A return of absent officers, on the 14th of each month.

Every officer commanding a regiment, or detachment, on embarking for a foreign station, will transmit an embarkation return to the adjutant-general’s office, and to the war office, a duplicate of which he will deliver to the general or officer commanding at the port from which he embarks.

On a regiment embarking, the commanding officer is to transmit to the adjutant-general’s office, a return of the recanting parties he purposes to leave in Great Britain, or Ireland, specifying their strength, their stations, and the officers by whom they are commanded; a duplicate of this return is to be transmitted to the inspector-general of the recruiting service in the Isle of Wight.

All officers belonging to regiments on foreign stations, not actually employed on the recruiting service, are to report their arrival from abroad, and the cause of their absence, at the adjutant-general’s office, and are to leave their addresses with their respective agents, and in case of their changing their places of residence, are immediately to notice the same to their agent: any officer whose address is not with his agent, will be considered as absent without leave, and guilty of disobedience of orders.

Officers upon half pay are, in like manner, to leave their addresses at the war office; particularly so if they should leave the united kingdoms; and officers belonging to the militia are to leave their names, &c. with the several adjutants of regiments.

Commanding officers of regiments or posts, are to transmit to the adjutant and inspector an half yearly return of quarters, on the 1st of December, and the 1st of May, agreeable to the printed form; like wise a report of any march performed by the corps under their orders.

All returns, reports, and papers, purely of a military and public nature, which are to be sent to the war office of the United States, are to be addressed, “To the adjutant and inspector, Washington.”

All official letters, intended for the secretary at war, should be transmitted, under covers, addressed as above, to the adjutant and inspector.

To prevent an improper expence of postage, all official letters and returns sent to the adjutant and inspector, are to be sent, under covers, addressed “To the officer by name, with the title of adjutant and inspector, at Washington,” and on the outside of the covers is to be written in legible characters, “public service, and then the name and rank of the writer.”

RETURN pistol. See Pistol.

Return bayonet. This term is sometimes used, but it is not technically correct, as the proper word of command is unfix bayonet.

Return ramrod. See Manual.

Return swords. See Sword.

REVEILLE, is the beat of a drum, about break of day, to advertise the army that it is day light, and that the sentinels forbear challenging.

REVERS, Fr. Behind, in rear, at the back of any thing.

Etre vu de REVERS, Fr. To be overlooked by a reverse commanding ground. When a work, for instance, is commanded by some adjacent eminence, or has been so badly disposed, that the enemy can see its terre-pleine, or rampart, that work may be said to be overlooked, être vu de revérs. The same term is applicable to a trench when the fire of the besieged can reach the troops that are stationed within it.

Revers de la tranchée, Fr. Literally means the back part of the trench. It is the ground which corresponds with that proportion of the border of the trench that lies directly opposite to the parapet. One or two banquettes are generally thrown up in this quarter, in order that the trench guard may make a stand upon the reverse when it happens to be attacked by a sortie of the enemy.

REVERSE. A contrary; an opposite; as, the reverse, or outward wheeling flank; which is opposite to the one wheeled to or upon. See Pivot.

Reverse likewise signifies on the back, or behind: so we say, a reverse commanding ground, a reverse battery, &c.

REVERSED arms. Arms are said to be reversed when the butts of the pieces are slung or held upwards.

Reversed. Upside down; as arms reversed.

REVETEMENT, (revêtement, Fr.) in fortification, a strong wall, built on the outside of the rampart and parapet, to support the earth, and prevent its rolling into the ditch.

Revetement du rampart, Fr. Revetement belonging to the rampart.

REVETIR, Fr. To line, to cover, to fortify.

REVIEW, (revue, Fr.) In the military acceptation of the term, an inspection of the appearance, and regular disposition of a body of troops, assembled for that purpose, is called a review.

At all reviews, the officers should be properly armed, ready in their exercise, salute well, in good time, and with a good air; their uniform genteel, &c. The men should be clean and well dressed; their accoutrements well put on; very well sized in the ranks; the serjeants expert in their duty, drummers perfect in their beatings, and the fifers play correct. The manual performed in good time, and with life; the men carry their arms well; march, wheel, and form with exactness; manœuvres performed with regularity, both in quick and slow time. The intention of a review is, to know the condition of the troops, to see that they are complete, and perform their exercise and evolutions well. See Movements, likewise Inspection.

To REVISE, (réviser, Fr.) To review; to re-examine; to re-consider. This term is used in military matters, which relate to the proceedings of a general or regimental court-martial. It sometimes happens that the members are directed to re-assemble for the purpose of revising part of the whole mass of the evidence that has been brought before them, and of maturely weighing afresh the substance of the proofs upon which they have formed their opinion and judgment. Great delicacy and discretion are required in those who have authority to order a revision of this sort. A court-martial ought to be the most independent court on earth. Interest, prejudice, or partiality, has no business within its precincts. An honest regard to truth, a sense of the necessity of good order and discipline, and a stubborn adherence to facts, constitute the code of military laws and statutes. Quirks, quibbles and evasions, are as foreign to the genuine spirit of martial jurisdiction, as candor, manliness, and resolute perseverance in uttering what he knows to be the fact, are familiar to the real soldier.

REVOCABLE, (révocable, Fr.) That may be recalled. Nominations for appointments in the army, are made by the president of the United States, subject to the concurrence of the senate, who, if they disagree, revoke the appointment.

REVOLT, (révolte, Fr.) Mutiny; insurrection.

Revolter. One who rises against lawful authority; a deserter, &c.

REVOLTES, Fr. Rebels.

REVOLUTION, (révolution, Fr.) A change in government, as the throwing off the tyranny of Britain, by the declaration of independence, in 1776, and as the French revolution.

REVOLUTIONNAIRE, Fr. A friend to the revolution.

Revolutionnaire, Fr. An adjective of two genders. Anything belonging to the revolution. Hence

Armée Révolutionnaire. A revolutionary army; such as appeared in France.

REVOLUTIONNER, Fr. To revolutionize. To propagate principles in a country which are subversive of its existing government.

REWARD, (récompense, Fr.) A recompence given for good performed. Twenty shillings are allowed by the mutiny act, as a reward for apprehending deserters.

Military Rewards, (récompenses militaires, Fr.) The original instances of military rewards are to be found in the Grecian and Roman histories. The ancients did not, however, at first recompence military merit in any other way than by erecting statues to the memory, or presenting them with triumphal crowns. The warriors of that age were more eager to deserve public applause by extraordinary feats of valor, by temperance and moral virtue, than to become rich at the expence of the state. They thirsted after glory; but it was after a species of glory which was not in the least tarnished by the alloy of modern considerations.

The services which individuals rendered were distinguished by the kind of statue that was erected, and its accompanying decorations, or by the materials and particular formation of the crowns that were presented.

In process of time, the state or civil government of a country, felt the propriety and justice of securing to its defenders something more substantial than mere show and unprofitable trophies. It was considered, that men who had exposed their lives, and had been wounded, or were grown infirm through age, &c. ought to be above want, and not only to have those comforts which through their exertions millions were enjoying, but to be placed in an independent and honorable situation. The most celebrated of their warriors were consequently provided for at the public expence, and they had regular claims made over to them, which were answered at the treasury.

Triumphal honors were likewise reckoned among the military rewards which the ancients voted to their best generals. Fabius Maximus, Paul Emilius, Camillus, and the Scipios were satisfied with this recompense for their services. With respect to old infirm soldiers, who were invalided, they were provided for by receiving, each a lot of ground, which they cultivated and improved. Lands, thus appropriated, formed part of the republican or national domains, or were divided amongst them in the conquered countries.

The Roman officer was rewarded for his services, or for particular acts of bravery in three ways: 1st. By marks of honor or distinction, which consisted of two sorts, viz. Of that which was merely ornamental to their own persons, or limited to the investiture for life; and of that which may be called rememorative, such as statues, &c. The latter descended to their posterity, and gave their families a certain rank in the republic. 2dly. By pensions or allowances, and 3dly. By a grant of lands which exceeded the lots given to private soldiers. These lands, the property of the veteran soldier, in process of time became objects of solicitude among the Patricians and rich men; they encroached upon them, and often excited foreign wars, in order to take away the citizens, and in their absence, engross their lands; this rapacity of the senators, was the true cause of the agrarian laws, which has generally been held up as a reproach to the injured and not to the oppressors, and the people in republics have been held forth as turbulent and inimical to personal property, because the people of Rome sought to recover the lands of which they had been despoiled by the avarice of the senate, and by an inordinate spirit of speculation.

The Franks, who got possession of the country which was formerly occupied by the Gauls, had, at first, no other method of recompensing their generals than by giving them a certain proportion of land. This grant did not exceed their natural lives, and sometimes it was limited to the time they remained in the service.

These usages insensibly changed, and by degrees it became customary for the children of such men as had received grants of national territory, to continue to enjoy them; upon condition, however, that the actual possessors of such lands should be liable to military service. Hence the origin of fiefs in France, and the consequent appellation of milice des fieffés, or militia, composed of men who held their lands on condition of bearing arms when called upon. The French armies were for many years constituted in this manner; and the custom of rendering military service in consideration of land tenure, only ceased under Charles the VIIth.