Carge of heavy ordnance sty spot in which a breach is ed to be made.

L1 teise, Fr. to beat a drum. ambice, Fr. to beat the

Ar, Fr. to give notice by ot dram, when an officer is to be bed, orders given out, or any putt, be publicly inflicted.

umade, Fr. to give inby the sound of drum, from a besteed place, of a disposition to capitute: to beat a parley.

BOTTLE Gnz champs, Fr. To give notire reat of drum that a regiment er armed borly of men is approaching er samling off. It also signifies the bewah is made when a superior other momes near a guard, &c.

BT la charge, Fr. to beat the Large: or to give notice that a general es are of musquetry is about to take For that the whole line is to chure with bavonets.

Fe la Diane, Fr. to beat the

small faggots, made of brush-wood, of a considerable length, no part of the brush being taken off. See FASCINES.

BAYARD, Fr. a provincial term used in Languedoc and Roussillon to signify a wheel-barrow.

BAYONET, (Bayonette, Fr.) a kind of triangular dagger, made with a hollow handle, and a shoulder, to fix on the muzzle of a firelock or musket, so that neither the charging nor firing is prevented by its being fixed on the piece. It is of infinite service against the horse. At first the bayonet was screwed into the muzzle of the barrel, consequently could not be used during the fire. It is said by some to have been invented by the people of Malacca, and first made use of on quitting the pikes. According to others, it was first used by the fuzileers in France, who were afterwards made the body of Royal Artillery. At present it is given to every infantry regiment.

A French writer, in a work entituled L'Essai général de la Tactique, has proposed a method of exercising the soldiers in a species of fencing or tilting with this weapon. But, as another very sensible author (Mauvillion in his Essai sur l'Influence de la poudre à canon dans l'art de la guerre moderne) justly asks, how can any man tilt or fence with so cumbrous an instrument, and so difficult to be handled, as the firelock? The utmost that could be done would be to make one thrust, and yet that could not be effected with any degree of ease or certainty.

Experiments have been made in this country, but we are persuaded that no experiments will prove the utility of the practice.

BEACON, a signal for the better securing the kingdom from foreign invasions.

On certain eminent places of the country are placed long poles erect, whereon are fastened pitch-barrels to be fired by night, and smoke made by day, to give notice, in a few hours, to the whole kingdom, of an approaching invasion.

To BEAR, in gunnery. A piece of ordnance is said to bear, or come to bear, when pointed directly against the object; that is, pointed to hit the object. BEARD, the reflected points of the head

F 2

head of an ancient arrow, particularly of such as were jagged.

To BEAT, in a military sense, signifies to gain the day, to win the battle, &c. To BEAT a parley. See CHAMADE. TO BEAT a drum. See DRUM. BEAVER, that part of the ancient helmet which covered the face, and which was moveable so as to expose the face without removing the beaver from the helmet.

BEC de Corbin, Fr. A battle-axe.
BECHE, Fr. a spade used by pio-

neers.

BEDS, in the military language, are of various sorts, viz.

Mortar-BEDS serve for the same purpose as a carriage does to a cannon: they are made of solid timber, consisting generally of 2 pieces fastened together with strong iron bolts and bars. Their sizes are according to the kind of mortar they

carry.

Royal-BEDS, are carriages for a Cochorn-BEDS, royal mortar, whose diameter is 5.8 inches: and a coehorn mortar, whose diameter is 4.6 inches. Those beds are made of one solid block only.

Sea-Mortar-BEDS are likewise made of solid timber, like the former, but differ in their form, having a hole in the center to receive the pintle or strong iron bolt, about which the bed turns. Sea-mortars are mounted on these beds, on board of the bomb-ketches.

N.B. These beds are placed upon very strong timber frames, fixed into the bomb-ketch, in which the pintle is fixed, so as the bed may turn about it, to fire any way. The fore part of these beds is an arc of a circle described from the same centre as the pintle-hole.

||

large wooden hammers for driving down palisades, and for other uses, &c. BEETLESTOCK, the stock or handle of a beetle.

BELIER, Fr. a battering ram.

BELLIGERENT, in a state of warfare. Hence any two or more nations at war are called belligerent powers.

BELTS, in the army are of different sorts, and for various purposes, viz.

Sword-BELT, a leathern strap in which a sword hangs.

Shoulder-BELT, a broad leathern belt, which goes over the shoulder, and to which the pouch is fixed. It should be made of stout smooth buff, with two buckles to fix the pouch to the belt. See PoUCH.

Waist-BELT, a leathern strap fixed round the waist, by which a sword or bayonet is suspended.

BELTS are known among the ancient and middle-age writers by divers names, as zona, cingulum, reminiculum, ringa, and baldrellus. The belt was an essential piece of the ancient armour, insomuch that we sometimes find it used to | denote the whole armour. In latter ages the belt was given to a person when he was raised to knighthood; whence it has also been used as a badge or mark of the knightly order.

BENAR, Fr. A large four-wheeled wagon, which is used to carry stones in the construction of fortified places.

BENDINGS, in military and sea matters, are ropes, wood, &c. bent for several purposes. M. Amontons gives several experiments concerning the bending of ropes. The friction of a rope bent, or wound round an immoveable cylinder, is sufficient, with a very small · power, to sustain very great weights. Divers methods have been contrived for

RIAGE.

BEEF-Eaters, Buffetiers, yeomen of the guard to the King of Great Britain, so called from being stationed by the sideboard at great royal dinners. They being kept up rather from state, than for any military service to be expected from them. Their arms are a sword and lance.

BEETLES, in a military sense, are

ed planks and pieces for building ships; such as by sand, boiling water, steam of boiling water, and by fire. See M. Du Hamel, in his book called Du Transport, de la Conservation, & de la Force des Bois. M. Delesme ingeniously enough proposed to have the young trees bent, while growing in the forest. The method of bending planks by sand-heat, now used in the king's yards, was invented by Captain Cumberland.

A method has been lately invented and practised for bending pieces of timber, so as to make the wheels of car

at joints. The bending of other pieces of timber for works in joinery, is effected by them to the fire, then giving are required, and keeping aastigure by tools for the pur

BENEDICTION de drapeaur, Fr.

ta consecration of colours. BISDICTION general, Fr. a religious a which is made to God by the enspiam belonging to a French the eve of an engagement. NEFICIARII, in ancient military Autumn, dentes soldiers who attend the tislavors of the army, being exemptet from au other duty.

BENEFICIARII were also soldiers disas from the military service or 4.77, and provided with beneficia to sub

BERM. in fortification, is a little sunce or path, of about 4, 6, or 8 feet bac, arrording to the height and brala the works, between the ditch and the parapet, when made of turf, to pes: the earth from rolling into the dan; and serves likewise to pass and

To BESIEGE, to lay siege to, or inTest any place with armed forces.

BESIEGERS, the army that lays siege to a fried place.

BESIEGED, the garrison that defeans the place against the army that lays Bece to it. See SIEGE.

I BETRAY, to deliver perfidiously am place or body of troops into the hands of the enemy. To discover that with has been entrusted to secrecy.

BETTY, a machine used for forcing open gates or doors. See PETARD.

BEY, (Beis, Fr.) An officer of high rank among the Turks, but inferior in command to the Pacha.

BICOQUE, Fr. a term used in France to signify a place ill-fortified and incapabe of much defence. It is derived from a place on the road between Lodi and Man, which was originally a gentleman's country-house surrounded by ditches. In the year 1522, a body of Imperial troops were stationed in it, and stood the attack of the whole French army during the reign of Francis I. This engagement was called the battle of Bicoque.

BIDON, Fr. a sort of oblong ball or shot, which goes farther than a round one.

BIHOUAC, BIOUAC, BIOUVAC, or BIVOUAQ, Fr. [from the German weywacht, a double watch or guard.] A night-guard, or a detachment of the whole army, which during a siege, or in the presence of an enemy, marches out every night in squadrons or battalions to line the circumvallations or to take post in front of the camp, for the purpose of securing their quarters, preventing surprises, and of obstructing supplies. When an army does not encamp, but lies under arms all night, it is said to bivouaq.

BILBO, a rapier or small sword was formerly so called.

BILL or BILL-HOOK, a small hatchet, used for cutting wood for fascines, gabions, bavins, &c.

BILLET, a well-known ticket for quartering soldiers, which entitles each soldier, by act of parliament, to candles, vinegar, and salt, with the use of fire, and the necessary utensils for dressing and eating their meat. The allowance of small beer has been altered by a late regulation..

BILLET de logement, Fr. a billet for quarters. This billet or ticket was formerly delivered out to the French troops upon the same general principles that it is issued in England.

BILLET, blanc ou noir, Fr. a piece of white or black paper which is folded up, and serves to determine various matters by drawing lots.

BILLET de caise, Fr. an acknowledgement which is given in writing by the paymaster of a regiment for money in hand.

BILLET d'entrée à l'hôpital, Fr. a ticket which is given to a sick soldier to entitle him to a birth in the military hospital.

BILLET d'honneur, Fr. a written acknowledgement which is given by an officer for articles taken on credit; but this more frequently happens in matters of play.

BILLET de logement, Fr. a billet to entitle an officer or soldier to free quarters at an inn or elsewhere.

BILLETING, in the army, implies the quartering soldiers in the houses of any town or village.

BINACLE, a telescope with 2 tubes, so constructed, that a distant object might be seen with both eyes, now rarely used.

BIT,

BIT, the bridle of a horse which acts by the assistance of a curb. See CURB and BRIDON.

BLACK-HOLE, a place of confinement for soldiers, who may be confined therein by the commanding officer, but not by any inferior officer. In this place they are generally restricted to bread and water.

BLANKETS, combustible things made of coarse paper steeped in a solution of saltpetre, which, when, dry are again dipt in a composition of tallow, resin, and sulphur. They are used only in fire-ships.

BLAST, and BLASTING. See MINES and MINING.

BLINDAGE, Fr. a work which is carried on along a trench, to secure it from the shells, &c. of a besieged garri

son.

BLINDE, Fr. See BLINDS. BLINDER, Fr. to make use of

blinds.

BLINDS, in military affairs, are wooden frames composed of 4 pieces, either flat or round, two of which are 6 feet long, and the others 3 or 4 feet, which serve as spars to fasten the two first together: the longest are pointed at both ends, and the two others are fastened towards the extremities of the former, at about 10 or 12 inches from their points, the whole forming a rectangular parallelogram, the long sides of which project bevond the other about 10 or 12 inches. Their use is to fix them either upright, or in a vertical position, against the sides of the trenches or saps, to sustain the earth. Their points at the bottom serve to fix them in the earth, and those at top to hold the fascines that are placed upon them; so that the sap or trench is formed into a kind of covered gallery, to secure the troops from stones and grenades.

The term Blind is also used to express a kind of hurdle, made of the branches of trees, behind which the soldiers, miners, or labourers, may carry on their work without being seen. See HURDLE.

BLINDS are sometimes only canvas stretched to obstruct the sight of the enemy. Sometimes they are planks set up; for which see MANTLET. Sometimes they are made of a kind of coarse basket-work. See GABIONS. Sometimes of barrels, or sacks filled with earth. In short, they signify any thing that covers the labourers from the enemy.

BLIND. Sec ORILLON and FORTIFI

CATION.

BLOCKADE, in military affairs, BLOCKADING, Simplies the surrounding a place with different bodies of troops, who shut up all the avenues on every side, and prevent every thing from going in or out of the place-this is usually effected by means of the cavalry. The design of the blockade is to oblige those who are shut up in the town to consume all their provisions, and by that means to compel them to surrender for want of subsistence.

Hence it appears that a blockade must last a long time, when a place is well provided with necessaries: for which reason this method of reducing a town is seldom taken, but when there is reason to believe the magazines are unprovided, or sometimes when the nature or situation of the place permits not the approaches to be made, which are necessary to attack it in the usual way.

Maritime towns, which have a port, are in much the same case as other towns, when their port can be blocked up, and the besiegers are masters of the sea, and can prevent succours from being conveyed that way into the place.

TO BLOCKADE, or to block up a place, is to shut up all the avenues, so that it cannot receive any relief either of men or provisions, &c.

To raise a BLOCKADE, is to march from before the place, and leave it free and open as before.

To turn a siege into a BLOCKADE, is to desist from a regular method of be sieging, and to surround the place with those troops who had formed the siege.

To form a BLOCKADE, is to surround the place with troops, and hinder any thing from going in or coming out.

BLOCUS, Fr. See BLOCKADE.

BLOCK-battery, in gunnery, a wooden battery for two or more small pieces, mounted on wheels, and moveable from place to place; very ready to tire en barbet, in the galleries and casemates, &c. where room is wanted.

BLOCK-house, in the military art, a kind of wooden fort or fortification, sometimes mounted on rollers, or on a flat-bottomed vessel, serving either on the lakes or rivers, or in counterscarps and counter-approaches. This name is sometimes given to a brick or stone build

ing

BAED, also implies an office under the guernment, where the affairs of sorze department are transacted; of ach there are several sorts in EngLand.

BOAT. See ADVICE BOAT, PONTOONBAT. &C.

BODY, in the art of war, is a number of forces, horse or foot, united under CL Camander.

Msiz BODY of an army, sometimes maus the troops encamped in the center between the two wings, and generav consists of infantry. The main kdy on a march signifies the whole of the army, exclusive of the van and rearFard

Bois de chauffage, Fr. the Titel which is distributed among French troops.

BOLT, an iron pin used for strengthing a piece of timber, or for fastening two or more articles together. Bolts in gunnery, being of several sorts, admit of various denominations, which arise from the specific application of them, as 1. Eye 2. Joint 3. Transom 4. Bed

5. Breeching 6. Bracket 7. Stool-bed 8. Garnish 9. Arle-tree 10. Bolster

BOMB

> BOLTS.

See SHELL.

Chest. Vessels

See CAISSON. smallvessels,made Ketches very strong with large beams, particularly calculated for throwing shells into a town, castle, or fortification, from 13 and 10-inch mortars, two of which are placed on board of each ship. They are said to have been invented by one M. Reyneau, a Frenchman, and to have been first put in action at the bombardment of Algiers in 1681: till then it had been judged impracticable to bombard a place from the sea.

BOMB Tender, a small vessel of war with ammunition for the bomb ketch, and from which the latter is constantly supplied.

a rane.

BOETE-à-pierrier, Fr. a hollow cyLader made of iron or copper, which, when loaded, is placed in a mortar, so that an immediate communication takes pace between the fuse of the latter and ats touch-hole, and it is propelled to the pce of destination.

BOIS, Fr. wood.

Aller au BOIS, Fr. to go with a party of men for the purpose of procuring

wood, &c.

Bots de remontage, Fr. every species of timber which is used to new mount Cannon, or rent ammunition wagons, Ac

BOMBARD, (Bombarde, Fr.) an ancient piece of ordnance, so called, very short, and very thick, with an uncom→ mon large bore. There have been bombards which have thrown a ball or shell of 300 weight: they made use of cranes to load them. The Turks use some of them at present.

To BOMBARD, (Bombarder, Fr.) Sce BOMBARDING.

BOMBARDING, the act of asBOMBARDMENT, S saulting a city or fortress, by throwing shells into it, in order to set fire to, and ruin the houses, churches, magazines, &c. and to do other mischief. As one of the effects of the shell results from its weight, it is never discharged as a ball from a cannon, that is, by pointing it at a certain object: but the mortars in England are fixed at an elevation of 45 degrees;

thut