To be sent to COVENTRY, a military term used to express the situation of an cocer who is not upon a good footing wh his brother officers. This term derives its origin from a circumstance which happened to a regiment that was

tered in the town of Coventry, where the officers were extremely ill reoved by the inhabitants, or rather deni all sort of intercourse with them. Hence to be sent to Coventry signifies to be excluded from all social communication with others; or, more properly, win those who before were intimate.

To COVER, in the mechanical disposition of a battalion, company, or squad, only means that a man is to stand in such a position in file, as that when be looks exactly forward to the neck of the man who leads him, he cannot see the second man from him. Nothing but great attention at the drill can bring the's to cover so truly as never to detr the perpendicular direction of any kang body. The least deviation in the men who cover upon either flank of ading column or division, will throw al that follow out of the true line.

To COVER ground, is to occupy a certain proportion of ground, indiviGay or collectively. A foot soldier upon an average covers 22 inches of

and when he stands in the ranks. The dimensions are taken from his shoulder points.

A file on horseback covers or occupies in the ranks about 2 feet 8 inches. Tas three file, 8 feet, twelve file will rupy about 32 feet or 10 yards and 2 feet, thirteen file, 34 feet 8 inches, or 11 yards, 1 foot 8 inches, fourteen file, 37 feet 4 inches, or 12 yards 1 foot 4 inches, and so on.

Que horse's length from nose to croup,

on an average, 8 feet and about 2 inches, or 2 yards 2 feet 2 inches. This consequently will be the space which about three file occupy in front.

Cavalry and infantry officers cannot pay too much attention to the calculation of distances; by an accurate knowledge of which, ground will be properly covered, and any proportion of men, on horseback or on foot, be drawn up so as to answer the intentions of an able general. The best way that an officer can form his eye, is to exercise it to the measurement of ground by the regular pace of 2 feet, used in military drawings; by this he can calculate his interval exactly, when he once knows how many feet his division occupies; for it is only halving the number of feet, and the number, so produced, is his distance in paces of two feet each. This instruction has been given to cavalry officers, by a very able Tactician.

COVER, (à couvert, Fr.) a term in war to express security or protection: thus, to land under cover of the guns, is to advance offensively against an enemy who dares not approach on account of the fire from ships, boats, or batteries. It likewise signifies whatever renders any movement imperceptible: as, under cover of the night, under cover of a wood, &c. The gallery or corridor in fortification is, however, particularly distinguished by the term Chemin Couvert, covert way, because the glacis of the parade is its parapet.

COVERT-WAY, in fortification, is a space of 5 or 6 fathoms on the border of the ditch towards the country, covered by a rising ground, which has a gentle slope towards the field. This slope is called the glacis of the covert-way. See FORTIFICATION.

Second COVERT-WAY, ог as the French call it avant-chemin couvert, is the covert-way at the foot of the glacis. See FORTIFICATION.

COULER une piece, Fr. to pour the melted metal into a mould for the purpose of casting a piece of ordnance.

COULVRENIER, Fr. a militiaman of the fifteenth century. The Coulvrenier wore a habergeon with sleeves, a gourgerin and salade, a brass plate, a dagger, and a sharp edged sword.

COUNCIL

COUNTER-guards, in fortification, are small ramparts, with parapets and ditches, to cover some part of the body of the place. They are of several shapes, and differently situated. They are generally made before the bastions, in order to cover the opposite flanks from being seen from the covert way; consisting then of 2 faces, making a salient angle, and parallel to the faces of the bastion. They are sometimes made before the ravelins. See FORTIFICATION.

COUNTER-round. Sec ROUNDS. COUNTER-Mines. See MINES. COUNTER-trenches. See SIEGE. COUNTER-working, is the raising of works to oppose those of the enemy.

COUNTER-Swallow's tail, in fortification, is a kind of an out-work very much resembling a single tenaille.

To COUNTERMAND, is to give contrary orders to those already issued; to contradict former orders, &c.

COUNTERMURE, a wall built up behind another, in order to encrease the strength of any work.

COUNTERMARC'II,(contre-marche, || Fr.) a change by wings, companies, sub

divisions, or files, whereby those who were on the right take up the ground originally occupied by the left; generally used in changing the front. See MARCH.

COUNTERSCARP, in fortification, is properly the exterior talus, or slope of the ditch, on the farther side from the place, and facing it. Sometimes the covert-way and glacis are meant by this expression. See FORTIFICATION.

COUNTERSIGN, in a general acceptation of the term means any particular word, such as the name of a place or a person, which, like the parole, is exchanged between guards, entrusted to persons who visit military posts, go the rounds, or have any business to transact with soldiers in camp or garrison. It ought always to be given in the language best known to the troops.

COUNTERVALLATION, or line of countervallation, a trench with a parapet, made by the besiegers, betwixt them and the place besieged, to secure them from the sallies of the garrison; so that the troops which form the siege are encamped between the lines of circumvallation and countervallation. When the enemy has no army in the field, these lines are useless.

COUNTY-lieutenant. TENANT of COUNTY. COUNTY-treasurer. SURER of COUNTY.

See LIEU

See TREA

COUP-DE-MAIN, a desperate resolution in all small expeditions, of surprise, &c. The favourable side of the proposed action must ever be viewed; for if what may happen, arrive, or fall out, is chiefly thought upon, it will, at the very best, not only greatly discou rage, but, in general, produce a total failure. The very name of an expedition implies risk, hazard, precarious warfare, and a critical but desperate operation, or Coup-de-Main.

COUP-d'œil, Fr, in a military sense, signifies that fortunate aptitude of eye in a general, or other officer, by which he is enabled by one glance on the map, or otherwise, to see the weak parts of an enemy's country, or to discern the 'strong ones of his own. It also signifies to catch a ready view, and thereby to secure an accurate knowledge of the enemy's position and movements in action. By possessing a ready coup

dail, a general may surmount the greatest difficulties, particularly in ofDensive operations. On a small scale Las faculty is of the greatest utility. Actions have been recovered by a sudden conception of different openings apon the enemy, which could only be ascertained by a quick and ready eye, during the rapid movements of opposing armies. General Désaix, at the battle of Marengo, gave a striking proof of the mportance of this faculty.

COUPE, Fr. the rough draft or sketch of a drawing which represents the inside of a building, &c.

COUPE-gorge, Fr. a disadvantageous position; a situation in which a body of men must be exposed to every sort of danger; literally, a cut-throat place.

COUPELLE, Fr. A kind of tin or copper shovel, which is used in the artilary to fill the cartridges with gunpowder, &c.

COUPER une communication, un CORTO, un pont, une retraite, une troupe, Fr. to cut off a communication, to interrupt a convoy, break down a bridge, cut off a retreat, or any armed body of

men.

COUPURES, in fortification, are passages, sometimes cut through the glacis, of about 12 or 15 feet broad, in the reentering angle of the covert-way, to facilitate the sallies of the besieged. They are sometimes made through the kower curtain, to let boats into a little haven built in the rentrant angle of the Counterscarp of the out-works.

COUPURE, Fr. a ditch that is dug to prevent a besieging army from getting || too close to the walls of a fortified town or place.

COURAGE, (Courage, Fr.) a quality of the mind, which is sometimes natural and sometimes acquired. It is equally necessary to the officer and soldier. The French make a difference between bravery and courage. They say soldiers may be very brave, and yet not have courage enough upon all occasions to manifest their bravery. A general who is determined upon an emergency to risk neck or nothing, always knows how to inspire his troops with courage, (provided they be well disciplined, for if not, he can do nothing,) and in that respect the famous Turenne and Maurice of Nassau, who

||

had often a superior force to oppose, were wonderfully skilful. Fernand Cortez, who had only five hundred men of infantry, and twenty horse, to make the conquest of Mexico, perceiving that his troops, (which he called an army,) were frightened at the great number of Indians mustering against them, ordered his ships to be set on fire. He conquered the enemy; but we must confess, that he had to deal with barbarians, who mistook his twenty horsemen for sea monsters, and the firing from the musquetry and artillery, for the thunder from above. All manner of stratagem must be recurred to, in order to revive or inspire courage. A general, for instance, who, at the head of an inferior force cannot avoid a battle, causes it to be rumoured, that the ene my will give no quarter, and that he has heard the report from his spies.

COURAGE Militaire, Fr. military prowess. A peculiar degree of hardihood, by which the mind is driven to

acts of uncommon boldness and enter

prize.

COURANTIN, Fr. a squib; a term used among French artificers.

COURCON, Fr. a long piece of iron which is used in the artillery, and serves to constrain, or tighten cannon.

COUREURS, Fr. a name used among the French to signify light armed troops that are mounted, and go upon reconnoitring parties, or in pursuit of a flying enemy. It literally means runners. Those who, on a march, leave their ranks to go marauding, are also called coureurs.

COURIER, in a military sense, means a messenger sent post, or express, to carry dispatches of battles gained, lost, &c. or any other occurrences that happen in war.

COURIERS des vivres, Fr. were two active and expert messengers attached to the French army, whose duty consisted wholly in conveying packets of importance to and fro, and in taking charge of pecuniary remittances.

COURIR aux armes, au butin, à la gloire. To rush or run to arms in order. to prevent being surprized; to hasten after, or to seek with enthusiasm, the means of acquiring glory.

COURROIS, Fr. stirrup-leathers. Dragoons are sometimes punished with these

these articles. The culprit is obliged || to pass through two lines facing inwards, and receives a blow from every soldier as he goes by.

COURONEMENT,or Couronnement in fortification, implies the most exterior part of a work when besieged.

offender shall be tried, nor under the degree of a field officer, unless where a field officer cannot be had; in which case the officer next in seniority, not being under the degree of a captain, shall preside at such court-martial; and that such court-martial shall have power

COURSER. See CHARGER.

COURSES, Fr. the incursions which an army makes into an enemy's country.

COURSIER, Fr. a gun which is placed in the forecastle of a galley for the purpose of firing over the ship's beak. The weight of its ball is from 33 to 34lb.

COURT-martial, a court appointed for the investigation and subsequent punishment of offences in officers, under-officers, soldiers and sailors: the powers of which are regulated by the mutiny-bill, in the words, and to the effect following. "His Majesty may, from time to time, grant a commission, under his royal sign manual, to any offcer, not under the degree of a fieldofficer, for holding a general court-martial within this realm; and also grant his warrant to the lord-lieutenant of Ireland, or other chief governor or governors there for the time being, or the governor or governors of Minorca, Gibraltar, and any of his Majesty's domimions beyond the seas respectively, or the person or persons, their commander in chief, from time to time, to appoint courts-martial in the kingdom of Ireland, and other places and dominions respectively; in which courts-martial, all offences mentioned in the articles of war, and all other offences hereinafter specified, shall be tried and proceeded against in such manner as the act for that purpose directs." The courts have power by their sentence of judgment to inflict corporal punishment, not extending to life or limb, on any soldier for immoralities, misbehaviour, or neglect of duty. A general court-martial shall not consist of a less number than 13, whereof none are to be under the degree of a commissioned officer; and the president of such general court-martial shall neither be the commander in chief, or governor of the garrison where the

every witness, in order to the examination or trial of any of the offences that shall come before them.

That in all trials of offenders by general courts martial, to be held by virtue of this act, every officer present at such trial, before any proceedings be bad. thereupon, shall take the following oaths upon the Holy Evangelists, before the court and judge advocate, or his deputy (who is hereby authorized to administer the same) in these words,

"You shall well and truly try and determine according to the evidence, in the matter now before you, between our sovereign lord the king's majesty, and the prisoner to be tried:

"So help you God."

The oath. "I, A. B. do swear, that I will duly administer justice according to the rules and articles for the better government of his Majesty's forces, and according to an act of parliament now in force for the punishment of mutiny and desertion, and other crimes therein mentioned, without partiality, favour, or affection; and if any doubt shall arise, which is not explained by the said articles or act of parliament, according to my conscience, the best of my understanding, and the custom of war in the like cases. And I further swear, that I will not divulge the sentence of the court until it shall be approved by his Majesty, the general, or commander in chief; neither will I upon any account, at any time whatsoever, disclose, or discover the vote, or opinion of any particular member of the courtmartial, unless required to give evidence thereof, as a witness, by a court of justice in a due course of law.

"So help me God."

And as soon as the said oaths shall have been administered to the respective members, the president of the court is hereby authorised and required to administer to the judge advocate, or the person officiating as such, an oath in the following words:

The