Page images
PDF
EPUB

of a regular siege; but when it was found expedient to insult a place, those of less dimension were adopted. Father Daniel describes the Reiranchment Portatif, which was used many centuries before the days of Philip Augustus, under the latter

head.

PAVILION, in military affairs. See

ΤΕΝΤ.

PAVILLON, Fr. See TENT.

PAVILLON, Fr. Flag, standard, or colors.

Vaisser le PAVILLON, Fr. to strike, to yield

Vaisseau PAVILLON, Fr. Flag ship. PAVILLON, Fr. This word likewise signifies the swell or broad part of a speaking trumpet.

PAULETTE, Fr. a certain tax or pecuniary consideration which all persons who held public situations under the old government of France, were obliged to pay at the commencement of every year, to the king. This enabled them to sell or dispose of their appointments, and to leave the amount to their heirs, if they happened to die in the course of the year. It is so called from Paulet, the name of the person who first suggested the measure.

PAVOIS, Fr. an ancient weapon of defence. It was the Clypeus or broad shield of the Greeks and Romans.

PAUSE, a stop, cessation, or intermission. It is essentially necessary for all officers to accustom themselves to a most minute observance of the several pauses which are prescribed during the firings. Accordingly the pause betwixt each of the firing words, make ready—aim, -fire, is the same as the ordinary time, víz. the 75th part of a minute,, and no other pause is to be made betwixt the words.

In firing by companies by wings, each wing carries on its fire independent, without regard to the other wing, whether it fires from the centre to the flanks, or from the flanks to the centre. If there are five companies in the wing, two pauses will be made betwixt the fire of each, and the make ready of the succeeding one. If there are four companies in the wing, three pauses will be made betwixt the fire of each, and the make ready of the succeeding one. This will allow sufficient time for the first company to have again loaded, and shouldered at the time the last company fires, and will establish proper intervals betwixt each.

In hiring by grand divisions, three pauses will be made betwixt the fire of each division, and the make ready of the succeeding one.

In hiring by wings, one wing will make ready the instant the other is shouldering. The commanding officer of the battalion fires the wings.

In firing companies by files each company fires independent. When the right tile presents, the next makes ready, and so on. After the first fire, each man as he loads comes to the recover, and the file again fires without waiting for any other; the rear rank men are to have their eyes on their front rank-men, and be guided by, and present with them.

When troops march to music, a pause in the mind before the latter strikes off, will contribute greatly to that uniformity of step, without which no line can move correctly. In some regiments the music does not play until one step has been || taken. See STEP OFF.

PAY, or pay of the army, is the stipend or salary allowed for each individual serving in the army; first established by the British government in the year 1665.

FULL PAY

Of the Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Privates in the British army.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

FULL PAY

Of the Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Privates in the British army. (Continued.)

Foot Infantry

Artillery.

Life
Guards. Cavalry. Guards. of the line Horse. Foot.

Rank,

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

rates of full pay, see Military Finance, page 66, &c.

Full PAY. The pecuniary allowance which is made to officers and non-commissioned officers, without any deduc- Half PAY, (Demi solde, Fr.) a com. tion whatsoever. Since the abolition of pensation or retaining fee which is given arrears in the British service, which took to officers who have retired from the serplace in 1797, commissioned and warrant vice through age, inability, &c. or who officers, &c. receive their full pay, or have been placed upon that list in consedaily subsistence. The private soldiers quence of a general reduction of the forces, are subject to temporary deductions, for or a partial drafting, &c. of the particu the purpose of appropriating part of their lar corps to which they belonged. The pay and allowances to the expence of half pay becomes due on the 25th of their messes, including vegetables, &c. June, and on the 25th of December in and to a stoppage not exceeding 15. 6d. each year, but it is seldom issued until per week, for necessaries; which stop-three months after the expiration of each page is to be accounted for monthly, as stated in their regulations of 1st September, 1795, and the remainder being 15. 6d. must be paid weekly to each soldier,|| subject to the accustomed deduction for washing, and for articles to clean his clothing and appointments.

of those periods. The only deduction
from the half pay is the poundaze, two
and an half per cent.
nance, page 113.
See Military Fi.

Irish HALF-PAY. Every officer up-
on the Irish establishment, when reduc-
ed to half pay, must swear to, and sign
the following certificate:
County of

-of foot, came oath, that he is no otherwise provided S this day before me, and made for by any commission or employment, civil or military, in his majesty's service, than by half pay on the establishment of Ireland, and is on no other establishment of half pay.

Officer's Sworn before me this
Name. S
da of
N B. To be sworn in January April,
July, and October, in every year.

The full pay of the British army is given in advance on the 25th of every month, and accounted for to government by the several district and regimental pay. masters, through army agents appointed for that purpose. For further particulars, see Military Finance, page 48, &c. Non. commissioned officers and private soldiers serving as marines, are not liable to any deduction whatsoever from their full pay, on account of provisions. It will be further observed, that although the British army is now paid its full pay, in consequence of the abolition of the distinction between subsistence and arrears, that pay is nevertheless subject to the usual deductions on account of poundage, hospital, and agency. This will explain the mutilated appearance of the different District PAY-MASTER, an officer aprates of pay. Thus a captain of infantry,||pointed for the better management of the who is nominally supposed to receive interior concerns of the army, when the 10s. per diem, gets only 9s. 5d. the 7d. corps are detached in garrisons on duty, in going for the above deductions. The full several districts. pay of the subaltern officers has been very judiciously increased, but that of the captains, &c. remains as it was in the reign of Queen Anne. For the several

PAY-MASTER, is he who is intrusted with the money, and has the charge of paying the regiment. He has no other commission in the line. His pay is 15s. per day.

bills are distinguished according to the PAY-Bills. In the British army these nature of the service for which they are given. Every captain of a troop or com

[blocks in formation]

PAY-Rolls, the same as pay-lists. PAY-Serjeant. See SERJEANT. PAYE, Fr. the pay of the troops. PAYEN-Ghaut, Ind. the lower moun tain. Ghaut is the general term for mountain.

PAYS, Fr. This word is variously applied by the French in a figurative sense: Parler, ou juger a vue de Pays. To speak or decide at random.

Gagner PAYS, (vuider le pays, Fr.) To leave a country. To go voluntarily into exile. Gagner pays likewise means to gain ground. Avancer pays may be used in the same sense

Batre-PAYS, Fr. to speak wide of the subject.

Tirer-PAYS, Fr. a familiar phrase among the French, signifying to escape. PAYS, Fr. country, locality, ground. PAYS-Conquis, Fr. This term was applied by the French to those countries and tracts of territory which had been ceded to France by treaty; as Lorraine; or had been conquered by force of arms; as Ypres, Tournay, Ghent, Ostend, and several other towns, from the reign of

Louis XIII.

know, that mountainous and close countries, or intersected lands, are best adapted to light infantry manoeuvres, and that cavalry can only act, with safety and effect, in an open country. The solidity of this observation has probably been the cause of so much improvement in light artillery, and in rifle corps. The latter, indeed, by the use which has been made of their particular weapon, and the desultory execution of it on service, have sufficiently shewn, that no army ought to move without them.

PAYSANS. Fr. Peasants.

PEACE, has been represented allegorically as a beautiful female, holding in her hand a wand or rod towards the earth, over a hideous serpent, and keeping her other hand over her tace, as unwilling to behold strife or war. By some painters she has been represented holding in one hand an olive branch, and leading a lamb and a wolf yoked by their necks, in the other; others again have delineated her with an olive branch in her right hand, and a cornucopia, or horn of plenty, in her left.

A very celebrated temple was erected for the goddess of peace at Rome, which was furnished with most of the rich vases and curiosities taken out of the temple of the Jews at Jerusalem. In this temple she was represented as a fine lady, en||dowed with a great deal of sweetness and good-nature, crowned with laurel is terwoven, holding a caduceus in one hand, and a nosegay of roses and ears of corn, in

the other.

The temple of peace, built by Ves. pasian, was 300 feet long, and 200 broad. Josephus says, that all the rarities which men travel through the world to see, were deposite in this temple.

PAYS-coupes, Fr. Confined, inclosed, or intersected countries. Marshal PEACE, (Paix, Fr.) rest, silence, Saxe has observed, that it is impossible quietness; the direct opposite to war; to lay down any specific rule relative to and when the latter prevails, the ultithe management of troops in countries mate object of every contest This word of this description. An intelligent and is frequently prefixed to the term esta able officer will be governed by the na-blishment, to signify the reduced number ture of the ground in which he is to act; and as under these circumstances, the contest will consist chiefly of a war of posts, and of desultory engagements, in which the most obstinate will be generally the most successful, it will be incumbent upon every military man to recollect, that he must never advance, without having previously secured means for a retreat, should that be judged expedient, and being constantly guarded on his flanks to prevent the fatal consequences of surprise and ambuscade. Although the latfer precautions are principally attended to by the general of an army, every partisan or officer commanding a detachment, should be more or less alive to the many mischiefs which must ensue from care. lessness and inattention. It would be superfluous to point out what troops are best calculated to act in a close or intersected country. Every military man must

of effective men, in the British army, according to the various formations of corps. Thus one regiment may be 1200 strong in time of war, and only 600 in time of peace. A regiment may also consist of several battalions, the 60th regiment for example has six battalions each of the strength of a regiment; that is from 1000 to 1200 men each. Whence arises the distinction between war and peace establishments. The standing army of Great Britain, according to law, consists of that force only which is kept up in time of peace, and which is confined to a specific number of regiments. Every regiment, beyond the regulated number, during a war is liable to be reduced; and all within it are said to be out of the break.

PEADA, Ind. a footman who carries a staff

PECHE, Fr. Fishery.

PECTORAL, (Pectoral, Fr.) a breast || plate. This word is derived from the Latin, Pectorale. Among the Romans the poorer soldiers, who were rated under a thousand drachms, instead of the lorica or brigantine, (a leathern coat of mail) wore a pectorale, or breast-plate of thin brass, about 12 fingers square. Some modern troops, such as the cuirassiers, &c. wear pectorals for the direct purposes of defence and bodily protection; but in general small ornamental plates with clasps, have been substituted."

PECULAT, Fr. See PECULATION. PECULATE, PECULATION, the crime of pilfering any thing, either sacred or public, particularly public money, by a person who has the management or custody thereof. This crime is punishable in the heirs of the original delinquent. Under peculation may be considered not only the monies which are embezzled or misapplied by commissioned, non-commissioned, and warrant officers, but the public stores, provisions, arms, and ammunition, &c. which may be sold for private emolument. Occasional examples have been made by government, of a crime that cannot be too scrupulously watched, or too heavily punished, ought to deter individuals from sacrificing pub. lic integrity to private views. They ought to remember, that like the sword of Damocles, public scorn hangs over the head of every man whose accounts have not been finally audited and passed.

PECUNIA. Money. A deity in the heathen mythology; (though not a goddess personified among them) the most powerful ascendant the moderns know. The Romans held that she presided over riches, and that she had a son named Argentinus, whom they adored in the hopes of growing rich.

PECUNIUS, a deity of the ancient Prussians, in honor of whom they kept a fire of oak perpetually burning. A priest constantly attended, and if the fire happened to go out by his neglect, he was instantly put to death. When it thundered, they imagined that their grand priest conversed with their god, and for that reason they fell prostrate on the earth, praying for seasonable weather.

PEDERERO, PATTARERO, a Portuguese term, signifying a small sort of cannon, which is particularly used on the quarter deck of ships, to fire or throw forth stones, or broken iron, upon boarding parties. This word has been adopted both by the French and English.

PEDOMETER, (Pedometre, Fr.) a mathematical instrument, composed of various wheels with teeth, which by incans of a chain fastened to a man's foot, or to the wheel of a chariot, advance a notch each step, or each revolution of the wheel, and the number being marked at the edge of each wheel, the paces

may be numbered, or the distance from
one place to another be exactly measured.
PEGS, pointed pieces of wood, used
to fasten the cords of a tent.
PEJADAK, Ind. a guard to accom-
pany a prisoner at large.

PEISA, Ind. Cash; or copper money.
PEER, Ind. Monday.

PELE-MELE, Fr. a French adverb, from which is derived the English term pellmell, signifying, confusedly, in disorder, in heaps, &c.

PELICAN, Fr. an ancient piece of artillery which carried a six pound weight of ball, and weighed two thousand four hundred pounds.

PELLE de bois simple, Fr. a wooden shovel.

PELOTE à feu, Fr. Pelote literally means the bottom of a pincushion, a batí, &c. It is here used to signify a species of combustible ball, which serves to throw light into a fosse or elsewhere. The composition is pitch one part, sulphur three parts, to one pound of saltpetre. The whole is well mixed together, and incorporated with tow, from which the pelotes are made.

PELOTON, Fr. Platoon.

Rompre le PELOTON, Fr. A platoon being generally considered as a subdivision, rompré le peloton signifies to break into sections.

Former le PELOTON, Fr. to double up or form subdivision.

PELOTONNE, ée, Fr. formed into a platoon.

PELOTONNER, Fr. to gather together, to get into groupes.

Se PELOTONNER, Fr. to form into a platoon.

PELTA, in antiquity, a kind of buckler, small, light, and more manageable than the Parma which was used by the Amazons, according to Virgil, and resembled the moon in his first quarter, according to Servius.

PENAL, (Pénale, ale, Fr.) any decree or law which subjects individuals, &c. to penalties. Hence code pénal Les loix pénales. The penal code, the penal laws. Thus in England a person professing the Catholic religion is not permitted to exercise his religion if a soldier; and a catholic cannot be a commissioned officer.

PENALTY. In a military sense, signifies forfeiture for non-performance, likewise punishment for embezzlement, &c. An officer found guilty of embezzling stores is cashiered; any person who harbors, conceals, or assists any deserter from the United States' service, is liable to a heavy penalty.

PENDULUM, in mechanics, any heavy body suspended in such a manner that it may vibrate backwards, and forwards, about some fixed point, by the force of gravity.

A pendulum is any body suspended upon, and moving about, a' point as a

centre. The nature of a pendulum consists in the following particulars. 1. The times of the vibrations of a pendulum, in very small arches, are all equal. 2. The velocity of the bob in the lowest point, will be nearly as the length of the cord of the arch which it describes in the descent. 3. The times of vibrations in different pendulums, are the square roots of the times of their vibrations. 4. The time of one vibration is to the time of descent, through half the lengthof the pendulum as the circumference of a circle is to its diameter. 5. Whence the lengthofa pendulum vibrating seconds in the latitude of London, is found to be 39 inches and 2-10ths; and of one half-second pendulum 9-8 inches. 6. An uniform homogeneous body, as a rod, staff, &c. which is 1-3d) part longer than a pendulum, will vibrate in the same time with it.

From these properties of the pendulum we way discern its use as an universal chronometer, or regulator of time. By this instrument, also, we can measure. the distance of a ship, of a battery, &c. by measuring the interval of time between the fire and report of the gun; also the distance of a cloud, by counting the seconds or half-seconds, between the lightning and the thunder. Thus, suppose between the lightning and thunder we count ten seconds; then, because sound passes through 1142 feet in one! second, we get the distance of the cloud

11420 feet. Again, the height of any room, or other object, may be measured by a pendulum vib ating from the top thereof. Thus, suppose a pendulum from the height of a room, or other object, vibrates once in three seconds; then say, as I is to the square of 3, viz. 9, so is 39.2 to 352.8 feet, the height required. Lastly, by the pendulum we discover the different force of gravity on divers parts of the earth's surface, and thence the tue figure of the earth.

PENDULUMS. Pendulums for military purposes are best made with a musquet ball, and a piece of silk, or other small line. Their length must be measured from the centre of the bali to the end of the loop on which they are to swing. In a cylinder, or other uniform prism or rod, the centre of oscillation, from whence they must be measured, is at the distance of one-third from the bottom, or two-thirds below the centre

of motion.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Rule.-To find the length of a pendulum to make any number of vibrations, and vice versa.

Call the pendulum making 60 vibrations the standard length; then say, as the square of the given number of vibrations is to the square of 60; so is the length of the standard to the length sought. If the length of the pendulum be given and the number of vibrations it makes in a minute be required; say, as the given length, is to the standard length, so is the square of 60, its vibrations in a minute, to the square of the number required. The square root of which will be the number of vibrations made in a minute.

PENNANT, PENNON, a small flag or color.

They

Gentlemen PENSIONERS, (Gentilsbommes Pensionnaires, Fr.) a band of gentlemen, who guard the British king's person in his own house, and for that end wait in the presence chamber. were first instituted by Henry VII. They are usually forty in number. Their officers are, a captain, licutenant, standard-bearer, and clerk of the cheque. Their ordinary arms are guilt pole-axes. Their pension is 100l. per annum; they are usually called beef-caters, from their usually fat appearance and indolent habits.

PENTACAPSULAR, having five

cavities.

PENTAEDROUS, having five sides. PENTAGON, in fortification, a figure bounded by five side, or polygons, which form so many angles, capable of being fortified with an equal number of bas. tions. It also denotes a fort with five bastions.

PENTAGRAPH, (Pentagraphe, Fr.). An instrument whereby designs, &c. may be copied in any proportion, without the person, who uses it, being skilled in drawing.

PENTANGLE, A figure having five See PENTA

angles.

PENTANGULAR.

GON.

PENTAPOLIS, in geography, a com

« PreviousContinue »