Part 110

DIAMETERS of the Bullets and Calibres of English musquets.

+-+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | +-+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |0| 0 |1.671|1.326|1.158|1.05 | .977| .919| .873| .835| .803| +-+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |1|.715| .?51| .730| .711| .693| .677| .663| .650| .637| .626| +-+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |2|.615| .605| .596| .587| .579| .571| .564| .557| .550| .544| +-+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |3|.538| .536| .526| .521| .517| .511| .506| .501| .497| .493| +-+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+

The diameter of musquet bores differs about ¹⁄₅₀th part from that of the bullet.

DIAMETER of powder measures. See POWDER MEASURES.

DICTATOR, a magistrate of Rome, made in times of exigence and public distress, and invested with absolute authority.

DIFFERENCE. The sum paid by an officer in the British service, when he exchanges from half to full pay. It likewise means the regulation price between an inferior and a superior commission. Officers who retire upon half pay, and take the difference, subject themselves to many incidental disadvantages, should they wish to return into active service.

DIGGING. See MINING.

DIGLADIATION, a combat with swords.

DIGUON, Fr. a staff at the end of which is suspended a vane or streamer. This term is properly marine.

DIKE or DYKE, a channel to receive water, also a dam or mound, to prevent inundation. See FORTIFICATION.

DIMACHÆ, in ancient military affairs, were a kind of horsemen, answering to the dragoons of the moderns.

DIMICATION. See BATTLE.

To DIMINISH or increase the front of a battalion, is to adapt the column of march or manœuvre according to the obstructions and difficulties which it meets in advancing. This is one of the most important movements, and a battalion which does not perform this operation with the greatest exactness and attention, so as not to lengthen out in the smallest degree, is not fit to move in the column of a considerable corps.

DIRECTEUR General, Fr. A military post of nominal importance which was originally instituted by Louis XIV. This charge was entrusted to eight lieutenant generals, four to command and superintend the infantry, and four for the cavalry. They possessed, however, little or no authority over the army in general; being subordinate in some degree to the general officer whose corps they might inspect, and to whom they rendered a correct account of its interior œconomy. They were likewise assisted by Inspectors general. The four directors were afterwards replaced by the inspectors, from a principle of œconomy. The permanent ones of that appellation were: director general of the royal artillery school; director general of military hospitals; director general of fortification; director general of the cavalry; director general of stores.

DIRECTION, in military mechanics, signifies the line or path of a body in motion, along which it endeavors to force its way, according to the propelling power that is given to it.

Angle of DIRECTION, that formed by the lines of direction of two conspiring powers.

Quantity of DIRECTION, a term used by military mathematicians for the product of the velocity of the common centre of gravity of a system of bodies, by the sum of their quantities of matter: this is no ways altered by any collisions among the bodies themselves.

DIRK, a kind of dagger used by military men, and by the highlanders in Scotland.

To DISARM. To deprive a soldier of every species of offensive or defensive weapon.

DISARMED. Soldiers divested of their arms, either by conquest, or in consequence of some defection.

DISBANDED, the soldiers of any regiment, who are in a body dismissed from the conditions of their military service.

DISBARK. See DISEMBARK.

DISCHARGE, in a military sense, is the dismissing a soldier from the troop or company he belonged to, either at his own request, or after long services.

This term is also applied to the firing of cannon or musquets, as a discharge of cannon, or of small arms.

DISCIPLINARIAN, an officer who pays particular regard to the discipline of the soldiers under his command.

DISCIPLINE, in a military sense, signifies the instruction and government of soldiers.

Military DISCIPLINE, Military Constitution, By military constitution is meant, the authoritative declared laws for the guidance of all military men, and all military matters; and by discipline is meant, the obedience to, and exercise of those laws. As health is to the natural body, so is a sound military constitution to the military one; and as exercise is to the first, so is discipline to the last. Bravery will perchance gain a battle; but every one knows that by discipline alone the long disputed prize of a war can be ultimately obtained.

The kingdom of Prussia was a striking example in favor of perfect discipline; for while that state had a strong army, and maintained that army in strict discipline, it had held a very considerable share in the system of Europe.