Part 113

Table of Angles subtended by 1 Foot, at different Distances.

-----+------++-----+------++-----+------++------------ | Dis- || | Dis- || | Dis- || | Dis- |tances|| |tances|| |tances|| |tances Min-| in || Min-| in || Min-| in || Min-| in utes.| feet.||utes.| feet.||utes.| feet.||utes.| feet. -----+------++-----+------++-----+------++-----+------ 1 |3437.7|| 16 | 214.8|| 31 | 110.9|| 46 | 74.7 2 |1718.9|| 17 | 202.2|| 32 | 107.4|| 47 | 73.1 3 |1145.9|| 18 | 191.0|| 33 | 104.2|| 48 | 71.6 4 | 859.4|| 19 | 180.9|| 34 | 101.1|| 49 | 70.1 5 | 687.5|| 20 | 171.8|| 35 | 98.2|| 50 | 68.7 6 | 572.9|| 21 | 162.7|| 36 | 95.5|| 51 | 67.4 7 | 491.1|| 22 | 156.2|| 37 | 92.9|| 52 | 66.1 8 | 429.7|| 23 | 149.4|| 38 | 90.4|| 53 | 64.8 9 | 382.0|| 24 | 143.2|| 39 | 88.1|| 54 | 63.6 10 | 343.7|| 25 | 137.5|| 40 | 85.9|| 55 | 62.5 11 | 312.5|| 26 | 132.2|| 41 | 83.8|| 56 | 61.4 12 | 286.5|| 27 | 127.2|| 42 | 81.8|| 57 | 60.3 13 | 264.4|| 28 | 122.7|| 43 | 79.9|| 58 | 59.2 14 | 245.5|| 29 | 118.5|| 44 | 78.1|| 59 | 58.2 15 | 229.2|| 30 | 114.6|| 45 | 76.4|| 60 | 57.3 -----+------++-----+------++-----+------++-----+------

DISTANCE of files. Every soldier when in his true position under arms, shouldered and in rank, must just feel with his elbow the touch of his neighbor with whom he dresses; nor in any situation of movement in front, must he ever relinquish such touch, which becomes in action the principal direction for the preservation of his order, and each file as connected with its two neighboring ones, must consider itself a complete body, so arranged for the purpose of attack, or effectual defence. Close files must invariably constitute the formation of all corps that go into action. The peculiar exercise of the light infantry is the only exception. See Am Mil. Lib.

DISTANCE of ranks, open distances of ranks are two paces asunder; when close they are one pace; when the body is halted and to fire, they are still closer locked up. Close ranks, order or distance is the constant and habitual order at which troops are at all times formed and move; open ranks, order or distance is only an occasional exception, made in the situation of parade, or in light infantry manœuvres.

DISTANCES of files and ranks, relate to the trained soldier, but in the course of his tuition he must be much exercised at open files and ranks, and acquire thereby independence and the command of his limbs and body.

DISTANCE of the bastions, in fortification, is the side of the exterior polygon. See FORTIFICATION.

DISTRIBUTION. In a military sense, generally applies to any division, or allotment, which is made for the purposes of warfare. Thus an army may be distributed about a country. In a more confined sense, it means the minute arrangements that are made for the interior œconomy of corps; as distribution of pay or subsistence, distribution of allowances, &c.

DISTRICT, in a military sense, one of those parts into which a country is divided, for the conveniences of command, and to secure a ready co-operation between distant bodies of armed men.

DITCH. See FORTIFICATION, MOAT.

To drain a DITCH, is to make the water run off into lower ground, by means of small trenches cut for this purpose.

DIVERSION, in military history, is when an enemy is attacked in one place where he is weak and unprovided, in order to draw off his forces from making an irruption somewhere else; or where an enemy is strong, and by an able manœuvre he is obliged to detach part of his forces to resist any feint or menacing attempt of his opponent. To derive advantage from a diversion, taken in an extended acceptation of the term, it is necessary, that one state should have greater resources than another; for it would be absurd to attack the territories of another before you had secured your own.

It is likewise requisite, that the country you attack by stratagem or diversion, should be easy of access, and the invasion you make must be prompt, vigorous and unexpected, directed against a weak and vulnerable quarter. A little good fortune is however essential to render a diversion perfectly successful, as all the ways and means by which it ought be made, cannot be reduced to rule.

The most memorable instance of a diversion well executed, which we meet with in ancient history, was performed by Scipio in Africa, whilst Annibal carried the war into Italy. In 1659, a diversion no less remarkable, was practised by the imperial and allied armies against the Swedes.

DIVISIONS of a battalion, are the several platoons into which a regiment or battalion is divided, either in marching or firing; each of which is commanded by an officer.

DIVISIONS of an army, are the number of brigades and squadrons it contains.

The advance, the main, and the rear guards are composed out of the several brigades, and march in front, in the centre, and in the rear of an army. Each army has its right wing, its centre, and its left wing. When armies march they advance in column, that is, they are divided into several squadrons and battalions of a given depth, successively formed upon one another. If an army be drawn out or displayed in order of battle it is usually divided into the first line, which constitutes the front, the second line, which makes the main body, and the third line or reserve.

DODECAGON, in geometry, is a regular polygon, consisting of 12 equal sides and angles, capable of being regularly fortified with the same number of bastions.

DODECAHEDRON, is one of the platonic bodies, or five regular solids, and is contained under 12 equal and regular pentagons.

The solidity of a dodecahedron, is found by multiplying the area of one of the pentagonal faces of it by 12; and this latter product by ¹⁄₃d of the distance of the face from the centre of the dodecahedron, which is the same as the centre of the circumscribing sphere.

The side of a dodecahedron inscribed in a sphere, is the greater part of the side of a cube inscribed in that sphere, cut into extreme and mean proportion.

If the diameter of the sphere be 1,0000, the side of a dodecahedron inscribed in it will be .35682 nearly.

All dodecahedrons are similar, and are to one another as the cubes of the sides; and their surfaces are also similar, and therefore they are as the squares of their sides; whence as .509282 is to 10.51462, so is the square of the side of any dodecahedron to the superficies thereof; and as .3637 is to 2.78516, so is the cube of the side of any dodecahedron to the solidity of it.

DOG-Nails. See NAILS.

DOLPHINS. See CANNON.

DOMMAGE, Fr. in a general acceptation of the term, signified in the old French service, the compensation which every captain of a troop, or company was obliged to make in consequence of any damage that their men might have done in a town, or on a march. If any disagreement occurred between the officers and the inhabitants, with respect to the indemnification, a statement of losses sustained was sworn to by the latter, before the mayor or magistrates of the place, who determined the same. But if the officers should refuse to abide by their decision, a remonstrance was drawn up and transmitted to the secretary at war, with a copy of the same to the intendant of the province. Officers have frequently been displaced or degraded on this account. Hence the term dommage is supposed to have been derived from the latin words damnum jactura, and signifies the loss or privation of a step.

DONJON. See DUNGEON.

DOSSER, in military matters, is a sort of basket, carried on the shoulders of men, used in carrying the earth from one part of a fortification to another, where it is wanted.

DOUBLING, in the military art, is the placing two or more ranks, or files into one.