Part 124

The word escouade is, however, more specifically applicable to the old distribution of a French artillery company, which was divided into three parts called escouades. The first, containing double the complement of the rest, was composed of 24 artillerists or bombardiers, including two serjeants, two corporals, two anspessades or lance corporals of the same profession, and twenty-four soldiers called soldats apprentis. The second escouade was composed of twelve miners or sappers, including one serjeant, one corporal, and one anspessade or lance corporal of the same profession, and twelve soldats apprentis.

The third escouade was composed of twelve workmen or artificers in wood or iron attached to the artillery, amongst whom were included one serjeant, one corporal and one anspessade or lance corporal of the same trade, together with twelve soldats apprentis. We have corrupted the terra and called it squad. See SQUAD.

ESCOUT. See SPY.

ESCUAGE, an ancient feudal tenure by which the tenant was bound to follow his lord to war or to defend his castle.

ESPADON, in old military books, a kind of two-handed sword, having two edges, of a great length and breadth; formerly used by the Spanish.

ESPION, Fr. a spy.

ESPLANADE, in fortification, the sloping of the parapet of the covert-way towards the field, and is therefore the same as the glacis of the counterscarp; but begins to be antiquated in that sense, and is now only taken for the empty space between the glacis of a citadel, and the first houses of the town.

ESPONTOON, Fr. A sort of half pike. On the 10th of May, 1690, it was ordered by the French government that every espontoon, or half pike, should be 8 feet in length. The colonels of corps as well as the captains of companies always used them in action. The officers of the British army have likewise been provided with this weapon: but it has been replaced by the strait sword in both countries; and is generally exploded.

ESPRINGAL, in the ancient art of war, a machine for throwing large darts, generally called muchettæ.

ESPRIT de Corps, Fr. this term is generally used among all military men in Europe. It may not improperly be defined a laudable spirit of ambition which produces a peculiar attachment to any particular corps, company or service. Officers without descending to mean and pitiful sensations of selfish envy, under the influence of a true Esprit de corps rise into an emulous thirst after military glory. The good are excited to peculiar feats of valor by the sentiments it engenders, and the bad are deterred from ever hazarding a disgraceful action by a secret consciousness of the duties it prescribes.

ESQUADE. See SQUAD.

ESQUIRE. See ARMIGER.

S’ESQUIVER, Fr. to steal away.

ESSES, in the train of artillery, are fixed to draught chains and made in the form of an S, one end of which is fastened to the chain, and the other hooks to the horses harness, or to a staple: they serve likewise to lengthen and piece chains together.

ESSUYER le feu, Fr. to remain exposed to the fire of cannon or musquetry.

ESTABLAGE, Fr. the harness which is between the two shafts of a cart, and serves to support them.

To ESTABLISH, To fix, to settle. It is likewise a technical phrase, to express the quartering of any considerable body of troops in a country. Thus it is common to say: The army took up a position in the neighborhood of ---- and established its head quarters at ----.

ESTABLISHMENT, in a military sense, implies the quota of officers and men in an army, regiment, troop, or company.

Peace-ESTABLISHMENT, is the reduction of corps to a certain number, by which the aggregate force of a country is diminished, and its expenditure lessened.

War-ESTABLISHMENT, is the augmentation of regiments to a certain number, by which the whole army of a country is considerably increased.

ESTAFFE, contribution money.

ESTIMATE, army estimates are the computation of expences to be incurred in the support of an army for a given time.

ESTOFETTE, a military courier, sent express from one part of an army to another.

ESTOILE. See ETOILE.

ESTRADE, Fr. a road or way. This word is derived from the Italian strada, which signifies road, street, or way. Some writers take its etymology from Estradicts, a class of men on horseback, who were employed in scouring the roads, and in procuring intelligence respecting the movements of an army. See BATTEUR D’ESTRADE.

ETAIM or ETAIN, Fr. Tin, A white metal of a consistency less hard than silver, but firmer than lead. It is used in the casting of cannon. The best quality is found in Cornwall.

ETANCONS, Fr. Stays, supporters. Large pieces of wood which are fixed vertically in the cavities of mines, for the purpose of sustaining the weight of earth that is laid upon the galleries.

ETAPE, Fr. subsistence, or a soldier’s daily allowance. See SUBSISTENCE.