Part 130

Of the exercise of auxiliary machines.

Exercise of the Gin.

The complement of men for a gin is usually 1 non-commissioned officer and 10 men; they are numbered from 1 to 10, the non-commissioned officer being 11.

To carry a Gin.

1 and 2 carry a pry-pole, 3 and 5 the right cheek, 4 and 6 the left, 7 the windlass and side, 8 and 9 the blocks and tackles, 10 the handspikes, &c.

To set up a Gin.

1 and 2 put a common handspike through the ring, near the foot of the pry-pole, at which they lift; 3 and 4 steady the cheeks, by placing each a handspike against the lower cross bar; 5, 7, and 9, lift the right cheek; 6, 8, and 10, the left cheek; 11 gives directions. The tackles must be hooked on before the gin is raised.

To work a Gin.

1 and 3 man the right handspikes of the gin: 2 and 4 the left; 5, 6, 7, and 8, hold on the fall, and pull in the slack; 9 and 10 steady the gun, 9 at the muzzle, 10 at the breech. The tackle hook must be fixed directly over the dolphins, if any, or a little behind the trunnions.

In heaving, when the ends of 1 and 4’s handspikes come as low as their knees, 2 and 3 put theirs into the upper holes of the windlass, and 3 gives the word Bear, upon which 1 and 4 clear their handspikes from the windlass, and 1 gives the word Heave; 2 and 3 then bear down their handspikes, and remain fast till 1 and 4 having taken their fresh purchase, 1 gives the word Bear, when 2 and 3 clear their handspikes, and 3 gives the word Heave; and so on alternately, till the gun is at its proper height, when the handspikes in the upper holes are made to rest against the upper cross bar, and 5 makes fast the fall to the lower cross bar; and if required to lower the gun, eases the fall off from the windlass; 5, 6, 7, and 8, move the carriage, as required, under the gun.

Exercise of the Sling Cart.

The men for the service of the sling cart are numbered from 1 to 7; the non-commissioned officer being No. (1); Nos. 2 and 3 sling the gun. The gun must be laid with one trunnion touching the ground, and the sling passes diagonally round the gun, being before one trunnion, and behind the other; and that end of the sling which goes round the lower side of the gun, must be the end to be acted on by the windlass; as by that means the trunnions become horizontal when the gun is raised; Nos. 4, and 6, man the right lever; 5, and 7, the left lever; and upon the word from the non commissioned officer, then directs, left hand lever hold on, right lever bear; the right lever takes a fresh purchase: then, right lever hold on, left lever bear; the left lever takes a fresh purchase; they then heave together again. When the gun is high enough, (1) puts in the pall; 2 and 3 take out the levers, and put in the pry-pole; 4 and 5 raise the breech of the gun with two common handspikes, and 6 and 7 lash it to the pry-pole: 2 and 3 then lay their levers along side the pry-pole, and 4 and 5 their handspikes on the top of them, which 6 and 7 lash all fast together.

EXERCISES, are also understood of what young gentlemen or cadets learn in the military academies and riding schools; such as fencing, dancing, riding, the manual exercise, &c.

EXHORT. See ANIMATE.

EXPEDITION, in a general sense, signifies haste, speed, rapidity. In a military sense, it is chiefly used to denote a voyage or march against an enemy, the success of which depends on rapid and unexpected movements. It is out of the nature of the thing itself to lay down fixed rules for the minute conducting of small expeditions; their first principles only can be with certainty fixed, and men will often disagree about preparations, and differ in their conduct, though they acknowlege the same principles.

One of the principles of many small expeditions, is surprise; and 6 battalions, without much accompaniment, may sometimes do that which 24, and a great fleet, would not succeed in.

There is no part of war so interesting to an insulary soldier as an expedition; nor can there be any part more worthy of attention.

EXPEDITIONS have heretofore had no rules laid down for their conduct, and that part of war had never been reduced to a system. The slow rules of a great war will not do in expeditions; the blow must be struck with surprise, and intimidation be produced in the invaded enemy, before succors can arrive. Debate is out of season, and all slow proceedings are ruin. Not to advance, is to recede; and not to be on the road to conquest, is to be already conquered. There must be that glance, which sees certainly, though instantly; that rapidity, which executes on the surest rules, when it seems least to act on any. The French have given all their campaigns the characters of expeditions.

In all small expeditions, such as expeditions of surprise, or coup-de-main, the favorable side of the proposed action must ever be viewed; for if what may happen, what may arrive, what may fall out, is chiefly thought upon, it will, at the very best, greatly discourage, but in general end in a total failure. Hence the very name of an expedition implies risk, hazard, precarious warfare, and a critical operation.

An expedition is governed by five principal maxims.

1st, A secrecy, if possible, of preparation, and a concealment of design, &c.

2dly, That the means bear proportion to the end. In this there will ever be a difference in opinion.

3dly, A knowlege of the state and situation of the country, where the scene of action is, or the place or object that is to be attacked.

4thly, A commander who has the particular turn of mind, which is most adapted to such particular sort of warfare.

Lastly, The plan of an expedition, great or small, is ever to be arranged as much as possible before setting out, and then any appearances that may vary a little from what might have been expected, will not perplex.

EXPEDITION, Fr. See EXPEDITION. The French likewise use this word, to express any particular military quality, which an officer or soldier may possess. As, cet officier est un homme d’expedition, this officer is a man of enterprise, is courageous and daring.

EXPLOIT. See ATCHIEVEMENT.

To EXPLODE, burst or blow up.