Part 135

Thrusts are of various denominations, according to the direction of the point, and position of the wrist.

The thrusts directed at the inside of the body, are called prime, carte, and low-carte; those at the outside, are seconde, tierce, carte over the arm, quinte and flanconade.

In teaching, the thrusts are not arranged according to the above order; it is usual to begin with carte (or quarte) and tierce, the names of which prove them to have been originally the 4th and 3d positions in the art; but which are now justly considered as the chief and most elegant.

Parrying in FENCING, the action of warding off the blows aimed at each other.

Flanconade, in FENCING, is the action of dropping the point of your sword under your adversary’s hilt, in seizing with force the feeble of his blade; which binding, without quitting it, form the parade in octave and then throw in your thrust. See Art of defence with swords by the author of Am. Military Library.

Glissade, in FENCING, is performed by dexterously making your sword slip along your adversary’s blade, and forming at the same time your extension, &c.

FER, Fr. Iron. Figuratively, this word is used for a sword or dagger; as manier le fer, to wear the sword, to follow the profession of arms, Battre le fer, to fence.

FER à cheval, Fr. In fortification, a horse-shoe, which see. It further means according to the French acceptation of the term, a work constructed for the purpose of covering a gate, by having within it a guard-house, to prevent the town from being surprised.

FERDWIT, in ancient military history, a term formerly used to denote a freedom from serving upon any military expedition; or according to some, the being quit of manslaughter committed in the army.

FERRIES, water conveyances, made use of to cross rivers, or branches of the sea.

FERTH or FORTH. See ARMY.

FEU, Fr. Fire. Faire feu, to discharge any sort of firearms.

FEU, fire, is also understood to mean any light combustible, which is kept up in the front of a camp, and at each post during the night to keep the soldiers alert, and to prevent them from being surprised.

Every species of fire, or light is, however, strictly forbidden on a march, when the object is to surprize an enemy. Soldiers on these occasions are not permitted to smoke. Bundles, and large wisps of lighted straw, which are hung out from the tops of steeples, or from any other elevation, frequently serve to give the alarm when an enemy is discovered in the act of passing a river.

Lights are likewise resorted to on various other occasions. See LIGHTS.

FEU de joie. See RUNNING-FIRE.

FEU rasant, Fr. a grazing fire, or a discharge of ordnance or musquetry so directed that the shot shall run parallel with the ground they fly over, within 3 or 4 feet of the surface.

That is likewise called a feu rasant, or grazing fire, which is sent in parallel directions with the faces of the different works belonging to a fortification.

FICHANT. See LINE OF DEFENCE, FORTIFICATION.

FIELD. The ground of battle. A battle, campaign, or the action of an army while it keeps the field.

FIELD-bed, a folding bed used by officers in their tents.

{Colors, } {Camp colors. {Officers,} {Officers. Field-{Pieces, }See{Cannon. {Staff, } {Lintstock. {Works, } {Field fortification.

FIELD-Fort. See FORT.

FIELD-marshal, a military rank superior to all others, except the captain general.

This rank formerly existed and has been again revived in England. The French in their modern system, have given it an effective character, it being the superior rank of distinguished generals; the number of which have a temporary limitation. Their corps d’armée or legions of 25,000 men, are each commanded by a marshal.

FIFE, a military instrument of the wind kind, generally used as an accompaniment to the drum.

FIFRE, Fr. Fife. In French, this word likewise means fifer.

FIGHT. See BATTLE.