Part 14

AQUEDUCT, a channel to convey water from one place to another. Aqueducts, in military architecture, are generally made to bring water from a spring or river to a fortress, &c.; they are likewise used to carry canals over low ground, and over brooks or small rivers; they are built with arches like a bridge, only not so wide, and are covered above by an arch, to prevent dust or dirt from being thrown into the water--there are also subterranean aqueducts, such as pipes of wood, lead, or iron. See Muller’s Practical Fortification.

The Romans had aqueducts which extended 100 miles. That of Louis XIV. near Maintenon, which carries the river Bute to Versailles, is 7000 toises long.

ARAIGNEE, in fortification. See GALLERY.

ARBALET, in the ancient art of war, a cross-bow, made of steel, set in a shaft of wood, with a string and trigger, bent with a piece of iron fitted for that purpose, and used to throw bullets, large arrows, darts, &c. Also a mathematical instrument called a Jacob’s Staff, to measure the height of the stars upon the horizon.

ARBALETE à jalet, a stone bow.

ARBALETRIER, Fr. a cross-bow man.

ARBALETRIER d’une Galére, Fr. that part of a galley where the cross-bowmen were placed during an engagement.

ARBORER, Fr. to plant. Arborer l’étendart, to plant the standard.

ARC, Fr. a bow; an arch in building.

ARCH, in military architecture, is a vault or concave building, in form of a curve, erected to support some heavy structure, or passage.

Triumphal ARCH, in military history, is a stately monument or erection generally of a semicircular form, adorned with sculpture, inscriptions, &c. in honor of those heroes who have deserved a triumph.

ARCHERS, in military history, a kind of militia or soldiery, armed with bows and arrows. They were much used in former times, but are now laid aside, excepting in Turkey, and in some parts of Asia.

ARCHERY, is the art of shooting with a bow and arrow. The ancient English were famous for being the best archers in Europe, and most of their victories in France were the purchase of the long-bow. The statutes made in 33 Hen. VIII. relative to this exercise, are worth perusal. It was forbidden, by statute, to shoot at a standing mark, unless it should be for a rover, where the archer was to change his mark at every shot. Any person above 24 years old was also forbidden to shoot with any prick-shaft, or flight, at a mark of eleven score yards or under. 33 Hen. VIII. chap. 9. The former was a provision for making good marksmen at sight; the latter for giving strength and sinews. The modern rifle has rendered the bow an useless weapon.

ARCHITECTURE, in a military sense, is the art of erecting all kinds of military edifices or buildings, whether for habitation or defence.

Military ARCHITECTURE, instructs us in the method of fortifying cities, sea-ports, camps, buildings, powder magazines, barracks, &c. Military architecture is divided into regular and irregular fortification.

Regular fortification consists in having all its sides and angles equal among themselves.

Irregular fortification is composed of parts where the sides and angles are not equal or uniform among themselves. This species of fortification is permanent or temporary.

The permanent one is constructed for the purpose of remaining a long time, and for the protection of large towns.

The temporary one is that which is erected in cases of emergency. Under this denomination are contained all sorts of works which are thrown up to seize a pass or gain an eminence, or those which are made in circumvallations and countervallations, viz. redoubts, trenches, and batteries. See FORTIFICATION.

Field Fortification is the art of forming temporary works of defence, such as trenches, redoubts, breastworks, epaulments, chevaux de frize, trous de loup, &c. See FIELD FORTIFICATION.

Naval ARCHITECTURE, is the art of building the hull, or body of the ship, distinct from her machinery and furniture for sailing; and may properly be comprehended in three principal articles. 1. To give the ship such a figure, or outward form, as may be most suitable to the service for which she is intended. 2. To find the exact shape of the pieces of timber necessary to compose such a fabric. 3. To make convenient apartments for the artillery, ammunition, provisions, and cargo: together with suitable accommodations for the officers and men.

ARCHITRAVE, the master beam, or chief supporter, in any part of a subterraneous fortification.

AREA, the superficial content of any rampart, or other work of a fortification.

ARIGOT, Fr. a fife or flute.

ARM--Military writers use this word to signify a particular species of troops--thus the artillery is an arm, and the cavalry, and infantry, and rifle men are each called an arm; but this use of the word is now deemed quaint.

ARM, in geography, denotes a branch of the sea, or of a river.

ARM is also used figuratively to denote power.

To ARM, to take arms, to be provided against an enemy.