Part 166

FUMIGATION, the act of fumigating or conveying smoke into any confined place.

The frequent fumigation of every ship on which troops, or prisoners of war are embarked, is deemed highly material, in order to prevent mischief from confined air. The materials for fumigation may be brimstone with saw-dust; or the brimstone may be thrown over hot coals. Nitre, to which a little vitriolic acid is added; or common salt, with the same addition of vitriolic acid. Gun-powder wetted, or the heated loggerhead in the pitch pot.

This operation should always be performed under the immediate eye of the medical officer on board, to prevent improper quantities of the articles being used.

FUND. See STOCK PURSE.

FUNERALS. See BURIALS.

FUNNEL, any pipe or passage of communication from one place to another.

To FURL, in regard to military flags or colors, is opposed to their exposure; and is used, to express the act of folding them so as to be cased.

FURLOUGH, a leave of absence. Every non-commissioned officer and soldier who obtains leave of absence from his regiment must be provided with a proper voucher to satisfy the commanding officer of any place or party, that he has the sanction of his superiors to pass and repass within a given period.

The following is an eligible form:

According to the authority vested in me by law, I -------- lieutenant colonel -------- commanding the -------- quartered at -------- do issue the following.

“Permit the bearer ---- private -------- in the above regiment and in captain -------- -------- to pass to -------- in the state of -------- county of -------- for the space of -------- ending the -------- of -------- and then to return to -------- as no excuse will be taken but that of sickness, for his over-staying his furlough; and that to be certified by an officer of the army, or civil magistrate; he behaving as becometh. He is ---- feet ---- inches high, ---- years of age, -------- complexion, ---- hair, -------- eyes, &c.”

All soldiers found half a mile from a camp or garrison, going towards an enemy’s country, or quarters, without a pass, are deemed and treated as deserters.

FURNACE. In a general acceptation of the term, any vessel or utensil for maintaining a strong and searching fire, either of coal or wood.

FURNACE is sometimes applied, but improperly so, to that used in the melting of iron, and by some authors it is confounded with iron forges; although there is a considerable difference between them. See FOUNDRY.

FURNACE in mining, signifies a hollow, or excavation which is made in the earth and is charged with gun-powder, for the purpose of blowing up a rock, wall, or any part of a fortification.

Mine FURNACES must be made under that part of the glacis belonging to the covert way, which faces the quarter from whence the besiegers will make their principal attacks, the instant they can be ascertained by the opening of the trenches. Several small ones must likewise be sunk under the glacis of the outworks, in order to blow up the lodgments which the enemy may have made when he has carried the advanced posts. Mine furnaces are moreover extremely useful in the defence of the covert way, especially to overthrow the saps and lodgments, together with the batteries that may have been erected by the besieging enemy. For a scientific explanation of this article, see Foissac’s last edition of Traité de la défense des places par le Maréchal Vauban, tom. ii. pages 202, 224, 240.

FURNITURE. In a general sense means all sorts of moveables made use of for the comfort, or decoration of a house. In a military sense it applies to certain articles which are allowed in barracks, to which are added household utensils, according to the number of rooms.

By the British regulations, commissioned and warrant officers’ rooms of cavalry and infantry are to have a closet, 1 table, 2 chairs, a coal box, coal tray, bellows, fire irons and fender.

Non-commissioned officers and private mens’ rooms of cavalry and infantry are to be furnished with bedsteads, mattrasses, or paillasses, bolsters, blankets, sheets, rugs, round towel, closet or shelves, 1 table, rack for arms, set of fire-irons, a fender and three forms.

The following utensils are also allowed for each room: 2 iron pots with wooden lids, 2 pair of iron pot hooks, 2 iron trivets, 2 wooden ladles; an iron flesh-fork, and a frying-pan, 2 large bowls or platters; 8 small bowls or porringers, 8 trenchers and 8 spoons for cavalry rooms; 12 of each of the three last articles for infantry rooms; a water bucket, coal-tray, candlestick, tin can for beer, large earthen pan for meat, box or basket for carrying coals; 2 drinking horns; a wooden urinal, broom and mop.

The guard rooms of cavalry and infantry are furnished with a water bucket, candlestick, tin can for beer, drinking horns; also with fire irons and a coal-tray, from 1st Sept. to 1st May, when they are to be taken into store.

The rooms of the quarter masters and serjeants of cavalry, and the serjeant major, and quarter master serjeant of infantry, to be furnished with the necessary bedding and utensils, in the same manner as is allowed to the soldiers’ rooms.

Each stable of cavalry for 8 horses is provided with 2 pitchforks, 2 shovels, 1 lantern, 1 wheel-barrow, 2 water buckets; and allowed 4 brooms per month.

Horse FURNITURE, ornaments and embellishments which are adopted by military men when they are mounted for service or parade, consisting chiefly of housins, saddle cloth, &c. The following are the usual distinctions in the British service:

Field Marshal, } General, }Saddle cloth or covering leopard skin trimmed Lieutenant General, }with black bear skin. Major General, } Brigadier General, }

Colonel of Infantry, } Lt. Colonel of ditto,}White furniture. Major of ditto, }

Aid de Camp, }White do. trimmed with black. Brigade Major, }

Cavalry--cloth trimmed with silver, or gold. Privates in cavalry regiments--large saddle cloths, the centre of which is yellow, with a border to agree with the facings of the regiment. The tenth regiment of light dragoons is an exception to this general custom. The privates of that corps have a large piece of broad blue cloth which is thrown over the saddle, and covers the horse’s loins.