Part 187

GREVE, Fr. armor, or covers for the legs. They were anciently worn by the French; and generally consisted of a piece of steel or stiff leather, which protected the front part of the leg.

GRIFFE, Fr. means literally a claw, but in a military sense, as accepted by the French, it signifies an iron instrument which is made like a hook, and is used by miners to pick out the small stones that are incorporated with cement, &c.

GRIGNON, Fr. broken biscuit.

GRISONS, a people formerly in alliance with the British but since annexed to Swisserland. They inhabit the mountainous parts of the Alps in Italy, and supported a well organised army, called the army of the Grisons, under general Macdonald during the war.

GROS, Fr. A body of soldiers; a detachment. The French frequently say--Un gros de cavalerie, a body of cavalry; un gros d’infanterie, a body of infantry.

GROUND. The field or place of action.

GROUND-work, in military architecture. See FOUNDATION.

GROUND arms, an old word of command on which the soldiers laid down their arms upon the ground.

This word of command has been exploded since the introduction of the new exercise. Soldiers are now ordered to pile or stack arms.

To take GROUND. A battalion or company is said to take ground when it extends in any given direction. This term is likewise used in duelling, as--They took their ground at eight or ten paces from one another.

GRUE, Fr. A crane. It is frequently used in the embarkation and debarkation of cannon, &c.

GUARANTEE. Any person or power who undertakes for the performance of any stipulations agreed on between two other powers or parties.

GUARD, in the military art, is a duty performed by a body of men to secure an army or place from being surprised by an enemy. In garrison the guards are relieved every day; hence it comes that every soldier mounts guard once every three or four days in time of peace, and much oftener in time of war. See HONORS.

GUARDS, also imply the troops kept to guard generals and other public officers, and sometimes consist of both horse and foot.

Horse-grenadier GUARDS. The first troop was raised in the year 1693 in England; the second in 1702. Each troop had a colonel, lieutenant colonel, 1 guidon or major, three exempts and captains, 3 lieutenants, 1 adjutant, 3 cornets, and 60 private men, they have been abolished.

British life GUARDS. In consequence of the reduction of the horse grenadier guards, two regiments have been raised for the specific purpose of guarding the metropolis, and of royal escorts. They are generally called the first and second life-guards. Each regiment consists of six troops of 53 men and 1 kettle drum.

Royal Regiment of Horse GUARDS. This regiment which is commonly called the Oxford Blues, from having originally been raised by the earl of Oxford, consists of nine troops.

Yeomen of the GUARDS, a kind of foot guards to the British king’s person, and are generally called by a nick-name--the beefeaters. They were first raised by Henry VII. in the year 1485, consisting of 250 men of the first rank, under gentry, and of a larger stature than ordinary, each being required to be 6 feet high. At present there are but 100 on constant duty, and 70 more not on duty; and when any one of the 100 dies, his place is supplied out of the 70. They go dressed after the manner of Henry VIII.’s time. Their pay is 2 shillings and 6 pence per day.

Foot GUARDS, are regiments of foot appointed for the guard of the British king and his palace, and for general service. There are three regiments of them, called the 1st, 2d, and 3d regiment of foot-guards. They were raised in the year 1660. The first regiment is at present commanded by 1 colonel, 1 lieutenant colonel, 3 majors, 27 captains, 1 captain-lieutenant, 62 lieutenants, 24 ensigns, and 3 adjutants, and consists of 3 battalions. The second regiment, or Coldstream, has 1 colonel, 1 lieutenant colonel, 2 majors, 16 captains, 1 captain lieutenant, 42 lieutenants, 14 ensigns, and 2 adjutants, and consists of two battalions. The third regiment is the same as the second. The first regiment of French guards was raised in the reign of Charles IX. in the year 1563.

Imperial GUARDS, the name of a body of select troops organised by the French emperor, which greatly distinguished themselves at the battle of Austerlitz.

Trench GUARD only mounts in the time of a siege, and consists sometimes of 3, 4, or 6 battalions, according to the importance of the siege. This guard must oppose the besieged when they sally out, protect the workmen, &c.

Provost GUARD, is always an officer’s guard that attends the provost in his rounds, to prevent desertion, marauding, rioting, &c. See PROVOST.

GUARD-magazine. See STORE-KEEPER.

Advanced GUARD, is a party of either horse or foot, or both, that marches before a more considerable body, to give notice of any approaching danger. These guards are either made stronger or weaker, according to the situation or danger that may be apprehended from the enemy, or the country you are to march through.

Van GUARD. See ADVANCED GUARD.

Artillery GUARD, is a detachment from the army to secure the artillery when in the field. Their corps de garde is in the front of the artillery park, and their sentries distributed round it. This is generally a 48-hours guard; and upon a march this guard marches in the front and rear of the artillery, and must be sure to leave nothing behind. If a gun or waggon breaks down, the officer that commands the guard is to leave a sufficient number of men to assist the gunners and aids in getting it up again.

Artillery quarter-GUARD, is frequently a non-commissioned officer’s guard from the regiment of artillery, whose corps de garde is always in the front of their encampment.

Artillery rear-GUARD, consists in a corporal and 6 men, posted in the rear of the park.