Part 215

With respect to the former we think it necessary to observe, that it is extremely difficult, and much beyond the limits of this work, to describe them specifically; as much, indeed almost every thing, depends upon the disposition of the general who grants the capitulation. In some instances, the troops of a besieged garrison are permitted to march out with drums beating, colors flying, &c. others are only allowed to advance silently in front of their works, ground or pile their arms, face to the right and return within their line of entrenchments. Others again (as was the case with earl Cornwallis, at York Town, in Virginia) are permitted to march out, with drums beating, to a given spot, there pile their arms, face to the right about, and march back to their works. In the instance quoted, the officers retained their side arms and baggage, with such horses as they had lawfully obtained by purchase, &c. A sloop of war was allowed to proceed to New York with dispatches from the British general to sir Henry Clinton, who was commander in chief of the forces acting against America: which vessel passed and repassed without being searched. This indulgence proved extremely fortunate to a small number of American refugees, who were peaceably transported into the British lines, instead of being sacrificed to the just fury of their countrymen in arms.

When the town of Valenciennes surrendered to the coalition army, the garrison under the orders of general Ferrand was permitted to march out by the gate of Cambray with the honors of war. It was, however, specifically stated, that the troops should lay down their arms at a named spot, viz. at a house called le Briquet, where they were to leave their colors and field-pieces without damaging them in the least. They were likewise directed to leave their troop horses, artillery, provisions, and other military effects. Those belonging to the officers were restored to them, with their swords. It was further agreed, that the garrison should march out on the 1st of August, in the manner mentioned; and as the troops were prisoners of war, their route to return into France was to be communicated to them 24 hours previous to their departure, in order to receive their parole of honor. The officers and soldiers engaged not to serve during the whole course of the present war against the armies of his majesty the emperor, and of his allies, without having been exchanged conformably to the cartels, under pain of military punishment.

General Ferrand had demanded that the garrison should march out from the place on the 6th day after the signature of the capitulation, to repair to such part of the French republic as he should judge proper, with arms and baggage, horses, drums beating, matches lighted at both ends, colors flying, and with all the cannon they could carry away. These articles were refused by the duke of York; and on the 28th of July, 1793, Valenciennes surrendered to the British arms, in trust for the emperor of Germany.

As soon as the capitulation was signed, hostages were sent into the town, namely, a colonel, a major, and a captain, who were exchanged against officers of an equal rank of the garrison; which hostages were restored immediately after the execution of the articles of capitulation.

When Mantua surrendered to Bonaparte, the veteran general Wurmser, in consideration of his brave defence of the place, was allowed to leave the place with all the honors of war.

Several emigrants on this occasion, escaped in the covered waggons.

When Saragossa was taken by marshal Lannes in 1809, it was refused the honors of a capitulation, but ordered to surrender peremptorily at a given hour on several points, which was obeyed.

HONORABLE, noble, high spirited, full of rectitude, and beyond the least approach of meanness or corruption. This term is frequently attached to surnames from false and vain courtesy.

HOOKS. Pieces of bent iron fixed to the transom plates of a field-carriage are so called. They serve to fix the bricoles or ropes for drawing it occasionally backwards or forwards.

HOOKS and EYES. It is directed in all well-disciplined corps, that every officer, non-commissioned officer, and soldier, when regimentally dressed, should have the uniform coat hooked across the chest. This regulation has, in some degree, been dispensed with during the winter months, as far as it regards the officers who have been permitted to button their coats. In some corps the indulgence is rendered nugatory, as the facings are sewed to the coat. The dressing of a line is certainly rendered more perfect by the use of the hooks and eyes, as they prevent any intermediate obstacle along the line of sight. This nicety is indispensible in parade business, and the propriety of some general rule being established is manifest, since every soldier knows, that the slightest deviation from the laudable system of uniformity almost always leads to gross neglect.

HOOKUM, an Indian word, signifying order or command.

HOOKUMNAUMEH, in India, signifies a letter of instructions, or the paper that contains orders.

HOOP of iron, a circular iron band. Several sorts of hoops are used in the construction of artillery carriages, as nave and axle tree hoops, &c.

HOPITAL, Fr. hospital. During the old French government, there existed 80 military hospitals under the immediate sanction of the king. These hospitals were subject to the war-minister, from whom they received instructions, and they were all originally built for the benefit of sick and disabled soldiers. The chief appointments in each hospital consisted of a comptroller of accounts, a physician, a surgeon major, and a contractor, whose sole duty was to provide for the wants and necessities of the invalid troops. These were permanent establishments. In time of war, every army had a certain number of hospitals attached to its component parts. There were likewise other hospitals, which were under the care of the intendant of each province. They chiefly consisted in those erected on the frontier and in garrison towns.

HOPITAL sur mer, Fr. hospital-ship. A particular vessel, which is always attached to a naval armament, and is provided with the necessary accommodations for the sick and wounded belonging to the ships of war. The same precautions (indeed greater if possible) are indispensably necessary to prevent the dreadful consequences of contagion, that are directed to be observed in the fumigation, &c. of transports. During the old government of France, hospital-ships were of a particular construction. Independently of the equipage, tackle, &c. belonging to every other navigable ship, these vessels were directed to have their decks extremely high, to have large port-holes, and to have the space between the decks constantly clear, so that the cots and bedding of the sick might be conveniently placed, and a constant circulation of free air be preserved.

HOPLITAI, foot soldiers among the Greeks, who bore heavy armor, and engaged with broad shields and long spears. These took precedence of all other foot soldiers.--Potter’s Greek Ant. vol. ii. c. 3.

HOQUETON, Fr. a sort of garment, which was worn during the old government of France by gentlemen belonging to the king’s body guard, who were called gardes de la manche. It sometimes signifies a serjeant; but the term is obsolete.

HORD, (horde, Fr.) a crowd or assemblage of people, who have not any fixed or certain habitation. The term was originally applied to a body of Tartars, who followed a roving life, encamped in different countries, and chiefly lived with their flocks.

HORION, Fr. a term which formerly signified a helmet, and which in the vulgar acceptation of it now, among the French, means a blow upon the head.

HORIZONTAL, parallel to the horizon; on a level.

HORIZONTAL superficies, the plain field lying upon a level, without any rising or falling.

HORIZONTAL plane, that which is parallel to the horizon of the place.

In levelling, the chief object to be considered is, whether two points be in the horizontal plane; or whether they deviate; and in what degree?

HORIZONTAL range, or level range of a piece of ordnance, is the line it describes, when directed parallel to the horizon.

The following useful theorems come from the pen of the ingenious Dr. Halley:

1. A shot being made on an inclined plane, having the horizontal distance of the object it strikes with the elevation of the piece, and the angle at the gun between the object and the perpendicular, to find the greatest horizontal range of that piece loaded with the same charge of powder, that is, half the latus rectum of all the parabolas made with the same impetus.--Take half the angle contained between the object and the nadir, and the difference of the given angle of elevation from that half; subtract the versed sine of that difference from the versed sine of the angle made by the object and zenith. The difference of those versed sines will be to the sine of the angle last mentioned, as the horizontal distance of the object struck to the greatest range at 45 degrees.

2. Having the horizontal range of a gun, the horizontal distance and angle of inclination of an object to the perpendicular, to find the two elevations necessary to strike that object.--Take half the angle contained between the object and nadir; this half is equal to half the sum of the two angles of elevation sought. Then say, as the horizontal range is to the horizontal distance of the object, so is the sine of the angle of inclination to a fourth proportional; which fourth, being subtracted from the versed sine of the angle formed by the object and zenith, leaves the versed sine of half the difference of the angles of elevation, whose half sum was before obtained; therefore, by adding and subtracting half the difference of the angles of elevation to and from the said half sum the elevations themselves will be found.

HORN. See BUGLE horn.