Part 229

Until the reign of Charles the VIIth. the French infantry were extremely defective; so much so, that Brantome says in one part of his works, the infantry could not be considered as essentially useful to the security of the state. For it consisted in those days, of marauts, belistres mal armés, mal complexionnés; fenéans, pillards et mangeurs du peuple: which may be thus rendered in plain English: lads, rascals, and vagabonds, scoundrels ill equipped and ill looking, filchers, plunderers, and devourers of the people.

Europe however is unquestionably indebted to the Swiss for a total change in the military system particularly so with regard to foot soldiers.

Dr. Robertson in the first volume of his history of Charles V. p. 105, observes that the system of employing the Swiss in the Italian wars, was the occasion of introducing a total innovation in the military custom. The arms and discipline of the Swiss were different from those of other European nations. During their long and violent struggles in defence of their liberties against the house of Austria, whose armies, like those of other considerable princes, consisted chiefly of heavy-armed cavalry, the Swiss found that their poverty, and the small number of gentlemen residing in their country, at that time barren and ill cultivated, put it out of their power to bring into the field any body of horse capable of facing the enemy. Necessity compelled them to place all their confidence in infantry, and in order to render it capable of withstanding the shock of cavalry, they gave the soldiers breast-plates and helmets, as defensive armor, together with long spears, halberts, and heavy swords, as weapons of offence. They formed them into large battalions, ranged in deep and close array, so that they could present on every side a formidable front to the enemy. (See Machiavel’s Art of War, b. ii. chap. ii. p. 451.) The men at arms could make no impression on the solid strength of such a body. It repulsed the Austrians in all their attempts to conquer Swisserland. It broke the Burgundian gendarmerie, which was scarcely inferior to that of France, either in number or reputation; and when first called to act in Italy, it bore down by its irresistable force, every enemy that attempted to oppose it. These repeated proofs of the decisive effect of infantry, exhibited on such conspicuous occasions, restored that service to reputation, and gradually re-established the opinion which had been long exploded, of its superior importance in the operations of war. But the glory the Swiss had acquired, having inspired them with such high ideas of their own prowess and consequence, as frequently rendered them mutinous and insolent, the princes who employed them became weary of depending on the caprice of foreign mercenaries, and began to turn their attention towards the improvement of their national infantry.

The German powers having the command of men, whom nature has endowed with that steady courage and persevering strength which form them to be soldiers, soon modelled their troops in such a manner, that they vied with the Swiss both in discipline and valor.

The French monarch, though more slowly, and with greater difficulty, accustomed the impetuous spirit of their people to subordination and discipline; and were at such pains to render their national infantry respectable, that as early as the reign of Louis XII. several gentlemen of high rank had so far abandoned their ancient ideas, as to condescend to enter into their service.

The Spaniards, whose situation made it difficult to employ any other than their national troops in the southern parts of Italy, which was the chief scene of their operations in that country, not only adopted the Swiss discipline, but improved upon it, by mingling a proper number of soldiers, armed with heavy musquets, in their battalions; and thus formed that famous body of infantry, which, during a century and a half, was the admiration and terror of all Europe. The Italian states gradually diminished the number of their cavalry, and, in imitation of their more powerful neighbors, brought the strength of their armies to consist in foot soldiers. From this period the nations of Europe have carried on war with forces more adapted to every species of service, more capable of acting in every country, and better fitted both for conquests, and for preserving them. See Robertson’s View of the State of Europe, book I., pages 105 and 107.

INFANTERIE aventuriere, Fr. a species of French infantry, which succeeded to the legions that were established under Francis I. in imitation of the Roman legions. This infantry was kept up as late as during the reign of Henry IV. when the whole of the foot establishment was reduced into regiments.

Heavy-armed INFANTRY, among the ancients, were such as wore a complete suit of armor, and engaged with broad shields and long spears. They were the flower and strength of the Grecian armies, and had the highest rank of military honor.

Light-armed INFANTRY, amongst the ancients, were designed for skirmishes, and for fighting at a distance. Their weapons were arrows, darts, or slings.

Light INFANTRY have only been in use since the year 1656. They have no camp equipage to carry, and their arms and accoutrements are much lighter than the common infantry, or battalion men. Wherever there is light cavalry, there should be light infantry to act in conjunction.

Foreign INFANTRY (Infanterie étrangere, Fr.) Foreign troops were taken into pay, during the old monarchy of France, at a very early period. In the reign of Philip surnamed le Bel or the handsome, treatises and agreements were severally entered into for this purpose, with John Bailleul king of Scotland, Eric king of Norway, Albert duke of Austria, and many other German princes, and with Humbert duke of Viennois.

Philip of Valois likewise made use of foreign troops, and under Louis XI. the Swiss were taken into French pay; since that period and until the revolution, which was accomplished on the 10th of August, 1792, several regiments were maintained under the different denominations of Swiss, German, Italian, Catalonian, Scotch and Irish corps or brigades. During the present war the same system has been more or less adopted by the British government. Independent of foreign subsidies, it has been judged expedient to admit foreigners of rank, and we presume, of military merit, within those native limits, from whence heretofore every stranger was jealously excluded. A reference to the official army list will readily point out the corps that come under this description. With respect to the 60th or loyal American, it is necessary to observe, that the original principles upon which those battalions were established, have been totally altered. One battalion in particular, instead of being called American, should be named German. For the colonel is a German by birth and education, and the majority of the corps are from that country.

In thus adverting to the 60th regiment, we think it right to explain away an absurd and contradictory opinion, which has prevailed of late years to the prejudice of that gallant corps. It has been called the condemned regiment, from an idle, and unfounded notion, that the different battalions, though forming a considerable part of the British infantry, were excluded from home service, on account of some imputed misconduct. Their uniform good behaviour is a sufficient refutation to the latter supposition; and when we state that at the close of the American war, the battalions of the 60th were formed for the express purpose of garrisoning the British possessions in Canada, and as the means of providing for those Americans who had suffered by their attachment to the royal cause, we may leave the subject without further explanation; merely adding, that instead of being exiled from Europe, they have during the present war, done duty in Ireland and at the Isle of Wight. With respect to foreign troops in the pay of and actually serving in Great Britain; there are five Dutch regiments under two Dutch generals, which in every sense of the word, come under the description of foreign infantry. Indeed from the general convulsed state of Europe, and the gradual introduction of coercive measures, the business of arms seems necessarily to have taken an ascendancy over every other calling or profession.

The foreign infantry, in the service of Great Britain, according to the returns delivered in on the 1st of November 1800, consisted of loyal French emigrants, Castries, Mortemart, Roll, and Dillon; Meuron ditto; four ditto Dutch, each having a company of artillery attached, and one Dutch rifle with a company of pioneers; Lowenstien’s corps, which was not completed, and one corps of foreign invalids. Staff to a foreign hospital. There were besides sixteen unattached foreign officers who received full pay, 166 ditto on half pay, 504 aged and wounded ditto, 46 foreign officers widows, 44 children of foreign officers who died in the king’s service. There was also a small corps of estafettes, which were attached to the waggon train, and consisted wholly of foreigners.

The Turkish INFANTRY (Infanterie Turque, Fr.) is generally composed of regiments that are chosen or select. This body is first divided into two parts called Capikuli and Serratkuli. The militia, which is named Capikuli, is subdivided into Janizaries, Agemolans, Topeys, Gebegys and Sakkas. The agemolans constitute the military school, in which young men, destined for the corps of Janizaries, are educated; The Topeys are Turkish cannoniers, the Gebegys are armorers, and the Sakkas are water carriers.

The Serratkuli infantry is composed of Azapes, Izarelys, Seimenys, Lagumgys and Musellims. Count de Marsilly in his Etat militaire de l’Empire Ottoman, gives the following account of these corps.

The Porte being convinced, that the body of Janizaries was not sufficiently strong to garrison all the frontier places belonging to the Turkish empire, established in the different provinces new corps of infantry, whose duty was similar to that of the Janizaries, in camp and garrison. These corps were maintained at the expence of each Beglerbey or principality. Some writers have inconsiderately confounded this corps with that of the Janizaries, merely distinguishing it by the name of Capikuli. It differs, however, very materially from them, being superior in the formation of its divisions, more celebrated for the valor of its troops, and in every respect better disciplined.

This corps is not upon the same footing as the militia called Capikuli. It is, in general under the direction of the Bachas of the different provinces, the command of which is given to those persons who are either the particular friends of the Bachas, or have the means of bribing handsomely for the appointments. This militia does not receive any pay, unless it be actively employed, and its subsistence in that case is drawn from the provinces, much in the same manner as British militia is from the different counties, at the monthly meetings. With regard to its institution, the principal object of it is to support the Janizaries, and to replace them, when vacancies occur.

The Serratkuli infantry, is divided into Azapes, Izarelys, Seimenys, Lagumgys, and Musellims.

The number of the Azapes is not particularly fixed. They consist chiefly of independent companies, which are distributed among the different departments of the Turkish empire. They are distinguished among their own people by the different names of the week, and are divided into as many odas or companies.

These odas or companies are indiscriminately subject to the orders of two general officers, viz. the Azape-Agasi who is commander in chief of the Azapes, and the Azape-Kiatiby their commissary general, who keeps a register of their names and countries.

They obey subordinate officers called derys, oda-baschys, and bairactars. There are ten derys attached to each company, who may be properly considered as corporals, entrusted with the discipline of the soldiers. The bairactars are the standard-bearers. Each standard belonging to an oda or company consists of a horse’s tail, which hangs from the end of a lance, that is capped with a gilt ball. The officers are moreover directed to superintend the messes belonging to their different companies.

It is usual for each azape to be a native of the province, in which he serves, and he is generally clothed after the fashion of the country. At Buda the azapes were ordered to be dressed in the Hungarian manner, which consisted in a cloth cap bordered with skin, a sabre, an arquebus or fusil: which similarity of dress and accoutrement has frequently confounded the azapes with Hungarian christians.

The isarelys are chiefly employed in the frontier towns, and have charge of the artillery in the room of the topeys or cannoniers. They are under the direction and command of an artillery officer, who is sent from Constantinople and is called Topey-Agasi.

Their number is uncertain, and they are not subdivided, as their employment depends wholly upon the quality and quantity of artillery that are used. One man is attached to small field pieces, and two to those of larger calibre; so that instead of being distributed by companies, they are ordered upon duty according to the nature and number of the ordnance.

They have no other officer, besides the one already mentioned, attached to them, which officer is subordinate to the Bacha of the province, as their service does not require subaltern officers. The Bolukys-Baschys are officers merely employed to bring orders from the general officers, but they cannot interfere in the direction or management of the artillery.

The Seimenys are the least respected body belonging to this national militia, being composed wholly of peasants, that are called out and enrolled like the supplementary militia of Great Britain, in cases of extreme necessity. They are only in fact considered as a mass of people serving to increase the number of troops, without having any credit for military skill or valor. They consist of Turks, Greeks, and even of Roman Catholics, who enrol themselves in order to be exempted from the annual tax.

Their only chief or commanding officer, is the bacha of the province. The seimenys belonging to Natolia are all Mahomedans. They are called Jajas, or men on foot, and although they do not receive any pay, except when embodied, they are nevertheless divided into Bairacts or standards, which are similar to the Odat, and they obey their Seimeny-Boluk-Beschy, who commands sixty men that are attached to his standard, and to the Bairactar, who escorts the standard, which is generally red and of a moderate size.