Part 233

The sounds which issue from these different instruments would be extremely harsh to the ear, were they not in some degree harmonized by the great drum: when the whole is played together, the effect is both martial and pleasant.

Surgical INSTRUMENTS directed to be provided for the use of regimental hospitals. An amputating saw, with spare blade, 1 metacarpal saw, with ditto, 24 curved needles, 2 amputating knives, 1 catlin, 2 tenaculums, 1 bullet forceps, 1 pair of bone nippers, 2 screw tourniquets, 4 field tourniquets with handle, 2 callico compresses, 2 trephines, with sliding keys, 1 trephine forceps, 1 elevator, 1 lenticular, a brush, key instruments for teeth, to fit trephine handle, 8 scalpels, 2 silver catheters, 1 trocar with spring and introductory canula, 1 do. do. and canula for hydrocele, probang, 1 long silver probe, 1 large bougie.

Surgical INSTRUMENTS directed to be provided for the field. An amputating saw, 1 metacarpal saw, 12 curved needles, 1 amputating knife, 1 catlin, 1 screw tourniquet, 1 silver catheter, 1 elastic ditto, 2 trephines to fit one handle, 1 trephine forceps, 1 elevator, 2 scalpels, 1 bullet forceps, 1 trocar with spring and introductory canula, 1 trocar with spring canula for hydrocele, a brush, a tenaculum, thread for ligatures.

To INSULT, in a military signification, is to attack boldly and in open day, without going through the slow operations of opening trenches, working by mines and saps, or having any recourse to those usual forms of war, by advancing gradually towards the object in view. An enemy is said to insult a coast when he suddenly appears upon it, and debarks with an immediate purpose to attack. The British forces under the command of sir Ralph Abercrombie, insulted the Dutch coast when they took possession of the Helder, in consequence of a bold descent. The British fleet which entered the Chesapeake bay, and on the 22 June, 1807, attacked the United States frigate Chesapeake, insulted the nation; they had the baseness to deny it, and to make an apology afterwards; but they did not punish their officers; and afterwards fled from the engagements made by their ambassador to the U. S. In attacking fortified places it is usual to insult the counterscarp, in order to avoid the destruction which would naturally follow, if the besieged had time enough allowed them to give effect to the different mines that must necessarily have been prepared beneath it. The grenadiers are always employed on these occasions, accompanied by workmen and artificers to secure the post, after it has been taken by assault.

INSULTER, Fr. See TO INSULT.

INSURGENTS. All vassals in Hungary when assembled together in consequence of the general proclamation by Ban and Arriere Ban are so called. This, however, does not happen except in cases of great emergency, when they are headed by the prince Palatine of Hungary, and march to the defence of their frontiers. The Hungarians have sometimes indeed gone beyond them, in order to support their sovereign’s right, and have acted offensively in the neighboring countries.

INSURGENTS is a term used to signify persons who have made inroads into a country; or who rise in revolt against the established laws.

INTELLIGENCE, in a military sense may be variously applied, and of course has different significations. No general can be said to be in any degree qualified for the important situation which he holds, unless, like an able minister of state, he be constantly prepared with the requisite means to obtain the best intelligence respecting the movements and the designs of the enemy he is to oppose. On the other hand, it is not possible to conceive a greater crime than that of affording intelligence to an enemy, and thereby bringing about the overthrow and destruction of a whole army. A French military writer, (to whose work we have the satisfaction of being frequently indebted for much general and useful knowlege) makes the following observations respecting the latter species of intelligence, which he classes under two specific heads.

He justly remarks, that to hold correspondence, or to be in intelligence with an enemy, (étre d’intelligence avec l’Ennemi) is to betray your country. Armies and fortified places are almost always surprized and taken by means of a secret intelligence, which the enemy keeps up with domestic traitors, acting in conjunction with commissioned spies and delegated hirelings. Arnold had nearly effected the destruction of the American army by the intelligence which he kept up through the British major André, with the British.

A garrison town may be taken by surprize, under the influence of secret intelligence, in two different ways. The one is when the assailant to whom the place has been surrendered, is not bound to join his forces to those troops by whom he has been admitted; the other when it is necessary, that an assault should be made by openly storming, by throwing shells and petards, or by stratagem.

The first species of intelligence may be held with a governor who has influence enough to direct the will and actions of the garrison; with a garrison which is indisposed towards the governor and the officers that command the troops; with the inhabitants who have undertaken to defend a place where no garrison is stationed, and lastly with the prevailing faction, where there are two parties that govern in a free town.

The other species of intelligence may be practised with a governor who either wants power, or is afraid to tamper with the fidelity of the garrison; with some particular officer, serjeants, or soldiers; with the body of inhabitants who think differently from the armed force that overawes them, or with active and shrewd individuals, who have access to the ruling party, and can skilfully combine affected loyalty with secret disaffection.

There is not, however, in human nature perhaps a more insidious, or a more dangerous ground to tread on than that of secret intelligence; nor are the faculties of the mind ever so much put to the test, as when it is necessary to listen to the report of an individual, who whilst he is betraying one side, may be equally disposed to dupe the other. A wise general will consequently hear every thing, and say nothing; and a wise man, let his secret wishes be what they may, will warily consider, whether the person who insinuates to him even the possibilities of a plot, does not at that instant endeavor to get into his confidence, for the sole purpose of acting contrary to his supposed views, and of betraying the man who has unfolded other schemes. It is certainly justifiable policy, either in the governor of a town or in a general, to affect to give into the views of any man or party of men whom he has cause to suspect, and whose ultimate object he is determined to defeat. But he should be equally cautious, how he listens to the communications of spies or informers. The veil of honesty is often assumed to cover a deep-laid scheme of villainy; and apparent candor is the surest path to unguarded confidence. When villains voluntarily unfold themselves in such a manner as to convince an able and penetrating officer, that their treachery can be depended upon, much blood may be spared by making a proper use of their intelligence. This axiom has prevailed in every civilized country; and should be well attended to by thinking men. For when a battle has been gained, it avails little to ask, whether the enemy owed his success to force or treachery? No treachery, however, is admissible, or should be sanctioned by belligerent powers, which militates against those laws of nations which are founded upon the wise basis of humanity. Private assassinations, the use of poison, or the disregard of paroles of honor, must be generally reprobated: and whatever general obtains his ends by any of these dark means, his name should be stamped with infamy, and himself exposed to all the melancholy casualties of retaliation.

INTENDANT d’Armée, Fr. under the old government of France, the intendants d’armées or superintendants of the army, were principal inspectors of all sorts of stores, &c. that were necessary for the troops. The French general officers and governors of fortified towns, held continual intercourse with the intendants or supervisors who directed every branch of the commissariat.

When the intendant d’armée was not likewise intendant de province, he was directed to accompany the troops, to visit their line of encampment or cantonment, and to require of all the subordinate intendants the regular proportion of stores and provisions, and to see that they were supplied according to contract, and with punctuality.

INTERIOUR Flanking Angle, is formed by the curtain and line of defence.

INTERIOUR Radius, the part of an oblique radius extending from the centre of the polygon to the centre of the bastion.

INTERIOUR Side. The line of the curtain, produced to the two oblique radii of the front; or a line drawn from the centre of one bastion to that of the next.

INTERIOUR Slope. See TALUS.

INTERMEDIATE (intermediare, Fr.) any thing that is, or lies between. See Intermediate POSTS.

INTERSECTION, the point where two lines cross each other.

INTERVAL, (Intervalle, Fr.) any space between. A word variously applied in military dispositions and manœuvres, to denote any given distance or space.

INTERVAL between two battalions. The space which separates them when they are drawn up for action, or when they are encamped. This space is generally wide enough to admit the march of another battalion, that is to say, it is equal to the extent of its front when in line. When troops are encamped for the purpose of investing a town or fortified place, the interval is much greater, and seldom or ever less.

INTERVAL between the line and the camp. This comprehends the space which lies between the camp and the line of entrenchments. It is generally from one hundred and eighty to two hundred toises in breadth; so that the different battalions and squadrons which are necessary for the security of the camp may have room to move in, while sufficient ground is left in the rear for troops to pass and repass as occasion may require. The same observation holds good with respect to contravallation.

INTERVALLE du Camp à la ligne, Fr. See INTERVAL between the line and the camp.

To INTRENCH, to secure against the attack of an enemy, by digging a ditch or trench.

To INTRENCH upon. To invade, to make incroachments upon the property or territories of another.

INTRENCHMENT, any work that fortifies a post against the attack of an enemy. The word is generally used to denote a ditch or trench with a parapet. Intrenchments are sometimes made of fascines, with earth thrown over them, of gabions, hogsheads, or bags filled with earth, to cover the men from the enemy’s fire. See RETRENCHMENT.