Part 362

Garrison-PIECES, are mostly heavy 12, 18, 24, 36, and 42-pounders, besides wall guns.

Field-PIECES are twelve pounders, demi-culverins, six pounders, sakers, minions, and three pounders, which move with an army, and are parked behind the second line when it encamps, but are advanced in front, in the intervals of battalions, &c. and on the flanks in the day of battle.

Regimental PIECES, are light 6 pounders: each regiment has generally two of these pieces. See Am. Mil. Lib.

PIECE is likewise used to express a soldier’s musquet.

PIECE Goods, in India, the various fabrics which manufacture cotton and silk, are distinguished by this term.

Une PIECE d’artillerie, une PIECE de canon, Fr. These terms are used by the French to signify cannon in general.

PIECES de Battierie, Fr. See BATTERING PIECES.

PIECES de campagne, Fr. See FIELD PIECES.

PIECES de vingt-quatre, Fr. 24 pounders.

PIECES de trente-six, Fr. 36 pounders. When pieces are not specifically named the term is used in the same general sense by the English, as, one hundred pieces of cannon, or artillery: cent piéces d’artillerie; but when the calibre is mentioned, it is usual in English to substitute the word pounder for piece, as une piéce de vingt quatre; four and twenty pounder.

Démonter les PIECES, Fr. to dismount cannon.

Enclouer les PIECES, Fr. to spike cannon.

Rafraichir les PIECES, Fr. to spunge or clean out cannon.

PIECE de canon brisé, Fr. The French formerly made use of cannon that could be taken to pieces, and so rendered more portable. This species of ordnance was distinguished as above.

PIECE versée en panier ou en cage, Fr. a piece of ordnance is said to be in this situation, when it is so completely overturned, as to have the wheels of its carriage in the air. Various methods have been proposed by able engineers to raise cannon that have been overturned. See Saint Remi, Manuel de l’artilleur, and a late publication, intituled, Aide Mémoire a l’usage des Officiers d’Artillerie de France, by Gassendi.

PIECES légeres, Fr. light pieces. See FIELD PIECES.

PIECES à la Suédoise, Fr. field pieces originally invented, and since used among the Swedes.

PIECES Nettes, Fr. Artillery pieces that have no defect whatever.

PIECES de Chasse, Fr. a marine term, signifying the cannon that is placed on the stern and forecastle of a ship. We call them chase-guns.

PIECES détachées, Travaux avancés en dehors, Fr. Those works which cover the body of a fortified place, towards the country; of this description are ravelins, demi-lunes, hornworks, tenailles, crown works, queues d’hironde, enveloppes, &c.

To be cut to PIECES, (Etre écharpê, Fr.) The French say, Un tel régiment, a éte écharpé. Such a regiment was cut to pieces.

PIED de Roi, Fr. a measure containing twelve French inches, or one hundred and forty lines.

PIED Quarré, Fr. The French square foot contains the same dimensions in length and breadth, giving one hundred and forty inches of surface.

PIED de toise quarrée, Fr. the sixth part of a square toise. The square toise contains 36 feet, the square foot consequently comprehends six feet, and must be considered as a rectangle.

PIED Cube, Fr. the same measure according to three dimensions. It contains 1728 cubic inches.

PIED Rhenan or Rhinlandique, Fr. the German foot. See MEASURE.

PIED courant, Fr. the extent of a foot considered as to length only.

PIED Marin, Fr. literally, sea-leg. See MARIN.