Part 365

Both these columns are still standing at Rome, the former most entire. But Pope Sixtus I. instead of the two statues of the emperors, set up St. Peter’s on the column of Trajan, and St. Paul’s on that of Antoninus. Casal, part I. c. 11.

Among the columns and pillars we must not pass by, (to use Mr. Kennett’s words) the Milliarium aureum, a gilded pillar in the forum, erected by Augustus Cæsar, at which all the highways of Italy met, and were concluded. (Martian, lib. iii. cap. 18.) From this they counted their miles, at the end of every mile setting up a stone; whence came the phrase Primus ab urbe lapis, and the like. This pillar, as Mr. Lassels informs us, is still to be seen.

PILON, Fr. a weapon, the use of which has been recommended by marshal Saxe, in his plan forming several battalions four deep. The two first ranks are to be armed with musquets, the third and fourth with large half pikes or pilons, having their musquets slung across their shoulders.

PILUM. The head of an arrow was so called by the Romans.

PINASSE, Fr. a pinnace.

PINDAREES, Ind. plunderers and marauders, who accompany a Mahrattah army. The name is properly that of persons who travel with grain and merchandize; but war affording so many opportunities and creating so many necessities, the merchants as it is all over the world, became plunderers and the worst of enemies.

To PINION, to bind the hands or arms of a person so as to prevent his having the free use of them.

PINK, a sort of small ship, masted and ribbed like other ships, except that she is built with a round stern, the bends and ribs compassing, so that her sides bulge out very much.

PIN, an iron nail or bolt, with a round head, and generally with a hole at the end to receive a key: there are many sorts, as axle-tree pins, or bolts, bolster pins, pole-pins, swing-tree pins, &c.

There are likewise musquet pins, which are small pieces of iron or wire that fasten the stock. Soldiers are very apt to take out these pins in order to make their pieces ring; but they should not on any account, be permitted so to do.

PINTLE in artillery, a long iron bolt, fixed upon the middle of the limber-bolster, to go through the hole made in the trail-transom of a field-carriage, when it is to be transported from one place to another.

PINTLE-plate, is a flat iron, through which the pintle passes, and nailed to both sides of the bolster, with 8 diamond headed nails.

PINTLE-washer, an iron ring through which the pintle passes, placed close to the bolster for the trail to move upon.

PINTLE-hole, is of an oval figure, made in the trail-transom of a field-carriage, wider above than below, to leave room for the pintle to play in.

PIOBRACH, the Gaelic word for a piper; also an air played upon the bagpipe. It is now more strictly applied to the ancient Highland martial music.

PIOBRACHS, are either simple or compound; some of them consist of a march, &c. and are beautifully varied, and highly characteristic.

PIOCHE, Fr. a mattock, pickaxe.

PIOCHER, Fr. to dig.

PIONEERS, in war-time, are such as are commanded in from the country, to march with an army, for mending the ways, for working on entrenchments and fortifications, and for making mines and approaches: the soldiers are likewise employed in all these things.

Most of the European artillery corps have a company of pioneers, well instructed in that important branch of duty. The regiments of infantry and cavalry have 3 or 4 pioneers each, provided with aprons, hatchets, saws, spades, and pick-axes. The French sappers are the same kind of soldiers.

PIONIERS, Fr. pioneers.

PIPE, a tube; a musical instrument; a liquid measure, containing two hogsheads.

PIPE, from the Gaelic piob mohr, which signifies great pipe. The Highland bagpipe is so called, and is an instrument well calculated for the field of battle. When the bagpipe is skilfully performed, its martial music has a wonderful effect upon the native Scotch, particularly the Highlanders, who are naturally warlike.

TAIL-Pipe, a small brass pipe fixed at the swell of the British musquet, which receives the ramrod.

Trumpet PIPE, a small brass pipe near the muzzle of the British firelock, through which the ramrod is let down. It is called trumpet-pipe, from its resemblance to the mouth of a trumpet. The Prussians have no pipes to their musquets; the ramrod being received into a cylinder which runs parallel with the barrel; nor is there any pipe of this kind to the American or the French musquet; the ramrod passing within the three straps of iron or plate rings which bind the barrel to the stock.

PIPE-Clay and Whiting, a composition which soldiers use for the purpose of keeping their cross-belts, &c. clean.

PIQUE, Fr. See PIKE.

PIQUICHINS, Fr. irregular and ill-armed soldiers, of which mention is made in the history of the reign of Philippe Augustus. They were attached to the infantry.