Part 404

RECETTE, Fr. a trough, which persons employed in preparing saltpetre, &c. place beneath tubes filled with broken rubbish, ashes, &c., for the purpose of receiving the liquid that is filtered through.

RECHARGE, a renewal of the charge or attack.

RECHAUD, Fr. a chaffing dish, or pan used for various purposes, particularly during a siege. They are filled with burning materials and hung in different parts of the walls, so as to throw light into the ditches, and to prevent surprizes.

RECHUTE, Fr. literally means a second fall; but in fortification it signifies a greater elevation of the rampart in those spots where it is likely to be commanded.

RECIPIANGLE, Fr. recipient angle. A geometrical instrument, which is much used among the French, for taking the quantities of angles, especially in drawing plans of fortification. It consists of two moveable rules, made in the shape of a square rule. The centre of one of its hands is marked by a semi-circle, which is divided into 180 degrees.

RECIPIENDAIRE, Fr. One who offers himself for any office or appointment.

RECOIL, (recul, Fr.) a falling back. The retrograde motion made by any piece of firearms on being discharged, which is a consequence of the rarefied air pressing on all sides, in order to expand itself with freedom. This term is generally applicable to firearms, especially to pieces of ordnance, which are always subject to a recoil, according to the sizes and the charge they contain, &c. Guns whose vents are a little forward in the chase, recoil most. To lessen the recoil of a gun the platforms are generally made sloping towards the embrasures of the battery.

To RECOIL, reculer, Fr. To fall back, to run back in consequence of resistance or repercussion.

RECOIL of Field Guns on travelling carriages, upon Elm Planks.

+-------------+--------+----------+----------+----------+ | | | 1 shot, | 2 shot, |Case shot,| | Kind. | Charge.|at 1° 30′ |at 1° 30′ | at 3° 45′| | | |Elevation.|Elevation.|Elevation.| +-------------+--------+----------+----------+----------+ | |lbs. oz.| Feet. | Feet. | Feet. | |12 Pr. Medium| 4 -- | 12 | 25 | 8¹⁄₂ | | 6 Pr. Heavy | 2 -- | 7 | 11 | 7¹⁄₂ | | 6 Pr. Light | 1 8 | 12 | 21 | 10 | | 3 Pr. Heavy | 1 -- | 7 | 5 | 3¹⁄₂ | +-------------+--------+----------+----------+----------+

Recoil of Sea Service, Iron Guns, on Ship Carriages, upon a horizontal platform.

+------------------------+------+-------+-------+-------+ | Charges of powder |Eleva-| | | | | and shot. | tion.| 32 pr.| 24 pr.| 18 pr.| +------------------------+------+-------+-------+-------+ | | deg. |ft. in.|ft. in.|ft. in.| |¹⁄₃ of powder and 1 shot| 2 | 11 -- | 11 -- | 10 6 | |¹⁄₃ of powder and 2 shot| 4 | 19 6 | 18 6 | 18 -- | |¹⁄₄ of powder and 2 shot| 7 | 11 -- | 12 6 | 12 -- | +------------------------+------+-------+-------+-------+

RECOIL of Land Service, Iron Mortars, on Iron beds.

Ft. In. 13 Inch, with a charge of 6 lbs. 4 2¹⁄₂ 10 Inch, 3 lbs. 2 10 8 Inch, 1 lb. 9 oz. 3 10

RECOLLECTION. A mode of thinking, whereby those ideas sought after by the mind, are brought again to view. A retentive memory, and a cool collected presence of mind, are necessary qualities in every good officer; and military men should often exercise the faculty of thinking, in order to become instantly familiar with what they have formerly studied and occasionally practised. For memory, like every thing else, acquires strength, and is increased by cultivation. Memoria, ut in cæteris rebus, colendo augetur.

Necessary RECOLLECTIONS for the exercise of a battalion.

It appears, that the front of any division or body is, in ordinary paces of 24 inches, nearly ³⁄₄ths of the number of files of which it is composed. That the circumference of the quarter circle which it describes, is equal in number of paces to the same as the number of files of which it is composed, counting the paces of the centre man of the front rank at 24 inches, allowing 6 inches in addition to the military pace of 24 inches. That the number of files being once ascertained in each division, the officer commanding it must, on all occasions, recollect the number of paces that are equal to his front, by finding the centre man of the front rank.

The field officers and adjutants must always recollect the number of paces the front of the battalion and its divisions occupy, in order to take up ground exactly in all formations; and this is done by counting the number of men from one flank to the centre, which gives the number of military paces.

To RECOMMEND. When a young gentleman wishes to enter into the army, his first object is to get well recommended for that purpose. There is no regulation to determine fitness, and on this account a great many are appointed who are afterwards found unfit.

RECOMMENDATION, in a military sense, is a letter from some influential character, member of congress, or other citizen, stating an individual to be properly qualified for a situation in the army.

RECOMPENSES militaires, Fr. See MILITARY REWARDS.

RECONNOITRE, Fr. To reconnoitre.

RECONNOITRE une place, Fr. To reconnoitre a fortified town or place.

RECONNOITRE, in military affairs, implies to view and examine the state of things, in order to make a report thereof.

Parties ordered to reconnoitre, are to observe the country and the enemy; to remark the routes, conveniences, and inconveniences of the first; the position, march, or forces of the second. In either case, they should have an expert topographer, capable of taking plans readily: he should be the best mounted of the whole, that in case the enemy happen to scatter the escort, he may save his works and ideas.

All parties that go for reconnoitring only, should be but few in number. I would never chuse more than twelve or twenty men. An officer, be his rank what it will, cannot decline going with so few under his command: the honor is amply made up by the importance of the expedition, frequently of the most interesting consequence, and the properest to recommend the prudence, bravery, and address of an officer that has the fortune to succeed.

It is previously necessary that the officer ordered on this duty should be well acquainted with the country, the roads, and the distance of the enemy. His party must consist of men of approved fidelity, part of whom should be disguised. This detachment must march off in the night. The men must have strict orders neither to smoke tobacco, make a noise, nor speak. The officer must be provided with two guides, who are to be strictly interrogated, but are to remain ignorant of the route you intend to take. A detachment of this kind should be furnished with subsistence for two or three days. The horses are to be fed every ten or twelve miles, for it is absolutely necessary that they should be always fresh and fit for duty. The officer will take care never to halt, but at a distance from any road, and also take every precaution to prevent his being surprised, whilst his horses are feeding, &c.

RECONNOITRING. The following necessary observations to be made in examining a country in a military point of view, are principally translated from the Aide Memoire, but improved by some judicious remarks from Mr. Landman’s introduction to reconnoitring.