Part 432

Long ROLL. A beat of drum by which troops are assembled at any particular spot of rendezvous or parade.

Muster-ROLL, is a return, given by the muster-master, on which are written the names of both officers and soldiers of the regiment, troop, or company, with their country, age, and service.

Squad ROLL. A list containing the names of each particular squad. Every non-commissioned officer and corporal, who is entrusted with the care and management of a squad, must have a roll of this kind.

Size-ROLL. A list containing the names of all the men belonging to a troop or company, with the height or stature of each specifically marked. Every serjeant keeps a regular size-roll, and every captain of a troop or company ought to have one likewise.

ROLL-Call. The calling over the names of the several men who compose any part of a military body. This necessary duty is done by the serjeants of companies morning and evening, in every well regulated corps. Hence morning roll-call, and evening roll-call. On critical occasions, and in services that require promptitude and exertion, frequent roll-calls should be made.

ROLLER. A small wheel placed at the foot of the hammer of a gun, or pistol lock, in order to lessen the friction of it against the hammer or feather spring.

ROLLER likewise means a long piece of wood which is rounded and made taper to suit the regulated size of a military trail.

ROLLER. In surgery, a long and broad ligature, usually made of linen cloth, for binding, surrounding, and containing the parts of the human body, and keeping them in their proper situation, thereby disposing them to a state of health and redintregation.

ROLLERS, are round pieces of wood of about nine inches diameter, and four feet long, used in moving pieces of artillery from one place to another.

ROMAINE, Fr. A steelyard or balance for weighing things of various weights by one single weight, as from one single pound to 112 pounds.

ROMPRE, Fr. To break.

ROMPRE un battaillon, Fr. In military evolutions to break a battalion into a given number of parts for the purpose of defiles, &c.

ROMPRE en colonne, Fr. To break into column.

RONDACHE, Fr. A sort of shield which the French formerly used, and which is still carried by the Spaniards.

RONDEL, in fortification, a round tower, sometimes erected at the foot of a bastion.

RONDES, Fr. See ROUNDS.

RONDE Major, Fr. Town-majors round. So called from the town-major visiting the different quarters of a garrison during the night. This round, in some degree, corresponds with our grand round.

RONDES roulantes, Fr. Rounds that are made by officers, serjeants, or corporals, over a certain part of the ramparts. These agree with our visiting rounds. The French say, qui va la? Who goes there? technically with us, Who comes there?

RONDE d’officier. Officer’s round.

Chemin des RONDES, Fr. A path marked out for the convenience of the rounds.

RONDE de gouverneur, Fr. The governor’s rounds.

The French method of ascertaining the nature of the several rounds is by challenging in the same manner that we do, viz. qui va la? Who comes there? This must be said sufficiently loud for the main guard to hear. He is instantly answered: ronde de gouverneur, governor’s rounds; ronde major, major’s round, or grand round, and so on, according to the nature of the rounds. The sentry, who stands posted near the guard-house, after having cried out--Demure là; stop there: or as we say, stop round; cries out again, Caporal hors de la garde, corporal turn out the guard. The corporal or officer of the guard with his sword drawn, according to the French custom, repeats, qui va la? Who comes there? He is answered ronde, round. He then says, avance qui a l’ordre; let him advance who has the parole or countersign; or, as we say, advance one, and give the countersign.

RONDE des officiers de picquet, Fr. Piquet rounds.

RONDES chez les Turcs, Fr. See TURKISH ROUNDS.

RONDELLE, Fr. a small round shield, which was formerly used by light armed infantry. It likewise means a part of the carriage of a gun.

RONDELIERS, Fr. Soldiers who were armed with rondelles, or small wooden shields, covered with leather, were anciently so called.

ROPE. A cord; a string; a halter; a cable; a haulser.

Rope is always distinguished by its circumference: thus a two inch rope means a rope of 2 inches in circumference.