Part 449

SENESCHAL, (Senéchal, Fr.) One who had in great houses the care of feasts, or domestic ceremonies.

SENS-dessus-dessous, Fr. Topsy-turvy.

SENS-devant-derriére, Fr. Wrong way.

SENIORITY, in military matters, is the difference of number in two regiments, whereby the one is said to be so much senior to the other. All regiments take place according to seniority.

SENTENCE. Decision; determination, final judgment. There is an appeal allowed from the sentence of a regimental court-martial to the opinion of a general one.

SENTINEL, SENTRY, is a private soldier, placed in some post, to watch the approach of the enemy, to prevent surprises, to stop such as would pass without order, or discovering who they are. Sentries are placed before the arms of all guards, at the tents and doors of general officers, colonels of regiments, &c.

All sentries are to be vigilant on their posts; they are not, on any account to sing, smoke tobacco, nor suffer any noise to be made near them. They are to have a watchful eye over the things committed to their charge. They are not to suffer any light to remain, or any fire to be made near their posts in the night-time; neither is any sentry to be relieved, or removed from his post, but by the corporal of the guard. They are not to suffer any one to touch or handle their arms, or in the night-time to come within 10 yards of their post.

No person is to strike or abuse a sentry on his post; but when he has committed a crime, he is to be relieved, and then punished according to the rules and articles of war.

A sentinel, on his post in the night, is not to know any body, but by the countersign: when he challenges, and is answered, relief, he calls out stand, relief! advance, corporal! upon which the corporal halts his men, and advances alone within a yard of the sentry’s fire-lock (first ordering his party to port arms, on which the sentry does the same) and gives him the same countersign, taking care that no one hears it. See ROUNDS.

SENTINELLE, Fr. Sentinel; sentry. This word is likewise used to express the duty done by a sentinel. Faire sentinelle. To stand sentry.

SENTINELLE perdue, Fr. A sentry posted in a very advanced situation, so as to be in continual danger of surprise from the enemy.

SEPTANGULAR, having seven angles.

SEPTILATERAL, having seven sides.

SEPTUPLE. Seven-fold.

SERASKIER, (Serasquier, Fr.) Among the Turks, the next in rank to the Vizier, in whose absence he commands, but to whose orders he is constantly subservient.

SERGENT d’armes, Fr. During the old monarchy of France, particularly in the reign of Philip Augustus, a guard was composed of firm trusty men for the safety of the king. This guard was called Sergens d’armes, from the Latin words servientes armorum. The company of the Sergens d’armes was composed of one hundred and fifty, or two hundred men. The number was reduced by Philip de Valois to one hundred. Charles V. during the regency broke the company, keeping only six men of that description round his person; and Charles VI. had only eight, half of whom did duty alternately every month. With us the serjeant at arms is a person appointed to attend a public body, arrest traitors, and persons offending.

SEPADAR, Ind. An officer of the rank of brigadier-general.

SEPAHI, Ind. A feudatory chief, or military tenant; a soldier. See SEPOYS.

SEPHARRY, Ind. Afternoon.

SEPOYS, Ind. derived from the Persian Spahi. Natives who have inlisted themselves into the service of the East India Company, and are attached to the infantry. These troops have both native and European commissioned and non-commissioned officers; but the Europeans at all times command. The Sepahis make excellent soldiers, are remarkably clean, and feel a natural predilection for arms. See SPAHI.

SERAKHUR, Ind. SERANG, Native non-commissioned officers who are employed in the artillery, and on board ships of war. In the artillery the title answers to that of serjeant; in the naval service to that of boatswain.

SERASKUR, Ind. This word is sometimes written Seraskier, and signifies the commander in chief of a Turkish army.

SERDANS. Colonels in the Turkish Service are so called.

SERGENT, Fr. See SERGEANT or SERJEANT.

SERGENT noble, Fr. A post of honor which existed during the first periods of the French monarchy. The French compiler, from whose work we have occasionally translated much matter relative to the military history, &c. of France, has the following passage concerning the term itself. We shall give his meaning literally:--“This term does not come from serviens, as I have imagined in common with many other etymologists. Monsieur Beneton, in his Histoire de la Guerre, says, that the serjeant who seemed to think he could trace the origin of his title in the Latin word Serviens, was a gentleman by birth, who during the prevalence of military fiefs, was liable to do military service, in consequence of the feodal tenure, called Fief de Sergenterie, by which he held his land. His superior officer was called Suzerain, the functions of whose situation corresponded with those of a modern adjutant. It was the business of the Sergent Noble, or gentleman serjeant, to assemble all the vassals of the Suzerain, for the purpose of incorporating them under one standard, and of rendering them fit for war.

SERGENT de bande, Fr. Serjeant in the common acceptation of the term. The etymology of this word is different from that of Sergent Noble. It evidently comes from the French Serregens, or men that close or lock up, the same as serrefiles; shewing that this non-commissioned officer was placed to take charge of the rear files, whilst the commissioned one was in the front. It was his business to see that the rear conformed itself to the orders which were given in the front; to make the files lock up and dress, &c.

SERGENT de bataille, Fr. Field Serjeant. This was an appointment of considerable trust in the old French armies. The sergens de bataille held commands, and did the duty of modern inspectors. They ranked next to a field marshal, or marechal de bataille. The sergens de bataille, or field serjeants, existed under Francis the First. But these field serjeants were only at that time sergens de bandes, or train serjeants. There were likewise, under the same king, sergens generaux de bataille, general field serjeants. These were officers of rank, and did the duty of a modern major general.

There were also officers of the same description in the reign of Henry IV. This appointment appears to have been dropped after the peace of the Pyrenees. The author of the Histoire de la Milice Francaise, observes, that the appointment and duty of the different officers, called marshals, or field serjeants, varied according to the will and pleasure of the French kings, and their war-ministers. He agrees with us, that the situation of field serjeant was originally of great consequence, but that it gradually declined, and was eventually made subservient to a superior officer, who was called Marechal de bataille, or field-marshal, whose duties corresponded with those of the French adjutant-general in the present times.