Part 451

SERRE demi File, Fr. That rank in a battalion which determines the half of its depth, and which marches before the demi-file. Thus a battalion standing six deep, has its serre-demi file in the third rank, which determines its depth.

Capitaine de SERRE-File, Fr. The officer who commands a rear guard when a regiment is on its march.

SERRER, Fr. To close up. Serrez vos rangs. Take close order.

SERRER la bride, Fr. To pull in the bridle.

SERRURE, Fr. A lock.

SERRURIER, Fr. A locksmith.

SERVANS d’armes, or Chevaliers Servans, Fr. Persons belonging to the third class of the order of Malta are so called. They are not noblemen, although they wear the sword and the cross.

To SERVE, (Servir, Fr.) In a military sense, to do duty as an officer or soldier.

To SERVE a piece. In the artillery, to load and fire with promptitude and correctness. The French use the term in the same sense, viz. L’artillerie fut bien servie à ce siege. The artillery was well served at this siege.

SERVICE, (Service, Fr.) In a general sense of the word, as far as it relates to war, every species of military duty which is done by an inferior under the influence and command of a superior. It likewise means exploit, achievement. It also points out the particular profession to which a man belongs, as land service, sea service, and the degree of knowlege which he may have acquired by practice, viz. He has seen a great deal of service.

SERVICE likewise means the period during which a man has done duty, or followed the military profession in an active manner.

To see SERVICE. To be in actual contact with an enemy.

To be on SERVICE. To be doing actual duty with a corps or detachment.

To enter into the SERVICE. To receive a commission in the army. The individual must be recommended to the commander in chief, or to the secretary at war, (as the case may be) stating him to be fully qualified to hold that situation.

To retire from the SERVICE. To quit the army, or resign.

No officer can resign his commission, or retire from the service, without having previously obtained permission through the commander in chief, or the secretary at war, as the case may be.

To retire from the SERVICE, keeping one’s rank. It has sometimes happened, that an officer has obtained permission to quit the army, keeping his rank. By which means he has been enabled to return into the service, and to take advantage of his original standing. A very meritorious officer, of high rank at present, was permitted to retire in this manner. There have been instances of officers retiring not only with their rank, but with a certain allowance from the regiment.

Infantry SERVICE. Service done by foot soldiers.

Cavalry SERVICE. Service done by soldiers on horseback.

Faire son SERVICE, Fr. To do one’s duty.

Etre de SERVICE, Fr. To be on duty.

Etre de SERVICE, chez le roi. To do duty at the palace.

Service likewise means tour of duty, or routine of service.

SERVICE de l’infanterie en marche, Fr. The regular duties, or routine of service which an infantry regiment goes through when it receives orders to march. These are, the general, la génêrale ou le premier. The assembly, l’assemblée. The troop, le drapeau ou le dernier.

SERVICE des places, Fr. The regular duty, or routine of service, which is performed in fortified towns or places. Of this description are garrison duties. See l’Essai sur la science de la guerre par Mons. le baron D’Espagnac, tom. iii. p. 355, and les Elémens Militaires, tom. ii. p. 116, where specific regulations on this head may be seen. We likewise recommend to the perusal of every engineer and artillery officer, a late valuable publication, entitled Essai Générale de Fortification et d’Attaque et Defence des places.

SERVICE de campagne, Fr. Field duties: This subject has been ably treated by several French writers, and among others by the author of les Elemens Militaires, tom. ii. p. 1, &c. and in tom. iv. p. 68, &c.

A letter of SERVICE. See LETTER.

Home SERVICE. In a military sense, the duty which is done within the limits of the United States. This term is frequently used to distinguish such troops as are not liable to serve beyond specified limits, from those that have been raised for general service; as the militia in the several stares of the union.