Part 470

STAFF, the same as baton; from whence those officers in the suite of generals, and not attached to regiments, are called the staff, a baton being formerly the insignia of office; which is now supplied by other devices, as facings, feathers, and so forth.

Hammer STALL. A piece of leather, which is made to cover the upper part of the lock belonging to a musquet. It is useful in wet weather.

STAMP duties. Imposts laid upon paper in England, that is used for legal or commercial purposes. Proceedings of courts-martial, whether copies or originals, are not chargeable with stamp-duties; nor are the receipts given by officers for their respective pay or allowances.

STAND. The act of opposing; thus troops that do not yield or give way are said to make a stand.

To STAND the enemy’s fire; to remain with steady firmness in orderly array, without being discomposed by the shot, &c. of an opposing enemy.

To STAND. To have an erect position. Every recruit should be taught to hold his body in such a manner, that he feels himself firm and steady upon whatever ground he may be placed for the purposes of exercise or parade. See POSITION WITHOUT ARMS.

To STAND well under arms. To be so perfectly master of the firelock as not to be embarrassed, or to be rendered unsteady by its weight, but to be able to preserve a correct relative position of the body through all the changes of the manual and platoon, &c. and during the prescribed movements in parade and field exercises. See POSITION WITH ARMS.

To STAND at ease. To be allowed a certain indulgence with regard to bodily position, with or without arms. See EASE. It is likewise a word of command, as Stand at--Ease.

STAND fast. This term is frequently used as a caution to some particular part of a line or column. In the first of the nineteen manœuvres, for instance, the grenadiers are directed to stand fast, while the remaining companies march from their alignement to form close column behind them. When a battalion, drawn up in line, is to move forward in front of its original position from the right, left, or centre, the named division, subdivision, or section, stands fast, and the remaining ones, which have been wheeled backward into column, march towards the inward flank of the standing division, subdivision, or section. On the first of the moving bodies arriving at the inward pivot of the standing one, the latter receives the word march, and the former wheels into the ground. The rest successively do the same. By this method the leading division is spared the trouble of wheeling back and returning again to its original ground.

STANDARD, that which is the test or criterion of other things.

STANDARD. A measure by which men enlisted into the British service have the regulated height ascertained.

According to the British regulations and orders published in 1799, the standard for men raised for the heavy cavalry shall be five feet seven inches, and for the light cavalry and infantry five feet five inches; but no recruits are to be taken, even of those sizes, who exceed 35 years of age, or who are not stout and well made. Lads between 16 and 18 years of age, who are well limbed, and likely to grow, may be taken as low as five feet six inches for the heavy cavalry, and as low as five feet four inches for the light cavalry and infantry. In those regiments which are specially authorised to enlist boys, healthy lads, under 16 years of age, who are likely to grow, may be taken as low as five feet one inch. It will be recollected, that this standard is for men inlisted during a war; when regiments are put upon the peace establishment a higher standard is resorted to. Thus by a letter dated 28th January, 1802, it is directed, that the standard for the infantry of the line shall be five feet seven inches; that no man shall be inlisted who is above 25 years of age; but growing lads from 17 to 19 years of age, shall be taken as low as five feet five inches.

STANDARD, in war, a sort of banner or flag, borne as a signal for the joining together of the several troops belonging to the same body.

The standard is usually a piece of silk 1¹⁄₂ feet square, on which is embroidered arms, device, or cypher, of the country. It is fixed on a lance eight or nine feet long, and carried in the centre of the first rank of a squadron of horse, by the coronet.

STANDARDS belonging to the cavalry. Standards are posted in the following manner:

The first with the right squadron.

The second with the left; and the third with the centre.

In advancing to the front on foot, the advanced standards and their serjeants must not slacken their pace, or deviate from right to left, as the lieutenant-colonel or leading officer may happen to do, but if he be in their way, they must call to him, because they alone regulate the march.

The standards must always be brought to the parade by a troop, viz. by that which has its private parade nearest to head-quarters. They must be accompanied by as many trumpeters as can conveniently assemble with that troop. Swords must be drawn, and the march sounded. The cornets parade, of course, with that troop to receive the standards. The standards are received by the regiment or squadron at open ranks, with swords drawn, officers saluting, and the march sounding by the remaining trumpets. They must march off from head-quarters, and be lodged with the same form.

STANDARD bearer, he who carries the standard; a cornet, ensign, &c.

STANDARD-Hill, a hill in England so called because William the conqueror set up his standard on it, before he joined battle with Harold.

STANDING. Settled, established, not temporary.

STANDING army. An army which is quartered upon a country, and is liable to every species of duty, without any limitation being fixed to its service. The life and foot guards form a part of the standing army of Great Britain. The militia, but not the volunteers, may be partially considered as such: the adjutant, non-commissioned officers, and drummers being in constant pay, and a third of the quota of men, together with all the officers, being called out once a year to be exercised for 28 days.

STANDING. Rank; condition. It likewise signifies length of time. As, such an officer is of very old standing in the army.

STAPLES, are loops of iron, or bars pointed and bent so as to be driven in at both ends.

STAR-chamber. A chamber in Westminster so called from its roof being painted with gilt stars. It has been rendered proverbially odious to the English nation, on account of the encroachments which were made upon the constitution of the country during the reign of Charles the first.

STAR-fort, in fortification. See FORT and FORTIFICATION.

STATE. Condition of any thing; as a weekly state of a regiment, &c.