Part 501

Tirer a toute volee. To fire at random.

TOWER, (Tour, Fr.) Any high building raised above another, consisting of several stories, usually of a round form, though sometimes square or polygonal; a fortress, a citadel. Towers are built for fortresses, prisons, &c. as the tower of the Bastille, which was destroyed by the inhabitants of Paris in 1789.

The TOWER of London, commonly called the Tower. A building with five small turrets at different angles above it, situated on the banks of the river Thames.

The Tower of London is not only a citadel to defend and command the city, river, &c. but it is also a royal palace, where the kings of England with their courts have sometimes lodged; a royal arsenal, wherein are stored arms and ammunition for 60,000 soldiers; a treasury for the jewels and ornaments of the crown; a mint for coining money; the archives wherein are preserved all the ancient records of the courts of Westminster, &c. and the chief prison for state delinquents. The officers belonging to the Tower of London consist of

per ann. 1 constable and chief governor at 1000 0 0 1 lieutenant governor, at 700 0 0 1 deputy lieutenant, at 365 0 0 1 major, at 182 10 0 1 chaplain, at 121 13 4 1 gentleman porter, at 84 0 8 1 gentleman gaoler, at 70 0 0 1 physician, at 182 10 0 1 surgeon, at 45 12 6 1 apothecary, 1 yeoman porter

TOWER-bastions, in fortification, are small towers made in the form of bastions, by M. Vauban, in his second and third method; with rooms or cellars underneath to place men and guns in them.

Martello TOWER. See TOURS MOBILES

Moveable TOWERS, in ancient military history, were three stories high, built with large beams, each tower was placed on 4 wheels or trucks, and towards the town covered with boiled leather, to guard it from fire, and to resist the darts: on each story 100 archers were posted. They were pushed with the force of men to the city wall. From these the soldiers, placed in the different stages, made such vigorous discharges that none of the garrison dared to shew themselves on the rampart.

TOWN. Any walled collection of houses.

TOWN-Adjutant. An assistant to the town-major. See ADJUTANT.

TOWN-Major. An officer constantly employed about the governor or officer commanding a garrison, &c. He issues the orders to the troops, and reads the common orders to fresh troops when they arrive. He commands according to the rank he had in the army; but if he never had any other commission than that of town or fort-major, he is to command as youngest captain. See MAJOR.

TRABAND. A trusty brave soldier in the Swiss infantry, whose particular duty was to guard the colors and the captain who led them. He was armed with a sword and a halbert, the blade of which was shaped like a pertuisan. He generally wore the colonel’s livery, and was excused all the duties of a centry. His pay was eight deniers more than the daily subsistence of the company.

TRABEA, Trabee, Fr. A white gown bordered with purple, and adorned with clavi or trabeæ of scarlet. See Kennett’s R. A. page 313.

TRACER, Fr. To trace.

TRACES. The harness by which beasts of draught are enabled to move bodies to which they are yoked.

TRAHISON, Fr. Treason.

Haute TRAHISON, Fr. High treason.

Tuer en TRAHISON, Fr. To kill in a treacherous manner.

TRAIL. In gunnery. The end of a travelling carriage, opposite to the wheels, and upon which the carriage slides when unlimbered or upon the battery. See CARRIAGES.

To TRAIL, literally means to draw along the ground. In military matters it signifies, to carry the firelock in an oblique forward position, with the butt just above the ground. Hence Trail Arms, a word of command for that purpose.

TRAINE, Fr. A term known among French sailors and soldiers at sea, to signify a thin rope or rather packthread, to which they tie their linen; leaving it to float or be dragged through the waves until it is clean.

TRAIN, (Train, Fr.) In a military sense, all the necessary apparatus, implements of war, such as cannon, &c. that are required at a siege or in the field.

TRAIN of Artillery, (Traine d’artillerie, Fr.) in a general sense, means the regiment of artillery; it also includes the great guns and other pieces of ordnance belonging to an army in the field. See ARTILLERY.

TRAIN, (Trainee, Fr.) In mining. A line of gunpowder laid to give fire to a quantity thereof, which has been lodged for the purpose of blowing up earth, works, buildings, &c.

TRAIN, is also used to denote the attendants, of a prince or general, upon many occasions.

TRAIN-bands, or trained bands, a name formerly given to the militia of England.

TRAINEAUX, Fr. Several pieces of wood made in the form of a large sledge upon which pieces of ordnance and stores, &c. are conveyed to the rampart, and brought from one place to another.

TRAINEURS, Fr. Men who on a march lag behind, and thereby occasion a loose and unconnected appearance in the line of march. It is the duty of the rear guard to pick up all stragglers, and to report them to head-quarters.