Part 508

TROOP. A certain beat of the drum. See DRUM.

To TROOP the colors. See COLORS.

TROOPS. The same as copiæ in Latin. Any collective body of soldiers.

Heavy TROOPS. Soldiers armed and accoutred for the purpose of acting together, in line, &c.

Light TROOPS, (Troupes legères, Fr.) Hussars, light horse, mounted riflemen, light infantry are so called, in opposition to cavalry or heavy horse. Skirmishing is solely the business of light horse, who, according to count Turpin, should be constantly exposed as the forlorn hope of the army; or as troops whose duty it is to be continually watchful for its repose and security.

When the light horse compose an advanced camp, the men should keep their horses constantly saddled; it being only an indulgence to allow those off duty to have their horses unsaddled. It is very true, that a camp of cavalry cannot be managed after the same manner; but then cavalry is seldom so situated as to be attacked, or to attack every day, which is the real business of light horse. They should serve as vedets to the whole army, in order to prevent the enemy from approaching it; whereas cavalry should never be employed, but in the greatest operations; and on occasions which are to decide the fate of a campaign.

Light troops, according to the same writer, are employed to gain intelligence concerning the enemy, to learn whether he hath decamped, whether he hath built any bridges, and other things of the same nature, of which the general must necessarily be informed, and should have a day fixed for this return. There are other detachments, which should be sent out under intelligent officers, and which should never lose sight of the enemy, in order to send in daily intelligence, to attack small convoys and baggage, to pick up marauders, and harrass the advanced guards. There should not be any time fixed for the return of these detachments, neither should they be confined to particular places; they should, however, return to the camp at the expiration of eight or ten days at farthest. The inconvenience, arising from confining these detachments to a particular time, would perhaps be, that the very day appointed for their return, would be that on which they might have the fairest opportunity of learning intelligence of the enemy: consequently their being forced to return, would defeat the objects for which they were sent out. See page 122, vol. II. of Count Turpin’s Art of War. See Am. Mil. Lib.

Light TROOPS have been sometimes called irregulars, as they act in detached and loose bodies. The tirailleurs, Tyrolians, Yagers, sharp-shooters, and the Chasseurs a cheval et a pied, to which the French owe so much during the whole course of their stupendous revolution, were of this description. What was called advancing en masse, by the French, was nothing more than very large bodies of irregulars (or light troops), which covered the country, in the front of their armies, like an inundation. To their irregulars, and to their light artillery are the French indebted for most of the victories they have gained. The troops stiled in France chasseurs, are, more or less, to be met with in every service in Europe, except the British. The Austrians have many regiments of them; the Prussians have them attached, in a certain proportion, to each corps; but the French, seeing the good effect of these irregulars, have brought them more into the field than all the combined powers together.

The operations in the spring of 1794, were in an open country near Cambray; the French then felt the superiority of the enemy’s cavalry; and saw that the irregulars, with which the French army abounded, were useless, and would continue so, unless they could force the British to make war in an enclosed country; and this they effected by obliging them to return into Flanders, to protect their magazines, and cover their communication with them. That country is much inclosed; and there all the irregulars could act. From that hour the British constantly lost ground, holding only those points they thought proper to cover with works; and in the short space of a few weeks, it may be said in a few days, those armies which had been acting offensively, were actually obliged to act defensively. Was that army diminished by slaughter or sickness? No: but the French armies, it is said, were increased: true; and with what? Irregulars: requisition men or volunteers; first without discipline, but not without ardor to fight: and from the moment the British commenced their sad retreat from Tournay, till they arrived near Breda, nothing was to be seen but the French irregular troops, that is tirailleurs or riflemen.

TROOPER, (Cavalier, Fr.) A horse soldier. According to Dr. Johnson, a trooper fights only on horseback; a dragoon marches on horseback, but fights either as a horseman or footman. There is no such thing as a trooper in the British service. The Blues were the last corps that deserved that appellation; but they now act, like the rest of the cavalry, on foot.

TROPHEE, Fr. See TROPHY.

Faire TROPHEE, Fr. To glory in.

TROPHY. Something taken from an enemy, and shewn or treasured up in proof of victory. Among the ancients, it consisted of a pile or heap of arms of a vanquished enemy, raised by the conqueror in the most eminent part of the field of battle.

The trophies were usually dedicated to some of the gods, especially to Jupiter. The name of the deity to whom they were inscribed, was generally mentioned, as was that also of the conqueror. The spoils were first hung upon the trunk of a tree; but instead of trees, succeeding ages erected pillars of stone or brass, to perpetuate the memory of their victories. To demolish a trophy was looked upon as a sacrilege, because they were all consecrated to some deity.

TROPHY-money. Certain money annually raised in several countries towards providing artillery harness, and maintaining the militia.

TROPIQUE, Fr. Tropic. It is likewise used as an adjective, and signifies tropical.

Baptême du TROPIQUE, Fr. The ceremony which is performed when a person crosses the line for the first time.

TROSSERS, TROUSE, TROWSERS, kind of breeches reaching down to the ankles, worn by some regiments of infantry and light cavalry. See PANTALOON.

TROTTOIR, Fr. Footway. It more properly means a raised pavement on the sides of a street or bridge, for the convenience of foot passengers.

TROU, Fr. A hole.

TROU de mineur, Fr. A lodgement which is made for the safety and convenience of a miner, when he first begins his operation.

TROU de loup. A cone reversed. Diameter of the base 4 feet 6 inches: depth 6 feet; picket 6 feet long, and from 4 to 5 inches square; contain ³⁄₄ of a cubic fathom of earth, and are usually placed 2 in 3 fathoms.

TROUBLESOME, from the verb to trouble. Importunate, teazing, full of molestation. This word is frequently misapplied in military matters. Many officers who have the public service of their country at heart, are improperly called troublesome, because they will not add, by negligence or connivance, to the too frequent abuses which exist in the interior economy of military establishment.

TROUGH. A hollow wooden vessel to knead bread in. It is used among the utensils of field bakery.

TROUPES, Fr. Troops, forces.

TROUPES legeres, Fr. Light troops.

TROUS-DE-LOUP, in field fortifications, are round holes, about 6 feet deep, and pointed at the bottom, with a stake placed in the middle. They are frequently dug round a redoubt, to obstruct the enemy’s approach. They are circular at the top, of about 4¹⁄₂ feet diameter.

TROUSSE, Fr. A quiver. It also signifies any bundle of things tied together, viz. Une trousse de foin, a bundle of hay. See TRUSS.